Trupa britanica Republica a venit in concert la jumatatea acestui an in Romania pentru prima oara iar noi am fost singura publicatie care a avut acces la ei pentru un interviu. Intalnirea cu ei a avut loc inaintea showului din Fratelli iar discutia cu solista Saffron s-a transformat, din punctul meu de vedere, in cel mai bun interviu pe care l-am facut pana acum.

Republica au revolutionat muzica europeana si americana in 1996 cu single-ul Ready To Go si au continuat sa faca o treaba excelenta pana in 2003 cand au luat o pauza. Inca sunt recunoscuti pentru raspandirea genului electronica – un rock alternativ cu influente electronice, techno, dance si punk.

Da, amestecul de stiluri enumerat mai sus e nebun si destul de greu de digerat pentru unii iar concertul pe care l-au sustinut in Fratelli Social Club a demonstrat asta. Nu erau toti entuziasmati pentru muzica lor insa erau cativa cunoscatori pe-acolo care s-au bucurat de toate hiturile lor!

Intalnirea cu Saffron mi-a schimbat multe perspective asupra felului in care ar trebui sa decurga interviurile cu artistii adevarati. M-am bucurat sa ma pregatesc pentru discutia cu ea si sa aflu o multime de lucruri despre Republica. Mai mult m-am entuziasmat in timp ce aflam multe alte chestii interesante despre the art of being an artist, despre case de discuri care fac greseli foarte mari, despre oameni care reusesc sa ajunga la publicul lor crezand in muzica lor si atat.

Mai jos aveti interviul atat in engleza cat si in romana. Veti afla despre numeroasele colaborari pe care solista Republica le-a avut de-a lungul timpului.

You started off more than 15 years ago and Ready to go was and still is one of the greatest songs of all time. At that time, what did it feel like, going from an indie band to commercial success?
We were together quite a few years before so we had been all over the clubs in England and we had put a dance version of Ready to go in the clubs and we thought “no one likes us” so we went to America, we started a tour and everything was like “hey, this people are coming to see us” and every night there was more and more. And we saw ourselves in Times Square on a big poster and were really happy. We just stayed there a lot – the last tour was a 65 city tour date all across America. It was a dream for us. Then we came back to England, Ready to go was big there and also Drop Dead Gorgeous. We felt lucky to go to many festivals around, it was unbelievable.

It was fantastic. When you write a song and the people, they sing back to you – that’s joy, that’s a wonderful  feeling. You think: oh, my life is complete, I wrote a song and sang it and it’s touched someone, somewhere.

I know that most of you stayed in the music industry after the break. What did you do in the last few years?
I was very lucky to be asked to guest on with The Cure with Robert Smith. As growing up, they were one of my biggest favorite band and it felt just amazing.  And Robert wrote a song, it’s called Just Say Yes and did a video and I got to do some shows in France with The Cure – amazing, you know. Before I went on stage I was thinking – I will sing all the songs I grew up with, I hope I won’t forget the words. (laughing) I was unsure about how The Cure fans will treat me but they were screaming my name and I was so released.
I also worked with a very talented DJ-producer called Junkie XL in Holland and I received the dance no.1 single with Beauty Never Fades and big DJ’s like Sasha and John Digweed, they helped to build it in the clubs and it was used in animatrix films. Also, I sang with DJ Carl Cox and I did a tour with him.
I worked with Prodigy as well, they are very old friends. I sang on Fat of the Land album. I was very lucky to guest with lots of different producers and people but many I really admired and I felt lucky that they asked me.
Also, a big artist in electronic music when I grew up was Gary Neuman and I got to work with him as well.

You got to accomplish all your dreams.
Yes, it was wonderful.

You decided to come back one year and a half ago. How did that decision come to you?
We were always friends, we always stayed in contact and Tim was with his family, Johnny had his own electronic – experimental band and they say “hey, you know, maybe it would be good to get together againg and do some shows”.  So far, we never stopped, we would like to do many more shows and gigs, especially in Romania and other places we’ve never been before. If people like our music, we’ll go.

I read in an interview that things are different now and you have full control to release anything that you want. Of course, things have changed also for the music industry, in the last years. Did you find it difficult to be a part of this game, as a group, again?
I think game is a very good word. I think that if you go into something with the energy of “listen, this is our music , we have written this” and wherever we go, we are free to do a show wherever we want to go, not where a record company says. We have freedom to go everywhere. Records companies, maybe it’s not so much now, they felt threatened. We are a good live band, we want to go where people want to hear us. We don’t necessarily want to go where other people think we will sell a lot of records. You know what I mean? If all bands would do that, we wouldn’t be able to see so much and be able to our music to as many people as possible. I think any band, that is their dream: to play to as many people as possible. It doesn’t matter where. We feel  very liberated to be able to do that and not have them ”you have to go to Germany, you have to go to America.”

