We’re thrilled to present you an interview with Oli from Melonball! In this conversation, we’ll be delving into their highly anticipated acoustic EP, unpacking the inspiration behind their latest single, and exploring the intricate layers of their songwriting process. Get ready for an in-depth discussion on themes, creativity, and everything in between.
The new acoustic versions offer a different perspective on your debut album. What inspired this reimagining of your songs?
Basti and I are always searching for cool acoustic punkrock to listen to and we just figured, let’s do some ourselves. It was really exciting to see what we could do with the songs, to extract the essence of the songs and give them an even more emotional level. However, we didn’t want to lose our message and our fighting spirit, which hopefully we succeeded in maintaining.
Could you elaborate on the inspiration behind “Sinking” and its relevance in today’s social climate?
It’s actually not a new topic, yet unfortunately, it doesn’t lose its relevance. Everything shines, everyone wants to present themselves in the right light. The loudest ones are the most successful, and it’s easiest to build your success on the backs of others, exploiting and pitting them against each other. The big players set the example, in politics and in industry / economy. It would be desirable for people to develop more empathy and to refocus on what really matters, and above all, to critically question the upper echelons of power and authority, rather than focusing their efforts on pushing others down or excluding them.
Collaborating with Vik from Deadends on the acoustic rendition of “Sinking” adds a unique dynamic. How did this collaboration come about, and what did Vik bring to the table?
We played one of our frist shows with Vik and his band Deadends and immediately became friends. Vik, also known as “Dawner,” dropped a solo album a while back (highly recommend checking it out!). We really loved the sound and energy of that record, and knowing Vik’s skills as a producer, it was a no-brainer: we had to work with him on this acoustic EP. The idea for him to contribute his vocals on one of the tracks was somewhat planned, but it also came about quite spontaneously. We’re super stoked that he not only jumped in as a great friend and producer but also lent his one-of-a-kind voice to the mix!
Your music often carries strong political messages and social criticism. How do you maintain the integrity of these themes while exploring a more introspective sound in “eup•nea”?
One doesn’t exclude the other, right? For me, the big movements always start from the small. One shouldn’t get carried away too quickly by grand speeches or large crowds. Form your own picture, your own opinion, and live by your own principles. You’ll soon realize that you’re not alone and you’ll find your place, your friends, and your support all on your own. That’s exactly how we approached the acoustic versions: stripping away all the big, loud, overwhelming elements and breaking it down to the essence. I think it actually makes the message even clearer.
“eup•nea” presents a balance between mellowness and the spirited energy of punk rock. How do you strike this balance in your songwriting and performance? The EP showcases a more emotional feel, yet maintains the rebellious spirit of your punk roots. How do you ensure that emotion enhances your message rather than overshadowing it?
As I’ve mentioned before, for me, these things go hand in hand. Life isn’t just one emotion, like anger, or hate, or anything like that… and I see music the same way. To be authentic to myself, I want to give all emotions their space in music – even the quiet, doubting, fragile ones. We do that with our “regular versions” of our songs as well – but with the acoustic versions, of course, there’s more emphasis on this.
Sometimes the world seems destined for downfall, and as individuals, we may feel powerless against injustice, politics, the climate crisis, and the shitty treatment of people worldwide. All of this can be overwhelming, and we often feel small and overwhelmed by all the evil. However, the EP aims to encourage starting small, not giving up on oneself and one’s principles. Because it’s the actions of each and every person that count, whether big or small.
Could you share some insights into the process of rearranging your songs from “Breathe” into acoustic versions? Were there any unexpected challenges or discoveries along the way?
Actually, it was much harder than we thought. From the start, it was clear that we didn’t just want to play the songs as they are, but with acoustic guitars. We wanted to give them a completely different perspective and approach. That was really difficult because we had already put a lot of thought and love into our songs and therefore rearranging them was not so easy. Especially with “Rage (acoustic),” I had the vision from the beginning of an extremely calm and restrained songwriting to give the necessary space to the theme the song addresses, which is mental health and a lot of vulnerability.
You gained recognition as a formidable live band. How does the energy of your live performances translate into the acoustic realm on “eup•nea”?
In the past 2 years, we’ve played quite a lot live, and of course we often engage with the people who attend our shows. They often share their personal stories with me and tell me how my lyrics touch or help them. It’s still absolutely mind-blowing to me – undoubtedly, these encounters and experiences have also influenced the work on eup•nea.
Your music often critiques societal norms and behaviors. How do you hope listeners will engage with the themes presented on the upcoming material.
I hope it gives many people hope that commitment pays off and that you can stand up for your principles and beliefs. It’s not so much about persuading or changing the minds of assholes – they’re actually not my concern, and I’m not going to stand up and tell the people in our audience that fascism suck; they should already know and think that if they’re listening to our music. But it’s about showing that you’re not alone, that we’re standing together for the same values. Saying: “Look around, there are plenty of us and we feel you!”
“Sinking” addresses individuals who exploit others for personal gain. How do you navigate conveying this message without coming across as overly didactic?
Haha, you tell me! It’s entirely possible that some people might find the lyrics preachy. We’re the band that doesn’t sing about wild parties, happiness and sunshine. If that’s too much for some folks, that’s totally okay with me – but I still don’t want to change it.
Your performance at Punk Rock Holiday 2023 garnered significant attention. How does the experience of performing at festivals like these influence your approach to creating music?
Punk Rock Holiday is truly a family gathering – it may sound cliché and has been said a thousand times, but for us, it’s genuinely the case. The founding members of Melonball met here, laying the groundwork for the band. Back then, we joked that ‘if we ever play here one day, we can call it quits, because we’d have achieved our dream.’ The show on the Beach Stage last year was indeed a dream come true, but we’re not calling it quits just yet – (haha)! Festivals are always inspiring, not only because you get to see so many amazing bands, but also because you witness firsthand the reactions of new listeners.
“Eupnea” offers a glimpse into a calmer, more introspective side of Melonball. How does this EP fit into the broader narrative of your musical evolution?
We’re still the band that does whatever the hell we want. There’s no master plan behind every step. We’ve been asked this recently “where do you want to go with this EP?” And I can say: “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know”. Sure, some people might not dig the EP and wonder where we’re going with it. Acoustic in punk isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s totally fine. But we don’t care, we just wanted to do it and actually we love it!
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Melonball in terms of future releases and performances?
This year, we’re gearing up for a ton of live shows all across Europe, and we’re super stoked about all of them! We play with heroes like F.O.D. and Authority Zero and other great bands! We’ve got some awesome festivals lined up aswell like Booze Cruise, Seepogo, KNRD Fest, and Mission Ready. After the summer, we’ve got a pretty nice music video in the pipeline, and towards the end of the year, we’re diving into writing new songs and maybe even a new album. We’re definitely keeping busy.
THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION 