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Hello Eren and Ed please introduce yourself
to the readers? When did you two first meet?
Eren : This is Eren I am the founder and
guitarist and vocalist of HOKEDUN. Me and Ed met in 2009 at Bloodstock
festival, Ed was a close friend of my friend and we have been recording
music since then.
At what age did you start listening to metal
music and who were some of the first bands you listened to?
Eren :
Well, as far as I can remember I have started to listen to metal music at a
very early age 6, my brother was a diehard metal fan back in the days, he
still listens but not as much as I do. My all times favourite band is Iron
Maiden.
When did you two decide to start the band
and how did you choose Hokedun as the name of the band?
Eren :
I formed the band on a very cold winter day in 2010, before HOKEDUN I was
playing in a punk band but it was nothing special only for fun, I gave the
name HOKEDUN to the band, it is an Armenian name which means SOUL HOUSE I
encountered that name whilst I was reading a book about Syria many years ago
and I literally fell in love with that name and its meaning, I literally
adore learning languages and traveling.
Hokedun recently released their debut
full-length "Succumbing To Decay" how long did it take to write the music
for the songs on this release? Do you both work on the music or does one
member usually write everything?
Eren :
It took roughly two years I could say. We have started to write new material
end of 2013, well Ed had to leave the country for his work almost for 6
months so if we deduct that I can say 1,5 year. Usually I start writing the
songs and Ed adds some bits and pieces, he is in charge for the whole
recording process and he is pretty good at what he does.
Who usually takes care of writing the lyrics
for the band and what are some topics the band writes about?
Eren :
I am in charge for writing lyrics in the band, majority of the lyrics are
about life, depression.
I believe the new release was self-released.
Do you both prefer working on and releasing your music independently or
would you like to find a label to work with?
Eren :
I am a diehard underground fan Patrick, for two decades I have been
supporting it and do you know what I am loving it, I am missing the old
golden days like crazy, back in the days we had flyers, gluing stamps lol,
and we had no internet and chances were pretty low however tape trading was
helping a lot, you made me pretty emotional I will cry with a deluge of
emotions ahhaha. J our cdrs were self-released but both albums were released
by separate labels at a later date on tape. Well, we would love to find a
label but up to now we couldn’t find any, maybe in the future who knows.
Besides the debut full length does the band
have any other merchandise available?
Eren :
We have pins, stickers, soon I will order some patches and I am planning to
print some shirts as well within the next year, our merchandise is available
via our facebook page which is facebook.com/hokedun
Have you all started working on new music
for the next release and any idea when new music from Hokedun might be
released?
Eren :
Yes we have indeed, up to now we have 5 songs in total 3 ambient and 2 black
metal tracks, well, an American band asked us if we would like to release
split cd with them but at the moment nothing is for sure, if not we will
release it as an EP.
Hokedun is a two person band would you like
to find new musicians to add to make a full band or do you prefer working as
a two piece?
Eren :
Frankly speaking it is much better to keep HOKEDUN as two piece band, Ed is
such a talented person to work with I am not so good with computers and
especially recording and mixing stuff he is pretty good at that and the most
important thing is it is so hard to find musicians who are sharing the same
passion, I bet you got what I mean.
Eren you take care of the vocals for the
band at what age did you start singing and screaming? Do you do anything
special to keep your voice and throat healthy? Who are some of your
favourite vocalists?
Eren :
Well, I would say at the age of 12 or 13 I can’t remember very well, I used
to play in a cover band and we were playing covers of Sepultura and I was on
vocals, I love growl and scream vocals, for your other question I keep my
throat healthy with bourbon whiskey and brandy hehe J. My favourite
vocalists are Mika from Impaled Nazarene and Nergal from Behemoth and a few
more which I cannot remember at the moment.
Besides the vocals Eren you also play the
guitars in the band. At what age did you become interested in playing the
guitars? Are you self-taught or did you start out with lessons? Do you
currently play any other instruments?
Eren :
I started to play guitar at the age of 12, I took private lessons and still
am taking some every now and then. Thanks to nowadays most precious treasure
the internet you can find everything online this invention is a god send
isn’t it? Lol J Beside guitar I am playing some duduk Armenian instrument
which I adore but it is damn hard to play, need lots of practice but I
believe one day I will get there.
Ed you take care of the bass duties for the
band when did you start playing the bass? Who are some of your favorite bass
players? Besides the bass do you currently play any other instruments?
Ed :
I started playing bass probably about age 13. The first things I was
learning were The Cure and Joy Division songs 'cos I really liked what Peter
Hook and Simon Gallup did. I used to play a bit of drums which obviously
helps when programming beats. I also play guitar.
Besides playing and working in Hokedun do
either of you currently work with other bands or solo projects? If yes
please tell the readers about them?
Eren :
I only have HOKEDUN and I prefer to play in only one band, it is a lot
better than managing other projects and I can focus more on music and beside
HOKEDUN I am a flamenco guitarist, I enjoy playing flamenco as much as I
love playing metal.
Ed :
My main band is Absinthropy.
Hokedun comes out of U.K's metal scene what
is your opinion of the black, death metal scene in the U.K?
Eren :
We have a good scene and good bands over here, plenty of gigs happening all
year round.
Who are your all-time favorite bands from
the U.K? Are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?
Eren :
IRON MAIDEN all the way J Yeah there are plenty of good bands from the UK,
Hellsworn, Towers of flesh, and many more.
What do you two enjoy doing in your free
time any hobbies?
Eren :
I love learning languages a lot, traveling, cooking and a big nature lover.
Ed :
Don't have much free time to be honest as I tour professionally as a sound
Engineer so what free time I do have is often taken up with bands.
Thank you two for taking the time to fill
this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?
Eren :
Thank you very much for the interview and best of luck for the zine.
If you would like to know more about HOKEDUN
feel free to visit our website which is http://www.facebook.com/hokedun and
our email address is hokedun@yahoo.co.uk
SUPPORT THE UNDERGROUND AND KEEP THE FLAME BURNING!
https://www.facebook.com/hokedun
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