Indie Funk. Now there is a genre I can get into. Indie pop, tasteful funk guitar licks, and a sprinkle of Red Hot Chili Peppers combine to create Germany’s propylaion. Although their influences show through, propylaion keeps each song fresh and different. From wah guitar to “melancholic pop”, the Hamburg foursome display a lot of range and keep things interesting.

The guys just released their debut album 2k8, and are looking to release a new record soon as well as playing shows in and around Germany. If you, like me, can’t get out to Europe anytime soon, then find some of their music (hint: read the interview for links. duh) and thank me later!

Download “Gold” for free -  propylaion – gold (mp3)

Free EPs: http://www.jamendo.com/de/artist/propylaion

Members/Instruments:
nils wommelsdorf – voice, gimmicks, noises
michael holland – guitar, backing vocals, various instruments
patrice serfort – drums, percussions
georg sheljasov – bass, backing vocals, various instruments

Year Formed: 1994 (new lineup since 2007)

1. Past: What is your musical background? What has led you to this point?

Georg: I was born to musician parents; my mother is a classical pianist and my father a double bass player in orchestras. Thus, I started studying the piano at the age of 6. Reaching adolescence, classical piano music was losing fascination, so I started to learn to play the guitar and bass guitar, and also jazz piano improvisation. My first serious live music experiences came through the bass guitar though. I had my first gigs playing the bass after I moved to Hamburg after finishing school in southern Germany. Between then and Propylaion I also performed as a keyboard/piano player and as a singer. So playing the bass guitar in a band feels a little “back to the roots” to me.

Patrice: I started making music /playing Instruments at age 5 with some Piano lessons.
Then I played the violin for about 8 years and from age 7-13 I had been a member and a soloist of a very popular Boys Choir, named “Toelzer Knabenchor”. As you can see, I have a more classical background and nothing really led me into Rock music, until I started playing the Drums at age 13, what was definitely a kind of rebellion against all that classical stuff I had been doing for years. What came up next was pretty common. I played in several School-Bands and projects (metal, crossover and this stuff). Now I like to play Rock and Pop, say “mainstream” or “consumer-friendly” music….

Nils: We were singing children`s songs since i was a newborn, i was then boy scout at the age of six and learned to play the guitar and singing there. But what really influenced me was „tubular bells“ by mike oldfield and the first real records i owned (the cure, depeche mode etc.) – that influenced my way of writing, singing, playing and recording my own music.

Michael: I’ve got a more classical musical background. I have started with classical musical training (violin) at the age of four. My father used to be a violin player in orchestras.

After playing the violin for several years, I quit that and began to play electric guitar and bass when I was about 14 years old. I wanted to play rock music.

2. Present: Where are you at now in your career? What are you currently working on?

Michael: With propylaion, we released our debut album “2k8” in 2008. We are playing nice little gigs at nice little venues…

For the next year, we are planning a new record and more gigs at even nicer venues.

Georg: Currently I am member of various musical projects with a style range from Gospel to Independent Rock. I also teach music in different schools. So you might say I work on spending as much time with music as possible.

3. Future: What’s coming up for you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Georg: I think I’ll focus in working a bit more intense on bands with interesting original material and try to play with them live a lot. I also want to learn new instruments. The accordion is high on the list for me. In five years…? Hard to say, I never really look that far.

Michael: Releasing records, playing mindblowing liveshows and getting more popular. I think we will do that in our own tempo. There’s nothing good about to be in a hurry when it comes to your very own music.

Patrice: Hmm, I hope I’ll still making music then, but I turn 30 in 2010 and current priorities may slide into another direction, they actually do . You never quite know and above all you have to make a living, what’s pretty difficult with music.

4. Where can people find more of your music?

Nils: you can download our music via itunes, napster, amazon and several little stores on the internet. There are also a lot of free tracks, you can find them on

www.propylaion.com
www.myspace.com/propylaion