Interview

Why Not Meeting Belgian Compelling Poet And New Visual Wave Performer NEL?

Posted on by JL

12 December 2025

We did countless interviews in Turn Up The Volume‘s 10-year span, but this one is special, as NEL isn’t your characteristic rock and or pop artist. She’s a compelling poet and visual performer from Belgium.

Last year, she teamed up with musician JP for a collaborative album, named Waarom Niet? (Why Not?). An engrossing record that fuses spoken-word poems with new wave electricity.

I’m sure our international readers/followers will
also be triggered to know more about this affecting
personality. Engrossing art isn’t limited by frontiers.

As usual, to warm up, we start a Q&A with a slice of
music. Watch/hear the duo’s title track from their LP.

Hello Nel,

What got your attention first, Nel, poetry or music?

“You start with a difficult question! I think they attracted
me both very early in my life, but on two different paths.

Perhaps language sparked my greatest interest. I remember asking my mother to teach me to read and write when I was four. I was already a short sleeper as a child, so there were plenty of books in my bedroom for me to read at night, when I couldn’t fall asleep
or woke up early.

I devoured books then, much more than I do now. I recall that in second grade, I was allowed to read a book intended for adults. That was Over De Bril Heen (Over the Glasses) by Louis Verbeeck. It contained his rebellious version of “Little Red Riding Hood.”

I read it hundreds of times. And at age 11, I discovered Jotie ‘t Hooft. And I felt at home
and simultaneously recognized in his words. I wanted more, but he died young. His oeuvre wasn’t that extensive, so I started looking for more poetry and soon started writing myself.

But there was always music at home too. All kinds of genres. My parents listened to classical music and cabaret, but also rock and punk, which led me to discover bands
like Vangelis, Deep Purple, Queen, The Sex Pistols, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, early on,
but also Bob Dylan, Eros Ramazotti, Willem Vermandere, Bob Marley, Urbanus, and so on.

Since meeting JP, you’ve been combining the two on record and live. Was the combination a joint decision, or was it the result of exchanging ideas?

“Our collaboration arose after what was supposed to be a one-off collaboration for JP‘s then-band This Can Hurt. Just after the pandemic, they had almost finished their semi-acoustic EP, ‘A Deeper Shade of Blue’. They had one instrumental track for which they wanted to do something with poetry.


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They found me through word of mouth. Initially, I thought I’d just provide lyrics,
and asked me to also voice the lyrics to the music. We enjoyed the collaboration,
so JP suggested we write some songs and experiment with a few other things.

And off we went!”

Is the collaboration with JP your first active experience as an artist?

“Yes. I didn’t have anything more than a few free stages at school and two years of singing in a rock choir with which we played a few gigs, and an occasional piano performance at a celebration.”

Did you consciously choose for spoken-word performing,
or did you explore other forms of expression previously?

“I had performed my poems at quite a few poetry evenings (from my two collections, ‘Strip(p)ed’ and ‘(S)trapped’), but I never felt like an artist back then. On those stages, you’re a writer, aren’t you? I’ve done singing, piano, djembe, guitar, painting, drawing, collage work, and stone carving, but all as a hobby.”

Your first collaborative album is titled “WHY NOT?” Why that question?

“JP and I are both quite enthusiastic and impulsive, so “Yes, why not?” was
always the answer, in the beginning, whenever we were asked whatever.

“Would you like to come perform here? Yes, why not? Would you like to sing a few songs with Arbeid Adelt! at a show? Yes, why not? Would you like to do a photoshoot? Yes, why not? …”
We simply enjoy not missing a single opportunity.

But also because that question is the perfect way to get to the right answer or the right choice. If there are hardly any reasons not to do it, what should stop us? Or, as the title track of our debut album says: “Why wouldn’t we do that, if it wouldn’t hurt anyone?”

Your lyrics plough through life, through emotions, and
through the human ego. Are they autobiographical stories, Nel?

“Often, yes. But I’d rather not elaborate too much. I grew up in the warmest home I know. And yet my emotions, my choices, have always been incredibly turbulent. Every track is written from an emotion I’m experiencing, or have felt at some point.”

Musically, the album is a mix of dark wave, post-punk, Goth pop, and dark EBM. Genres that have shaped you your whole life. When and how did your love for these timeless genres of music develop?

“Actually, quite late, you know. Until I was 25, I was primarily a huge metal fan
and a fan of female-fronted bands such as The Cranberries, Björk, Belly, Skin, Sinead
O’Connor and others.

My love for new wave grew purely from the fun, dark parties I attended. I wanted to see that music live! So I soon started attending as many goth/new wave/EBM gigs as possible, both at home and abroad.”

Suppose ‘WHY NOT?’ was the soundtrack
of a movie. Which film would you choose?

‘Trainspotting’ without drugs. Or ‘De Helaasheid Der Dingen (The Misfortunates)’ with drugs.

In terms of outfits, makeup, and hairstyles, you’ve been visualizing the genre’s signature physical fashion style for years. When and why did you choose this, Nel?

“I don’t remember a single moment when I consciously chose or decided to do so.
I’ve always loved dark clothes. Even for my First Communion, I wanted a gray dress (with a big pink bow, no worries 1.0 / now debaptized – no worries 2.0) while my friends were in white lace.

My wardrobe just kept getting blacker and blacker. And at parties, I dressed more
and more extravagantly, and that soon carried over into my everyday style (I say now, unashamedly, wearing a – albeit black – onesie).

I think that style subconsciously became the outcome of the struggle in my head.
But a good one. A kind of realization of, “Hey. Here I am! This is who I’ve always been!”
Now I feel completely myself, and that’s okay.

Your favorite track(s) and album(s) of 2025?

