In September 2012 Pilod rose from the ashes of the band The boy Outside, which is the band that Christophe and Frédéric finally joined after having played for years separately in the music scene of Leuven.
Together with Valerie Stoens (drums) they founded the new band. After months of writing, jamming and giving concerts, they finally launched their well-received debut album Sunny Forecast (2013), full of creaking and squealing guitar sounds with a melancholic touch. Thanks to the input of sound engineer, and in the meantime friend, Steven Crabbé, the band’s typical sound was refined.
Valerie decided to leave the band in the summer of 2014. Pilod decided to continue and searched for a replacement, which they found in Geert Luyts , an old acquaintance. Geert gave his first concert in an obscure club in Barcelona. The chemistry was intense and gave the music a firmer sound. Last year they wrote and rehearsed. This resulted in a series of new songs.
On 22 October 2016 Pilod released its second album , Black Swan, in which the theme of the black swan, the impact of the highly improbable appeared and that explored a world closer to home.
Wringing guitars and hidden melodies, which go back to their early roots in the 1990’s, are still the basics features of the music, but have evolved into a different sound thanks to the new line-up. Whether it is somber urgency, threatening explosiveness or a hypnotic procession pace, the songs take their time to develop and receive a direct and intense impact when played live. Check out Black Swan below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about their latest release and more!
So how has the release of Black Swan gone down with fans?
Pretty good. The launch was DIY organized in an art studio in our hometown. We invited the befriended band Baby Fire (@babyfirebrussels). After the release we have received good reviews from the music press. Since the release of Black Swan Pilod has done more than 30 concerts with highlights playing in some of the best concert halls in Belgium Botanique in Brussel as support act of Lost Horizons (Cocteau Twins) and in Trix, Antwerp as support act of Paradise. We did also a mini tour in Germany in 2016.
What is your favourite track from the release?
Black Swan for sure. The song is the apocalypse of the entire album.
Are you now ready to write new music and release something this year?
Actually Pilod is writing new songs at the moment. The next concerts new material will be tested in front of an audience. The next show we are playing 4 new songs.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
That’s an inspiring question. I haven’t found the answer yet, but possibly with someone who approaches music in a similar intuitive way but with other instruments such as a synth. So let’s say Blonde Redhead.
Will you be touring at all in 2018 or any festivals lined up?
At the moment we have 8 concerts scheduled. Since we are working on new material we are more picky than before in choosing where to play. Though, some extra shows will be added soon for festivals this summer.
What’s the alternative scene like in Leuven at the moment?
Leuven has never had a very alternative scene I guess, though we have a lot of talented alternative artists in Belgium such as Millionaire, Balthazar, The Hickey Underworld,…
If you could play at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?
Pukkelpop, Hasselt. The best festival in Belgium with the right alternative audience.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I guess it must have been Werchter or Pukkelpop. Is still remember Nirvana opening the Pukkelpop Festival at 11 AM on the main stage. That was 1991