Septa is a four-piece alternative rock band from Odessa, Ukraine.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
As for now:
Eugene Tymchyk – vocals
Alexander Kostuchenko - guitats
Dmitry Ulyanov - bass
Petr Bystrov - drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Septa? How long has the band been around?
I don’t think names of our former bands will tell you something, none of them have achieved anything. Some mild local fame and no studio records, so they weren’t of any significance. We actually tried to form Septa back in 2006 first, with the idea to play intelligent alternative music, but because of many reasons we’ve failed then. So we emerged again in 2010 with some rotations and more complex approach to music. We wasted three years and finally released our debut album.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
At first I thought I’ve made up a word, with no meaning at all and I liked it, no meaning of the word would make it easier to associate it with the band, I figured. But then I’ve learned it’s actually a Latin word and for what is worth a name of a big transport company in USA. But we decided to go with it any way.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Mostly it’s collaboration between me and guitarist, but everyone have a word in it, so I can’t say we have a main songwriter. As for the lyrics, I write all of them, our first and future albums are both very concept-driven. Main theme of ‘The Lover’ is love, which is obvious, loss and everything in between, but also it has a story about a murder of a significant other and the way protagonist coping with it. So you can interpret lyrics either way. As for the topics, it’s already changing, it remain mostly intimate and amorous, but with different angle every time.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
The biggest inspiration always have been Deftones, but I can feel they are getting out of our system. As for now I can say it’s Norma Jean, Oceansize, Radiohead, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Faith No More. And maybe Tool, yes, definitely Tool.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Actually, I can exactly tell you when I’ve decided that I wanted to do music and sing. It was Nine Inch Nails performance of The Fragile on MTV Video Music Awards, in 1999. I was fourteen so it had a really great impact on me, that raw power mixed with real emotions. So yeah, it was Trent Reznor who inspired me first.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
I guess nothing in particular, no rituals, no speeches, no cheer ups. We just concentrate and try our best not to fuck up. We don’t even drink before our gigs. It’s boring, I know.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Our first album, definitely. And the opportunity to work on it with industry legend Matt Bayles, who produced many of my favorite albums. It was an awesome experience, to create something that big. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life and it totally paid off.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Basically, it’s any band we love, as far as I know none of them are assholes or divas, so it would be fun. I guess if I had to choose someone in particular it would be Norma Jean, because I saw them live and they were amazing. And Mastodon, because of theirs undeniable awesomeness.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Listen to our album and love each other, it goes well together.