There were several tracks I really enjoyed this year. For example, there was “Simpele Dingen” by Morgen De Knoop. Spoken-word on something that rubs the air between cabaret and new wave, from the project of poet Alex Deforce. Word porn to carve into souls.

Within the dark genre, I thought “Hide Away” by Dresscode was very strong. Emotionally compelling. And “De Weg” by Suicide Commando was, for me, the pinnacle of their abilities.


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From the metal world, it’s “Many Shapes Of Anger” from the album “Mandatory” by Steegmoord, Maarten Doumen‘s solo project. But also “Buh” by Chibi Ichigo, “Liefde Is Dood” by Parkaparaplu, “Silk Skin” by Mildreda deserve a spot on my list. There’s so much good music being made in Belgium, damn it!

Internationally, as best track, I go for the single “Brutus,” which
announced the return of Das Ich. Wonderful!

As for the album, I have one that really stands out for me, because no other artist has touched me as much with her work as Stony Beds by Head On Stone. I could list many more albums I’ve enjoyed, but they’d still pale in comparison to this one.

Which song would you choose to play on December 31st,
when the clock strikes midnight?

“Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles. Without a doubt.

What can we expect from N.E.L & J.P. in 2026?

“New work! Maybe even something with some vocals, and
hopefully at least as many gigs as in 2025.”

Thank you very much, for this interview, Nell.
May the road rise with N.E.L. & J.P.

STREAM/BUY ALBUM


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How Was 2025 For Glamorous German Indie Pop Punks LOBSTERBOMB?

Posted on by JL

10 December 2025

LOBSTERBOMB, the glamorous pop punk outfit
from Berlin, released their second album, titled
Overstimulated last September.

The splashy trio serve a salvo of riff-roasting firecrackers. Enough
fervid firepower to keep you in a hyperkinetic trance of perked up
elation throughout. You’ll feel overwhelmingly overstimulated in
the end.

Let’s have a chat about it with Crayon, Nico, and Vik.

But first a slice of manic music, with one
of the sizzling singles of the full-length.

Which track would you pick and why to introduce
the band to music fans who don’t know you?

Crayon: “‘Not Again’ is probably a good starting point as it’s a pretty straightforward
blast of punky energy. We don’t always stick to the punky style, but it’s often the starting point.”

Nico: “‘Not Again’ is also our biggest music video hit on YouTube right now. We worked with Unlostfilmes and shot it in a single take in Vik’s neighbour’s attic. Definitely worth a watch.”

Debut album LOOK OUT came out in 2023.
How do you look back at it today?

Crayon: “It’s still something we are proud of. Every release contains a lot of work
and emotional energy. But also, we are happy that for the new album we worked
with producer Karen Dhios, and were a little less DIY in our approach, Look Out
has a lot more rough edges.”

Nico: “I never really feel happy or satisfied once I release something. So I don’t dare listen to the old stuff anymore. I just keep looking ahead. What’s done is done; the past belongs to the past.”

This year’s blazing follow-up is titled OVERSTIMULATED.
What do you want to express with it?

Nico: “Overstimulated is about living in a world that never stops screaming at you,
emotionally, digitally, mentally. It’s about burnout, chaos, pressure, and still trying
to find yourself in the middle of it all.

Overstimulated is also about being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world, trying to function in a system that isn’t made for you. It’s set against the backdrop of an unfair world run by people who seem to have lost their minds. The album is both a scream
for change and a cry for peace. A demand for something to shift drastically.”

Crayon: “We aren’t really a high concept band, we just wanted to write songs about however we felt at that time. There is a fair amount of dread and worry since there is
a lot of that in the air recently, but also a healthy amount of constructive thinking and optimism – trying to figure out ways to cope rather than letting things get overbearing.”

Were you inspired by other artists/music to write this one?

Nico: “Some of the song ideas came to me in dreams, others from weeks of experimenting while I was jobless, haha. I’m generally inspired by so many different music genres. They all kind of mash together in my head and turn into something new.”

Crayon: “Not so much by specific artists, but some elements are more grunge
influenced than our previous album. The fuzz pedal got more of a workout.”

One of the highlights to my ears is the single FALLING. What’s the song about?

Nico: “It took me years to heal from an abusive relationship. I wrote this song to give hope to others, to show that there is always a way out. There’s always a chance for change, even when it feels impossible in the depths of it. It’s painful to leave, but it’s so worth it to kick yourself free.”

What’s the story behind the LP’s cover?

Vik: “It’s supposed to show the calm space you can create
for yourself when escaping the sensory input of the world.”

What’s your favourite track on the album, and why?

Crayon: “It’s mean to make us choose favourites. The title track
is a lot of fun to play live, so we’ll say that, but we like them all!”

Nico: “Yes, all the songs have a special place in my heart. But in terms
of the message I want to send out into the world, “Every Day” and “Warning”
mean the most to me.

We’re living in unprecedented times where a handful of billionaire psychopaths
are running the world into the ground, making it nearly impossible for most people
to live properly.

With these two songs, I want to inspire people to wake up, see what’s happening,
and take action – to stand up for those who can’t, to boycott where it matters,
and to have some spine!”

Vik: “I love Pillbiter as it’s a vulnerable but powerful song.”


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Suppose the album was the soundtrack for a movie.
Which genre would it be and why?

Nico: “If Overstimulated were a movie, it would be an indie coming-of-age sci-fi
end-of-the-world rom-com, I believe, haha. A mix of chaos, emotion, and existential
humour. It’s loud, messy, and a little bit heartbreaking, but somehow still hopeful.”

In the past, and still today, artists like Bowie, U2, and Nick Cave went to live
for a while in Berlin because the city was a huge source of inspiration for creating new music. Do you feel the same way about Berlin as residents?

Crayon: “In some ways, it is the same in that you can find creative people in
whatever niche you are interested in, and the city still is very rich culturally.

