Interviews: Paranoid Reverb

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Psychedelic Rock/Stoner Rock band Paranoid Reverb from Greece. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or did it come out just like that?

The name came out during a period when we were experimenting with different sounds, effects, and atmospheres. Reverb has always been a huge part of our sound, and, in a way, reverb itself can feel like a slightly paranoid experience. It stretches reality, creates echoes, and blurs the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined.

At some point, the words “Paranoid” and “Reverb” came together and immediately felt right. We never spent months searching for a name. It happened naturally, and it captured the atmosphere we wanted to create from the very beginning.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

To be honest, we never consciously decided to play a specific genre. We’ve always felt that labels can be useful for describing music, but they can also become limiting.

What drew us in from the beginning was the combination of heaviness, atmosphere, and freedom that exists within this scene. It’s a style of music that allows you to be powerful and emotional at the same time, and that’s something that has always resonated with us.

Of course, growing up in Greece, it was impossible not to be influenced by the bands that helped put the Greek heavy rock scene on the international map. Bands like Nightstalker, 1000mods, and Planet of Zeus played a huge role in showing that musicians from Greece could create music that connected with audiences all over the world. We have a lot of respect for what they achieved and for the path they opened for younger bands.

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

No, we didn’t know each other before the band was formed. The roots of Paranoid Reverb actually go back to an earlier project where bassist Tim Tyflioris and guitarist Petros Xevgenis first started playing together. Back then, the music leaned much more towards classic rock, but as that project evolved, something interesting started happening.

Without ever really discussing it, we both found ourselves moving towards heavier riffs, darker atmospheres, and a more psychedelic approach. Looking back, it almost felt telepathic. The music naturally began heading in a different direction, and we simply followed where it was taking us.

That gradual evolution eventually became the foundation of Paranoid Reverb. Over the years, other members joined the journey, and the band continued to grow, but the core idea remained the same: to create music that feels honest, powerful, and true to who we are at that particular moment.

In many ways, Paranoid Reverb wasn't created overnight. It was something that slowly emerged through years of playing, experimenting, and discovering our own musical identity. 

4. Each band member's favourite band?

That's always a difficult question because favourite bands tend to change over time, but if we had to choose: 

Tim (Bass): Red Hot Chili Peppers – especially John Frusciante's work, even though he's the bassist and probably the biggest metalhead in the band. 

Manos (Vocals): Coil

Themis (Guitar): Audioslave

Petros (Guitar): Black Sabbath

Xenofon (Drums): Tool

The interesting thing is that despite coming from quite different musical backgrounds, all those influences somehow meet in the same room when we write music. We think that's one of the reasons why Paranoid Reverb doesn't fit neatly into a single category and why the band's sound keeps evolving.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Life, mostly. Sometimes inspiration comes from personal experiences, conversations, memories, or emotions that stay with us longer than expected. Other times, it comes from observing the world around us and trying to make sense of it through music.

Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for us. There is something fascinating about its power, beauty, and unpredictability. Whether it's the sound of rain, the sea, and the life hidden beneath its surface, a storm gathering on the horizon, or a landscape that sparks the imagination, these elements often find their way into our songs.

A good example is "Rain". In many ways, the song was built around the feeling of a storm. It begins gently, almost like a light drizzle, and gradually grows in intensity until it finally erupts. We often think about songs in a similar way to natural phenomena, allowing them to evolve organically and reveal their full character over time. Most of the time, however, our songs don't begin with a specific subject. They usually start with a feeling, an atmosphere, or even a single riff. From there, we follow where the music wants to go and gradually discover what the song is trying to become.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our latest show was at Mammothfest 2026, one of the leading heavy underground festivals in Southeastern Europe.

It was also the first major live appearance following the release of our new single "Red River", which made the show particularly meaningful for us. There is always something special about presenting new music to a live audience for the first time and feeling that immediate connection.

Moments like these remind us why we love being on stage in the first place.

7. Where would you like to act?

We'd love to play anywhere people are willing to connect with our music.

One of the most beautiful things about being in a band is discovering that a song written in a rehearsal room can resonate with someone you've never met, in a city you've never visited.

Our goal is simply to take our music as far as possible and share it with as many people as we can. Whether that's in a small underground club, a packed venue, or a large festival stage, the most important thing is the connection that happens between the band and the audience.

We're ready to play wherever that connection can happen.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

There are many bands we'd love to collaborate with, both from the Greek and international scene. We enjoy working with musicians who have a genuine passion for creating music and aren't afraid to experiment. For us, chemistry and creativity matter more than genre.

9. Whom not?

Anyone who takes themselves too seriously or sees music only as a business. We believe music should first be about expression, connection, and having a good time.

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

Stage fright is something that each of us experiences differently. Some members of the band barely feel nervous before a show, while others might feel it a bit more intensely. Over the years, we've learned that there's no right or wrong way to deal with it.

One thing that helps us a lot is a small ritual we have before going on stage. It's become a kind of tradition, almost a lucky charm, that brings us together and gives us confidence and strength right before the show starts.

At the end of the day, we do this because we genuinely love playing our music in front of people. As soon as we step on stage and connect with the audience, that nervous energy usually transforms into excitement and adrenaline.

For beginners, we believe that the best way to overcome stage fright is simply to keep performing. The more live shows you play, the more comfortable you become with your stage presence, with the audience, and with everything that can happen during a performance. Experience helps you find your footing.

Preparation is equally important. The more rehearsed and confident you are in the material, the easier it is to trust yourself when the moment comes. And even on days when one of us isn't feeling at our best, all it takes is a quick glance at the others on stage to regain confidence and keep moving forward. We're lucky to have built a level of trust where we know we've always got each other's backs.

So, our biggest advice is: prepare well, play as many live shows as you can, trust your bandmates, and remember why you started making music in the first place. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

As we mentioned before, each member of the band comes from a different musical background and listens to very different kinds of music. We believe that's one of the things that makes our sound unique, as everyone brings different influences and ideas into the songwriting process. That said, the Greek heavy rock and stoner scene has definitely played an important role in shaping us, along with bands like Clutch, Kyuss, and Black Sabbath. Their approach to songwriting, groove, and energy has been a major source of inspiration for us.

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

We can't really think of a weird request, but one thing that genuinely surprised us was a group of friends who traveled from the United States to Thessaloniki just to catch one of our shows. Knowing that someone would make such a journey to see us perform was incredible. We were very happy to meet them in person, and it's a memory we'll always carry with us.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We're incredibly grateful for everyone who listens to our music, comes to our shows, shares our songs, or supports us online. One of the best parts of being in a band is meeting people before or after a show and hearing their thoughts about our music. We also love receiving messages on social media and connecting with those who relate to what we do. Building a genuine relationship with our audience is very important to us, and we're thankful for everyone who is part of the Paranoid Reverb journey.

14. What do you think of our site?

Breathing the Core is doing an important job by giving independent and underground artists a platform to share their work and reach new audiences. We appreciate the opportunity to be featured, and we're happy to be part of it.

15. Something to add?

We'd like to thank everyone who has supported Paranoid Reverb so far, as well as Breathing the Core for the interview. Keep supporting live music, local scenes, and independent artists. We have more music coming soon, so stay tuned!

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