My Turn is
a hardcore/punk band from Greece that was formed during the summer
of 2010 by
Markos, Fotis & Apostolis. The band has gone through some ups and downs here and there, lineup changes and a short hiatus. However, My Turn is back for good, now consisting of four individuals: Stelios (guitar), John (bass), Thanos (drums) and Apostolis (vocals).
Over their active years, they have released 2 full length albums, two 7”s (one of
them was a split with The Bridge from Serbia) and a demo, while playing countless shows all over Europe, touring and sharing the stage with
lots of bands of the worldwide hardcore/punk movement. My Turn is returning to Athens on February 3rd after a long time and we caught up with the guys, to see what they're up to
U: You
released your self-titled LP a little over a year ago. Do you have anything new
in the works? If
so, how’s the writing and recording process like for you?
Αpostolis: We recorded our self titled LP back in the summer of 2015 with the
intention to release it
in physical format before the end of 2015. Unfortunately this never happened,
although we were in touch with some cool labels to do it, because the band went on
a year long hiatus and after that the line up changed once again... So, the
only way you can listen to our newest record is via our bandcamp and youtube
channel, which definitely sucks big time and we are already thinking of doing
something to change it... The band got back together in October 2016 and we played
our first show after 1,5 years last month, so we don’t have anything new in the
works, we will just ‘play for now the same old songs over and over again’. But I’m
pretty sure that we’ll start working on new tunes pretty soon, let’s see...
Stelios: The
plan is to play as many shows as we can around Europe. The process of recording
is really tough in order to reach the desired effect, but also is really enjoyable
and creative.
U: My Turn has
been around Europe on multiple occasions. What would you say is the biggest difference
between the Greek and the European scene?
S.: As long
as hardcore musicis concerned, in Europe there are a lot more bands and that
raises the bar. I don’t think that hardcore music has
anything to offer that exact time in Greece, in comparison with the
European standards.
A.: Yeah,
we’ve played lots of shows, tours, festivals abroad. Our main purpose since we
formed the band was to play as much as we can and deliver our music and message
everywhere... By the way, our very first show wasn’t in Greece but in Bulgaria,
just so you know, haha! The European scene is obviously completely different
and much more organised and ‘professional’. There’s pros and cons, of course. One
way or another I always enjoy playing in front of familiar faces, be it in my hometown
or even 2000km away. To be honest, I don’t wanna compare the local and the
European scenes, there’s no point in it.
U: You also
have a spring tour announced. Can you elaborate on the details?
A.: We will
tour Europe with Peace Of Mind from Germany; check them out, they rule and
they are one of the most hard-working hardcore bands in the mainland right now.
At first it was supposed to be an 11-day / 11-show tour, but we have to cut it up a
little and do it a week-long, because of our working schedules. I can’t wait to be
back on tour with My Turn, it’s been a while!
S.: The
band which will accompany us in the tour, Peace Of Mind, is a very respectable
band and we will surely have an awesome time because we are going to see and catch up with many
familiar faces.
U: While
we’re on the subject, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen abroad or the
weirdest situation
you found yourselves in? Have you ever been caught doing something you shouldn’t
be doing?
S.: Once,
when we were in London, we visited the central store of M&Ms before the concert. We
thought that they were offering free M&Ms for the customers, but it wasn’t the
case. When we were leaving the store, security caught us and accused us
for shopliftng. So we spent two hours trying to explain the situation
and we were really afraid that we wouldn’t make it to the show! (laughs)
A.: Pff, I
can’t remember... Driving in heavy snow from Sweden to Norway, being body
searched by border police in any border crossing you can imagine, being caught
stealing from M & M’s central shop in London and getting banned from it for one year
(!!), striving to find a way to come back to Greece last summer during the capital
control bullshit, playing twice 2 shows in 2 different cities in one day, sleeping in
the mansion of a deceased famous local criminal / drug dealer after a fest in
Budapest, driving, driving, driving... There’s too many to mention... Funny and not
that funny moments, personal stuff, I really can’t tell! But we have always managed to
overcome bad and weird situations and I’m definitely proud of this! (laughs)
U: If you had
grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?
