miércoles, 10 de junio de 2020

Aleksandra Stamenkovic's interview: JENNER, HELLCATS & SIGMA EPSILON's Guitarist

1) Hello Aleksandra, it's a great pleasure to be able to carry out this interview with you. To start, please tell us at what age, and how, did you get started in music... You are very young, but you already have an experience...

A: Hello, everyone! I was first interested in music back in 2011, when I was 13 years old. I wanted to play bass guitar but I couldn’t afford it, so I used to borrow it from my sister’s friend. Destiny, however, decided me to become primarily a guitarist. In 2013. I bought my first guitar and that’s how my „journey“ began. Now I’m almost 24, I have 2 releases behind me and I play guitar in 3 bands.

2) Jenner was your first serious participation in a band? Why only girls? Was it the original idea, or did it just happen?

A: Jenner was formed back in December 2013 by me and my sister Marija. Before that we had a glam metal band Cat O’ Nine Tailz in which I played bass guitar. It supposed to be all-girl band, but that story didn’t go well, so we disbanded after 2 years. I started playing guitar in order to form a band that would play heavier music, and Marija supported me. So we started looking for 2 guys that would play with us. It supposed to be something like band Madam X. But that story also didn’t work because we met 2 girls, singer Anđelina and bass player Jana, and that’s how the band started. 

3) We read that you took the name of Dr. Edward Jenner, please tell us about that.

A: Many of you probably don’t know, but if everything turns well, next year I’ll become a doctor myself. I’m on the fifth year of medical studies right now and I think that explains a lot about band’s name. Actually, I decided that would be the name of the band even before the band was formed. I was like second year of highschool, studying microbiology. Dr Edward Jenner is father of immunology. He invented the first vaccine for smallpox.

4) Our sincere congratulations, Dr. Aleksandra!! Seeing the line up changes, Jenner had some problems with the bassists. Why?

A: I would love to know, too, haha. I guess it's a coincidence.

5) Andjelina Mitic was the vocalist from the beginning. Why did she decide to leave, and why did you decide to start singing yourself?

A: Since we released the first album “To live is to suffer” and had a few concerts in 2017, we had to make a break due to pregnancies of drummer Marija, and later bass player Nevena. We didn’t know what will happen to the band, it became very uncertain and stressful for all of us and Anđelina’s interests slowly started to decrease. I could feel it and I completely understand the situation. So we agreed that it’s the best for her to leave the band and do some other things that make her happy. And since I’m the only composer in the band, I sometimes have to record vocals for demos, so I started to practice singing and realised that I can handle both playing guitar and singing.

6) Jenner's debut "To Live is to Suffer" seemed like an excellent álbum, full of powerful Speed Metal themes. Our congratulations, since you are the main songwriter...! Was it what you were looking for? Are you happy about it?

A: Thanks a lot! In fact, it turned out even better than I expected. Sometimes when I listen to it I wonder how I did that. Also, drummer Selena Simić who recorded drums while Marija was on maternity leave, and producer Luka Matković did a great job.

7) Now Jenner have a new e.p., "The Test of Time". Did you practically recorded it by yourself? Why did it happen this way?

A: I recorded everything except drums. Since Marija was on her second maternity leave drums were recorded by our friend Nikola Simonovic. At the same time our former bass player Nevena announced that she was pregnant again, so I didn’t want to waste more time, and decided to record both guitar and bass guitar by myself.

8) Tell us a little bit about this new e.p.. Is it the previous step to a new album soon? You also recorded a video clip...


A: I don’t think that it is a previous step to a new album, unfortunatelly it’s more like instead of a new album. We had very rough period, so after I cleared my mind and made some important decisions about the band, I concentrated on the EP and these 3 songs, considering that it’s better to have quality than quantity. We really needed something to put us back in life. About the video… Well, we caught last train before the emergency state in our country. We had only one day to film everything, and there was just one camera – Nevena Jovanović. She also edited the video. We did everything on our own, so it was very stressful and exhausting. But we did it!

9) You have been able to edit your works on vinyl and cassette (the album) and on cassette (the e.p.). What do you think about the "revival" of these formats in the world of music?

A: I really love those formats. I’m not a collector myself, but I have some old vinyls and cassettes which I „inherited“ from my mother and I’m really happy that I had an opportunity to have my music on vinyls and tapes and it all happened thanks to Inferno Records. Also, I'm very surprised how quickly they sold out. 

10) You are part of another band, Sigma Epsilon, which seems to us more focused on Thrash. Please, tell us about it.

A: Sigma Epsilon is a project that evolved into a band. It started back in 2014 when few members (my boyfriend Emil Ivošević – vocalist, Stefan Tomić – guitarist, and Nikola Simonović - drummer) of Serbian band Prisoner left the band and started creating their own music. Actually Stefan wrote music, and Emil lyrics. In 2018 I joined band as second guitar player and Luka Matković joined as bass player. We signed on Miner Recordings and released our first EP “Svi putevi vode do smrti”, and also recorded 2 music videos for songs “Svi putevi vode do smrti”, “Kap”, and one lyric video for the song named “Trofej”. At the moment I’m working with Emil on new conceptual album, and I hope that soon we’ll enter the studio again. 

11) You are also playing with Slovenian Hellcats. Already a permanent union?

A: In 2017 Hellcats needed a female guitarist to play with them in Arena Stožice where they’ll be supporting Slovenian punk band Pankrti on their 40-year band anniversary. They couldn’t find someone closer, so they asked me. At first I thought that it will be only for that concert, but we got along nicely, and I really liked them as people and as musicians. Since then they inform me about possible concerts few months earlier, and if I’m not able play, they have a guitarist Jan who helps them out. It’s a bit complicated but it works for now.

12) We take a little out of the musical context to ask you how Serbian society is living all this great problem of coronavirus; and we would like your reflection about all this.

A: Thing are slowly turning back to normal, but it was rough period for most of us, especially musicians. We’re very sad that we had to cancel all our shows. We had a plan to make a big come back this spring after 2 years break. Considering that an even longer break wouldn’t bring us anything good, we decided to publish the EP anyway and promote all the songs from it on social networks as much as possible. We were lucky to film the video a few days before the declaration of the state of emergency in Serbia.

13) What has been, until now, the greatest satisfaction that music has brought you?

A: The fact that I achieved my goal. My goal was to have at least one physical release of my music, a CD that I’ll be able to show to my children and grandchildren one day. To have something behind me that other people will be able to see and hear and maybe find themselves in it. To inspire others. I’ve achieved the part of it, I have 2 releases. The rest will do the time. My new goal is to do what makes me happy, and music certainly makes me happy.

14) We know it's hard enough making plans right now, but what would you expect for Jenner (and your other projects) for the near future?

A: I hope we will play more concerts in the future, and have more music to share with the world.

15) Aleksandra: from Argentina, we want to thank you very much for your time, your kindness and your great vibes. What would you like to add that we have not asked you?

A: Thank you, guys! Stay safe and take care of your loved ones. Greetings from Serbia!


Interview by Silvia G. Rosa, for OXIDO.-

Answered: Aleksandra Stamenkovic, by JENNER.-
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