Interview with the vocalist of band “Boombox” Andrey Hluvnyk

The band “Boombox” was created in the middle of 2004 year. That time two musicians, who were working with famous Ukrainian bands, begun to compose music together. They did it only for their own pleasure not planning that it will turn into something serious. When appeared the need to involve some other instruments, the vocalist Andrey Hluvnyk and guitarist Andrey “Myha” Samoilo decided not to gather big line-up. They just proposed DJ, famous scratch-expert Valik Matiuk, to make some experiment with them. And from the first rehearsal Valik’s bits and scratches have become the integral part of melodic and at the same time drive “Boombox” music. The band gathered in Kiev, but all its participants are from different cities: Andrey Hluvnyk (vocals, lyrics) is from Cherkassy, Andrey “Myha” Samoilo (guitars) from Lutsk, Valentin Valik Matiuk (DJ) from Novovolunsk. Material for the first album was composed and recorded very quickly, but managers were not in hurry to release debut album to the masses. Instead of that “Boombox” decided to make very interesting step. They did not kept unreleased album in secret but on contrary they started to give CDs with the record to all of their friends.
Their music is the mix of different styles. It is not pure funk and it is not jazz, it’s not hip-hop, not pop music and not rock. It is something unique and different!
Discography: “Melomania ”, “Family Business”, “III”.
“You can sing about tender love and to be tough cynic at the same time”
Probably the most frequently asked question for the band that they have answered hundreds of times is where such name Boombox came from?
« — «Boombox» -is popular style of 80s. And also this word means portative cassette player which was as “cult” and has changed youth of 80-90s. Boombox is certain attribute. It is not just accessory but it is significant thing. We are associated with boombox. We are almost that portative sound box, there are three of us, we on cakewalk and we don’t need anything but only the electricity, just like real boombox.»

Blowup-project: Have you ever been to Prague?

Andrey Hluvnyk: Yeah, sure. The first time I was in Prague in 1994. But almost all the time I was there passing through.

Blowup-project: What associations do you have with this city?

Andrey Hluvnyk: I like Prague very much. It is really the “pearl” of Europe. Associations are Karlov bridge, St. Vite’s Cathedral and surely romantic mood of this city.

Blowup-project: Do you expect something special from this concert in Prague and do you point it among other concerts?

Andrey Hluvnyk: This concert is really very important to us. At present time almost all of our tours are held in post soviet countries. There were only few concerts in Europe. That is why it is interesting to present our music in Prague. And I’m sure that lots of people will like it.

Blowup-project: You have very intense tour program. Do you have time to go sightseeing or you just leave to yourself emotions from concert.

Andrey Hluvnyk: Yes, I have time for sightseeing but not as much as I want. I often fly for sightseeing separately. Not so long ago I have opened for myself Asia, I‘ve got lots of bright emotion from that trip. In Europe I visited Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Czech Republic… Well, it’s very interesting; each city leaves its own memories and feelings. And especially it is interesting when there is possibility to combine trip and concert. Than you can get splendid mix of sightseeing and concert emotions.

Blowup-project: Where it is possible to get your track list for this concert?

Andrey Hluvnyk: It is impossible because track list we write usually straight before the concert. It depends on mood and on those things we want to say to people. We always include in program most popular songs, but the whole track list stays a mystery for me also.

Blowup-project: Will you present some new songs that haven’t joined the album?

Andrey Hluvnyk: Yeah, we plan to present a few new tracks that are not from album. It will be surprise and present for Prague.

Blowup-project: What concert among last ones do you remember and why?

Andrey Hluvnyk: It was in Riga. I remember it because when we came to new city, we felt that friends are waiting for us there. When you are playing, when you don’t know anybody yet, but you are welcomed with the eyes that know a lot about you and understand those feelings you want to carry. It’s just amazing when in the new city on concert people know all the words and sing with us.

Blowup-project: They say that musicians are very superstitious people. How about you? Do you have some special thing that you do before going on stage?

Andrey Hluvnyk: No. I’m not superstitious and I don’t have special methods. There are some traditions but it is the secret.

Blowup-project: There is such opinion that your songs describe thoughts of nowadays youth. What are these thoughts?

Andrey Hluvnyk: Don’t know. I don’t think that thoughts can be described just by our songs, thoughts are more various. But the main thoughts are as usual about really important things and they don’t depend on the age.

Blowup-project: People say that you are very cynic person. So what mostly influence your songs: emotions or cynicism?

Andrey Hluvnyk: I don’t know where such opinion came from. Like every person I can be different in the various situations. And in songs surely there are more emotions. It was promptly noticed: “before going on stage you should leave behind all earthly and evanescent things”. I follow this principle.

Blowup-project: With whom would you like to perform on stage?

Andrey Hluvnyk: At present moment we have been already performed with lots of artists whom we would like to work with. But surely there is huge range of bands with whom it would be interesting to divide stage. And it’s a pity that lots of those who we would like to perform with will never go on stage again.

Blowup-project: Many of your songs are the movie’s soundtracks. Have you ever thought to become an actor?

Andrey Hluvnyk: Maybe. Even now there are some proposals from different producers. But now our tour dates are filled to the minutes till the New Year. So I have no time even to think about it. But it would be very interesting to try myself as an actor.

Blowup-project: What character would be most interesting to play?

Andrey Hluvnyk: I don’t know. They say that it’s much simple to play positive heroes. But still I have no time now to think about this.

Blowup-project: Because of particular lyricism of your songs and your personal charm you have lots of girl-fans. Does it bother you? And is there some curious situation concerning this?

Andrey Hluvnyk: It bothers and sometimes it does not. It depends on the age and to tell the truth I don’t need fans. I’m not a model or sex-symbol in order to have fans. For us it’s enough to have understanding and respect to things we are doing. Does fame bother in life? No. And if it bothers somebody, well there are lots of free job opportunities in tram depot.

Blowup-project: Your way of singing is easy recognizable. Don’t you ever wanted to make some radical experiment in your music?

Andrey Hluvnyk: It’s too early to talk about this right now. We are 5 years old band and it is interesting for us to keep on doing what we do now. I think that later I will certainly come to this, maybe it will be jazz…

Blowup-project: What emotions do you want to get from the Prague concert?

Andrey Hluvnyk: I will take everything what it will give to me with great pleasure.

Blowup-project: I think Prague will not disappoint you. See you in Prague!