http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2rszzqhpIA
Entrevista en OiOiMusic
Maraboots- Demo 2011After a remarkable good debute demo the band released a self titled debute EP. Musically the band takes inspiration from early French Oi!-music combined with a clear s.h.a.r.p. attitude. Questions were answered by Wattie.
Can you shortly introduce the band and the members?
We started in 2009. In the beginning we were with just four members: Nico at the drums, Mathieu on the bass, Pipa on rythm guitar and Wattie at solo guitar and vocals. We wanted to add a saxophone to the line-up, so we asked a friend if she could do it. So Pascale was our first saxophonist. Then she left the band and because we wanted more liberty on stage as we were doing more and more gigs i decided to leave the solo guitar to a friend of us - Bob - and we found a new saxophonist (much better!) - Alex - who was playing in The Hipsters, a Ska Band from Paris with friends of us. So there's Nico, Alex, Bob, Pipa, Mathieu and Wattie.
What does the band name mean?
It's an awful play on words. At the beginning we were called 'Maraboots and Braces', cause we were always joking on the 'Boots and Braces'-thing.
There are two meanings for a Maraboot. The African shaman and the African bird (like a vulture in bigger), but now we're just called Maraboots, it's still a play on word with the Bird and the Boots. I think it's a very bad name, nobody understands it , but we like it hahaha
You just released your debute EP, how are the reactions so far?
The EP just got out last weekend, but for now the reactions are really good!! Our sound has changed between the demo and the EP!! Better solo guitar, better saxophone, Nico improved a lot at the drums and i did too on vocals! We are really happy with the reactions!!
You released your EP through UVPR, a french label which drops out quality releases on a regular base. How did you came in touch with them and how do they support you as band?
To us UVPR is the best french label and we already knew Ben and Karott from UVPR, so we directly asked them if they were interested. They are really close to their bands, it's like a big family. They took care of the financial-thing to produce the EP, we paid the recording.
There are quite a few relatively new and good Oi! bands from France. Do you think that the scene in France is growing and will it ever be as big as in the 80ies again?
No... I really don't think so... There are really a few bands as you say, and these bands are really good - it's cause we're French, French were always good at Oi! music- but there are not enough bands. I hope that it'll grow because in France the scene is a little bit dead...
You're an outspoken s.h.a.r.p. band. In various countries (especially Germany) there's a discussion on the so-called greyzone. Is this also a subject of discussion in France? How do the various fractions (redskins, sharp, non-political) get along with eachother in France?
It's very important for us to label our band as S.H.A.R.P because we are against politics, but also against the right wing scum that destroyed the movement... We must stand united: black, white or whatever your color is. You can't be a skinhead if you don't have the guts... What the fuck does skinhead have to do with color of skin? In Paris the situation is special, we don't get along anymore with the redskins because they aren't skinheads anymore. They are just political and we don't do politics, we are just anti-racist. Still we don't have problem at all with redskins, as long as they aren't anti-s.h.a.r.p. In Paris we are a s.h.a.r.p. section from the original New-York obedience if you understand what i mean.
If i'm right all your lyrics are in French. What sort of topics do you write lyrics about? Isn't it difficult to get attention outside France when you only sing in french?
Yes of course, but it was a decision from the heart because we are all fans of French Oi! from the 80ies and they sang in French. French is a beautiful language but it's not spoken a lot worldwide. Our songs are speaking about the difficulty of being a skinhead in Paris, about our pride to be anti-racist, about our crew (Parmentier). We also had a song on our demo called '2012' wich was talking of the end of the world, an ecologic song hahaha. It was meant as a joke.
Songs on the EP are more serious written. 'Souvenirs' is talking about friends that leaved the crew, 'A genoux' is like a never surrender anthem and 'La Soupe aux Choubs' (on the theme of the famous movies of Louis de Funes: 'La soupe aux choux') is talking about young 'skinheads' that are mixing a lot of stuff in the wrong way that don't know how to dress smart and which mix Trojan Helmet with Hammer and Sickle.
What will the future bring for Maraboots. Any plans for new releases and (foreign) gigs?
The future is coming fast for Maraboots!!! We plan to record a LP before winter 2011 and we still have two songs from the EP recording session that are waiting for a split. We like do to it with our friends from Stomper 98 from Germany.
Concerning the gigs, we will play in Belgium in september, maybe Spain, and we are open for any propositions of gigs!! We were really pleased to play in Vienna (Wien) last month, it cas really cool!
Do you have any closing comments?
I hope you'll like the 7" and i'll hope to meet you soon at one of our gigs!! Don't forget your roots!
http://www.mediafire.com/?931q9b9jg779ug6
a ver que opinais!