In Romania, no one buys CD’s anymore so probably they would never send you here.
They did it before. We want to go to all the places we never got a chance to go. We’re happy with that and we’d rather do that.

You’ve worked with Prodigy and The Cure. How was that like and is that going to happen again in the future?
With Prodigy, I’ve known them for many, many years so they started exactly in the same time as I started with my first group. We’re from the same town in South England and we did many, many shows in the acid house – rave scene when dance music first started. There were many parties, underground shows in warehouses and it was illegal, you know, but there no rules: there was a DJ and people singing or making music. It was very under the radar, not commercial at all. It’s great to work with all friends and its amazing to see how well they’ve done. I still see them now.

With The Cure, last year I went to sing with them at Wembley, Robert still invites me and he’s a really nice friend. I’d love to work with them againg but I’d love to work with lots of other people too.

Are you working on new songs right now? Are you planning on releasing an album?
Yes, tonight you will hear, we got quite some good songs. Because things have changed, we’re not sure if we will put out an EP – just a few songs. Maybe this is the best way for people to hear some new stuff instead of committing to doing a whole album. We’re very happy to do this ourselves. If you sign to a label, you have to wait a year for them to release it.

They have all sorts of strategies like that. Sometimes they could put you on a break for two years.
Yes, exactly. Once we see the songs are good and the people are enjoying them live, we put them out ourselves.

How do you feel about the online industry and everyone spending their time on social media – Facebook or the blogs?
I may sound like an anti-geek but I don’t use computers.

Wow, that’s great. So you don’t spend any time online?
No, I don’t use them, I barely use a phone. I think I few years ago I tried to give something to everyone online but I couldn’t give them enough so I think I could disappoint them. And because I’m not really technical in that way, I am too slow, there are so many comments and I feel guilty I can’t give every single one the time that I would like too. Tim is very good at this. I tried communicating through my songs and I would rather do that. That is a gift that I have, I don’t feel very good with technology. Is weird, isn’t it? Especially for you since you’re writing on a website every day?

No, it’s not weird. I think every person gets their message across the world the best way they know how. For example, I’m a photographer and I think the best way for me to get my message across the world is by taking photos and showing them to people. This is want I want to say. So I guess it’s the same with music.
Yes, wow, that’s beautiful. Exactly, I feel the same way about music. It’s your expression, I know. And I would love to see your photos.

Who would you like to work with in the future?
There are so many talented people out there. One person is Dr.Dre. Or Missy Elliott. Their production is so futuristic, they have their vision. Sometimes, in rock they don’t push the boundaries too much. We try to use our to mix dance and electronic music with it so that it sounds different, it’s more than just one genre. But I love the people who have vision. They instruments together that rock music would never use. It’s a fearless way, I like that.

What kind of music do you listen to?
There’s all kinds of music, there are so many different things: at the moment I love Lady Hawk, she’s fantastic. There’s also a band called IAMX, they’re very talented. There’s another group, they just started, it’s called Pasarela Deadsquad, they make this T-shirts – they also make guy T-shirts, you should check them out. I also like MONA from the States. I also listen to a lot of dance music. I love classical cuz I trained as ballet when I was little, I love reggae, it makes me happy. My favorite singers are Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Will Cox.

What about coming to Romania, have you been here before?
No, it’s the first time and I love it here. I love the architecture, it’s so beautiful, it’s really on my street, I love this.

What have you heard about Romania before coming here?
I know about the Revolution and about Ceausescu and I think it was very good that happened. Republican means for the people. I’ve met some Romanian people in London and they are really nice. I know the Black Sea is here but I’m willing and curious to find out more about Transylvania, Moldavia and the third part –what is it called?

It’s Muntenia.
Oh, yes, Muntenia. And I also love Romanian gipsy people. In England it’s different but they’re outsiders, they live in the houses where they travel.

How do you feel about the changes you have been through in the last few years? And how about CHANGE, in general?
Change is good. If you change, everything around you changes. I’ve been studying a martial art, a part of kung fu. I’ve trained for 3-4 years and its changed my whole perspective on life, I’m a lot calmer. I was very much a rebel (laughing out loud). But change is good, embrace it if it comes.
It’s really good to think as things as a challenge, never a mistake, never a regret, always an opportunity.

