Interview with Johnny Indovina (Number 31)

The13th AÑO: 3

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NÚMERO 31

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA

JOHNNY INDOVINA

[ Interview with Johnny Indovina by Bernardo JimĂŠnez Mesa ]

THE RETURN OF THE DRAMA MAN

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The mayority of artists are like satellites spining around some other star. These stars may be genres or social/cultural movements. Whether it was the artist´s aim to belong to that particular galaxy, is another story, but the fact is almost inevitable. When we think about a particular artist, there are other names spining as well in our minds; When we listen a song, it triggers other songs in our memories; When we see or listen to a work of art, there are feelings and moods that we relate to other works. To say that Human Drama is a star wondering in a universe on its own -although an exageration- is a way to point out a very important characteristic of this musical project: few, very few bands can build a legion of loyal followers without having to weave ties with other artists, aiming to drag in their fans. Art movements , although are mere ideas created by critics and the media, they get, in general, a silent blessing from the artists involved, since we all know that it helps in order to consolidate an audience and to make the works last. Human Drama could have been part of several movements throughout its history. Somehow they traveled and visited many galaxies, by chance; and actually, they did collapse with many other stars, but managed always to scape..... and not to fall into someone else´s orbit. They hanged with very important names within the alternative scene in LA, at the beginning of the nineties; they were one of the biggest acts of Projekt: a genre-defining label (dark-ambient); loved by the gothic scene; ever present in collections of those who know about the so-called Darkfolk (or Neofolk); yet, they have always been themselves, without having to wave any flags except for their own name. Paraphrasing Sartre: A band with no collective importance....just and individual one. When and why did you decided to get the band again together?

In July of 2015 we were offered our second reunion concert in Mexico City. The guys in the band approached me and asked if I had thought about recording something new to release for the concert. At that point, I had not thought of it, so I sat with the idea for a while….and really started liking the idea of us all recording together again. We decided we would do a single first, “The Liar Inside”, and then decide whether or not we would attempt a full album. We all loved recording the single, and all agreed to move forward with a new full length. How was the process of gettin touch again, convince and gather them up all together? The guys are my closest friends, it was easy for us all to get together again and record. At this point in your career, having achieved so much with your music and standing in a place beyong genres and definning tags…What do you think was that element that made Human Drama a timeless band that somehow connects with people from different generations, cultures and social enviroments? We are unique in that we sound like no one else, from any other time. We are not guided by trends, we are guided by the want and need to expand from what we have already accomplished. I hold our lyrical content/themes to a high standard, and I think fans do also. I know I never let myself down, and hopefully never let my listeners down. For a band that was so sucessful and that holds a legion of followers worldwide, to take the decision not only to come back and play live the old catalogue, but to record a new album and to become again a living act, it has to be something that people involved had to think and embrace cautiously. What was the biggest motivation for it, and the biggest fear (if any)? Motivation was to create again together, and to toge-

ther take on the responsibility to live up to and surpass our past work. The biggest fear is not being able to accomplish that!! haha What do you reckon is the biggerst difference of this new incarnation of Human Drama, compared to previous ones? We changed from album to album, but this album is being done with mostly the original members, with a few guests. I have always put the people that I thought were right to accomplish what I was trying to together at that time. What is different now is that before anything was written we decided we would do this with members that were doing the reunion shows. So I have written the album and explored the “vibe” of the material knowing who the players are….this hasn’t happened since 1988! So it is exciting and different. Is the band doing all recording and distribution on their own (without third party distributors or labels)? We are in the process of exploring a few ideas.

Is there any hope of having Human Drama in other latin american countries, apart from Mexico, in the near future? We always hold hope, and if we connect with the right promoter we certainly will make it happen.

When do you think the new album is coming out? I think we will have a single or two out this year, and full album out early 2017 With all of this going on, is there still space, in your mind, for you to consider doing a new solo album in the near future? There is no space at this moment, this new album has taken all of my thought and time…trust me… What do you reckon will be the band´s next steps? My first step is to successfully complete an album that will stand right beside our catalog of work. Certainly we hope for concerts to support the new album upon its release, but for now I still have the BIG first step.

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Death Is All

Around by The Question (eLaMoRTe) coming on October 19

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The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA

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