Greetings, music enthusiasts! We are thrilled to be here today with Flicker Motel, an exceptional four-member band hailing from the vibrant city of Kavala, Greece. Comprising Nikos on lead vocals and guitars, Alex on bass and backing vocals, Dimitris on guitars and backing vocals, and Thanasis on drums and backing vocals, these talented musicians have been making waves in their local scene for quite some time.
Having forged their musical bond during their school days, the members of Flicker Motel previously collaborated as part of The Dreamers, releasing three albums that left a lasting impression on their community. Now, with a fresh identity and a new sonic direction, Flicker Motel dives into the realm of alternative rock, drawing influences from the garage rock revival, post-punk, and indie rock scenes.
What sets Flicker Motel apart is their distinctive sound—a captivating blend of layers of chorus, overdrive, and delay, all skillfully integrated into their music. These pedals serve as the cornerstone of their sonic identity, creating a unique and immersive experience for their listeners. Beyond the technical aspects, Flicker Motel‘s music serves a higher purpose—their goal is to establish a profound emotional connection with their audience. This connection is forged through the heartfelt lyrics of their songs and the mesmerizing soundscape they meticulously craft, both in the studio and on stage. So, buckle up for a journey into the musical universe of Flicker Motel, where emotion and sonic innovation converge to create an unforgettable experience.
Let’s dive into the featured track on the compilation. Can you share the inspiration or story behind “Within Your Reach”?
“Within Your Reach” is a pretty straight-forward song. At first, it had a more punk-ish feel, but as kept on working and coming back to it, we reached to the final version of the song which is the one that you hear on the EP.
Lyrically, it’s a positive song in a bit of a twisted sense. It’s a weird love song about being within someone’s reach in a way that it sometimes might be wrecking, but in the long-term that’s what you want and what makes both persons happy.
We tried to create a balance between a more relaxed and shoegazy verse and an in-your-face chorus. The after-chorus lead theme is the core of the song. We wanted something that would encapsulate the lyrics, and we came up with this lead that you listen after the chorus.
We also had a great time messing with the song in the studio and we’re very pleased of the final outcome. That’s why we also titled our new EP “Within Your Reach” as well.
We’d also like to give a shout-out to Maria Zopoglou, our good friend and amazing photographer and visual artist for her incredible ability to elevate the visual aspects related to the band and our music.
Walk us through your creative process. How do you typically approach writing and composing music? What was your creative process like for your recent EP “Within Your Reach”?
Writing and creating together is such a unique experience and it is what keeps on bring us together after more than 10 years. It’s been a crazy ride with lots of ups and down but at the end of the day we really enjoy the creative process and the music and personal interaction with each other.
Usually, Nikos who is our songwriter comes to the rehearsal with some lyrics to the rehearsal, sometimes complete, sometimes just parts of it, maybe a chorus or a verse, and presents it to the rest of the band in a very basic way. Just strumming along with the melody.
We’ve reached a point where all of us can identify really quickly if a song has some magic that we can mess with. If we find that magic on a song, we start by playing it over and over until we get a hold of it in a raw kind of way. Then, we start putting our personal touches and individual parts while discussing notions and ideas that we have in our head. After some blood, much sweat and a few tears, we got a new song!
Who or what are your major influences in progressive/alternative rock? How do they impact your own musical style?
In our band, each member brings their unique musical touch to the table. Despite divergent influences that may not always align with the band’s genre (even though we’re not big fans of putting music into boxes) these individual contributions act as building blocks, shaping the band’s distinctive sound – well, we’d like to consider it distinctive in a sense that when you listen to one of our songs, you can quickly identify it as a Flicker Motel song.
We believe that this musical diversity is crucial and allows the band’s music to surpass the limits of a particular genre and eventually allow us to create something equally progressive and distinctive yet familiar to the listeners. Of course, all of us have many influences and their direct and indirect influence can be identified in our songs. It might me a way of playing an instrument, the arrangements, the overall approach to the songs or just the attitude.
Nikos: My personal favorites are The Replacements, Big Star, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Fontaines DC, Oasis, Alex Chilton, The New York Dolls, among many others. I mostly listen to shoegaze, post-rock, post-punk and garage rock. I always struggle when it comes to mentioning my favorite bands. I could go on for days!
Alex: I’m a fan of indie and alternative rock as well as classic rock.
Dimitris: First of all, I would like to distinguish between the musical influences that shaped me in a general context and the sounds that influenced me guitar-wise (a weakness in loud and distorted melodies). There are bands that are probably clearly visible in my playing, but there are also those that are somehow, almost subconsciously present. From Oasis to The Robohands.
