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TD: We come from the city of Novi Sad in Serbia. We, THE DETONATORS, are a band that plays our own style. You could say we play punk rock with
influences from folk, rock'n'roll, and rockabilly. We were formed in 2010.
When we started, our plan was to be on tour constantly. At that time, we still had a double bass and sounded more like rockabilly.
After a year, we became a sought-after band and were able to spend more and more time on tour. During that time, there were also lineup changes in the band. The double bass was replaced by a regular bass. We incorporated the mandolin as an instrument in our songs. The mandolin harmonizes well with the accordion, which we also play. These changes have done the band a lot of good and led to the special sound we play to this day.
We have been influenced by bands like Social Distortion, Swingin' Utters, The Pogues, Rancid, and many others, but we do not imitate them; instead, we have developed a completely independent style.
The band members all listen to different music, such as Irish folk, hardcore, country, punk rock, and rockabilly. These various influences create a unique, hot music cocktail out of our songs.
Q: Your songs have melodic punk parts, folk influences, and are sung with a dirty, rough rock'n'roll voice. How do your songs come about?
TD: Every day we come up with ideas for new songs. We record these at home, and when we meet for the recordings of a new album, we listen to them
and work further with the best ideas. Based on these ideas, the
arrangements are written, and the accordion as well as the mandolin are incorporated into the songs. Since
our bassist can also play guitar, we often sit in the
studio with two acoustic guitars and play the songs over and over again. We then see how we can create new songs from
the ideas.
On tour, we also come up with many ideas. Entire songs can be created on tour.
And the rough, dirty rock'n'roll singing has developed from a long-standing love for such bands and perhaps also from the occasional alcoholic drink.
Q: What are your favorite bands and how have they influenced your music and your life?
TD: Bands like The Clash and The Living End have strongly influenced us, especially in terms of songwriting.
The special sound of THE DETONATORS is also due to Swingin' Utters, Stray Cats, Social Distortion, Rancid, Johnny Cash, and The Pogues.
Q: You come from Novi Sad in Serbia. What is life like in Serbia, especially as a musician?
TD: Politically and economically, the situation is terrible! Unemployment is rising more and more. More and more people are leaving the country in search of work. Many people work on cruise ships all over the world.
However, we notice that the situation is getting worse not only in Serbia but in many other countries as well.
People who make music usually have one or two jobs to earn the money they need to pay for strings, equipment, and studio time.
More well-known bands that also appear on television are usually supported by the state in some form. The jobs that the band members have are often also related to music.
To have these conveniences, you have to be in a party. Then you have the chance to play at larger festivals and to some extent make a career.
If you just want to party and drink all the time, then Serbia is a good country for you. Our friends from Germany have always felt comfortable with us in Serbia. When we are in Germany, we feel just as comfortable. That's just how it is.
Q: In Germany, there are some people who think that most residents of Serbia have a right to far-right political opinion. Is that true?
TD: Yes, that is true, and the number of people with this attitude is constantly increasing. The poorer the population becomes, the more support the right-wing parties gain.
People find their life philosophy in defending Kosovo and discovering other national issues for themselves. People who have been indoctrinated their whole lives with national pride and the belonging of Kosovo to Serbs are good puppets for parties and drug dealers.
Just one example: The politicians responsible for the Balkan war in the '90s are all still politically active. Only the names of the parties have changed.
Q: Would you like to say something about the Kosovo conflict?
TD: That is really a very sensitive topic. We could talk about it for days.
Both sides in this conflict are full of nationalism and influenced by the mafia. We are against nationalism and against the mafia. These are two major problems that people should fight against so that they do not dominate their future.
People need to finally understand that shouting slogans will not change anything. Many mistakes have been made in the past. These mistakes must not be repeated; therefore, it is important that both sides hold back, learn from the past, and create a better future.
Q: What is the alternative scene or punk scene like in Serbia?
TD: We are very unhappy with the current state. There are some cities in Serbia where concerts can be organized, but most clubs are in the hands of businessmen. The clubs where you can play are youth clubs. They do not always charge admission, and you can only sell a few CDs or LPs. This leads many bands to put their albums online for download.
Despite everything, Serbia has many really good punk bands. However, the current situation is so terrible that many bands play only rarely or not at all anymore.
Q: Most of the concerts you play are outside of Serbia. How do you organize your gigs?
TD: Most of the concerts we play are indeed outside of Serbia. The reasons for this have just been mentioned. We have many friends with whom we have been in contact for several years, e.g., in Germany.
Every time we are on tour, we meet new people and make new friends. This way, we also get contacts to clubs and promoters.
It's all completely D.I.Y.! People come to our concerts, invite us to play in their club on the next tour, or they organize a gig for us in their city. Sometimes they also recommend us to other clubs or promoters. This way, it gets bigger and bigger with each tour.
Q: On your record “My World“, there are many songs about traveling and finding many new friends there. It sounds like this is a real way of life for you. Is this a longing for freedom that you do not find in Serbia?
TD: Yes, definitely. Our van is our home. We feel comfortable in our van. Being on the tour bus is like an escape for us. We escape from the reality in Serbia.
Being on tour is our life. We really cannot imagine anything else.
Many of our songs are about traveling, but they are about much more. They are about freedom, about the daily struggle for a better life, about everyone's daily struggle for a more humane life. You must never give up fighting for your ideals.
During the period from December 5, 2013, to December 28, 2013, the band can be experienced on a European tour.
The tour dates can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/thedetonatorsnovisad/app_123966167614127
The next European tour in 2014 is also already in planning.
The current record by THE DETONATORS has been reviewed at ramtatta.de.
The link is: http://www.ramtatta.de/s/reviews/f/details/id/5876/
If the band is as good live as they are on record, then every concert by the band will be a celebration. So attending is a must!
