A Dirty Dozen with IVAN PAVAKOVIC and & ADRIAN MARTINOT from DISCONNECTED – April 2020

According to a recent press release: “French Modern Metal band DISCONNECTED has released the official music video for “Unstoppable,” the debut single off of their upcoming, sophomore album. Directed by Olivier Gobert and filmed at La Chapelle Argence (Troyes, France), features the band performing on stage, delivering the song with strength, energy, and great passion. DISCONNECTED is a modern new metal band that released their debut album White Colossus in March 2018 through indie record label, Apathia Records on all major streaming platforms with physical releases in Europe and Japan.” We get singer Ivan and guitarist Adrian to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Ivan: I don’t think there is anything that might have been hidden in this particular song. I think this one is straight to the point. Probably our most accessible song ever. This one is a direct punch in the face sort to say ahahaha. In my opinion it’s the kind of song that gives you a positive vibe, a warrior vibe, after listening to this normally you should be ready to conquer the world!!!!!

Adrian: I think our new single “Unstoppable” “White Colossus” but with something more catchy and less technical. We’re definitely adding more rock vibes into our music. I think this song in particular is a really good transition to bring our listeners to our new material with the upcoming album. That’s the reason we’ve released it first.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Ivan: Oh yeah, even if it was a long time ago I’ve got a perfect recollection of that time. I used to be very dedicated to my studying and sports when I was a kid. Then at 13 I met a guy that changed my life. He had long blond hair, and was wearing t-shirt with drawings of monsters (Iron Maiden shirts). We became close friends and he introduced me to hard rock and metal. You have to understand that the hardest music that I had access to through mainstream television and radio back in 1990 was probably The Final Countdown from Europe… As soon as I discovered that bands such as AC/DC, Guns’n’Roses, Iron Maiden, Metallica existed it changed my life drastically. I became an addict, bought cassettes, then CD’s, magazines, grow my hair etc… In 2/3 month time my parents couldn’t recognize their boy anymore ahahahah! Next step was to harass them to buy an electric guitar and become the next Angus Young or James Hatfield! ahahah That was 30 years ago, and I’m so happy to have met that guy that is still my best friend to this day.

Adrian: I grew up with music since I was born. I mean there was not a single day without music in my house, my parents are huge fans of music too. And I really thought about being a musician when I had an electric guitar for my 15th birthday. It was a revelation, and my first guitar teacher at that time knew exactly how to bring me into it. I could play 10 hours a day, I was and I’m still keeping it up, I just can’t stop playing!!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Ivan: I can definitely say that the turning point for me was to listen to the album The Razor’s Edge and in particular “Thunderstruck” from AC/DC. Also when I saw the video “Clipped” for the first time and realized how Angus could move while playing his guitar I thought ‘fuck this is the coolest thing in the entire world!!! I wanna do the same.’

Adrian : Definitely all the Mark Tremonti’s material since Creed, I’ve really dug his stuff and it has inspired a lot of my growing steps as a guitar player.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Ivan: I have to put AC/DC apart as it’s the origin of my passion for Hard Rock and Metal but not necessarily what influences me as a songwriter for example. So I’ll say Pantera, Metallica, Faith No More, Mark Tremonti (in his solo project and Alter Bridge, sorry I’m cheating that’s two in one…. lol), and Stone Sour.

Adrian: That’s a tricky one. Not necessarily in this order — Van Halen, Chris Cornell, Gojira, Alter Bridge/Tremonti, and Avenged Sevenfold.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Ivan: I’ll go with Mark Tremonti. A, because he is a phenomenal songwriter, amazing guitarist and great singer, and B because I know him for having toured with him and he’s just a great guy to hang with. I’m sure we’ll be able to write some kickass songs together!

Adrian: I’ve already answered that question in a previous interview so I won’t change my mind ahah. I’d say somebody really unexpected for our kind of music, like Lady Gaga! I really think she has a really powerful voice, she is definitely a rocker! I’d like to see her more into heaviest music projects!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Ivan: I think our music is versatile, powerful and full of emotion. If you’re expecting to listen to the same track ten times in a row on a record it’s definitely not us. We can go from the complex djenty song to the almost mainstream ballad. Even if on this next album we are, in my opinion, being more accessible there will still be some songs with many layers.  All the comparisons that were ever made were always some that we assume 100%, so, so far so good. There was maybe one once that was a bit unexpected. However I took it as a compliment. When talking about a song called “Feodora” on our previous album White Colossus, a french journalist told me that he could feel some Robbie Williams in my interpretation of the verses. I’ve always loved that cocky bastard (I say that with a lot of affection) so I was just fine with it!

