HRH: I read somewhere the brother of the Joey Ramones called Barb Wire Dolls, “One of the most explosive and exciting new punk band I have seen in decades,” after seeing your performance in New York City. When you started with this band did you have any idea of what you wanted to bring to the music?
Isis: I along with Pyn (guitarist) we were totally bored of the contemporary rock music out there. All the punk bands from back in the day where old news but that’s what inspired us. I wanted to bring back that energy that those great legendary bands had. We simply started this band out of boredom and a desire to destroy the wimpy “hipster/indie” music out there! (Laughs)
HRH: Considering that you’re originally from Greece, where there’s not much history of Punk scene, how difficult and challenging was it to keep it together as a band?
Isis: Greece has its own little punk history, but none of the bands had enough vision to go play in America or England. They had the opportunities but they all fight amongst themselves and stab each other in the back … non-stop! (Laughs) It’s the Greek mentality in the music scene here. There is no unity. That’s what we wanted and strived to achieve in Greece when we put on our own punk shows every Sunday for months in Athens to try and create a real scene. It worked well for us but the back stabbing was too much so thankfully, around that time we got invited to play a show in Los Angeles and that’s all it took for us to sell everything we had, buy tickets and get over there as soon as possible! We don’t let others create our destiny! We create it ourselves.
HRH: In the ’70s and ’80s being punk rock band was all about a passionate group of people who are not afraid to stand up and challenge the corrupted society and the man in the suit. Do you believe that you are once again doing exactly that, by bringing back the essence of the punk and standing against the corrupt governments and the injustice in the system?
Isis: That’s what punk is known for mostly, but I feel it is also the same for changing the music styles and attitudes. Anyone can learn an instrument in a few months or start singing and in just a few months, one can have a functioning punk band. The agenda one has is up to them. With our debut Slit we attacked everything. With the new album, we are diving deeper into the individuals’ soul for redemption.
HRH: Would you say that your background had a profound effect on your music direction in any way? Like in the song “Your Escape” … that has been directly inspired by the more current political turmoil and debt crisis in Greece?
Isis: Everything that I have experienced and has created my persona is reflected in the music and live performance for sure. Being in Greece during the financial crisis and political turmoil enraged me, because Greeks always had a passion for life, to celebrate it, and suddenly I saw that the modern Greeks had given up and had become slaves to the system. They have been brainwashed by everything from TV to talk radio to sports and have forgotten the ecstasy of life! I am compassionate for all people who are enslaved metaphorically but there is no excuse. Wake up and start using your mind to create a new experience. Escape your fate and re-create!
HRH: Tell me more about the band and yourself for people who still haven’t heard of Barb Wire Dolls. How did you guys hook up in the first place?
Isis: We as a band are a revolution! We live together and share everything. No one makes money, everyone has their duties and we all have one mission: to play our original music to audiences that will have us … We started the band in an artist commune in the mountains of Crete, an island in Greece, and I and Pyn started it first together. After I saw the concert movie “The Song Remains The Same” by Led Zeppelin three times in a row, (Laughs) I asked Pyn to start a band with me because I was so inspired by the movie and I wanted to sing. Later on we got JayJay and Krash in the band. As for songs, our debut is a big slap in the face to all that’s been called ‘punk’ the last two decades. It’s the real, honest, raw response to the status quo!
HRH: How did you end up working with the legendary producer Steve Albini on your debut album?
Isis: Pyn knew him from before when he recorded with him in other bands that he was in and he called Steve and we got two nights to record the album. Steve is a busy man and he made time for us to do our thing. He’s a mastermind at capturing the pure soul of a band.
HRH: Despite the fact that this record was praised as “One of the best punk rock albums made in the last two decades,” some critics would say that there is an unmistakable underlining of the grunge sound on the album … and thanks to Steve’s previous work with grunge bands, like Nirvana?
Isis: It most certainly has that influence. Nirvana came to see Pyn’s old band before they recorded Nevermind and Kurt was inspired by Pyn’s band, so the circle just keeps turning. Nothing is original and everything is unique.
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