Interview with Nitro Injekzia
April 27, 2014
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my thirty-three years on Earth (thank you, thank you – yes, I do manage to stay alive quite well), it’s that music has the power to change lives, and that change can come regardless of which language delivers it. When I started this website, I thought that I’d be getting loads of requests to do pieces for guys in bands that I already speak to relatively often on the internet. Out of nowhere I was approached by a man named Kostya in a band I had never heard of, and perhaps might never have if this endeavor had not been made. I wouldn’t even have known what I would be missing out on – and let me tell you, I’d be missing out on a lot! Kostya asked me to take a look at his band and I told him that I would. I had no idea what I was in for. From the first few chords of their song “Kak Wse” I was hooked! Their music is fast and melodic and falls somewhere between Zeke and Street Dogs. Although I couldn’t understand what Kostya was singing, the feeling of honesty and integrity came through clearly and I really dug it. I couldn’t wait to talk to these guys!
You guys have been playing together for over three years now. How did Nitro Injekzia initially get started?
Nitro Injekzia started in Berlin about one year before I (Dave) met Russlan and Kostya. The two knew each other through the Berlin underground scene years before that, and had played in another project together. I was new in the city and dying to find a tight punk rock band. They needed a new drummer, and when we met to play the songs for the first time, it just seemed to really work. We were stoked.
You guys live in Berlin now, but you have also called Russia and Canada home. Can you tell us some of the differences between the music scenes of these three places?
I grew up in Kamloops, a fairly small town 400km east of Vancouver, Canada. In summer its a bone dry desert, and in winter its a frozen tundra. The music scene was something like that. Just about all the good shows are in Vancouver. Tight bands are cheered back on stage for triple encores in that city, its wild. The venues are usually packed full too, but they empty your wallet. Germany has a strong underground music scene, shows are cheap, and in the summer months there are tons of festivals. It fuels small bands, and enables us to do what we should be doing; writing songs and playing punk rock shows! In Russia you have also a lot of good bands but it is hard to be a musician there.
What are some of the similarities that you find among these places, as well?
Cold as tits in winter? I'm still a head shorter than the average dude in all three? I think people are basically the same the world over, and we've got friends and family in all three countries.
Punk rock doesn't seem to always receive such a warm welcome in Russia. Have you run into any difficulties playing shows there or going to shows there?
We haven't played a show in Russia yet. We'll make it over there at some point, but we do everything DIY, often strictly verbal agreements. We'll probably get swindled, but I'd love to play there anyway!
Do you have a favourite venue to play?
I like dark smoky clubs with good rum, good beer, and a pool table. Supamolly is one of our favourites in Germany.
Nitro Injekzia started in Berlin about one year before I (Dave) met Russlan and Kostya. The two knew each other through the Berlin underground scene years before that, and had played in another project together. I was new in the city and dying to find a tight punk rock band. They needed a new drummer, and when we met to play the songs for the first time, it just seemed to really work. We were stoked.
You guys live in Berlin now, but you have also called Russia and Canada home. Can you tell us some of the differences between the music scenes of these three places?
I grew up in Kamloops, a fairly small town 400km east of Vancouver, Canada. In summer its a bone dry desert, and in winter its a frozen tundra. The music scene was something like that. Just about all the good shows are in Vancouver. Tight bands are cheered back on stage for triple encores in that city, its wild. The venues are usually packed full too, but they empty your wallet. Germany has a strong underground music scene, shows are cheap, and in the summer months there are tons of festivals. It fuels small bands, and enables us to do what we should be doing; writing songs and playing punk rock shows! In Russia you have also a lot of good bands but it is hard to be a musician there.
What are some of the similarities that you find among these places, as well?
Cold as tits in winter? I'm still a head shorter than the average dude in all three? I think people are basically the same the world over, and we've got friends and family in all three countries.
Punk rock doesn't seem to always receive such a warm welcome in Russia. Have you run into any difficulties playing shows there or going to shows there?
We haven't played a show in Russia yet. We'll make it over there at some point, but we do everything DIY, often strictly verbal agreements. We'll probably get swindled, but I'd love to play there anyway!
Do you have a favourite venue to play?
I like dark smoky clubs with good rum, good beer, and a pool table. Supamolly is one of our favourites in Germany.
The first thing that hit me while listening to your music was the absolute speed and energy you maintain throughout the songs. What are some of the musical influences you guys draw from?
We all have different roots. I love delta blues, dixieland jazz, ska, hardcore, punk, rock n' roll. I grew up playing classical piano, and started listening to punk rock when I was nine or ten. My cousin gave my brother and I some Pennywise, Bad Religion, Millencolin and Refused records. I was hooked. Russlan is a big AC/DC fan. Tom Waits, Dylan, The Stones, Cash, The Casualties; the list is just about endless. Music with power, passion, and truth.
