Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

MI (Bass): There are five of us.

Lex on vocals, Mike on Guitars and Mi on bass who are the founders of a band and are together now for more than 10 years. Gul (drums) and Stak (keys) joined later to form our band - Weesp.

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Weesp? How long has the band been around?

Stak (synth): Prior to Weesp i played guitar in numetal band Tempera and in post-hardcore band Felones De Se.

Gul (drums): I played in a brutal death metal band, which name i can’t remember and now i also play in Rage Against the Machine cover band.

Mi (bass): I was supporting few local metal bands as a session bass player and together with Lex we recorded few djent songs with a band Impulse.

Lex (vocals): It all was before or during Weesp. Weesp itself exists for around 8 years now starting from 2008.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Lex (vocals): Back in the days we called ourselves Wisp. But soon found out that musician Reid Dunn, who plays electronic music, is already using this name and decided to change the name to Weesp. The name came out just like that long time ago. We just wanted the name to be short and unobtrusive to avoid putting us in any musical style limits. We liked it means nothing, but just a name. Good or not, but it is so.

Mi (bass): Then we found that there is a small town called Weesp near Amsterdam. It was funny when local news reporter contacted me for an interview and asked about our name and i had no idea such town even exists :) Later we came there and even gave an interview to local radio.

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?

Mi (bass): In our music we are experimenting with different styles and do not adhere to some kind of cliché, give the music all of ourselves. We play heavy something with guitars, electronics and stuff.

Generally we compose our music with a whole team - everybody has its own great impact in every track. All the lyrics are written by Lex. He's very good at it.

We get an inspiration from the life around us. Mostly from the negative sides of it, but it does happen some positive stories out there. Our last album - The Void is inspired by personal experiences and a great upheavals of each of us. Although there are positive notes in it as well. I am confident that these feelings can be sensed and understood by our listeners. Therefore, we build an invisible bond with them. Don’t forget to check The Void here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-void/id1021337146 or using your favorite music source.

Lex (vocals): The new album we are working on right now will be a continuation of the musical path which you can read on " The Void". But still it will differ. New album is going to be more dark and rough. And also heavier. It will definitely be kind a development of what we’ve done in ‘The Void’, but with more exact mood and atmosphere. I guess we’ll declare the name of this album soon. (It’s awesome.)

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Mi (bass): I ‘m thinking about Neurosis, Baroness and Mastodon.

Lex (vocals): We are inspired by many bands and composers and write an album based on our own formed musical taste and experience. I’d add Deftones and Muse into the mix Mi said about.

Stak (Synth): And Nine Inch Nails!

Gul (drums): RATM and Slayer are bands i’m thinking about when composing the drum parts for the new album.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Mi (bass): I listen and love music since childhood. But decided to learn how to play bass and start a band when saw a legendary “Off the map” DVD by Red Hot Chilli Peppers and “Live” by Korn (almost at the same time). These concerts just blew me away.

Mike (guitar): Same with me.

Lex (vocals): And i loved to listen to Radiohead and Offspring. I think these are the bands which inspired me to start a band.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Stak (synth): We do the exercises before each of our shows, because if we don’t do it we can’t even walk the next day. We are hitting the stage really hard.

Lex (vocals): Also i do some motivating speeches before each show.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Mike (guitars): There are a lot of highlights we are proud of. We headlined a lot of small to medium sized open airs (around 5-10k people), we won a “best rock video” competition in Russia and a lot more.

Mi (bass): The greatest highlight is our latest album The Void for sure. I’m super proud of it.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Mi (bass) I think its Machine Head. I love their sound, how they compose songs, i feel the sincerity in their songs. So i think it would be great to go on tour with band like that.

Stak (synth) I would like to go on tour with Rise against.Their work on the stage, the interaction with the crowd and awesome power always impressed me. I think, If we could combine their performance and our energy - then it would make a great mix, that would leave no one indifferent.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Lex (vocals): Thank you everybody stay true and keep in touch. We really appreciate when you show up and let us know what you think.

Mike (guitar): Follow your dreams!

Mi (bass): Don’t forget to check our latest album out here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-void/id1021337146 or on your favorite music source