Interviews: Factory Of Art

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Power Metal band, Factory Of Art from Germany. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. How did you come up with the idea for the band name, did you plan it or did it just come out like that?

A musician from another band, with whom we shared the rehearsal room, said to us one day when we didn't have a name yet, "What you're doing is like an art factory - Factory of Art", and we liked that so much, how we kept it

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We call our style of music Progressive Power Metal, when we started it was instrumental Art Rock but we quickly realized that without a singer there wasn't that much interest in the band. So we were looking for a singer & the development of our music went in that direction. The straight line wasn't really ours, so it automatically became a little bit more progressive.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yes, the first cast came entirely from a small town near Leipzig in East Germany. It actually started with Flecke, our lead guitarist at the time, wanting to become a professional musician after the collapse of the GDR, and a few people were looking for a demo to record themselves in order to apply to larger bands. That also explains why it was an instrumental band at first. Flecke had also played in bands before & when we were looking for a singer he brought Gunter from his last band to us. He also came from our small town. Sometime later some people were exchanged, so came Wolf (drums) & Joe (guitar), and later Petri (vocals), Ralle (drums), and Ekky (keyboards) who came from Leipzig. In the meantime, there were a few more people in the band, but one important thing for us is that we don't live that far apart and so far it's worked out well.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Petri: Devin Townsend, Evergrey, Nevermore, Insomnium

Gunter: Toto, Queensryche, Dream Theater

Thoralf: AC/DC, Alter Bridge, Ozzy Osbourne

Ron: Queensryche, Metallica, Type O Negatives

Rail: Killswitch Engage, Purcupine Tree, Arch Enemy

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

First of all, we are all big fans of the music we play ourselves. But there is no better feeling for a musician than being able to convince and inspire people with their own music. It is always a drive to think about what other people say about their own ideas. We need this outlet for our creativity. After years of inactivity, we were amazed at what was still in us.

6. Where was your last gig?

We were last in Chemnitz in autumn, it was a lot of fun playing in a small house after we had some big open-air stages over the summer. We don't want to play live that much now, we just want to finish our new album. Meanwhile, eleven songs are finished and we have started recording them and hope that we can present you with a new album in 2023.

7. Where would you like to work?

Realistically, we don't see ourselves at the top of the food chain. But a few nice festival gigs and good reviews would be the goal.

8. Who would you like to perform with?

It would be presumptuous to name big names. Playing with bands that we like and respect is especially appealing. Should there be a big number, we are of course happy to be on the spot. Lately, we've been dealing with young, hungry bands kicking our ass. That's good for us.

9. Who not?

With arrogant wannabe mega acts, on the other hand, it's less appealing. We would like to do without that. Again, names would be extremely undiplomatic. 

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to overcome this?

There is actually someone in the band who still suffers from severe stage fright. A small sip of high-proof, the stress of the process, and, above all, internal band rituals such as a handshake before the gig help and provide a distraction... a small sip!!!!!

11. Which bands have inspired you the most?

I think we've been able to follow a lot of bands from their inception because of our age in metal. We are most fascinated by bands that have success without denying themselves. Bands that don't bow to supposedly commercial rules. There, too, it is pointless to mention names. Based on the faves of each and every one of us, you'll discover a few.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you to do?

A younger woman in her 90's asked us not to get harder, please. Apparently, we had reached her pain threshold.

13. What do you think about your fans?

We had great & loyal fans in the 90s & 2000s, since we only took a big break in 2006, we were no longer on the radar of many. When we announced in 2019 that we wanted to start playing again, a lot of people remembered us. It was terrific all the letters we had from people who used to be with us. We always meet people (online/life) who still have our CDs and pull out the music & remember it. Unbelievable after all this time but wonderful.

14. What do you think of our site?

The site is very well done, especially the country section. For example, we don't know much about bands from Spain or Egypt, on the site you can simply go to the country and click, and you can find out who has already been discussed from the countries or who has done an interview and can find it quickly. very good

15. Anything to add?

We want to say hello to all the fans out there and salute all the people who want to become fans. With your energy, the machines of the factory run at full speed.