An exclusive interview with Brocarde is in the June issue of Rock Hard Slovakia Magazine. Please see below for the full English translation…
Rock Hard Slovakia: Hello BROCARDE, let’s start by telling us more about you, because the information about you whether from the promotional material or on the Internet are minimal.
Are you responsible both for the music and lyrics part of your work or do you have other musicians around you?
Brocarde: There’s often a notion that I’m enigmatic and mysterious, yet most of the time I feel insanely exposed. When you write you are sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with strangers, sometimes they are thoughts that you can’t even say out loud in “real life”, music provides a cushion for that emotion and empowers you to be vulnerable. I conceptualise a song before I write it, everything from visuals to arrangement, I am a solo artist. My brain works emotionally and not technically, I find a way to orchestrate my emotions which sits around the melody line. I see music visually and view sounds as part of the story.
Rock Hard Slovakia: What led you to devote yourself to this kind of music? Do you have your musical idols?
Brocarde: I’ve always been devoted to music and performing. I’m obsessed with the conflict between heavy rock and beautifully somber orchestration, it captures the essence of me perfectly. I don’t really have idols, I was classically trained and I grew up on the Sound of Music, it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I discovered the power and intensity of heavy rock music, which hit me right in the middle of my rebellious phase, then there was no going back.
Rock Hard Slovakia: So far, we’ve only gotten one song “Last Supper” that premiered on April 15th this year. Is it an appetiser before full length album or just only one completed song so far?
Brocarde: Last Supper ironically was an appetiser, but I have a full album ready and waiting to be released. Each song is a story in itself so I’m taking things one step at a time.
Rock Hard Slovakia: Why the name “Last Supper”? Is there a specific idea that you wanted to express by its lyrics?
Brocarde: I wrote Last Supper a few years ago, I was majorly disillusioned with the entertainment industry and popular culture in general. I wanted to challenge what we see as important and question, would it still be important if it was our last day on earth? a metaphorical Last supper. How would we behave differently? Are our social ideals temporary and are our actions driven by the fear of consequence. If it was your Last Supper, consequence would be eradicated, so how would things play out?
Rock Hard Slovakia: There was also a video for this song, can you tell us about the recording and the idea behind it? Because it is quite perverted … does it express the overall decline of society as such, greed, the power of social media?
Brocarde: Is it perverted? I guess it depends on perspective. I’m not sure if society is declining or if we are just finding new ways to channel existing human problems.
Rock Hard Slovakia: But the clip is reminiscent of the LINDEMANN’s clip “Praise Abort”, do you know this song? Wasn’t it a little bit of an inspiration, especially how to deliver the shocking element?
Brocarde: I haven’t heard that song and I think it’s really important not to be affected or inspired by other peoples creativity. I don’t believe in the shock element, I don’t believe we have a society that can be shocked, I think it’s a redundant mission. We have real life issues that are shocking, such as genital mutilation and isis beheading innocent civilians, my music video isn’t going to shock a society that is already numb and immune to graphically disturbing images that reflect real life situations, I’d be foolish to try. The creative side of my brain is unfiltered and uncensored so I just try to portray what I see in my head in a way that involves the least compromise.
Rock Hard Slovakia: How is the initial success of “Last Supper”? Are there any labels who want to release the full-length album?
Brocarde: My mission is to remain independent, I would struggle is someone else was in control of my destiny.
Rock Hard Slovakia: Are you only active in BROCARDE or can we see you in other bands and projects? Are you also acting or writing?
Brocarde: I am Brocarde, but there are several projects under that name, writing, clothing, performing, etc. I write everyday, be it poetry or lyrics, it’s important for me to constantly have a way of expressing myself.
Rock Hard Slovakia: Will we see you on concert stages? If so, when and what special show do you plan to perform?
Brocarde: I can’t wait to perform this work live, I will keep you updated.
Rock Hard Slovakia: Can you tell us about your plans for the near future, what can we expect from you?
Brocarde: I’m just about to film the music video for my next single so that will be released in a few months time.
Rock Hard Slovakia: Finally, what do you want to tell to Rock Hard readers in Slovakia and Bohemia?
Brocarde: Firsty, if they got to this question, they must’ve been at least slightly intrigued by my interview so I’d encourage them to reach out and keep an eye out for what I have in store for the future.
