Hello, could you introduce the band?
Absynthe Minded is from Ghent. We started out as an acoustic swing band. I’m Bert, the singer and songwriter; then there’s Renaud, who plays violin and trumpet; Jan "the Organmeister"; Sergej, Mr. Bass; and Jakob, our very talented drummer.
What’s the idea behind the album title "Introducing"?
Knock, knock! Let me in! It’s a compilation of tracks from our first three albums, and with this record, we hope to make our debut in France. We’re ready to play for you. You really have to come see us live—if you like the songs, that’s the best thing to do!
"I Wanna Forget" has a rock feel, while "Substitute" is more Gypsy-style... is that a deliberate move to show you refuse to be pigeonholed into a single genre?
Exactly. We love all kinds of music, from punk to classical, and we want that to come through in our music.
So, isn't it reductive to define you as a jazz-rock band?
Yes, it is, but people always feel the need to put a label on things.
The use of the violin brings Venus to mind; did they influence you?
Venus? No, not at all, sorry...
I think Renaud’s main influence is jazz and the "Hot Club de France" style. You’d have to ask him sometime. There’s so much good stuff out there, so many talented artists... We love Miles Davis, Django, the Beatles, Klezmer, rock 'n' roll, soul, Beck, the Raconteurs, world music—everything! The list is endless!
How do you compose your songs? They’re all in different styles, yet there’s a distinct "Absynthe Minded" sound...
I write the songs on my own at home; I try to work on them every day, and every song I write is an Absynthe Minded song. The songs we play as a band are Absynthe Minded songs. That’s how I see it. We have a sound that’s uniquely our own, and we’re always trying to refine it.
I really like jazz. We’re all jazz fans, actually. Jakob and Renaud play in a great jazz band called Neruda.
I believe there’s a story behind your first single, "My Heroics, Part One"—could you tell us about it?
The track speaks for itself; it’s hard to add anything to that. Sorry.
Where do you see yourselves within the Belgian music scene?
Among the best?
Translated from: https://www.indiepoprock.fr/interviews/interview-de-absynthe-minded/