Thanasis: Personally, I don’t really listen to this kind of music. I learn more about the genre based on certain covers songs that we play. Yet my real influence is Flicker Motel. Our music is influenced by our souls as everyone puts their personal style in our tracks and this directly influences my style too. At first, it was a challenge to adapt and learn this genre of music. I overcame it as the guys were very receptive to putting my personal element in the way of playing the drums especially in regards to the rhythms I play.
What challenges have you faced as an artist in the scene, and how have you overcome them?
Well, things are getting serious now! We would like to underline the fact that we are an independent band and so are all our releases. We believe that the challenges that we face are similar to young and indie artists across all genres. Just like many of our peers, we have to deal with tight budgets, self-promotion struggles, and the constant battle for visibility in a crowded industry. In an ideal world we’d be solely focused on creating music and play gigs, but in the harsh reality we are called to balance our creative pursuits with the challenges of DIY career management, navigating social media and digital platforms, and funding everything that we do; from our music to our merch and anything else that might come up.
As one can imagine, it’s not an easy thing to be musician these days. We try our best in this crazy shitshow that is the music scene. Yet and despite all the challenges, we find great satisfaction in maintaining creative control and building genuine connections with their audience. Being independent allows us to shape our artistic vision authentically, fostering a direct and genuine relationship with our listeners and audience. It might sound a bit cliché, but we genuinely believe that this relationship and connection thrives on the shared journey of trying to navigate the music scene and industry independently, thus creating a sense of camaraderie and mutual appreciation between our band and our fans.
Dimitris: Another challenge which is a bit more personal to me is when I can’t play music in general and specifically when I can’t play music with Flicker Motel. Unfortunately, the conditions are not always favorable so sometimes it’s enough for me to be able to get into the studio with the guys. Following on from the above, I think that the covid19 era and the lockdowns were the biggest challenge for us and the scene as a whole as we couldn’t play live, express ourselves, communicate and interact with people. We listened to a lot of music though, but it wasn’t enough.
Alex: For me, it’s particularly important to be able to stay focused on your goals and maintain a consistency towards the musical result. Unfortunately, many times this is often overcome as time goes by.
How do you see the scene evolving, and what role do you believe your music plays in that evolution?
Nikos: Overall, the alternative, progressive, and forward-thinking music scene(s) continually evolve through a dynamic interplay of innovation and experimentation. Artists within these genre(s) often push the boundaries of conventional sound, exploring uncharted territories and integrating diverse influences. We are grateful to the community of musicians, producers, and listeners who seek new sonic experiences and keep the scene alive and running. We consider ourselves as part of the wider alternative/forward thinking-music and we try to play our part in showcasing, communicating and introducing the fans to the scene(s)’ music and creativity through our songs.
Alex: Speaking in a general context, we see how there is a steady audience abroad mainly, while we also observe a slight evolution in commerciality, something that has never hurt anyone.
Thanasis: In our country’s case, these genres do not have the resonance that other types of music have. They’re not as commercial as other types of music. That is why we have to carry the torch and keep it alive so it can be heard in the future.
Dimitris: As much as we want to be romantic, we have no illusions, things do not seem to be ideal. However, there are musicians who seem to be doing something right, and I believe that we contribute our part to this. We’re kind of optimistic.
Share with us some of the most memorable moments in your musical journey so far.
Dimitris: For me it’s all about our times in the studio and our travels. The former moments when you compose melodies that give you goosebumps and the later moments you fall asleep in the van while the rest of the band searches the GPS for the right exit.
Thanasis: Every gig is special for each own reasons. I really cherish these memories. And as I like to say “the most memorable moments are yet to come”!
Nikos: We’ve been on this journey for more than 10 years now and it’s safe to say that many of our fondest memories have been with each other. Writing music, jamming, rehearsing, playing gigs, driving from one place to another, packing cars with gear and merch, carrying super heavy amps on our backs, mixing our songs, drinking and hanging out together have been some of the most fun we ever had. I think we can all agree that every time we sit together to have a final listen of our songs before unleashing them to the world is truly special and emotional. I also love the little moments on stage when band and audience have become one and everything seems to have fallen right into place and be in total sync. That’s such a precious feeling!
Alex: A very fond memory is one of our first gigs when we played our set for our best friend and an old lady who happened to be there. It should have been weird, but surprisingly it was enjoyable.
Do you have a personal favorite among your own compositions? If so, which one and why?
Dimitris: “We’re stuck forever” from our latest EP.
Alex: All our songs each for its own reason.
Nikos: I’ll agree with Alex. All of our songs are like our children! Can’t decide, love them all for different reasons.
Thanasis: Same for me! Can’t choose a favorite. I have a deep admiration for all of Nikos’ lyrics, Dimitris’ amazing solos and Alex’s dirty groove and basslines.
Yet, we all agree that “Within Your Reach” is fucking banger!
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re working on?
Yeah, we’re more than happy to share some exciting news with you. Our EP “Within Your Reach” was released on the 30th of December, 2023. The plan is to release one more single from our upcoming full-length album in February. Hopefully, the album will be out by late March/early April.
