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 Venus Fly Trap, an underground UK-based band!

How can you describe the changes generated by the pandemic in the bands activity?

Well from being very active playing live with a lot of interesting gigs coming up to all being cancelled and no idea when the gig scene will be active again. I also run a record shop SPIRAL ARCHIVE RECORDS, put into lockdown,then open with restrictions,which has happened a few times now were back in lockdown again. Basically a lot of my sales has moved to online,without that and the support from customers I would have closed.

Another impact we didn’t rehearse for a while because we wernt giging,but recently we have started to write some new tracks and hope to be rehearsing regularly when we know more.

What daily activity did you miss the most during quarantine?

Meeting up with friends wether it was in a cafe,bar or at a gig,its the social interaction that is sadly lacking at the moment.

Were there any pluses for this period without concerts?

Cant think of any,im just using the time to do interviews and promote any new releases spent most of 2020 plugging the release VENUS FLY TRAP/ALEX NOVAK-MERCURIAL CD/DL(GLASS RECORDS MODERN) a career spanning retrospective that includes the best of VFT and other bands,projects i have been involved with including ISAWS,RELIGIOUS OVERDOSE,TEMPEST,NOVA STATE CONSPIRACY,ATTRITION,THE DEN and SPORE,for people to delve into and explore further if they wish,about eighty minutes of music packed into this release.
https://glassmodern.bandcamp.com/album/mercurial-1978-2018

How does it feel to return to some normalcy?

What does normal mean anymore,the parameters keep changing,you get used to one thing then its changed,things are too fluid at the moment.

What plans have you got for the rest of 2021?

Just released a download only single ACHILLES HEEL available via GLASS RECORDS….heres the link to the bandcamp and video…
https://glassminiature.bandcamp.com/album/achilles-heel

Out at the end of march is VENUS FLY TRAP-TIME LAPSE CD/DL(GLASS RECORDS MODERN),its a selection of tracks collected from the albums TOTEM,PANDORAS BOX and LUNA TIDE,placed together as a possible alternative album in this alternate reality.
https://glassmodern.bandcamp.com/album/time-lapse-1989-1994
Also working on a couple of new tracks FORBIDDEN PLANET and BEBE to be released later this year.

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

Hope to see you all on the other side, keep safe.

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

Music and the arts need your support,we are all in the dreaded waiting room till things start moving again.

Interview by Radu Mihai