Dutch progressive experimentalists Textures are about to hit the UK for a bunch of dates before unleashing their third album ‘Silhouettes’ – Rock Sound had a natter with frontman Eric Kalsbeek
Was this a stressful album to make or is Textures in the studio an enjoyable process?
“It wasn't stressful at all, although we had some deadlines to make. We started writing approximately a year ago, which was sometimes hard since we were on the road a lot, and we don't really write a lot when we're touring – we need a quiet place to write. Personally I love writing new songs, it's such an enigmatic process we go through with the six of us, it's hard to describe. When a song really starts to take form, we all get really hyped up and inspired – we're like little ADD kids jumping around, all exited and pumped up by every new addition to that song!”
Do you feel you’ve finally reached / discovered your own Textures sound?
That's a tricky one. It's always a bit dangerous to claim you have your own sound and you're original. Every band is influenced by other bands, it’s just what you do with those influences. We all listen to a shitload of music, in every genre, we try not to restrict ourselves and I think that reflects in our music. I think we have a recognizable sound now, shaped by what we love but certainly with our own personal touch. You can call it the Textures sound I guess.
What’s inspired you lyrically on this album – give us some examples.
I really love the lyrical landscapes Poe and Lovecraft create, and you can say they influenced me in a way. They also write about struggles between light and dark, life and death and the underlying attraction between these opposites. You can also see the connection between our previous albums in that sense; we love opposites.
Why do you feel the need to base your albums on a certain theme?
Good question. I guess we feel an album has to have a general unifying feeling to it, and one way to accomplish that is by having a theme. It was a bit different with 'Silhouettes' though, since the lyrics were there first and we based the title on what the lyrics told us.
How has the brotherhood within the band changed over the years?
We're really good friends. Even better then when we started. When you're cramped up in tiny spaces with each other all the time you really get to know each other! Of course we had some line-up changes during the years, those are never nice, but they were necessary and we're still good friends with our ex-members. Of course we have some struggles sometimes, but then we bash each other's heads in and then it's all good. It's like a relationship in that sense. We're an honest group of friends, we talk a lot and we confront each other when we're slacking or doing things the wrong way. I sound a bit emo now, so I'll stop here!
Would you agree that Textures are the underdog or is it a case that the world hasn’t latched on to the greatness of the band yet?
I agree we're an underground band and probably always will be, but we don't have any problems with that. We make fairly difficult music, so our fan base will never be gigantic. Of course we hope to reach a lot more people. We're slowly conquering the world though; we have plotted an evil scheme to rule eventually. Watch your backs, huge bands, watch your backs....muhahahaha!
How would you describe your personality?
Chaotic, creative, introvert extravert, social, generally positive minded
If you weren’t doing Textures what would you be doing?
I'd probably be in another band, singing. And I'd still have my design company. I'd still be doing creative stuff, I can't live without that.
What’s your ultimate goal in life?
To touch people with music, learn, travel the world and enjoy life in general.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be and why?
I wish I was a bit less chaotic and sloppy, because that gets me in trouble sometimes.
Catch Textures on tour in April:
12 LUTON Students Union
13 MILTON KEYNES The Pitz
14 SHEFFIELD The Corporation
15 LONDON The Underworld (supporting Death Angel)
16 BRIGHTON The Engine Rooms
Rock Sound
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