We’re also super excited to hit the road once again. We’re planning our tour across Greece as we speak and we’re looking forward for this. We’d also like to invite anyone who likes our music to feel free to contact us and discuss any potential idea/collaboration.
Stay tuned for some awesome upcoming merchandise that will be released soon. The latest bunch of merch sold out really quickly! Shout-out to anyone that got our merch. It means a lot, folks!
What does it mean to you to be a part of our compilation? How has the experience been for you?
At this point we’d like to thank Prog Sphere once again for inviting us to be part of the new compilation. It’s an honor and we really appreciate it. The whole experience has been amazing. We’ve been treated in a really professional way. It’s been a pleasure and we really pleased with everything that Prog Sphere has offered us. Not many support indie and emerging bands in such way. It means a lot.
We’re super stoked to have “Within Your Reach” in a Progstravaganza compilation and be part of release with so many talented bands and musicians. We’re looking forward to the release and for the people to listen to the amazing songs that are part of the new compilation.
s there a message you’d like to convey to your fans who will be discovering your music through this compilation?
The main message we’d like to convey to the fans is that we’re grateful for their support. We’d also like to ask them to continue supporting independent artists and efforts like this one. We’re in this journey together; musicians and fans alike.
We’re beyond excited that “Within Your Reach” scored a spot on this compilation curated by the awesome folks of Prog Sphere and we’re pumped to have you along for the ride. Whether you’ve been with us for some time now or just stumbled upon our songs, thanks for vibing with us and keeping the music alive.
Let the music take you on a journey. Crank up the volume, share the love, and let’s make some noise together!
You’re in for a treat with this amazing sonic adventure and stay tuned because more music is on the way!
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or not, who would it be?
Nikos: Paul Westerberg, Alex Chilton, Jody Stevens, Aly Spaltro, Alicia Bognanno, Andy Bell, Patti Smith, Brian Fallon, Warren Ellis, Neil Halstead, Marlon Rabenreither, Little Simz, Orville Peck, Crumbsnatchers, Siouxsie Sioux, Michelle Zauner, John Lyndon, Bakar, Justin Hawkins and the list goes on forever!
Thanasis: Well, they’re way more than one. Let’s stick to Arctic Moneys and Oasis for the sake of time.
Dimitris: David Bowie, The Smiths, Oasis, The Strokes… There are so many of them and to be honest I can’t even fathom what it would be like to work with them. However, I’d be happy to go out, have a bite or a beer and talk.
Alex: The Killers
If you had to pick one instrument (besides your primary one) to master, what would it be?
Thanasis: I’d love play the bass!
Dimitris: I have a fondness for drums and brass instruments.
Nikos: Definitely piano!
Alex: I’d like to learn how to properly play the drums.
What’s your all-time favorite progressive/alternative rock album, and why? One album that you always return to.
Alex: Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” for me.
Nikos: Big Star’s “#1 Record”.
Thanasis: Hey, I’ll be the one to say that my favorite one is our new EP because it is inspired by our own experiences.
Dimitris: There’s no debate for me; “(What’s the story) Morning Glory?” by Oasis.
Are there non-musical influences that find their way into your music? (e.g., literature, art, science)
Nikos: Poetry and literature influence my music both consciously and unconsciously. It might be words, phrases or even descriptions of images that I translate into my own lyrics and music. Painting is also influential, especially abstract expressionism.
Alex: Yeah, they do. My approach to music is influenced by cinema and traveling.
Dimitris: Unfortunately, I don’t read much and my involvement with art is to some extent limited to music and cinema. I think my main non-musical influence is social reality and the deadlock it produces; my mood is influenced by it and music is a way of expression and release.
Thanasis: Of course, they do! Couldn’t be otherwise. For me, these influences are literature and falling in love.
Any final thoughts or reflections you’d like to share with our audience?
Once again, we’d like to thank Prog Sphere. It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of the new compilation. Prog Sphere, keep on doing what you’re doing; push the boundaries of the scene, support indie musicians and giving the people what they want which is great music.
To the Prog Sphere audience, thank you for being there and listening to the compilation. We’re grateful to be featured alongside so many great bands. Your support means the world. Take care of yourselves, be kind, be present, be patient, be transparent, be accepting and do the best that you can.
Where can our audience find more about you and your music?
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/FlickerMotelBand/
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/flicker_motel_band/
BANDCAMP:
https://flickermotel.bandcamp.com/album/within-your-reach-ep
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t7VrVpLSItJ8giscLrUZP?si=25XM84MvTn6O5MTOUYyzyg
Our music is available to every streaming platform and wherever one may listen to music.
Follow, share, like, comment and feel free to contact us in any way you want. We appreciate getting feedback for our music and we’re open to all proposals and opportunities.