But 35 years after reunification Berlin is not the same as it was for the people mentioned, and it would be good for the city to stop relying on past glories for its image and invest in the current cultural scene which is under huge pressure from all sides. There are so many talented bands, we can start building some new icons.”

Nico: “Berlin has always been a huge inspiration for me, especially in
the early days when I moved here in 2002. Back then, the city felt very
different: free, artistic, and affordable. There was this raw, creative energy
everywhere.

But over time, as tech bros and start-ups took over, and investors bought up housing, much of that spirit faded. Berlin doesn’t feel the same anymore; it’s become more stressful than inspiring at times. These days, I often travel to recharge and find new sources of inspiration elsewhere. Or I sit at home watching TikTok, cos it’s damn depressing out there.”

Your favorite album of the year?

Crayon: “Amyl & the Sniffers’ ‘Cartoon Darkness’.”

Nico: “‘Don’t Tap the Glass‘ by Tyler, the Creator.

Vik: Albums ‘Never Enough‘ by Turnstile, ‘Salvation’
by Rebecca Black, ‘I’m Nice Now’ by Upchuck.

Turkey on Christmas Day?

Crayon: “Vegan option, please.”

Nico: “Turkey isn’t really a thing in Germany on
Christmas. Also, I don’t eat meat. Go vegan, friends.”

Which song would you play on New Year’s Eve
when the clock strikes midnight?

Crayon: “In Berlin, the fireworks situation at New Year’s
is out of hand, so you wouldn’t be able to hear anything
over the explosions

Nico: “I think I’ll be asleep by then.”

What can we expect from LOBSTERBOMB in 2026?

Crayon: “We will be touring a lot in the early part of the year, mainly in Germany
but perhaps a few international shows here and there. At some point, we will be
recharged and get back to making more songs, but we aren’t setting any timeframe
right now.”

Thank you very much Crayon, Nico and Vik for this interview.
May the road rise with Lobsterbomb.

STREAM/BUY OVERSTIMULATED


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‘Overstimulated’ on Spotify – Instagram – Linktree 

HEAD ON STONE – Belgian Songstress Shifts From A Scream To A Whisper With Her Soul-Stirring Debut LP ‘STONY BEDS’

Posted on by JL

28 November 2025

Emotive Belgian singer-songwriter Nele Janssen is, so far, known by her fans as the fiery frontwoman of high-powered post-punk turbo Peuk who have released 2 albums to this day.

That will all change now with her brand-new solo debut album, named
STONY BEDS, released under the moniker of HEAD ON STONE.

Only Nele Janssen and her piano. Intimate, passional and heartfelt. From a Peuk scream
to a solo whisper. A beautiful, soul-stirring record that silences you from start to finish. Eleven bittersweet gems for the midnight hours. Stony Beds is an ideal companion for cold winter nights, while relaxing with dimmed light on your couch and your favourite drink at hand.

Enamoured by this musical exploit, Turn Up The Volume reached
out to Nele for a chat about her amazing solo adventure.

Do you have a classical music schooling, or is this a DIY story, Nele?

“I had some classical music schooling when I was a kid/teenager, but I didn’t take
lessons for it in high school because in those days, you had to work with sheet music, and I wanted to create my own stuff. I don’t create music on sheets.

I write down some notes in a small book and record some ideas on a small recorder.
The rest is in my head. So I have to keep on playing the songs now and then to
remember them.”

For many PEUK fans, this intimate solo album will be a musical and
vocal surprise. How and when did you start this project?

“I’ve been writing this music since I was finishing my classical music school. I needed to express these feelings and find ways to cope with them. It was hard for me to put these feelings into words, and so my piano became my friend. The piano gave me the comfort and focus I needed. So I just played for myself in my room.

I did not want people to hear it. It was between me and the piano. Later on, I let some close friends into this world, and it felt okay to do this. So I guess I was opening up more. They told me to share it, but I was scared. So I wanted to overcome this fear, and I played some small, intimate gigs.

People showed their love for it, and it felt like maybe it could be important to other people too in a way. But I still wanted to keep it more to myself. Peuk is a more extroverted affair and helped me to become less scared of performing, and it helped show a different, more angry emotion. So now I’m sharing more of this intimate side Peuk protected me from in a way.

What does your moniker ‘HEAD ON STONE’ stands for, Nele?

“It was the title of a song I wrote when my Head On Stone project didn’t have a name yet.
I wrote the lyrics of the song when I was lying down on a sandy hill in the woods, and my
head rested on a stone, and it felt kind of nice, but also discomfort. Warm but cold.

The songs are like that. Some lyrics come from negative feelings
and thoughts, but the piano carries them in a healing way.

Is that a horse eye on the album’s cover?
What’s the story behind the artwork?

“Yes, it’s a horse eye, and my reflection is in it. This horse was very important to me.
She passed away, but I wrote some of the songs during a period she was still with me.

OUT is a song I wrote for her.

She wanted to hide from the sun because of the mosquitos. She was allergic to them. It itches badly. A bit like I don’t like crowded places and hide from people. This picture was taken when it snowed, so no mosquitos there.”


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What do you want to express with the record’s title ‘STONY BEDS’?

“Stony Beds is like Head On Stone. A bed is comfortable and soft. A stone is cold and hard. So there’s a contrast, and I think you can find that in the songs. Also, you can hear me sing it in the song ‘mountainside‘. It’s about going into nature without anything but yourself. You meet nature. So if we rest, we lay our heads on stony beds. Lying on something stony.”


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Your crystalline vocals are impressive. Quite different from your
fiery PEUK vocality. Does it feel that way for you too, Nele?

“It’s different, but it’s still me. It’s the way I sing. I sing how I feel. So I guess I have different kinds of voices because of the feeling I get when I sing with them. I don’t think about it, it just happens.”