Adrian: Our music is a mix of a lot of things, in between the frontiers of metal and rock music, it’s loud, catchy, melodic and emotional! At least we try to make it sound that way. We are not in a box (I hate boxes), we’re just writing music to express ourselves out. I guess it’s because we alternate screams and clean voices in our songs that we’re often compared to metal core bands. Personally I don’t really listen to these kind of bands (and don’t like it that much) so that’s the one comparison that I wouldn’t agree with. Except for Architects, I think they’re magnificent, but it’s not really metal core in my opinion. I don’t really find the clichés of metal core in their music. To me they’re unique, they created something  very special.

7 What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Ivan: Performing on stage. It’s always been my top priority. I love writing songs, recording in a studio, but what I prefer by far is to perform on stage.

Adrian: To wake up every morning and have nothing more to do than playing music and work harder and harder for the band!!

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Ivan: Adrian is good at cooking! Everybody gets the drinks in ahahaha! And as for the guitar for a singalong that would be me, but when we’re on the road I’m so busy taking care of setting up our march booth, talking with promoters and stuff that I don’t really have time for this. But after a show, put me in an after party with a few sips of Jack Daniels, give me a guitar or a mic in front of a karaoke machine and I’ll entertain you for hours!!!! ahahahah

Adrian: We actually have a lot of fun when we go on tour, we became a family since the Tremonti one! I’d say the funniest of us is definitely Jelly! But to answer to your questions – Who cooks on tour ? Essentially Mc Donalds or Burger King ahah! Who gets the drinks? Everybody except Romain, it’s the youngest member of the band but the oldest mind wise ahah Sorry bro we love you!! – About the singalong ? Obviously my bro Ivan, I remember very well a funny karaoke session in a bar after the last gig of the Tremonti’s tour in Amsterdam!!

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Ivan: That was back to the beginning of 2019 when we opened for Judas Priest in Paris. Rob Halford amazed me man… 30 mins before we had to go on stage he came to say hello in our dressing room, that was already so nice and so amazing. But when he came on stage… I mean this guy was 68 at the time and man he can still fucking sing and hit those fucking high notes and be so powerful on stage… I was just blown away by his performance.

Adrian: The last time was when we played with our brothers from The Raven Age at la Boule Noire in Paris last year. It was kind of funny because it was the 1st of April, and they’ve made us believe that all of the Maiden’s members will attend to our show. We thought ‘No way, it  must be an April Fools.’ But when we finished our set we went back to our dressing room and we came face to face with Steve Harris himself!!

Ivan: Damn yeah… there was that one too… ahahahah

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Ivan: I think it would be to manage bands. I do that for my own band and I have to say I really enjoy it. So if for any reasons I couldn’t sing and perform anymore I think I’d enjoy helping a band to expand. I’m learning everyday and I enjoy being in contact with loads of peeps around the world. I enjoy trying to make things to happen.

Adrian: I really don’t know. Maybe starting a restaurant or a bar with my best friend!!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Ivan: I don’t have a particular situation in mind. I just know that sometimes I’d like to be more able to say fuck off to certain people that are trying to take advantage of us (and of all up and coming bands in general) by offering certain contracts, touring offers etc… Thank God we haven’t done any major mistakes about this so far, and I hope we will avoid as many as we can in the future.

Adrian: I don’t, life is too short for regrets!!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Ivan: I’ll choose to be a part of the recording of Vulgar Display Of Power from Pantera. That record is probably one of my fav of all times, I’ve listened to this album so many times. Back in 1992 I was already playing guitar in a metal band. But when I listened to that album I got obsessed by Phil Anselmo’s voice and attitude. And deep inside I started to feel that I would probably prefer to be a singer and a frontman rather than a guitarist in a band. I started to practice a bit my vocals at that time.

Adrian: I really would love to be part of the Metallica’s Black album sessions. I don’t know if those guys realized at the moment that they were making one of the most influential records in metal history!! It’s now the reference, I mean everybody is trying to make their own Black album in their career. To make the album which will make you reach the stars!!!!

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Category: Interviews