Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.37 11/01)
excerpts from an interview with Alexandros Tefarikis (Guitar)
I believe that our new album results were great. It's a beautiful and natural work, and the reception we received from the people that admires this music style, was wonderful.
In that album we can notice some slow tracks, like " Punta de Dama ", and other enrgic ones, like "Power II ". That contrast was preconcibed or spontaneous?
The personal mixture of the composition, was inspired in the nature, the city, love, hate, earth and water.
What does the album cover mean? It's like a window that takes us to another world? Was that the idea?
The concept we use in the covers is to trespass the boundaries, spiritual or material ones, so we can create and also grow up with our art.
I will dare to say that Ergo Sum's work trespasses the boundaries of Progressive Rock.
It's a bit complecated. The music we do, its totally profesional and serious, and also is going towards the strength of mixing classic and acoustic instruments, and tried to sound like a progressive group, but contemporaneous.
Could you give us some details of Mixolidio? Is there any special concept in this new album?
The production begins in Trilogia I the most important vanguard music event ever done in our country. This event took place in october 22 in 1999. With the participation of Fulano, Tryo, and Ergo Sum. The production team of Trilogia, create a recording studio inside Teatro Providencia and recorded Ergo Sum's performance. We worked the whole year 2000, recording tracks like: "Nuevos Tiempos" and "Rosauro". We mixed and masterized our new album "Mixolidio".
I feel a bit of audacity in the new compositions, an evolution, without doubts. Songs like "Nuevos Tiempos" reflect faithfully, the new bands orientation.
A strong inspiration exists, in our art and we are gonna fight for our music and continue working with strength and high quality.
The use of synthesizers and instruments like marimbas and german flute is great, not without mentioning your guitar skills.
Ergo Sum is formed by profesionals of the arts, that together fight for a common sense by our instruments and identity.
An unusual question. Have you ever consider using vocals for Ergo Sum's music. Or do you feel that Ergo Sum is totally instrumental?
We have already worked with female voices and we liked it a lot, but at the moment the instruments sing for their own.
Let's talk about the local scene. What's your opinion, about the chilean progressive scene? Do you consider there's an arising?
I believe a beautiful and interesting way is opening for groups that are beginning, and others with a lot of experience.We have to fight and rise up our culture, and it's also important to support emergent groups.
What's next for Ergo Sum? Can you let us know the inmediate plans of the band? Is there a possibility to sign with a record deal?
By the moment we are by our own, and very happy for what we have gotten till now. We hope to continue like this, but we can't take away the oportunity of any institution that wanna give us support, and that's interested in our music.
Juan Barrenechea Herrera © Progressive Newsletter 2001