Following the release of Sapere Aude, we asked The Amsterdam Red Light District to tell us more about themselves by taking on our A-Z challenge!
A song that made you want to make music?
Cannonball from The Breeders
Best rider you have had?
Alicante, Spain. We had a nice night at the hotel and the best Paella of our lives!
Craziest moment in the band?
Playing in front of thousands of people during Resurrection Festival in Spain.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Evil Stakeholders. This song is about oligarchy in politics, money, industry and mainstream medias.
Easiest song you wrote?
The Best Is Yet To Come was written in about 2 practices.
Favourite song in your set?
Old song “The Party Is Over”. Party song! Fast, crazy…
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Liam Cormier of Cancer Bats… Oh… Wait… It’s done!
Hardest thing about being in a band?
The smell of your neighbour in the van.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Greg bought a fishing rod that cost him £600. Six-fucking-hundred-pounds!
Jokes you have in the band?
Does farting count as joking?
Key to writing a song?
Fat Mike said “We wrote this song, it’s not too short, it’s not too long”. That’s it!
A good intro and outro. A catchy refrain, a killing bridge and nice vocals!
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
You don’t wanna know. Distance between 2 gigs by van:
Bridlington (UK) – Lyon (FR) : 1264km
Uppsala (Swe) – Aalborg (Den) : 1133km
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Marmozets are amazing. We’ve played with them in Paris.
New band you’d recommend?
Resolve and Oakman. Both from Lyon, France
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Refused. It would be a sold-out venue with a good capacity.
Place you’d most like to tour?
USA and Japan. Definitely.
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
If you like Stray From The Path, Letlive, Refused, check us out! If you like to be entertained live, check us out twice!
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
Sapere Aude!: “Have courage to use your own reason!”- that is the motto of enlightenment philosophy. The concept of this album had been influenced by Kant’s essay: An Answer to the Question: “What is Enlightenment?” (1784).
Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage, and his inability to make use of understanding without guidance of another. This tutelage is self-incurred as its cause lies not in lack of reason…
Disinformation’s, manoeuvring: Politicians, stakeholders or even some media outlets are the ‘guardians’ who keep people under firm tutelage. This album is dedicated to give a reflection to our fans about ‘who owns the truth?’, are you sure about what mainstream medias are saying? Who are the evil stakeholders and what are their goals?
This is a major topic fans and people need to think about. It’s about keeping freedom and democracy alive. Open your mind: Dare to be wise!
See us live at?
We have just been on tour in the UK, but we hope to tour more later this year!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Not sure, but there was more coherence with bands and labels. There are too many bands with talent but lost in a huge amount of bands.
Unusual merchandise?
Bottle opener and condoms!
Variations you’d like to do on one of your songs?
No. We are really proud of each songs!
What do your fans mean to you?
All! I mean, we play music to meet people and to translate emotions. We love to share all our energy with people and they give it back to us!
X-rays or any treatments needed for band injuries?
Little pills for short nights and hangover on tour.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Greg. He takes looooong showers and he always wanna fish with his new £600 rod.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
A tigerphant. With the suppleness of the tiger and the power of the elephant.