I hear mixed emotions about life and these weird times in the
lyrics. Is that what you wanted to address or are my ears wrong?

“The songs are more about myself, in this life. It’s not really about life in general but more about what’s going on in my head, how I feel, and how I try to cope with it. But I’m in this life, so it’s included. It’s just more introverted.”


Photo by Syl

Is this a one-time adventure, or do you have more solo work in mind?

“It doesn’t feel like a one-time adventure. I don’t know yet, but for now I don’t think it is.”

Thank you very much, for this chat, Nele.
May the road rise with Head On Stone.

STREAM ALBUM

BUY ALBUM


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WHOLES – Frontman Of Belgian Noizz Rock Turbo Talks About Their Pitch-Black Debut LP ‘A MASS IN THE WATER’

Posted on by JL

21 November 2025


Photo by Turn Up The Volume

WHOLES is the new musical project of Belgian, musical chameleon Wolf Vanwymeersch who played with several bands over the years (pop, punk, rock, sludge metal) and released a pure singer-songwriter pearl with solo debut album The Early Years back in 2022.

Wholes are what remains after a soul has been detonated, what struck those around
it, what could no longer be contained says Wolf. They just released their debut LP, titled
A MASS IN THE WATER. A pitch-black noizz and very personal record about Vanmymeersch losing his beloved father.

It’s a both scary and flabbergasting opus that takes a lot of courage to make and share with the world. Turn Up The Volume had a chat about it with Wolf, but first a sonic intro
with ‘Till We Don’t Meet Again‘, which was the album’s first single.

Can you remember a day you weren’t involved in music in the past few decades?

“Music isn’t a choice or a hobby for me; it’s a current that runs underneath everything. Even on the days I don’t play or write, it’s always there. A single word in a conversation can spark something, a sound in the street can open a door. There’s always something playing in the back of my mind.”

What does your new project/band’s name stand for?

“WHOLES refers to what remains after a soul explodes — the pieces, the shards,
the echoes. It’s about scars as much as openings: holes and the spaces where new
light can enter. It also references the Whole, The desire to feel connected with
everyone and everything.

The name is raw and hopeful at the same time,
and that’s exactly where our music lives.”

Suppose WHOLES was an animal.
Which one would it be and why?

“A crow. Something living between life and decay, clever, restless, unafraid of
darkness yet still strangely beautiful. A creature that’s always collecting things
and suddenly takes off when you least expect it.

Or a cockroach: it thrives in the cracks, survives the loudest blasts, and refuses
to disappear. It’s the noise that keeps living long after the room has gone quiet.

Or a cow? WHOLES is like a cow in a storm, usually placid, almost meditative,
but when it moves, the earth itself shakes. The music carries that same mix
of calm, menace, and unstoppable presence.”

The debut album A MASS IN THE WATER has just
been released. What’s the story behind the title?

“As crazy and morbid as it sounds, I found my dead father in a brook
De Schorre. Hence Poids Lourd etc… It’s also a Mass in the sense of
a Requiem.

The album, much like the title, is about confronting grief, carrying it,
and letting it shape the sound without being consumed by it.”

My first impressions went from scary to flabbergasting.
Is the maker of this pitch-black record the freakiest
Mr. Hyde ever?

(laughs) “Maybe. WHOLES is definitely my Mr. Hyde,
the part that rages, distorts, and refuses to sit still.

But it feels less like Mr. Hyde taking over from Jekyll and more like both of them
finally being allowed to speak at the same time. The darkness in the record is real,
it’s simply the only way I could express certain emotions without filtering or
polishing them.”

It’s a very personal work dealing with the loss of your
beloved father. Now that the album is out, do you feel
some sort of healing?

“Making this album didn’t heal me, but it gave the grief a shape. It let me confront emotions I couldn’t otherwise articulate: the grief, the rage, the confusion. Sharing
it doesn’t erase the loss, but it transforms it: it becomes something external,
something that can move, resonate, and exist beyond me.

Playing this music live, in front of people, takes it
even further, it transcends the pain and the grief.”

The singles’ and LP’s artwork visualise your demons, I suppose.
Quite impressive. Can you tell us more about it?

“Yes, the artwork is very much an extension of the music and the emotions behind it. Maxime Rouquart, who created all the visuals, and I sat down and listened to the album together.

I shared some sketches and stylistic guidelines, for example, my interest in wood engraving and lithography, and then he did his thing, producing some truly beautiful
work. Niek Devos from PRINTBAaR handled the screen printing, giving the art a special finishing touch that really completes the whole experience.”

What’s your favorite track and why?

“My favorites change from day to day, today I’ll pick ‘Holes’ because it’s the only song that speaks directly TO my father. In lines like ‘to make you whole again / sleep well my friend / hope your nightmares end / from wayback when / and help the man to fill them holes again and make you whole again’.

As if I’m consoling him, singing a lullaby to soothe his pains.”


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Suppose A MASS IN THE WATER was the soundtrack
of a movie. Which one would it be and why?

“If A MASS IN THE WATER were the soundtrack of a movie, it would be something
raw, and unflinching, a film where grief, chaos and beauty coexist. Where time
slows down and emotions speak through textures and images.

In that sense, it could work perfectly with Sirât: a father searches for his missing
daughter in the desert and the world around them spirals into utter chaos. Our album’s
tension, intensity and immersive sound would mirror the film’s themes, the landscape’s
harshness and the emotional weight of the story.”

What can we expect from WHOLES in 2026?

“In 2026, you can expect more shows and a deeper dive into the sonic language we’re developing. We’re rehearsing new songs — not sure if we’ll release them this year — but we’re only at the beginning.”

Thank you, Wolf, for this revealing interview.
May the road rise with Wholes.

