U.N.S.I.N. is an alternative metal band from Greece which first came on the scene in 2009. Having been influenced by different music genres, they have formed a unique musical hybrid.
Interview conducted on June 10, 2020
By Dan Locke
U.N.S.I.N. Τhey released an ΕP and a single and now they release their new single titled “Addict”. This single will be included in their upcoming album. The new record is ready and bound to be released in September 2020. With this very album, U.N.S.I.N. is expected to surprise their fans. The band’s experimentation in this record has evolved their sound into something completely new without sacrificing their true metal soul
Band members:Pilha Spyros, Evi Nadia
What is your upbringing?
Pilha Spyros: We had a normal childhood with parents that gave us a lot of love and they were always there for us to support every step and every decision we made until this day.
How did you discover music?
Either many of our family members or relatives are professional musicians or very close to music, so we were always into it from a very early age.
How did you start to write music?
Most of us started writing music as a way to express ourselves especially when we had strong feelings, no matter what, depression, happiness, sadness, etc.
Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
Buying my first guitar is a milestone in my life so I could not just forget. It was back in 1996 when I bought a junior guitar for kids because I didn’t have enough money to buy a new one.
Moreover, do you still have it?
Since it was a junior guitar, no I do not have it anymore
How did the band get together?
We started the band back in 2009. We met each other from different musical projects and wanted to make our own sound.
How the band did get its name?
We were trying to find a short, easy listening name. We were throwing some ideas and finally, we were between unsin or unseen. Since unseen definition was something we didn’t like we stuck to unsin but there was a music project having that name…We were digging, in general, to find any other definition on that name so we found U.N.S.I.N (with dots) having the meaning of United Nations Substance Identification Number. So that was it!
You have been around since 2009. Where have you been?
We have been through many lines’ up changes, reorganizing our music horizon. When Evi Nadia came to us everything was right for the band to continue its musical journey, releasing “I Ain’t Sorry”.
Evi Nadia- Since your addition to be a part of the band. What are you’re feeling about shows like America Idol and the Voice?
I feel like it is not something that I would participate because those shows are competitive and I am more on the side of respecting and cheering up every musician and the effort they make. But I understand people that participate in them because there is an enormous number of singers that are trying to be seen for their work and it is really difficult. So, this is a way for people to see them.
Tell me, about your first live show in Athens, on May 29, 2010?
In May of 2010 was the first-ever gig of the band. This was a night to remember because we had released only some pics from our upcoming music video which was about to premiere that night in our first gig. We were so happy that we’ve got so positive feedback from so many people that came and join us without even knowing any of our tracks.
In 2009, you released Acid. That was a great song. Tell me about the making of it?
Acid was the first idea-song that came up for the “0154” EP. We were very excited about the outcome so we decided to shoot a music video for it.
The vibe that we got through Acid was that it had a nervous melodic sharp feeling. Acid visualizes the lyrics and emotions that are expressed as the performer(singer), making a personal revolution and trying to get free, with the help of her friends (band), from her imaginary alter ego-self, that suppresses her mind and drives her to bad choices and a wrong path, which is explosive and sorrow as the liquid substance she stands on, of which the id number is used for the album’s title (“0154”).
Back in 2018, you released the video “I Ain’t Sorry” What was going on with your lives during that time?
As we said earlier, 2018 was the time that band’s new era was started. Evi Nadia joined the band, we released “I Ain’t Sorry” and then we had the time to gather all the material we are presenting you this moment and on.
Let’s talk about Addict? Why was it two years in the making?
We had a contract with a label that we did not feel that was representing us, as much as we wanted, so we waited to expire in order to move on and sign with our new label, Inner Sense Productions.
What is your favorite track on the album?
This is an album that we really worked on, and we believe that all songs included have a unique meaning and position. If you ask every single member of the band, they will pick a different song from each other as their favorite, so we can’t just pick one.
Your album comes out in Sept. How are you planning to promo it?
Before Covid-19, our label and we were planning to release our album at the end of September. After the first wave of locked down, we reserve releasing it, although we need to see how things are going to evolve. Most probably there will be a delay but we are on it creating plan B and releasing more singles. Further details are to be announced along the way to its release.
What are you are feeling about streaming music?
The positive view of Streaming is that you listen to every song you want in your smartphone, available 24/7 at any place. On the other hand, listeners don’t buy actual music anymore, they lost the “touch” with the artist (artwork, vinyl, cd). They don’t support the artist directly because the position of the record label was taken by any digital music platform.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both for different reasons. Digital is available anywhere at any time with one click away from finding any music which is also a bad thing, because you can skip with ease and not give your full attention to it. That’s what makes vinyl “bonding” better with the listener because it has to get all your attention.
Any plans to tour?
Of course, after our album is released.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Change by Deftones. As the title says, there will be a major change in our sound and generally on our perspective. You will realize this difference after each single we release.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
No one knows where this pandemic is going to end, but we are sure that 2020 is the worst year for the music business. Artists will always find ways to express themselves either by releasing music or making social media concerts but they can’t live without being paid. When you cannot have concerts, you cannot promote your music and sell merchandise. Either musicians or labels, radios, webzines, music stores are going to suffer from this pandemic. Our future is unknown.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Just writing music, eating food, Netflix, and chill.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
If eating is a new hobby, please sign me up
Many people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
We are focused on our next single releases-music videos and of course, in our album release, so we are not going to have a YouTube or social live concert this period.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
It was difficult to make a living by doing real concerts before Covid-19, so we believe that by doing social-online-streaming concerts is not possible to make a living at all.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts might not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Yes. Of course. This depends on something that none of us can control. It’s a virus so if it is necessary, we will sadly have to accept this.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
No vibe there. Nothing compares with a real gig as we all know it.so it is a NO for us
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Touring the world promoting our third album without wearing masks and having any gig restrictions.
Anything you would like to say in closing
Thank you so much for your interest in us. We can’t wait to get back on the previous state, wearing no masks, being healthy, making real live gigs hitting up the stage again. Stay tuned. More releases are about to come really soon.
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