Getting To Know... Bogislaw

After spending the last few months building up the buzz and anticipation, German outfit Bogislaw have now delivered their highly-anticipated debut EP 'Alpha'.

With its distinct and airy aroma, 'Alpha' makes for a wonderfully bright and captivating introduction to the outfit. Filled with sweeping harmonies, progressive direction, and some beautifully arranged instrumentation, this is one you can truly switch off to as soon as it plays.

So with the new release out now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has inspired them most over the years.

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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?

Say no to objectophilia! But, yes, years ago I bought a Martin guitar in Berlin, it was my first really good western guitar and I loved it!

What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?

We were primarily influenced by bands and musicians whose focus is on a synthesis of pop music with a distinct electronic and acoustic sound aesthetic. The sound as an emotional parameter in a catchy song - that's what we especially like about Radiohead, Moderat or James Blake.

What kind of music did you love as teenagers?

Even though MTV was already hardly broadcasting any music in the 2000s, there were a few niches in the programme that familiarised the audience with various (alternative/indie/grunge) rock bands. That was great and has something of nostalgia! Those years were an interesting journey from teenage punk rock to modern electronic music.

What inspires you to make music?

Simply listening to amazing music.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

TALK TALK is not just dusty 80s pop from the radio. "Laughing Stock" is a great album full of different moods. Furthermore, the Berlin band FENSTER is being looked up and down, closely followed by ARIEL PINK. And there’s a lot more: We created a playlist of songs that inspired us, it’s on our Spotify profile.

How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?

Well, there are two songs on our EP directed to a „you“ but actually it’s not a particular person we think about. The song "Haze" is a message of giving hope and encouraging someone who goes through a difficult time. Taking him or her out for a ride, out of a hazy state of mind. But there are also tracks with a different lyrical concept. They don’t intend to tell a concrete story. Rather they express vague feelings through intuitively and spontaneous sung words, which the listeners can and should interpret differently.

What has been the funniest moment in your career so far?

Mh, is music fun at all?

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

We are quite modest and hope that we will soon be able to play concerts at all. Whether that will be as a support band, headliner or bouncer is secondary for the strange times we live in.

If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?

Well, we have already done things beside our musicianship. Soon we’ll have a PhD in our band.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as musicians?

Develop the ability to play what you hear. That’s one of the most fundamental aspects of creating music I would say.

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Bogislaw's new EP 'Alpha' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.