Page 21 - Sick Drummer Magazine Issue 29 - Hannes Grossmann

SDM: You were doing a lot of solo stuff not too long ago. What made the focus shift from the Navene K project to Entheos?Navene: My solo stuff has been an amazing personal journey, but after 2 years on my own, I really began to miss the vibe of sharing a project with other people. I would get off stage solo and there wouldn’t be that sense of a team you have with a band. After doing a couple tours as a solo ‘artist’ I came to realize the importance of musicians on stage creating something together. This energy is what a crowd really loves to watch, and it will never go away. Lastly, I just really wanted to play some god dang metal.SDM: Are you still working on solo material, or looking to book more solo opens?Navene: Not really. My musical desires are quite satisfied with Entheos. I write a lot of the material and sneak in a lot of chord progressions that would have fit with ’NK,’ but it actually turns out cooler as a metal part than electronic. I try here and there to work up solo stuff, but I’m really fired up about the band at the moment.SDM: How did Entheos come to be?Navene: I set up my drums one day in a style that was more fit for playing metal which I hadn’t done in YEARS. I was messing around playing blast beats and Animosity type drumming. It was really fun.I came back from my practice session and asked Chaney to start a band with me lol.SDM: Do you find it difficult being in a band with your girlfriend? I know she’s not your ’typical’ girl (she rules), but does it ever add stress?Navene: It’s honestly a lot less stress. When you’re significant other isn’t involved in your project they can grow tired of hearing about it all day and night, but with us being in it together it’s something we can connect with. We’re always working on the bandat home. Also getting to tour together and share the stage is simply amazing. Really lucky to have that.SDM: A lot of your playing and emotion behindthe kit these days reminds us of your time with Animosity. Do you enjoy this type of drumming more than your solo stuff, or what you did with AAL?Navene: I’m such a psycho when it comes to that. Anyone who’s followed me for more than a year knows I bounce around between all styles all the time. Whether it’s drum kit setup, or drumming approach, I’m constantly experimenting andtrying different stuff. Right now I’m really tryingto get better at all three of those styles. I’ve been practicing more than ever and I’d really like the drumming in Entheos to be something I can always be satisfied with, yet be able to gravitate toward one style more than another at any given time. For instance; if I’m way into to grooving and odd time. we have that, but if I wanna get more into double bass and blasts, there’s that already there as well.SDM: Who are you endorsing these days, or looking to endorse, and why?Navene: I am currently endorsed by Tama, Meinl, ProMark, 2box percussion, Gator Cases and Evans Heads. I’m really happy with all of it. Really fortunate to work with all these guys. That pretty much covers everything I use on stage. If I were to get more endorsements, I would like more in the studio realm, like mics and outboard gear. G.A.S 4 lyfe.SDM: As the listeners, we know that Evan Brewer is insane. How insane is he really, and what has playing with him done to your playing?Navene: Haha. he’s a really level headed guy, especially for a musician lol. Playing with him is awesome. I think we definitely push each other to play more ferociously live. We have a lot of history together and are very much comfortable playing together. Also now that we have a sweet in ear rig I’m able to hear all the embellishments he does that gets me way hyped up to go harder!