How is it like when writing new music?
Always exciting. You have the base and the energy and you are with people who have the same vibe.

Do you feel the pressure to outdo yourself, to do more than you did last time, to come with something better?
Personally, I think you always try to outdo yourself. Better is a relative word but songs are for the listener, whoever that may be. So, it’s what they think, not what I think. Maybe I have my favorite but people have different ones. When you don’t have the pressure of commercial, you write your best work then. You don’t want to become like a factory. It’s very important to only put out stuff to people only if you’re proud of it yourself.

How do you feel like mainstream artists, pop music like Lady Gaga?
Well, I think that Lady Gaga is an amazing, an amazing artist for music. She’s extraordinary talented but understands commercial. She’s pushed the boundaries in such an amazing way with her talent. It’s really dangerous and there’s a lot of controversial stuff. That’s very good. But if something it’s not individual, it’s not good enough, if someone wants to copy your work, it won’t be the same, it has to come from that person’s heart.

What piece of advice would you give to a new artist that is just starting off right now?
Be prepared to work very very hard. Believe in yourself no matter what anyone says and the truth will come.

Ati inceput cu mai mult de 15 ani in urma cu Ready to Go, care este in continuare unul dintre cele mai bune cantece al acestor ani. La acel moment, cum v-ati simtit trecand de la o trupa indie la una cu succes comercial?
Eram impreuna de cativa ani si fusesem prin toate cluburile din Anglia si pusesem deja versiunea dance a Ready to Go in acele localuri si nu credeam ca exista cineva cu acelasi sound ca al nostru; asa ca am mers in America, am inceput sa avem turnee, sa ne gandim ca uite, oamenii aia vin sa ne vada si in fiecare seara erau din ce in ce mai multi. Am stat acolo destul de mult timp – ultimul nostru turneu a trecut prin 65  de orase din intreaga America. A fost de vis pentru noi. Cand ne-am intors in Anglia, Ready to Go era deja cunoscuta si la fel si Drop Dead Gorgeous. Ne-am simtit norocosi sa mergem la festivaluri, era incredibil. A fost fantastic. Atunci cand scrii un cantec si oamenii il canta impreuna cu tine simti ca a atins pe cineva, undeva.

Stiu ca majoritatea dintre voi ati ramas in industria muzicala dupa pauza. Ce ati facut in ultimii ani?
Am fost foarte norocoasa sa fiu invitata sa cant alaturi de The Cure cu Robert Smith. Cand eram mai mica erau unele dintre trupele mele favorite si sentimentul a fost extraordinar. Robert a scris o piesa, Just Say Yes, am facut un videoclip impreuna, am mers la cateva spectacole in Franta cu The Cure, extraordinar, iti dai seama. Inainte de a intra pe scena ma gandeam, voi canta toate cantecele cu care am crescut, sper sa nu uit versurile. (rade) Nu eram sigura de felul in care fanii The Cure ma vor trata, dar imi strigau numele si am fost atat de usurata. Am lucrat, de asemenea,  cu un foarte talentat DJ si producator olandez, Junkie XL, si  Beauty Never Fades a devenit singlelul dance numarul 1, iar DJ mari ca Sasha si John Digweed l-au facut cunoscut in cluburi, fiind folosit si in filme de animatie. Am cantat si cu Carl Cox si am mers intr-un turneu cu el.
Am lucrat si cu Prodigy, suntem  vechi prieteni. Am cantat pe albumul Fat of the Land. Am fost foarte norocoasa sa fiu invitata de diversi producatori si multi oameni pe care ii admir si m-am simtit foarte norocoasa ca m-au invitat.  De altfel, un mare artist al muzicii electronice cu care am crescut a fost Gary Numan si am lucrat si cu el.

Ai reusit sa iti indeplinesti toate visele.
Da, a fost superb.

Ati decis sa va intoarceti pe scena muzicala in urma cu un an si jumatate. Cum ati ajuns la decizia asta?
Am fost mereu prieteni, am rams in contact cu Tom si familia sa, Johnny avea propria sa trupa de electronic- experimental si au spus „ hei, poate ar fi bine sa ne reunim si sa facem cateva showuri impreuna”. Pana acum nu ne-am oprit si ne-ar placea sa avem si mai multe spectacole si showuri, mai ales in Romania si in locuri in care nu am mai ajuns pana acum. Daca publicului ii place muzica noastra, ne ducem.

