{"id":3443,"date":"2025-12-28T12:09:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/?p=3443"},"modified":"2025-12-28T12:29:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:29:10","slug":"happy-hardcore-is-made-for-panel-housing-and-concrete-skies-an-interview-with-alienstate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/emigration\/happy-hardcore-is-made-for-panel-housing-and-concrete-skies-an-interview-with-alienstate","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHappy hardcore is made for panel housing and concrete skies.\u201d An interview with [ALIEN|STATE]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>We continue our Sunday evening with music. This time we\u2019re introducing you to the nomadic musician Stas <a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/\">[ALIEN|STATE]<\/a> and MOFX. Stas has traveled through countries like Latvia, Lithuania, France, Spain, and the USA, and we\u2019ve almost forgotten where he\u2019s originally from. In this interview, we talked about nomadism and about how his music sounds in different countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nomadic Fear<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 In which country (Lithuania, Latvia, France, Spain, the USA) did you feel the strongest sense of loneliness? Is nomadism freedom, or just a legal way to avoid putting down roots anywhere?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Latvia is a sad country! I never feel lonely anywhere there\u2019s a punk underground. Punk rock connects people! And Lithuania should be crossed off this list altogether so as not to confuse the reader!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;width: 100%;height: 120px\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=1460580878\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/album\/piz-ts-nav-zagts\">Piz\u0123\u012bts nav Zagts by [ALIEN STATE]<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 Where was it easiest to \u201cdrop off the radar\u201d? In which country did the police turn a blind eye to your lifestyle, and where did you feel like a target?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 I think it\u2019s easiest to disappear off the radar in a sad country. Latvian police, in my opinion, still aren\u2019t familiar with this kind of lifestyle! But in France, for example, a white van is already a moving target for the cops. Especially if the driver is also a punk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a data-fslightbox=\"post-gallery\" href=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-33-678x1024.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-33-678x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4519\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo: Stas<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 Texas roadside holes and European station crash-spots are different kinds of <\/strong><strong><s>pleasure<\/s><\/strong><strong>. Where does everyday hardcore survival feel more organic to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Definitely in southern Europe! Especially along the Mediterranean. I\u2019m basically a climate refugee. The very first time I saw a blooming dandelion in January in a Barcelona park, I decided that this was my place! Why freeze for half the year, wander through slush and puddles under a concrete sky, soaking up all that gloom and sadness, if you don\u2019t have to and can just enjoy the sun? The choice is pretty obvious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;width: 100%;height: 120px\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=525773012\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/track=1435403143\/transparent=true\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/album\/distorted-states-of-mind\">Distorted States of Mind by [ALIEN STATE]<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 What keeps you moving when the money runs out? Is it the thrill, or simply an unwillingness to return to a \u201cnormal\u201d life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 For the last 10 years, it\u2019s been my music that keeps me going. Back when I played in my first punk bands (and not only punk) in Latvia, I realized I didn\u2019t want to constantly play shows at the same two spots in Riga. I wanted to travel, play my music wherever possible, and discover other musicians. As a kid, I often listened to a Soviet vinyl record with the fairy tale \u201cThe Bremen Town Musicians.\u201d There was a song about travel, music, friendship, and adventure. I think I built my life according to that song! Ha-ha-ha!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a data-fslightbox=\"post-gallery\" href=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-40-2-679x1024.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-40-2-679x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4520\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo: Stas<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Geographical Hatred<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 Do you feel that cold, post-Soviet nihilism in Baltic raves? How does your happy hardcore sound among panel housing blocks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Happy hardcore was basically made for panel housing and concrete skies. It exists to color gray everyday life! I lived \u201cin the neighborhood\u201d in a concrete ten-story block from the age of five. My neighbors were very familiar with my musical repertoire. My friends and I even held the first rehearsals of my old electro-punk project Beyond the Borders at my place. Looking back now, I\u2019m amazed my neighbors didn\u2019t stab me in the stairwell for all that hellish noise\u2026 The worst thing that happened was that once they unscrewed the fuses and took them with them. That was a sign I needed to play quieter. Be more modest\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;width: 100%;height: 120px\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=3214180959\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/track\/kislotny-dj-akula\">KISLOTNY DJ (AKULA) by MOFX<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 Are there places in Riga or Vilnius that haven\u2019t been \u201cpolished up,\u201d where it doesn\u2019t smell like money?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Yes! There are DIY spots! In Vilnius, XI20 has existed for at least 10 years \u2014 a spot where punk shows are actively held. It used to be a squat. And in Riga, not so long ago (since Latvia is the most backward Baltic country), a spot called A4, or \u0100dmi\u0146u4, appeared. It\u2019s an industrial area where many rehearsal spaces have long settled. The guys there cleared out a huge hall, brought in electricity, built a stage, and for the last three years have been actively hosting concerts. Interestingly, among all the people rehearsing there, something like a commune has formed. You don\u2019t even have to play music \u2014 you can just come hang out. And in Tallinn, \u00dclase12 has existed for a long time. Also an industrial area, also rehearsal rooms and concerts. Locals call \u00dclase12 a social center!