Rock Monsters Romania

The quarantine was a really hard period for bands and artist. We talked to some bands from all over the world to see the real effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in music.

Today, we talk to Esteban, one of the most important underground UK-based bands, which made over 315 appearances throughout the UK!

How can you describe the changes generated by the pandemic in the band’s activity?

Like everyone here in the UK, we had to down tools mid-March, luckily for us we had just completed the last recording session for our new album Jackpot Motel, which is out now. Since then, we’ve been in lockdown and only recently managed our first safe rehearsal. That said, COVID has for us, been a really productive period; we’ve doubled down on writing new material so we’re heading back into the studio this year to record. Next year, we’ll be recording and hopefully playing live again.

What daily activity did you miss the most during quarantine?

Jamming! We all live strung out over the length of England so, it’s been tricky travelling amidst the local lockdowns; and whilst juggling the challenges at home. We all just have to be patient and focus on what we can in our homes.

Were there any pluses for this period without concerts?

Sure, we have to look to the positives. We’ve had time to listen back to our new album and work on the new tracks for the next collection of releases. The fact is, we are in a commanding position in terms of material we’d like to take to the stage, the concerts will return in some sort of capacity so we will prepare for when they do.

How does it feel to return to some normalcy?

I’m not sure we have returned to some normalcy? We are all still very aware that rules and laws are there to follow and like everyone we must do our bit to stay safe and limit contact with people. That’s easy for some and not so for others because we live in four different counties, normality might feel slightly different for each of us. We sit and wait and practice at home until then.

What plans have you got for the rest of 2020?

We’re releasing some remixes of a track from the Jackpot Motel album. Suburban Paradise (The Comfy House Mix) and (The Real Feel Mix) are something new for us. Mat Leppanen from our label The Animal Farm Music did a great job of taking Suburban Paradise to two musically different places, we are very lucky to be working with such a talent. Ville from the label is always keen to hear the new material so we’re working on demos for the next session, hopefully before the year is out.

Do you have any message for the bands or artists who are still in lockdown/quarantine?

Keep practicing and listening to music. I’d say one of the best things to do is to pick an artist you have almost no previous interest in – let’s say Burt Bacharach – and study them from every angle. What makes them so special? Music is such a rich experience but can always be enriched!

What message do you have for the people who are going to read this interview?

Follow good stuff and good stuff will follow you.

Interview by Radu Mihai