Quasarborn is a four-member metal band from Serbia. They are Luka Matković (Vocals and Guitars), Đorđe Luković (Guitars), Miloš Tomasović (Bass) and Marko Danilović (Drums). The band recently released their debut album, “The Odyssey to Room 101.” We had a chat with guys to know more about their album and upcoming plans. Let’s find out.
- Q: I noticed that the start were through a veteran Serbian thrash metal band, Space Eater. Could you tell us more about the story and the connection between the two projects?
Tihi (drums) and I started out in a band called Fatality 12 years ago. Space Eater was already an established band at that time, but tragedy struck and Boško (Space Eater vocalist) died in a fire in 2009. Karlo (Space Eater bass player) decided it would have been Boško’s will to continue the band, so he called us to fill in. Đorđe (who played guitar with us in a childhood band as well) joined soon after, and we toured Europe twice and released 2 more albums.
After 7 years in Space Eater, we wanted to do something a bit different that we all felt didn’t fit under the Space Eater moniker, so we left and formed Quasarborn.
- Q: Okay then, what is the point of choosing Quasarborn as a band name, and what does it mean?
Distant, mystical celestial objects known as quasars have puzzled scientist for many years. They are comprised of multiple super massive black holes, and shoot out radio information. They contain enormous amounts of energy, which we believe is our greatest strength as a band. I’ve always been into astronomy, and quasars are probably the most peculiar things in space.
- Q: While browsing one of the Serbian metal resources (serbian-metal.org), I found the scene is pretty much active with great acts. But I could see that it’s struggling on the international basis like in many other countries. What do you think of this? And how could it be changed?
Yes, there really are many great bands here. However, the problem is always the money. The cost of running a fully-functional international band is pretty big, and in Serbia, wages are really, really small. That’s why most bands settle for being only “weekend musicians”, but we were just lucky to be able to do so much by ourselves, instead of having to pay someone else to do it.
- Q: Frankly guys! You’re one of the rare bands who cares about their publicity and marketing aiming for the success of the project. What is your advice for the newcomers to take music marketing/PR seriously?
It took a lot, and I mean a lot of time for us to understand that! As kids starting out, we always thought that good music is all you needed to “make it”, but that is nowhere close to the truth. Our advice? Work ethics! First, learn what you have to do, and then do it! Never blame others and always take responsibility. You make your own destiny.
- Q: A dystopian fictional concept based on Orwell’s “1984” and Huxley’s “Brave New World”. Isn’t a bit of a challenge to make your debut album with a concept lyrical themes? Most of bands these days, focus on their first record to be more ease to the listeners.
Our music has never been easy to listen to. It takes a couple of listens to “digest” and take in the vast amount of “information” each song shoots out at you. To many people it sounds schizophrenic, chaotic, but it’s actually pretty structured once you get to know it. We started writing this album while we were still in Space Eater, and when we left, we decided to make it the new band’s debut. So, the idea for the concept stuck since then. I guess our second album will be the first true Quasarborn-exclusive release.
- Q: I could see that “The Odyssey to Room 101” is more like the conclusion of the album. Also, it got many positive feedback from the fans. Could you clarify more about the song meaning?
We’ve been getting surprisingly great feedback considering the facts we’ve just discussed.The album’s story follows a rebellious young individual, who after some tragic events has a clash with reality. He learns about his ancestors, and the position of his generation in today’s society. The expression of his rage by attempting suicide is interrupted by the outbreak of a new fake war. This changes his mind – he is going to take his destiny into his own hands. However, his efforts to organize a mutiny and change the war-struck system fail and he is captured by the authorities. Unlike in Huxley’s novel, there is no father figure (no Mustapha Mond) at the end to guide him through his demise. He is taken to a Ministry of Love kind of institution and locked up in a dungeon where he self-examines himself and questions every decision in his life. Searching for ways to ease his suffering, his mind drifts away into abstract thoughts about the nature of reality, consciousness and existence. The concept of “Danse Macabre” emerges, he finds comfort in the fact that his captors will eventually share his fate. His “transcendence” is interrupted by the guards who take him to his final destination – Room 101. There he is forcefully stripped of every last bit of humanity, dignity, and identity. He is forced to become what he hates the most. A fate worse, or equal to death.
- Q: Luka Matković; isn’t a burden for you to be responsible for the recording and mixing process especially you already occupied with writing the music elements of the album?
It gets a bit overwhelming at moments, but you just have to know when you’re a musician, and when you’re a producer. You need to be able to “shift gears” and assume different roles really fast. The producer and the musician can often be in conflicting positions, but at the end, when you produce your own album, you do what you want, and if something’s not right, you have no one to blame.
- Q: What is your plans guys for your debut release. Are you aiming for a European tour soon?
We’re going to give our best to do at least one tour this year, and we’re planning a big concert in Belgrade. Also, some more videos and other stuff are on the go, so make sure to follow us on social media!
Thank you for time
