On the lineup of the Rojc Open Air Festival, one act stands out in the direction of progressive rock. It is, of course, Them Moose Rush, a trio from Bjelovar that has been significantly contributing to the lifeblood of rock music in Croatia for over a decade. On the occasion of their upcoming festival appearance, we had a chat about both serious and less serious topics.
How are you, guys?
In line with our age. Experienced, yet still creative, a killer combination. The only thing is that our health warranty has expired, so we have to work on ourselves a bit more in that department.
In March, you marked the band’s 13th anniversary and shared an interesting fact that Them Moose Rush was formed as a result of a work action. What kind of action was that?
Haha, yeah, it turns out we had a cathartic wood chopping and stacking session in a village near Bjelovar, Klokočevac. We still record there to this day. We had already been gathering there for a while, working on songs, and occasionally helping out with various work actions. At one point, we realized we had leveled up to an exciting new stage and needed to form a band, so that is probably the reference.
Many bands, even the most promising ones, get caught up in life and unfortunately break up. But you are a different story. What is the recipe for keeping a band together for so many years, in a healthy relationship and an atmosphere that still fosters creativity? Is the secret that you are a trio?
Yeah, it is really rare for a band to last that long, especially in its original lineup like us. We were lucky to be creatively complementary and genuinely excited about what we create. Also, very early on, the band was perceived as a family, and everything else fell into place naturally. From the beginning, each of us has covered essential aspects of the band’s life. We have in house, albeit self taught, knowledge of production, video, design, composing. All of that in a package of just three people, where logistics are also much easier, is clearly a formula for longevity. Being a trio also helps in situations when we disagree, there is no such thing as a fifty fifty split. Someone always has to tip the balance.
Releasing an album today is just one step in a series, after that come marketing, PR activities, booking shows, and ultimately that fieldwork which is not glamorous at all, despite what many outside the scene might think. What is it like to be a musician today, and how do you stand out?
It has always been brutal. It is not for everyone. Like any job, you really have to push yourself to stand out from the crowd, because talent alone will not make things happen. Thankfully, from the beginning, creativity has been our top priority, and we all genuinely love what we put out. No one in the band has a big success complex, so we do not make compromises when it comes to art. As for the whole marketing side, we keep it at a reasonable level, enough for listeners to discover us, but without burning out. Honestly, it would be a shame if our passion and our search for a unique style reached no one and remained underground, so that is our motivation for doing marketing.
What advice would you give to young rock bands just starting out? Are there any that have caught your attention recently?
Be humble, learn, practice, and listen to a lot of music. Do not limit yourselves by genre. From the newer local bands, Klaustrofonija.
There is an old saying that the local audience is the toughest. It often turns out that Croatian rock bands struggle to break through on their own territory, while beyond the borders they receive praise from both media and audiences. What is your take on that?
We do not think the local audience is particularly tougher or easier, it is just proportional to the size of the market. Abroad, the market is bigger, so for the same genre there are proportionally more interested people. Where you do feel a difference, however, is in purchasing power, for example, in Germany people are more likely to buy T shirts and vinyl at concerts.
Your summer is filled with gigs, including Rojc Open Air 2025, a festival where we bring together artists who think and act across genres. You are a perfect example of that, and it is hard to put you into any one box. How do you identify yourselves?
That has been our vision from the start. It is a victory if you cannot easily categorize it, that means that in this age of hyperproduction, you are managing to create your own style or recognizable sound. As pretentious as it may sound, we think we have achieved that, despite unfair comparisons to Mars Volta, just the vocal tone.
If you had to describe your music as a smell, what would it be?
Ćevapi with sauerkraut.
We will see you soon in Pula. What are you preparing for July?
We are working on our physical fitness. Now, how successful that is, we will see.
Interviewer: Sara Jerman
Cover photo: Them Moose Rush