STREAM/BUY ALBUM


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Instagram – Album on Spotify

How Was 2024 For Belgian Disco Punk Turbo THE RATS

Posted on by JL

27 December 2024

Belgian hit-and-run punks THE RATS came our way faster than a comet
out of control this past year. On record with their far-out 4-track debut EP
Disco To Disco. On stage with their unbridled gusto and sassy swagger.

Pumped-up frontman Emile is the maddening man in shorts in the middle,
backed by a bulldozing rats artillery. They produce fireworks, throw left/right
punches, and headbutt you on repeat.

If you never heard of them, it’s about time you do so.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Emile Hyde will guide you with this
end-of-the-year chat.

Hello Emile,
welcome.

When and how did the band came alive?

“The earliest Rats demos date from the summer of 2019, after deciding to go on a hiatus with London Bullet, our old band with which we mainly operated in the underground punk scene. We had done London Bullet for nearly 10 years and decided it was time for tabula rasa.

However, after those first rehearsals, the whole covid thing happened and we only started rehearsing again late 2021. We then started playing our first gigs throughout 2022 and immediately got some attention, mainly from Democrazy, the largest concert organisation in Ghent, Belgium. Thanks to them, we could support the UK art-punk band The Lounge Society in the Charlatan club.

That was only our fourth ever gig and it was already ‘bigger’ (or more ‘mainstream’)
than anything we had done with London Bullet. From there on, it all went pretty fast.
When recording those first demos in 2019, I don’t think we’d ever expected to end up
at Belgian venues such as De Vooruit, Het Depot and Trix, and festivals like Left of The Dial, Crammerock, and Boomtown. It’s been quite the journey!”

Why the name THE RATS?

“We’ve always been big fans of the UK hardcore band Gallows. They occasionally played surprise shows in small venues under the name The Rats. When London Bullet ended, we kinda wanted to keep it a secret that we were working on something new, so for that reason we jokingly used The Rats as our temporary band name.

When we were selected for Humo’s Rock Rally 2022 and our performance was well received, we figured it would be foolish to not ‘capitalise’ on that, so we stuck with
the name.

We do realise there are hundreds of bands that are called The Rats. But we don’t
really care about that! Let’s just say we want to be the best band called The Rats
ever.”

Last September you released your debut EP ‘DISCO TO DISCO’.
What’s the story behind the title, Emile?

“Well, it’s ‘disco’ in the sense of a ‘club’ – most of the songs are about going out in the city and all kinds of experiences I’ve encountered or lessons I’ve learned about myself and others while doing that. About friendship groups changing while you grow up, about relationships not working out, about getting spiked (fucking cunts!).

And then there’s obviously the reference to the disco genre. The title was decided very early on in the process, even before most of the songs had been written. The initial idea for the band was to be a bit more ‘electronic’ due to the addition of a synthesizer, so we thought the title would indicate that new direction.”

What did you want to express with the EP’s artwork?

“I love when you come across a record in a shop (or see a thumbnail from a review online) and can instantly tell that the music is going to be right up your street. I’ve always thought of it as a gut feeling, so I had never really given much thought to the exact elements that make a good cover. In an attempt to pinpoint that,

I made a list of record covers I really like to see if there’s any connection.
I learned a thing or two about making that list, and talked it through with
my bandmates.

We then presented the ideas, as well as the songs, to our good friend Charlotte Hennion, who is a graphic designer, and she made the cover. We were immediately convinced, we’re really happy with how it turned out! Now hopefully people will come across the record cover and experience that same gut instinct that the music inside is something they’ll love.”

Which is your favorite track?

“My personal favorite on the
EP is ‘Last Chance Saloon’.


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The mixing, done by our guitarist Sander, is on point for this one. I’m very pleased
with my vocal delivery, as well as with my lyrics. The repetitive hook makes the whole
track both catchy and addictive. The other guitar parts are super interesting.

And I love how after the first chorus, the bass and drum introduce the second
part. Bloody hell, I’m starting to believe it’s the best song ever written!

Footage by Wouter/KinkyStarCeSoir

My favorite track to play live is ‘Old Flames’. At our gigs, people have started to sing along to the main guitar riff as if it were a football song. Very surreal. My dream is to have actual football fans in stadiums picking up the chant. Preferably the fans of AA Gent, my favorite team.”

Recently I called you Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Nice off-stage, insane on-stage.
What happens when you turn into a manic persona on the podium, Emile?

“Haha, I can see why you’d say that. It just comes naturally. From the very first guitar chord onwards, I’m very much into the performance. It’s a massive outlet for me. As mentioned before, we come from a punk background, a genre where many singers deliver intense performances.

I guess that very much influenced me. If I could change one thing, though,
it would be to sweat a lot less on stage! But you can’t have it all, can you?”

Social media? A blessing or a pain in the ass?

“A blessing, largely thanks to two very talented photographers who are also friends.
Ward Van Hooreweghe (@dailylifethroughfilm) and Gert-Jan Van Damme (@gee__jee). Their black and white pictures of our gigs are really important for our whole visual aesthetic on Instagram. We can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for us and other bands in our scene.

Beyond that, it’s also a great way to connect with other bands and see what they’re up to. You can learn a lot by observing other accounts – like finding places to play or seeing how they handle their album promotion campaigns.”

Which big name band would you really want to tour with and why?

“If we’re talking real big names then let’s go for IDLES. I think their fanbase would appreciate us, especially if they’d know I wrote my dissertation on their main online
fan group the AF Gang, haha.

IDLES have brought the post-punk revival to the mainstream but have seemingly stayed honest and grounded. Their on-stage energy is really inspiring and I feel like we could learn a lot from them. And maybe Joe Talbot could let me in on how to uphold that ferocious intensity for two and a half hours (and sweat a lot less).”