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 France is hardcore techno highways and tear gas at protests. Spain is fiesta and ma\u00f1ana. Where was it hardest to keep the 170 BPM tempo when everyone around you was either striking or sleeping?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 I\u2019d definitely crank the tempo up to at least 185 BPM! It\u2019s more fun that way! I\u2019m used to relying only on myself and not depending on others or on \u201cma\u00f1ana\u201d! Ma\u00f1ana never comes! That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been performing solo for about 10 years now \u2014 it\u2019s hard to find like-minded people who are on the same wavelength as me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;width: 100%;height: 120px\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=3503484754\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/track\/ska-sux-propagandhi\">SKA SUX (Propagandhi) by MOFX<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 In Spain everything feels relaxed, in France \u2014 underground. Where was the line between a \u201cparty\u201d and \u201ctrouble with the law\u201d the thinnest?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Basically, it\u2019s the same thing! Again, \u201ctrouble with the law\u201d has a completely different character here in the south compared to the Baltics. Meaning, there aren\u2019t really any problems here if you don\u2019t do stupid things. As one friend of mine used to say: \u201cIf you break the rules and the law, do it elegantly!\u201d That is, don\u2019t go for a head-on collision with the law. Very little chance of winning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-fslightbox=\"post-gallery\" href=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-52-1024x682.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-52-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4522\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo: Stas<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 After Europe, didn\u2019t America feel too decorative? How does your rave-punk survive in a country where everything \u2014 from food to emotions \u2014 is wrapped in bright packaging?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Yes! The USA is a plastic world. A stage set. I was pretty surprised to see with my own eyes everything that Hollywood movies showed me as a kid. Except for beautiful girls\u2026 they\u2019re apparently only in the movies! Overall, it was fun. Lots of new impressions. Many hours on the road. Huge distances between cities. Clubs and house parties. People generally liked my music. But I personally didn\u2019t see many interesting artists for myself. And I didn\u2019t really see the cities themselves, since the touring schedule didn\u2019t allow much time to relax. I spent a month in the US but saw nothing except the underground! Probably need to go again someday! Although, honestly, Europe is more to my taste!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0;width: 100%;height: 120px\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=2969484727\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alienstate.bandcamp.com\/track\/scream-bora-feat-lulu-and-andy-of-pots\">Scream (BORA) feat. Lulu and Andy of POTS by [ALIEN STATE]<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 The USA is famous for crazies and freaks. Tell us about the strangest character you met <\/strong><strong><s>on the road<\/s><\/strong><strong> at a \u201cgas station in the middle of nowhere\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 I can\u2019t immediately recall a freak worthy of a story, but I do have a story about one spot. A house in Barcelona that could put even the crustiest squat to shame! I\u2019ll never forget how we were led into the basement where the concert was supposed to be. It was dark, and we followed the organizer by touch, searching for the light switch. Everything crunched and rustled underfoot. When the lights came on, I saw that the entire floor was covered with cans, bottles, cups, and broken glass! The floor was buried in trash like autumn leaves! The organizer said it was all left over from the previous show. He grabbed a broom and just swept everything into a corner. Done! The kitchen was piled with disposable dishes covered in mold, the couch was soaked in who-knows-what, trash was scattered throughout all the rooms. Someone had kicked in the bathroom door, apparently for light, since there was no bulb in there! The sink was decorated with a century-old crust and a thick layer of shaved hair! Well, you get the picture. I\u2019m not squeamish, but when I went to sleep on the couch, I put cardboard on top, and my buddy flipped over the mattress he slept on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a data-fslightbox=\"post-gallery\" href=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-47-1024x682.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/photo_2025-12-21_13-16-47-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4521\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo: Stas<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The End. Where to find \u201cJoe\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014 What\u2019s the next location on your map where people can hear you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 No idea! Wherever the wind blows! Follow my movements on my <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/alienstate\">Telegram channel<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We continue our Sunday evening with music. This time we\u2019re introducing you to the nomadic musician Stas [ALIEN|STATE] and MOFX. Stas has traveled through countries like Latvia, Lithuania, France, Spain, and the USA, and we\u2019ve almost forgotten where he\u2019s originally from. In this interview, we talked about nomadism and about how his music sounds in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[33],"class_list":["post-3443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emigration","tag-listening-in-emigration"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3443"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3451,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3443\/revisions\/3451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}