Am citit intr-un interviu ca lucrurile sunt diferite acum si aveti control complet sa lansati numai ce va place. Desigur, lucruril s-au  schimbat si in industria muzicala, in ultimii ani. Vi s-a parut dificil sa faceti parte din acest jos, ca grup?
Cred ca joc e un cuvant foarte potrivit. Cred ca daca te apuci de ceva cu energia ca „asculta, asta e muzica noastra, noi am scris asta” si functionezi mereu asa, esti liber sa tii un concert oriunde vrei, nu unde iti spune casa de discuri. Avem libertatea de a merge peste tot. Casele de discuri, desi poate nu  foarte mult in aceasta perioada, se simt amenintate. Suntem o trupa buna live, vrem sa mergem acolo unde oamenii vor sa ne asculte. Nu vream neaparat sa mergem acolo unde alti oameni cred ca vom vinde mai multe discuri. Intelegi ce vreau sa spun? Daca toate trupele ar proceda la fel nu am putea sa vedem atat de multe si sa aducem muzica noastra cat mai multor oameni. Cred ca asta e visul fiecarei trupe, sa cante in cat mai multe locuri cu putinta. Nu conteaza unde. Ne simtit foarte eliberati pentru ca putem sa facem astfel si nu avem pe cineva care ne spune „trebuie sa mergeti in Germania, trebuie sa mergeti in America”.

In Romania nimeni nu mai cumpara cd-uri deci probabil ca nu v-ar trimite aici.
Vrem sa ne ducem in toate locurile in care nu am avut pana acum sansa de a ajunge. Suntem fericiti asa si preferam lucrurile astfel.

Ai lucrat cu The Prodigy si The Cure. Cum a fost si exista posibilitate sa se mai repete colaborarile pe viitor?
Pe Prodigy ii stiu de multi, multi ani si au inceput pe vremea in care si eu eram in prima mea trupa. Suntem din acelasi oras aflat in Sudul Angliei si am cantat impreuna in multe spectacole de pe scena acid house – rave unde a luat nastere muzica dance. Erau o multime de petreceri, showuri undeerground in depozite, erau ilegale, dar nu erau reguli: era un DJ si oameni cantand sau compunand muzica. Era foarte putin cunoscut, deloc comercial. E genial sa lucrezi cu prieteni si sa vezi cat de bine au ajuns. Inca ii mai vad.
Cu The Cure am fost sa cant anul trecut pe Wembley, Robert inca ma mai invita si este un prieten foarte bun. Mi-ar placea sa lucrez cu ei din nou, dar si cu multi alti oameni.

Lucrati la noi piese? Planuiti sa lansati un nou album?
In seara asta veti asculta cateva piese bune. Pentru ca lucrurile s-au schimbat nu suntem siguri daca vom lansa un EP- doar cateva piese foarte bune. Poate asta e cea mai sigura modalitate ca publicul sa asculte ceva piese noi in locul unui intreg album. Suntem foarte fericiti sa facem asta singuri. Daca semnezi cu un label, trebuie sa astepti un an pana lanseazaa ei ceva.

Au tot felul de strategii. Uneori e posibil sa te puna pe pauza si pentru doi ani.
Da, exact. Daca piesele sunt bune si publicului care le asculta live le plac, le vom lansa singuri.

Ce parere aveti de industra online si de toata lumea care isi petrece timpul in social media, pe Fecebook, pe bloguri.?
Cred ca voi suna ca un anti-talent, dar eu nu utilizez computerul.

Wow, asta e extraordinar. Deci nu petreci deloc timp online?
Nu, nu le folosesc. De abia folosesc telefonul. Cred ca in urma cu ceva ani am incercat sa trimit ceva tuturor online si pentru ca nu am reusit cred ca i-am dezamagit. Si pentru ca sunt complet atehnica sunt prea inceata, sunt atat de multe comentarii si ma simt  vinovata ca nu pot sa acord fiecaruia timpul necesar.
Tim e foarte priceput la astea. Am incercat sa comunic prin intermediul cantecelor mele si cred ca asta e mai eficient.
Acesta e un dar pe care il am iar eu nu ma simt confortabil cu tehnologia. E ciudat, nu? Mai ales ca tu scrii pentru un site in fiecare zi?

Nu, nu e ciudat. Cred ca fiecare persoana reuseste sa isi trimita mesajul in lume in modul in care poate cel mai bine. Spre exemplu, eu sunt fotograf, pentru mine cel mai bine  reusesc sa imi trimit mesajul e prin intermediul pozelor. Asta vreau sa spun si cred ca e valabil si pentru muzica.
Wow, ce frumos. Exact, la fel simt si eu in legatura cu muzica. E forma ta de exprimare, stii. Mi-ar placea si sa iti vad fotografiile.