Next time JL/TUTV is on stage with Joe/Idles, I’ll tell him about The Rats

Suppose DISCO TO DISCO was the soundtrack of a movie.
Which one would it be?

“I’m not too good with movies! Maybe ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’?
Chaotic, surreal, full of highs and lows. It could work, no? Also, the film
is more or less name-checked in ‘Old Flames’ with a line about
experiencing ‘fear and self-loathing everywhere I go’.”


1998

Best track and album you heard this year?

“There’s too many. My favorite track was probably
‘Like Lovers Do’ by Iceage frontman Elias Rønnenfelt.

My favorite album is Hysterical Strength by DEADLETTER.”

“I also really, really enjoyed English Teacher, The Chisel,
High Vis, Bad Breeding, RONKER, and Fat White Family.”

Do you have a favorite Xmas carol, Emile?

“It has to be ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.
The melancholy, the vivid scene-setting, the desire to make things right
in this period of forgiveness, the unfolding argument, the grand finale,…
Simply amazing.

Did you see the rendition of that song at Shane MacGowan’s funeral?
People stood up and started dancing to it. At a funeral! That says enough,
I think.”

R.I.P. Shane MacGowan (1957-2023)

Which track do you play when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve?

“Also The Pogues! The perfect drunkard’s anthem Dirty Old Town. Hugging your friends while singing along to both the words and the melody of that song, a new year can’t start much better than that.

What’s in store for THE RATS in 2025?

“We’ve got a few super cool gigs lined up. The standout one is WE ARE OPEN,
the showcase festival in Antwerp, organised by Trix in February. It’s a massive
honour to be on that line-up.

I’m also really looking forward to a triple bill with Maria Iskariot and WIJF in our old hometown, Deinze. Then there’s Dirty Dender Fest on January 25, with our best pals RONKER, Doolhof in Kortrijk with our friends from Barno Koevoet, and a few things that haven’t been announced yet. Exciting stuff!

Thanks a bunch for this interview, Emile.
May the road rise with The Rats in 2025.

STREAM/BUY EP


.
Instagram – Linktree

Live photos by Turn Up The Volume – Charlatan, Ghent, 2 October 2024

How Was 2024 For Garage Punk Turbo THE DARTS And Their Front Amazon BLACK VIIOLET

Posted on by JL

11 December 2024


Art by Jeffrey Boyle

All-female US garage rockers THE DARTS are one of the most energetic, exciting, pizzazy bands around since they dropped their self-titled debut LP back in 2017. On stage, the daredevils ignite a let’s-go-crazy-tonight ambiance, turning clubs into sweaty saunas as I experienced many times along with buzzing crowds.

Their creativity, on record and live, is off the charts. With this year’s Boomerang album, they had their second longplayer out in two years, and touring has become second nature.

Front Amazone/vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter Nicole Laurenne will tell us all
about her band’s 24/7 rock ‘n’ roll frenzy and her new solo persona Black Viiolet.

But as usual we start an interview with a slice of music. Let’s get in the
mood with one of TUTV’s favorite singles of the year, Pour Another.

Hello Nicole, so great
to meet and chat again.

In the past 2 years THE DARTS released 2 top albums and toured non-stop.
Where did the inexhaustible huge creativity and inexhaustive energy come
from, Nicole?

“The muse is a strange and wonderful thing, isn’t it? I honestly don’t know where all these songs come from. Even with all that we released and toured, I still write songs constantly, recorded two albums for the band and also toured with my solo project Black Viiolet, on two continents.

All this activity is a blessing and a curse. Not many people get it, or can keep up with
the schedule I put out there, or they feel threatened by it all somehow, and a lot of people tell me to slow down. But I don’t like to sit still for too long. I guess I get it from my mother, who, at 85 years old, still came on tour with us many times this year and sold merch and hung out with Jello Biafra and ran circles around both my bands.

I am really enjoying my life right now, it is turning out exactly the way I always wanted
it somehow, plus I have been sober and vegan and mentally in a good place for a good while now. That last part might sound boring, but trust me it is most definitely not. I already have new albums written for both the band and for my solo project. I hope to
get them recorded this Spring and Summer, if the labels don’t kill me for suggesting it.”

The LPS were named respectively SNAKE OIL and
BOOMERANG. Any story behind both titles?

“Both kind of sprung from the same place. Snake Oil refers to all the misinformation and fake news we are fed all the time. I was raised by scientists and it just crushes my brain when I read so much patently false information and dangerously, provocative, ignorant opinions circling out there. This has always been the case of course, which is why the old term “snake oil” was coined in the first place, but the cyber world makes it especially ubiquitous and confusing now for people.

The internet requires an advanced level of skepticism and self-education. Snake Oil is full of little warnings about taking care of yourself and not letting the salesmen get into your head, whether they are selling love, booze, food, politics, or war. Form your own opinions carefully.

Boomerang refers to two things: the fact that we turned right around after Snake Oil returned to the studio to record right away, and also that annoying type of person who doesn’t take a hint and continues to contact you despite every effort to lose them. We all have one of those. Boomerang contains a lot of messages about trying to get toxic things and people out of your life.

As you can see, I have been doing a lot of work on myself
in the past years, and it shows in the songs, obviously.

What’s your favourite track on BOOMERANG and why?

“The Middle of Nowhere” is, in my humble opinion, one of the best songs I’ve ever written. Not only do the lyrics convey well the broad sense of vacancy and disorientation I feel at times, but the echoes and chords and spaghetti-western guitar line evoke exactly the sensation I was trying to put out there.

Wandering and lost and searching for something or someone that will recharge and redirect me. And the bridge is a great shift into a little anger and frustration about the whole situation. Mark Rains produced it brilliantly; he and I sat and worked out everything on Boomerang together, just as I heard it in my head and tried to get on the demos.

