| 1. How did the band get together? Where did
you get the band’s name from? How did you decide on it? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: In autumn 1999 Wojtek and Jarek decided to form an absolutely new, independent project. They played a few rehearsals and invited Szymon to join them. All the guys were short after quitting their previous bands (Kobong, Vader and Prophecy), and were desperately looking for something fresh, different. They gained enormous energy from their playing and so Nyia was formed. The name itself describes an unidentified pagan demon of ancient tribes which lived on the territory of what is now Poland. Everybody enjoyed the name, short but arresting everybody’s attention. So it happened. 2. Where did you pull your influences from? Include bands, books, movies, environment, etc. Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: We pull them from so many various sources that it seems impossible to list all of them. But you are right, literature or movies influence me a lot and probably the rest of the team as well. Sometimes it is enough to go out just for a walk to find an interesting matter to be used later in a text, or meet a sound that you would like to interpret in your own manner. Millions of things take place around us and we keep our senses vigil, thus we’ll never get out of ideas. 3. How would you describe what the bands sound like? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: Can we go to the next question? Because all I can say is – listen to the album and you’ll know. Let me quote Jarek’s description of Nyia’s sound “...it’s a kind of break-core with elements of rosary nihilism.” 4. Some of the band members have been in previously established bands. Has it been easier to get this band going then previous experiences? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: In fact all of us have played in quite well-known bands. Apart from the “Three Fathers of Destruction” I mentioned in the first answer, Maciek played bass for Christ Agony and I tried to shout louder than the rest of Prophecy. And I think it helps us because we’re more aware of our abilities, which in turn makes us more confident. However, this also causes greater expectations from each other as well as from the whole. 5. What is the band like live? Where is the bands favourite place to play? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: Nyia live is like... George W. Bush’s apologies for his mistakes. I mean you do not see both very often though you shall. It’s a pity or even becomes a shame, but we’ve played only three gigs this year. I can’t explain why. So, any place to play is our favourite one. 6. Are there any plans for a tour? If so tell me about them. Are there any crazy stories you would like to share from touring? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: We planned a Polish tour in November, arranged everything, all the more and less important details were worked out, but... our strategic sponsor resigned from cooperation and we had to postpone the tour until spring 2005. This is the only crazy story that comes to my mind. 7. What do you see in the bands future? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: Apart from the 2005 tour plans, we are obliged to prepare new material this year. So, next weekend will be devoted to the recording of the new album demo. We’ve booked X Studio in Olsztyn. And in December we are to record the whole new stuff. I can give you its working title which is “More than you expect”, and in addition I can say that we’ve invited Mick Harris to work on a remix of one of the songs. 8. What is in your music collection? Tell me about it! What are your favorites? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: Well, I think it’s not yet a collection rather a first (spiritual) aid kit. I enjoy any good kind of music; therefore I have rock, jazz, classic or ambient albums. Last week favs? Definitely Juno Reactor “Labyrinth”, Bjork “Medulla”, A Perfect Circle “Emotive”, Isis “Oceanic-Remixed”, new Nick Cave’s double album, a bunch of old Kyuss, Zakk Wylde, Mr Bungle, cEvin Key, Muse “Absolution”, Meshuggah “I” plus vintage Temple Of The Dog and many more. 9. What do you do in your spare time? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: We do not have a lot of spare time as all of us work at least 8 hours a day, some 3 or 4 hours more a day we spend on rehearsals. And if there’s still a bit of time left we try to spend it with our women, whom we all owe so much! And if by any chance there’s still a free second or two we read books, watch movies and FOOTBALL! 10. Is there anything you want the metal world to know? Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: No! Nyia is not a metal band. And I don’t believe that the so-called metal world can open its eyes wide enough to see Nyia. Thanks for the interview! Michal 'Mike' Pawluc: Thank you too!!! |