The guitar work is very subtle at times, but it really roars at other times. How much time goes into writing your songs, on average?
The writing process for us is almost always unique for each song. Some are written on a piano, some on an acoustic guitar, and others start with all three of us together, loud as hell. The basic melody and song structure usually come first, then lyrics. Normally one day. We play those ideas together and twist them over the course of a few weeks into a Nitro Injekzia song.
Who writes lyrics to the songs?
Kostya writes all the Russian lyrics, and I write all the English songs.
I've got to admit that I have no idea what you're saying when you sing in Russian. But, the feeling of the music transcends the language barrier, so I think that maybe it's not such a big drawback. What are some of the themes of your songs?
Our next record will be about a 50/50 split of English and Russian songs. At the end of the day, we want our lyrics to be good poetry. For me that means writing in English, and for Kostya it means writing in his mother tongue. Our songs deal with many different topics. Some are about war, or about finding a real home in music, or anything that happens to hit home with us, and shakes us to the core. We want to give it to people straight.
People can order your 2012 s/t album online. How many other recordings and compilations have you made or been part of?
We're working on our second studio album right now, and it should be finished in the next few months. Some compilations; Ungovernable Resistance, Soli-Sampler Still loving bleiberecht, Freedom Punker Volume 5, International Punk Rock Superstars Vol.6
We all have different roots. I love delta blues, dixieland jazz, ska, hardcore, punk, rock n' roll. I grew up playing classical piano, and started listening to punk rock when I was nine or ten. My cousin gave my brother and I some Pennywise, Bad Religion, Millencolin and Refused records. I was hooked. Russlan is a big AC/DC fan. Tom Waits, Dylan, The Stones, Cash, The Casualties; the list is just about endless. Music with power, passion, and truth.
The guitar work is very subtle at times, but it really roars at other times. How much time goes into writing your songs, on average?
The writing process for us is almost always unique for each song. Some are written on a piano, some on an acoustic guitar, and others start with all three of us together, loud as hell. The basic melody and song structure usually come first, then lyrics. Normally one day. We play those ideas together and twist them over the course of a few weeks into a Nitro Injekzia song.
Who writes lyrics to the songs?
Kostya writes all the Russian lyrics, and I write all the English songs.
I've got to admit that I have no idea what you're saying when you sing in Russian. But, the feeling of the music transcends the language barrier, so I think that maybe it's not such a big drawback. What are some of the themes of your songs?
Our next record will be about a 50/50 split of English and Russian songs. At the end of the day, we want our lyrics to be good poetry. For me that means writing in English, and for Kostya it means writing in his mother tongue. Our songs deal with many different topics. Some are about war, or about finding a real home in music, or anything that happens to hit home with us, and shakes us to the core. We want to give it to people straight.
People can order your 2012 s/t album online. How many other recordings and compilations have you made or been part of?
We're working on our second studio album right now, and it should be finished in the next few months. Some compilations; Ungovernable Resistance, Soli-Sampler Still loving bleiberecht, Freedom Punker Volume 5, International Punk Rock Superstars Vol.6
What other music groups have you guys been involved in, in the past?
I played in a band called The Loopholes in Canada, with two of my best friends for a few years. We didn't play many shows. Good logo though.
Have you had the opportunity to tour in the US, or do you plan to come over some time?
We haven't played any shows in the US yet, but we'll make it over there! Canada is also high on the list.
What other bands would you do almost anything to play a show with?
Rancid, NOFX, or Bad Religion for me I guess. My buddy said The Casualties are nice guys. Anyone who's cool to us. I'd like to meet Brooks Wackerman, he's a sick drummer.
Do you have anything at all that you would like to say to the readers?
Yeah, tell your mom to stop calling me when she's drunk!
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us, and I really look forward to hearing more from Nitro Injekzia!
I played in a band called The Loopholes in Canada, with two of my best friends for a few years. We didn't play many shows. Good logo though.
Have you had the opportunity to tour in the US, or do you plan to come over some time?
We haven't played any shows in the US yet, but we'll make it over there! Canada is also high on the list.
What other bands would you do almost anything to play a show with?
Rancid, NOFX, or Bad Religion for me I guess. My buddy said The Casualties are nice guys. Anyone who's cool to us. I'd like to meet Brooks Wackerman, he's a sick drummer.
Do you have anything at all that you would like to say to the readers?
Yeah, tell your mom to stop calling me when she's drunk!
Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us, and I really look forward to hearing more from Nitro Injekzia!