In a normal world single HANG AROUND should be a hit. Catchy as hell.
And the video is pure THE DARTS. Tell us about the song and the clip, Nicole.

“The song itself was one that Jello originally wanted to put on Snake Oil but we didn’t
have time in the studio to make it happen. So it was the first track on Boomerang instead. The song perfectly captures that whole concept of trying get toxic people out of your life. It contains the lyric that inspired the album title: “I try to end it every way / but you’re a fucking boomerang”.

And it was the most fun video shoot ever. We were booked to perform in the center
of a roller rink in Seattle, which in itself is incredible, but then our long-time videographer Matt Eskew agreed to come up and film during the show. We shot all my vocals in the few minutes before the show and then he took it from there. It was just a regular live Darts performance, nothing special for the video, and captured so well by him.”

You’ve been on JELLO BIAFRA’s record label for years now. How’s
the collaboration between the band and the former DEAD KENNEDY
legend?

“Jello is a force of nature. He is rightfully a legend, with very strong opinions about
what he likes and what he wants music to be. He has surprisingly eclectic taste in genres, from eastern European folk music to metal, but no matter what the style is, it has to be instrumentally powerful and has to have great vocals.

He doesn’t suffer fools, as we say in English. He lets you know when he wants you to
push yourself harder. We have spent hours on the phone together over the years, talking about politics,  our mothers, and managing bands, and… a lot about how he thinks
I can always do even more, even better.

He is such a strong advocate for my vocals. I cannot believe it, to this day,
that someone with his experience is so staunchly in my corner on this.


Jello Biafra – Alternative Tentacles Records

But he also doesn’t pull punches. He recently told me “you are one of my all-time
favorite singers,” and, while I was dizzy from that, he followed it with, “but I think
you can write more than just love songs you know.” Jello is one of a kind, and
everything he says comes from a real love of music.”

THE DARTS played a massive amount of gigs in the past 2 years. Any idea
how many and which one was the most memorable one and why?

“I think we might have hit the 250 mark. There are bands who do more of
course, but we have crossed the Atlantic too many times too count and that
makes us maybe a little unique.

The memorable ones are also too many to count but if I had to pick one that
I can’t really believe even happened, it would be our performance at Barlinnie
Prison in Edinburgh Scotland, in the actual prison chapel, on the actual altar
itself, for the prisoners, while my daughter was there also as crew.


The prison in Scotland where The Darts spend a night this year (to play)

It was like some surreal dream sequence, with beams of sunlight pouring over
us from the stained glass above the altar while I sang songs with veiled lyrics
about booze and sex, inside the prison walls. You can’t make this stuff up.

The tiring travelling, the many interviews, the explosive gigs. What keeps the
band going on and on and on? Energy drinks? Caffeine? Naps between shows?

“It looks like a lot of physical stuff, but in truth, we spend 6-7 hours a day usually just
sitting in the van, on the way to the next show. For me that means lots of gas station coffee, writing songs on my laptop, dozing (I am an expert at dozing in vehicles), and responding to a zillion emails and social media messages to help arrange and promote
the next shows.

Just managing guest lists and interviews and accounting and the whole business end of running the band with my agents Ludo (Adrenalin Mix Music) and Mickey (Ivy Agency) for two bands with lots of releases is really a whole additional hugely time-consuming
job that no one sees me doing when I’m not on stage. So yeah: caffeine. Lots, please.


Brussels, 18 October 2024 – Photo by TUTV

When, in the van, what songs/music is on the stereo?

“Our driver gets to choose. The rest of us have ear buds in anyway. We have had drivers over the years who play Scandinavian stoner rock, American classic rock, Belgian triphop, Serbian garage rock, you name it. My favorite was when someone programmed the GPS
to have a Mr. T voice giving us directions in French.”

How is it to live so close together with 4 individuals on
the road for such a long time? Lots of pillow fights?

“Honestly, you get into a routine with that much touring. Van, soundcheck, dinner,
set, load-out, hotel. By the time we load out of the venue every night, sometimes at
3 am, knowing we have to get up early and get back in the van and do it all again and again, all of us pretty much skip the party and crash hard these days.

You really have to take care of your body with this schedule; if you get sick, or if I lose
my voice, or if someone gets injured, it means everyone involved – promoters, drivers, agents, fans – is affected.

I have had to get an MRI in France, gone to emergency clinics in Spain, we have a huge bag of weird medicines we have picked up at pharmacies everywhere over time that we can’t even recognize – staying healthy is a real thing. And since there is virtually no privacy ever, we have to give each other a lot of space, physically and emotionally, whenever we can.

I go for a lot of solo walks in strange cities in the mornings before the van leaves, we all find little niches where we can talk privately with our loved ones each day on the phone, and I absolutely detest any kind of drama so I try to steer clear of any of that and stay focused. The only fight I have with my pillow is that I don’t get to see it often enough.

What can we expect from THE DARTS in 2025? New music? More concerts?

“All of the above. Of course. Alternative Tentacles will release a 7-inch split of our
new song “Get Spooky” (also the name of our new tour!) with our labelmates Tsunami Bomb. We are also talking about possibly an all-Darts 7-inch European release with two
new songs. I doubt Jello wants to release another new album so soon again, so I’m
holding back on a new full-length release in 2025, but I am sure we will be back in
the studio recording one at least.

The tour schedule this year will feature a lot more USA dates – long overdue! –
including tours with SERVICE (Russell Simmins’ amazing band) and my garage rock hero
Dion Lunadon, in addition to Darts-only dates. There will be plenty of really cool European festivals and club shows around those appearances. With this kind of pace, you’ll see Darts lineup changes again, as always, but I promise you the show will always, always be one-hundred-percent Darts. It will be a really incredible year, I can already see it.”

Despite the immensely, busy schedule, you found the time for your excellent debut solo EP under the moniker of BLACK VIIOLET. A totally other musical affair than the band’s garage punk ‘n ’roll. What and/or inspired you for this project?

“I used to dabble in jazz, playing piano in a trio a million years ago. In my downtime at home, I listen to jazz and triphop and downtempo stuff a lot more than anyone would
ever suspect.

This project started as just me, alone in my room during the pandemic, writing songs inspired by such varied influences as spy movies, Shirley Bassey with Propellerheads,
Jessica Rabbit, Nouvelle Vague, Forniquette, Sneaker Pimps, Nina Simone, Portishead and
even Digable Planets… sounds like a weird playlist but, believe me, it works.

I had this idea to write vintage-sounding torch songs and then put trip-hop beats underneath them. Stuff I myself might turn on in the evenings at home. The songs
just flowed out of me, nonstop. I wrote eighteen songs over the year and have about eighteen more ready to go.

Who’s your utterly sensual alter ego BLACK VIIOLET?

“It’s all me. Just completely me. I have a lot of sides and facets. I’m not a cube but some kind of irregular 3-D octagon. I think, in the slow songs I’ve written for The Darts and The Love Me Nots, you can hear some of these quiet lounge stylings peek out.

But Black Viiolet actually throws off the gogo boots altogether and puts on a velvet-lined feather boa. It has been an absolute joy to perform these songs live, with different musicians in different parts of the world, letting the sultry stuff in my brain run free.”

The EP is titled KILL ME NOW. Could be the theme music for
a classic film noir movie. Sounds a bit scary, Nicole. Right?

“It is a little bit tongue in cheek of course, “kill me now” is an expression we use often in English when we are really annoyed or frustrated (“my last date turned out to be a hoarder, kill me now”) – but also it is a funny allusion to spy movie plots, from which the chords and lines definitely sprung.

But the lyrics take it even to a third place, the idea of a big passionate love that you know will be the death of you when it ends, so… you might as well just kill me now and get it over with.

So the song says a lot of things at once. I’m so proud of it. We played it live in Urbana, Illinois, recently, and Cincinnati sax player Kaleb Swedlund snuck in the James Bond
theme under the second verse; it was perfect.


.
Will you do solo gigs next year, Nicole?

“A few people have asked me that recently. To be honest, I have a real imposter
syndrome about my piano playing. Even though I studied and competed in classical
music and performed and recorded with combo organs and keyboards constantly (thank you, Korg, for the sponsorship on two continents this year!), I am hugely shy about playing piano alone for anyone.

So you probably won’t see me without at least a bassist anytime soon. But maybe someday. I have this recurring dream of being an old woman, playing on an old
piano in a little bar by the sea in Europe. It could happen maybe.”

What do you wish for yourself and the band in 2025?

“I just want all of us, including me, to be as content and peaceful as possible
while the world crashes around us. I wish everyone a year without drama and
trauma.

I hope everyone falls in love with someone and sees interesting places and
feels a little bit enriched playing these silly songs I’m always trying to write
and prioritizes creativity in their lives.

I hope the musicians who play alongside me know that I respect their
musicianship so very deeply. And I can’t wait to get back in the van.”

Thank you very much, Nicole, for taking time, despite your 24/7 schedule,
for this informative and highly entertaining chat. May the road rise with
you, your family, The Darts and Black Viiolet in 2025

Music maestro, please.
Stream/buy.

– BOOMERANG –


.
– SNAKE OIL –


.
– KILL ME NOW –


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The Darts: Instagram – Linktree
Black Viiolet: Instagram – Linktree

INTERVIEW New LINKIN PARK Line-Up

Posted on by JL

9 September 2024

After 7 years since the passing of frontman Chester Bennington, who committed
suicide at the age of 41, LINKIN PARK are back with a new-line up: longtime members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Joe Hahn, alongside two newcomers Emily Armstrong from grunge outfit Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain (songwriter, producer for G Flip, Illenium).


New album artwork

On November 15th new LP FROM ZERO will land.

Here’s first single The Emptiness Machine.

For all LP fans. Watch this brand-new interview with the new team.

LP: Instagram

NOEL GALLAGHER Talks About 30 Years Of OASIS’ Debut Album ‘DEFINITELY MAYBE’ In New Interview

Posted on by JL

23 August 2024

On August 29, 1994 it will be 30 years since Manchester‘s rock rascals OASIS launched
their turbulent journey with their staggering debut longplayer DEFINITELY MAYBE.

On 30 August, a deluxe anniversary edition will
be available. Info about all formats right here.

OASIS LIVE FOREVER

Noel Gallagher had a half-hour chat with British music site Louder Than War
about the recordings of DM. A half-hour of funny quotes and crazy anecdotes
and even praise for his brother.

“When I would sing the song, it would sound good,
when Liam would sing it, it would sound great.”

Oasis: Story

DIY MAGAZINE – New Issue With The Irish Mavericks FONTAINES D.C. Talking About Their Upcoming LP

Posted on by JL

23 July 2024

Irish indie stars FONTAINES D.C. already have 3 top-tier LPs on their
résumé. And number 4 is waiting in the pipeline. They titled it ROMANCE
and will hit the streets on August 23rd. Pre-order info here. So far we got
two tasters, Starburster and Favourite. Watch/Listen below.

The Irish mavericks are the cover stars of the new DIY Magazine
issue and talked about their new upcoming longplayer.

Interview HERE.

DIY: “In just five years, Fontaines DC have gone from promising post-punk newcomers
to one of the most celebrated, consistently evolving bands of the decade. Restless, curious,
and disinterested in ever taking the path oft-travelled, fourth album ‘Romance’ finds the
Irish quintet reshaping themselves and challenging everything that’s come before.”

You can buy your DIY copy HERE.

– STARBURSTER –

– FAVOURITE –

F-DC: Instagram