Cu cine ti-ar placea sa lucrezi pe viitor?
Suntem o multime de oameni talentati. Una ar fi Dr. Dre. Sau Missy Elliot. Productiile lor sunt atat de futuristice, au viziune. Cateodata in rock nu impingi limitele suficient de mult. Noi incercam sa mixam muzica dance si electronica incat sa sune diferit, e mai mult decat un singur gen. Dar iubesc oamenii care au viziune. Instrumentele lor cu muzica aceea rock, nu ar merge. Ei incearca fara frica, asta imi place.

Ce fel de muzica asculti?
Exista tot felul de genuri muzicale, atat de multe chestii diferite: la momentul actual imi place Lady Hawk, este fantastica. Imi mai plac si IAMX, sunt foarte talentati, Mai este un grup care tocmai s-a lansat, Pasarela Deadsquad, au niste tricouri, ar trebui sa ii vezi. Imi plac si MONA, care vin din State. Ascult si o multime de muzica dance. Imi place foarte mult cea clasica pentru ca am fost balerina cand eram mica, imi place raggae pentru ca ma face fericita. Cantaretii mei preferati sunt Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Will Cox.

Ce zici de Romania, ai mai fost aici?
Nu, e prima data si imi place la nebunie. Imi place arhitectura, este asa frumoasa, e chiar pe gustul meu.

Ai auzit de Romania inainte de a veni aici?
Stiu despre Revolutie si despre Ceausescu si cred ca a fost un lucru bun ca s-a intamplat. Republican inseamna pentru oameni. Am cunoscut romania la Londra si sunt foarte draguti. Stiu ca Marea Neagra sa afla aici, dar sunt dispusa si curioasa sa invat mai multe despre Transilvania, Moldova si care era a treia parte?

Muntenia.
A da, Muntenia. Imi plac si tiganii romani. In Anglia sunt diferiti, locuiesc in casele de pe unde calatoresc.

Ce parere ai despre schimbarile din ultimii ani. Si despre SCHIMBARE, in general?
Schimbarea a buna.  Daca tu te schimbi, totul in jurul tau se schimba. Am stusit mult artele martiale, o parte din kung fu. M-am antrenat timp de 3-4 ani si mi-a schimbat cu totul perspectiva despre viata, sunt mult mai calma. Eram foarte rebela (rade). Schimbarea e buna, accept-o daca vine.
Este bine sa priveste lucruile ca o provocare, nu ca pe greseala, nu ca un regret, mereu ca o oportunitate.

Cum e sa compui din nou muzica?
Intodeauna incitant. Ai basul si energia si este mereu inconjurat de oamenii care au acelasi vibe.

Simti presiunea de a te intrece pe sine, sa faci mai mult decat ai facut data trecuta, sa vii cu ceva mai bun?
Personal, eu cred ca mereu incerci sa te intreci pe sine insuti. Mai bine este o relativ, dar cantecele sunt pentru cei care le asculta, oricine ar fi. Deci, e vorba depsre ce cred ei, si nu despre ce cred eu. Poate eu am favoritele mele, dar oamenii au alte.e. Cand nu ai presiunea comercialului, atunci iti compui cea mai buna muzica. Nu vrei sa devii  un fel de fabrica. Este foarte important sa dai spre ascultare numai daca tu insuti esti mandru de rezultat.

Ce parere ai despre artisti mainstream, din muzica pop, cum ar fi Lady Gaga?
Cred ca Lady Gaga e uimitoare, un artist extraordinar pentru lumea muzicala. E foarte talentata dar intelege si aspectul comercial. A impins limitele intr-o maniera uimitoare cu talentul ei. E periculos si exista si o multime de lucruri controversate. Dar asta e un lucru bun. Dar daca ceva nu e individual, nu e suficient de bun, daca cineva te copieaza nu va fi la fel, trebuie sa vina din suflet.

Ce sfat le-ai da unor artisti care sunt la inceput de drum acum?
Fiti pregatiti sa munciti foarte foarte mult. Credeti in voi orice vi s-ar spune si adevarul va veni.

Pentru interviul asta am trei multumiri speciale: colega Alexandra pentru traducere, lui Cosmin Tudoran pentru poze si PR-ului clubului Fratelli pentru exclusivitate si pentru trei dintre cele mai tari evenimente la care am fost in 2011: Hurts, Hooverphonic si bineinteles, Republica.