NEXT DOOR TO HEAVEN: Ready to rock Russia
Interview conducted on Jan. 16, 2020
by Dan Locke
Next Door To Heaven was formed in St.Petersburg on September,1 2014. The band was found by Eugene Mazunov (music, guitar, bass guitar, back vox) and Daria Mazunova ( vox and lyrics). Next Door To Heaven plays progressive/alternative metal and post grunge (1st album). Next Door To Heaven’ s debut album was released on March, 30 2016.
Band Members
Daria Mazunova- vocals, lyrics,
Eugene Mazunov- composition, guitar, arranging,
Sergey Kovalenko- bass guitar,
Dan Locke: Can you name some of the festivals you like to play in 2020?
Daria Mazunova: We’d like to play at Wacken, Download, Hellfest.
What type of music did you grow up with?
Daria: I suppose we are both melomaniacs with Eugene but probably the first music I listened to consciously were Genesis, Queen, Ella Fitzgerald when I was 5. With time I started to discover many genres and never had boundaries in music – I could and still can listen to a playlist from (for example) hardcore, then pop, then prog metal, Finnish rock or even quality rap.
Eugene: A lot of actually. I attended musical school and choir studio for many years so I had a strong connection with classical music. At the same time, bands that come to my mind immediately are Slayer, Queen, Meshuggah, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep.
Daria- How did you learn to sing?
I started learning to sing at 7 with a teacher of music. Later I was a part of a few choirs one of which was a finalist of huge city choir competitions. Then I started learning to sing in rock manner when I was a teenager but I already knew all singing basics so it just took some time.
Eugene- What musician training did you have?
Eugene Mazunov: attended a musical studio since 5 because my family knew for sure that I have to be a musician. Just imagine this: I was 5 and I heard “Barcelona”. After that, I took a chair, climbed onto it and sang “Barcelona” with eyes full of tears.
I graduated from musical school with honor as a pianist and then learned to play guitar on my own when my father bought me my first guitar when I was a teenager.
How did the band form?
We both had experience in a few different bands before so when we met and got married we decided to form a band as music is one of the most important parts of our lives.
How did your band, gets its name?
Eugene came up with this name one day, there’s no specific story behind this.
Do you play any instruments that were built in Russia?
Not currently. I played AMT D2 preamp previously.
Do you remember your first show?
Yes, it wasn’t that bad but the place and sound were such a mess.
How did you get your first record deal?
Worked hard. Did our best in songs and the quality of the sound.
How is Russia for live metal music?
There’re a lot of metal bands in Russia but, unfortunately, now there aren’t many gigs like that. Luckily I can say that Saint Petersburg is famous for being Russia’s capital of rock and metal music so there’re bands worth listening to.
Why did you decide to add some guitar playthrough on your youtube channel?
For some guitarists to practice I guess.
Daria- Tell me about Eonic?
I’ve been cooperating with Eonic and N616 for a few years as a vocalist. It’s totally different from Next Door To Heaven and even Eonic and N616 differ one from another. Eonic is more relaxed, lounge music. N616 is more electronic/industrial. The founders of these bands are very talented guys and easy to cooperate with.
There’re a lot of great bands and talented musicians. Saying off-hand Periphery, After the burial, Monuments.
Any plans to tour this year?
We’ll tell you more about that later. Stay tuned!
How do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Being a big band, playing for larger audiences but still staying ourselves inside.
Anything you like to close with?
More to come very very soon.
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