Istanbul Garage punk band Reptilians From Andromeda’s recently released new album Dialogues For Monkeys
via Prof Sny Records (Czechia).
The spine tingling debut album from Istanbul’s premier garage punk/new wave band, Reptilians From Andromeda includes 10 songs of life, death, truth and lies, love, lust, drugs and revolution –
Mixed and mastered by Fran Ashcroft, of legendary 70’s British New Wave band The Monos!, who’s worked with Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Paul Cook (Sex Pistols), Dandy Warhols, and many more, with the album artwork by famous Canadian comic book artist Darren Merinuk. Check out the single Burning Inside, from the album, below!
We managed to catch up with the band before the release of their album as they talk about their favourite track and more!
How pumped are you for the release of Dialogues For Monkeys?
Tolga: We had released 7 Ep’s and an compilation album of our Ep’s, so we really wanted to do an Lp this time. Its not couse of people who wants us to do that, also we had a damn good material as a band for an album.
What is your favourite track from the album?
Aybike: “Breath in breath out” was the last song we recorded. I always love the last song i wrote because of that “Breath in breath out” is my favorite song from the album.
Tolga: I love all of them, so we had chose 10 songs from some more but my favourite track in the album is “Burning Inside”, i really love to play it on live performances, a song has a good vibe in it.
Merve: Dialogues For Monkeys
Mert: My favourite track from the album is definitely “Liar Liar”. It captured me at the first listening. When we played it live in the studio, all the dark energy filled the room. It’s more downtempo when I compare it to the other songs in the album and it has that feeling just makes me feel like I’m rambling around an empty, dark and foggy street.
Orkun: Hard to choose but my favorite tracks is “Liar Liar”.
Can you tell us something about the album nobody knows?
Tolga: You should listen it reverse to get the messages.
How was the initial response for Burning Inside?
Aybike: Burning Inside’s video received a lot of good reaction but i guess one person didn’t like because that person reported ‘’Burning Inside’’ to facebook because of violence content. We wrote that ‘’this is a music video , it’s not snuff movie” and they fixed the problem.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Aybike: I can’t say a band but I would love to do something with Lydia Lunch. I believe that she is a real person and she has a strong character. She is a great writer and poet.I am a fan of everything she done.
Tolga: A collabration with John Zorn could be so weird.
Merve: I guess I’d like to work with Sonic Youth because i like their sound, besides, i like them not to avoid noise. I like them making noise as they come from within. If I had a wish, I think I’d wish they weren’t broken up.
What’s the alternative scene like in Istanbul at the moment?
Aybike: In the last few years, I can say that the alternative scene is a little better this year. Secular Turkey is in danger and Turkey is moving towards Sharia instead. It’s sad but we are all friends with people on the alternative scene and music gives us hope.Ugly Shadows and Project Youth are my favorite bands in Turkey.
Merve: Many concerts continue to be organized. There are many bands on the alternative scene that continue to release albums and eps. Mobility still continues in Istanbul alternative scene.
Mert: We’ve had some rough time in İstanbul. But thanks to lovely musicians here in İstanbul, who are constantly making music, it never died. Last year a lot of great albums and tracks were released. Live music scene can be weak from time to time but there are still passionate and prolific musicians here. I love them.
Orkun: Definitely not the best days of Istanbul for alternative scene and live clubs, back in the days we have a lot of live music scenes, festivales etc. but i can say that there is a hopeful change nowadays. New live music clubs starts to open and more young people begins to have interest to the real thing again. Its exciting to be a part of it too.
What was the first gig you all ever attended?
Aybike: Our synth player Mert and our drummer Orkun joined Reptilians From Andromeda later.We first played at ARKAODA as part of a zine festival called Fanzineist. As a group as that accepts diy playing in this festival made us all happy.We drinked to much and we all forgot playlist at home than we wrote a playlist before the Show but when we were at stage we spill gin tonic on playlist than we just play which song we want at the time.
How have the guys at Prof Sny Records helped you become the band you are today?
Aybike: Prof sny Record is like home to me.Founder of record label is Özge Duchoslav and she is very good friend of us. She does not treat us like horrible record labels does, because she is a musician too…Also she released our Doomsday(7’’) EP.Plus she always bought us gin tonics
Tolga: We have lucky to work with a record label we can talk everything whenever we want. Thanks your friendship Prof SNY Records, its more than a record label for us.