Politics, Grinderman, Movies...The eclectic world of The Callas

Before our show this Thursday we caught up with The Callas to talk about Greek politics, their birth as a band and some exciting projects they're working on.

How did The Callas come together? Was there an idea of the sound you wanted?
We are brothers. When we were studying arts in Chelsea College of Art we came up with the idea of an art-punk performance. That was the beginning. For the last two years Annita has been with us doing some drumming, keys, and vocals.
 
How did you come to call yourself The Callas?
It’s a game between high and low culture... and it obviously refers to Maria Callas.
 
How would you guys describe your sound? 
We don’t like labels so much... but if we tried to describe it, it would be something like... minimalrawartpopsyche... if that makes any sense.
 
Who are your personal biggest influences in music?
We see music as a part of the whole Callas’ art... in these terms our main influences are people / bands / artists like Thomas Pynchon, Marcel Duchamp, John Cassavetes, Joseph Loesey, Television Personalities, Sonic Youth, Wire, The Jesus and Mary Chain, No Wave, dada, The Fall, The Velvets, Russian avant-garde etc. 
 
What’s your plans for the upcoming year?
Loads of stuff... we’re playing at The Great Escape festival, we have a big solo art show coming up, we’ll make a full length movie (LUSTLANDS), we have been publishing a monthly magazine in Athens (LUST magazine) and we’re very excited to work on our next album with Jim Sclavunos.
 
You guys have played the UK before, what’s your favourite town to play apart from London?
We really love playing everywhere... it’s more the people we collaborate with than the town... and we’re so happy to have all these good friends-collaborators all over UK.
 
Can you give us a heads up on some of the lesser known bands in Greece that you played with and you know of that people should know about?
It’s a really vivid scene... to name a few older and newer stuff... The Last Drive, Victory Collapse, My Wet Calvin, The Velvoids, Microondas, Conductive, Victim of Society, Le Page, The Boy, Nasty Beach, Acid Baby Jesus, Bazooka, Berlin Brides, Monday Night Fever.
 
And how about any UK bands catching your attention?
The Victorian English Gentlemens Club, Chapter 24, Toy, Manflu, Factory Floor, Veronica Falls, Yuck, Hatcham Social, Disconcerts.

SNH faves chapter24 catching some Greek love

What is your one desert island disc?
Ba na na (The Velvet Underground)

We love the banana album muchly too

We saw you played with Grinderman, how was that?
Jim Sclavunos saw us live in an Artrocker magazine party. Just after our set he told us to play with Grinderman!!! So fuckin unbelievable! It was really great to play in front of so many people!

Lastly,  does the political situation in Greece have any bearing on your music or influence how you recent songs?  
It’s a totally fucked up situation here in Greece... but we’re so happy that there is a kind of community here in Athens who keeps on doing great stuff in arts and music despite the political shit...

www.thecallas.com 

THU 10 MAY - OLD BLUE LAST (London, UK)
http://www.facebook.com/events/369158686459092/

SAT 12 MAY - THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL (Brighton, UK)
http://escapegreat.com