Dope Default: 'Every creative hour fills you up.'

The modern metal band, on the occasion of their album 'Division', talk to us about the music, the songwriting and their future plans.

Good evening and congratulations on your new album "Division". It sounds like a really fresh, contemporary work with real personality. Third full-length album for the band, released recently. How do you feel?

'Thank you very much, we're really proud of the result and thrilled to be able to share it with all of you! It was a record that took a lot of work and was recorded during the very tough period of the coronavirus. We feel it's our most complete and best release so far and we hope it reaches as many ears as possible!'

You seem like a special case of a band, since you came out swinging hard and made an impression with a string of strong releases! Have your studies helped you build confidence in this? Tell us about your journey from a young age.

'We all know each other from the broader Thessaloniki music scene, since most of us used to play together in other bands. We've all been part of this scene since a very young age. It's something we've been doing for many years now, and by this point we have quite a bit of confidence and trust in our abilities.'

Really good voice, and ideal for your style. How would you describe your music?

'If we had to give it one general term, that would be modern metal. Or just metal. We combine a lot of elements, like stoner, which was the genre we started out playing as Dope Default, groove metal, doom, classic heavy metal, even power metal.'

What can we expect on the live front, once we finally put the problems with this virus that's been plaguing all our lives behind us for good?

'We're a band that believes we're better live than in the studio! So whoever comes to one of our shows will hear our songs in a much better version!'

What do you think are the essential ingredients for a band's success?

'A key element is the commitment of all the members. That's a big issue. Getting that many people committed to a common goal is essentially the first step a band has to take if it wants to succeed. After that, it takes an enormous amount of work, both individual and collective, and no one should ever get complacent. Beyond that, a huge factor is luck – where you end up, the timing, the people who happen to hear you, all of that matters enormously.'

Tell us a few words about the people behind your new album. Where was it recorded and who took part in the recording?

'We recorded it in our own studio in Thessaloniki. That way we secured the time and space we needed to work calmly toward the best possible result. Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus we didn't get the chance to have other artists on the record. Mixing and mastering was handled by Θάνος Μυλωνάς. The cover art was done by the Polish artist Kacper Gilka.’

Even though your band clearly has its own personal style, could you tell us some artists who shaped who you are today?

'At first, on our debut EP, there was influence from the great Greek stoner metal bands, like Planet of Zeus and Nightstalker, but also from other genres like grunge. Later on we moved toward heavier paths, closer in style to, say, Black Label Society. From Imprisoned onward, a major influence was groove metal and bands like Lamb of God and Pantera. All of this though in small, shifting doses, since we never chose to follow one style exclusively.

And of course, the big bands we admired and loved growing up, like Metallica, Black Sabbath and others, are always a major influence.' 'As for bands, there are really too many to count, but if we have to name a few, without mentioning the more well-known ones, they'd be bands like Khirki, Night Resident, Night Resident and Raw in Sect.'

What do you enjoy most? Songwriting hours, recording hours, or live hours?

'Every creative hour is time that fills you up, that makes you whole. The songwriting hours are something magical – when we sit in the studio throwing ideas around, building a track, adding elements. The recording hours, on the other hand, are a bit more "mechanical," more of a task to get through. They're definitely the most important ones, but they're also the ones where you have to deliver more than you get to create.

And of course the hours on stage are something magical. It's a huge pleasure for each of us, which is why it seems to fly by so fast! But when you look back on it, it feels like it lasted much longer.'

How do you see the Greek scene today? Have things improved compared to the past, and what do you think still needs to change? Feel free to name some bands you rate too!

'The Greek scene is finally starting to establish itself internationally. People out there know that when they hear material from a Greek band, chances are it's going to be something really worthwhile. We keep seeing new bands, new names putting out new releases. And little by little, the live show situation seems to be smoothing out.'

'On the other hand, there are the problems that have always existed and that no one knows if they'll ever be solved. The biggest issue, of course, is money. Taking music seriously demands enormous sacrifices, both personal and financial. And it's genuinely unfortunate that someone can't make a living doing what they love, no matter how hard they've worked or how good they are.'

What would be the biggest dream for Dope Default as a band? Achievable or not?

'To pull off a world tour and be signed to some big label. It's difficult, but not impossible, and it's something we believe every band wants.'

What do you like doing in your free time? Music usually eats up all of a musician's free time. Is that true for you?

'It's a huge part of our everyday life, and in fact we try to make it even bigger. But beyond music, art in general is the main thing we spend our time on.'

Thank you very much for the interview. The closing words are yours.

'Thank you as well, so much. We hope you'll listen toDivision', check out our older work, find us on social media, and of course we hope to see you all in person at a show!'