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Introducing from the Netherlands: ELOAĦ
What are the origins of the band, and how long have you been playing together?
ELOAĦ is a singer/songwriter rock band with new age, jazz and pop influences. It was founded in 1995 by myself (Elmar C. Fuchs). Since then, a number of musicians has contributed. Over the past couple of years a stable line-up crystalized: Orion Roos on electric guitars, Peter Douwenga on bass guitars, Johan van der Meer on drums and percussion, Dominik Mittergradnegger on saxophone, Lila Herderberg on vocals, and Elmar C. Fuchs on vocals, acoustic guitars, and keyboards – and many guest musicians that differ from project to project.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe ELOAĦ?
People should expect that every album is different since we like to experiment a lot with different styles. Whereas the basis is still a singer/songwriter approach meaning that most songs are originally written for/by a person singing while playing the acoustic guitar, there are always other influences, from rock to new age, synthesizers, pop, and jazz.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
The current line-up has never performed live yet. So I will describe our first gig as a band back in the late 90s – a student party with about 100 people, everybody enthusiastic (although nobody knew us) – and a great vibe. If you experience once what a great crowd can mean for the band and vice versa, you may get addicted to that – it is indescribable.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams at the minute with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out to build a name for themselves?
A band should do what they enjoy doing most, even if it is contradictory to the latest trends. In my opinion, you can only be successful if you love what you are doing, independent from what that is. So if all members agree on the direction and the goals of the band and ensure that these can be aligned with their personal goals, they will automatically stand out, independent from what they do.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
That are actually two separate questions: People can check out our latest album “Proud to Love You.”, a compilation of ballades and love songs in pop/rock style, which was released last month. What we are working on is our next project (that cannot be checked out yet since it is work in progress) – and that is a heavy rock/metal album the release of which is scheduled for 2024.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
That would be MAESTRO, the band of our guitarist Orion Roos. They play fantastic 80s-style melodic rock, and I guess some of the tracks we are now working on with ELOAĦ at the moment would be great for an opening act for MAESTRO – and for both Orion Roos and Peter Douwenga, our bass player, it would be a double feature, since they play in both bands.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
That would be MAESTRO, the band of Orion Roos. They are simply a fantastic rock band. Also the band of Lila Herderberg, our female vocalist, LiLa Y Geckos, clearly deserves more attention and success in my opinion.
What are your own first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
That would be singing in front of everybody in kindergarten – and later on learning to play classical piano. I don’t remember a lightbulb moment, though – as far as I can remember, I always wanted to play music.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Manowar – Crushing the Enemies of Metal – in Rotterdam a few weeks ago. Fantastic show, great sound, enthusiastic fans – a truly memorable experience.
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
Most issues I am passionate about I convert to songs – so if it is not my personal love life (which inspired me to create most of the songs on our latest release), it is about mankind in general. Call me old-fashioned, but I think living together in peace and harmony is possible. Songs about that and more can be found on our “The Art of Loving” album.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
That would probably be Christian Ide Hintze – 30 Rufe – or, in general, that I have a lot of classical music in my collection, mostly compositions by Dimitri Shostakovich, who is my favourite composer.
What does 2023 hold for ELOAĦ?
For the band 2023 will mostly hold the continuation of the production of our hard/rock/heavy album, and probably some rehearsals for a first live gig with the current line-up.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We are not very active, but if there is some news we mostly use facebook, and you can most easily connect by joining us there (eloahmusicsite)