A.: Nope...
I’m really glad I grew up the way I had and everything around this shaped my
character and made me who I am today.
S.: Well,
you have a lot more chances and possibilities abroad, because the situation
in Greece is really tough at the moment and that makes it difficult for us to go on
more tours. Also that makes it harder for us to meet more people and be on more
concerts in order to involve ourselves and learn more stuff.
John: Life is
different in countries abroad. At first, there are job opportunities;you have a
lot more chances and possibilities. Yes, I think I would've definitely grown in a
different way but I don’t think that I would have been a different person in the end of
the day.
U: What is
passion for you? How would you define it?
S.: Passion
is to play a show in a place very far from your home and the next time you play
there to find the friends you made there.
A.: Passion
is life. I couldn’t imagine myself living a life without passion... I try to give my
best and my all in everything I’m involved, varying from relationships to friends and
from supporting my favourite football team to the hardcore movement. Sometimes I
go over the limits and this is my only mistake...
J.: Live
shows with the band. And my girlfriend.
U: What is it
about punk rock that keeps people young?
A.: Punk
rock has the energy and the aforementioned passion that is so vital for living a
good life. I couldn’t live without it.
S.: Well,
punk rock was born from resistance and with sole purpose to teach resistance. So, when you
are young, you resist to many things in order to define yourself and most of the time
music is the mean to express that feeling. That’s all.
J.: I am
not sure that it keeps people young. It just gives people something to believe in
through the years.
U: If you
could cast each member of the band as a superhero, who would each member be?
S.:
Apostolis would be Spiderman. I would be Flash. Thanos would be Hulk and Giannis would be Robin.
A.: Haha,
this is definitely one of the weirdest question I have ever answered! Maybe we’ll
all be Fantastic Four! (laughs) I don’t know! (laughs)
J.:
Apostolis would be Superman, Stelios would be Green Lantern, Thanos would be Wolverine
and I would be Daredevil.
U: If you
woke up one day in the opposite gender’s body, what would be your first
reaction?
A.: What
the fuck!!!
S.: I’d
play with my boobs and it would be awesome. (laughs)
J.: Wow. I
can see my self naked. Nice.
U: A song that
needs to be played LOUD.
A.: ΛΕΞ - "Παιδιά του παγετού"
S.: Nirvana - "Tourette's"
J.:
Jungbluth – "Looks Like Freedom"
U: An album
you can listen to without skipping one song.
A.: Madball - "Demonstrating my style"
S.: Pantera - "Cowboys From Hell"
J.:
Converge – "You fail me"
U: If there
was one problem/issue you could wipe off the face of the earth, what would it
be?
S.: War, for
sure.
A.:
Poverty, wars, greed, capitalism, ungratefulness, politicians, nazis,
know-it-alls. But this is
not just one... This world can’t be changed even if we wipe out a dozen of issues
off the face of earth, sorry...
J.:
Capitalism
U: If you
could have a 1-minute phone conversation with a younger you, what age would you call
and what would you tell yourself?
A.: I’d
call the early 20s Apostolis and ask him why the fuck he is so much worried about
stupid things...
S.: I’d
call my self at age of fifteen and tell him to study more. That fucking moron! (laughs)
J.: I am
too young to answer that, so...
U: Fuck,
marry, kill in the band.
A.: I’d
marry none, I’d fuck none but I’d kill them all.
S.: I’d
fuck Thanos. I’d marry Apostolis. And I’d kill me! (laughs)
J.: Me,
myself and I
U: What
should we expect from your upcoming show in Athens? Any final words?
A.: Our
101%, fun and positive energy! It’s been almost 2 years since we played Athens,
can’t wait! Take care of each other. Peace.
S.: Fresh
line up full of excitement. Stay tuned for the upcoming shows and tours.
J.: Our new
line up of course. See you there.
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