The Next Big Thing! Shinebox

Talk to me about the story of the band!
The band was born in 2007 and in the last seven years we had gigs all over Italy and a promotional tour in the UK. We have also recorded three official records. An LP called “Into the great void” (2012, This Is Core), and 2 EP called “The day after” (2011, Casket Music) and our last stuff called “A quiet end” (2014, This Is Core).

What did you do in the last six months?
The last six months has been really exciting. We recorded our new EP called “A quiet end” at Hell Smell studio in Rome. It was really a great experience and the work of Alessandro Gavazzi (direction, mixing and mastering) was exceptional. The artwork was created in collaboration with our dear friend Cristiano Corbucci. Next step will be a new video directed by Beppe Platania.

What have you got in your wallet now?
Surely the experiences, as a band and as human beings. In our wallet we have also all the knowledges gained and fantastic friendships with other bands and musicians with whom we had the pleasure of playing on the same stage.

Why have you chosen this name for your band?
It ‘s really a long and complicated history… We can shortly say that the real origin of Shinebox is actually a little tribute to a song by Spineshank in their first album “Strictly Diesel” that we liked a lot in our “teenage” period.

How important is the look/appearance for your band?
Let’s say that the look is not a basic thing for us. We believe that for us is much more important the way you play and the approach that we have on stage. Who’s coming to see you play live, surely pays attention to the sensations that you are able to transmit. Anyway, in the image society, we are aware that the way you appear is important for a band.

Tell us about the new EP “A quiet end”. Are you fully satisfied with it?
We are completely satisfied with our last work and we believe it’s the darkest and intimate record we ever recorded.

Which is the highest point of the EP?
We appreciate every single song and honestly we are not able to choose. We think that the highest point of this EP is the emotional mood that pervade the whole record.

How would you define your sound?
This new record sounds different from our previous works for different reasons: first of all this is the first record with two guitars. Then we have listened to many different bands from many different genres (post hardcore, the new hardcore scene from the UK and post rock).

Hardcore. Describe for me this word!
The meaning of hardcore, in the last years, has changed a lot. For us it means passion.

Which bands have influenced your style?
Pianos Become The Teeth, Touché Amoré, More Than Life, This Will Destroy You.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The idea of perfect happiness does not really exist because life itself is made up billions of facets that make it unpredictable… When you think that you have reached the absolute happiness in a moment, the next moment may disappear. Same thing goes for the hard times. Make music, in itself creates objectives, for us the perfect happiness is to do what we like, play music and at the same time try to involve people around us. Perfect happiness is just reaching objectives every time and be hungry for new experiences.

Tell me some of the bands you admire.
This record has been influenced by two or three bands in particular Pianos Become The Teeth and Touché Amoré.

What song is in your head right now?
“Tilde” by Touché Amoré.

Name 3 words that describe your band.
Passion, anger, emotion.

Which are the best and the worst qualities of your band?
Our best quality is the passion that we have for our music, the love with which we write, play and sing every note. Our worst quality is that sometimes we are really stubborn.

And of your local music scene?
Our local scene is very good, there are many great bands. However, it’s not easy to find places for gigs.

What is the most embarrassing situation you’ve ever been with Shinebox?
Well, during the last year we have experienced many funny and embarrassing moments, especially during the UK tour. We think that the most embarrassing situation was being in front of beautiful girls of a burlesque show completely tired and dirty after three days of travel… Luckly rock’and’roll’s smell still has it’s charm!

Have you got a good reason to be in Behind Magazine?
Well you know, in our teenage period we have always listened and played a kind of music that was the soundtrack to skateboarding, snowboarding and BMX!

Have you got something to add?
Thank you so much for this opportunity.

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