Overflow Interview: SXSW 2010

Punk's not dead. Well, at least not in Croatia, where Overflow has been rocking since 1990. Touring for their first time in the U.S., Overflow is also the first band ever from southeastern Europe to perform at SXSW. We spoke with the quartet's lead singer, Goran Zivkovic, AKA Zika, and drummer Dalibor Martincevic, AKA Dado, and found out some of the band's crazy stories about the dangers of touring Europe during a war, as well as what the band has in store for its first show in the U.S.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Zika: That is always the hardest question. The easiest would be to say that it is pop punk rock. But it has so much more. There are five albums behind us, and a sixth one on the way, and we really think that we have successfully developed our own sound. You can easily recognize Overflow's sound among other bands when you get to know us. We are always learning and trying new things, so our sound has changed through time. But basically, it is sort of punk pop rock.

How did your band form?

Dado: We were growing up in small town with not many possibilities. We first met as children in musical school at solfeggio class [a technique for the teaching of sight-singing, in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, i.e., do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do], and after we were playing together in ethno orchestra, I have to say, we were among the best in our country. One day we were hanging out and just decided to have a rock band. The next week we started rehearsing and making our own songs.

What are your musical influences?

Zika: Everything! When we started the band we were really into late 70's English punk rock. Our part of world at that time was not a place you could find music easy, so, in a way, we were pushed to make our own. It is quite interesting that we started to play melodic punk at the same time as many bands in California, and we did not hear those bands at that time. We came up independently with very similar music, so I guess we maybe had some similar influences as they did.

Dado: From U.S. bands, in our beginning we listened to Ramones, Husker Du, Minutemen, Pixies, Fugazi. Years later on, during our tour in France, we discovered Nirvana, The Jesus Lizard, and Bad Religion.

What's your biggest vice?

Dado: Smoking.

Zika: Well, to be honest, I sometimes watch TV shows that I really, really should not.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Zika: Oh, nothing special -- but somehow, to my surprise, we always manage to survive.

Dado: We can't make it without enough water and good will.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Zika: That is a great question. Well, I have to say Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise -- God, he was cool! And you should know that I'm not gay, so you can imagine how cool he was!

Dado: Kylie Minogue, Vanessa Paradis, Samantha Fox.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Zika: Duran Duran during the early years maybe or Bruce Springsteen or some U2 songs, or lately maybe some of those Lady GaGa mind-penetrating melodies -- like in that song 'Paparazzi.' To be honest, I really don't feel guilty about any kind of music. Sometimes I am amazed how music and melodies can enter your subconscious and stay there for a long, long time against your will.

Dado: Lately, pop songs with female vocal.

Beatles or Stones?

Zika: Both, without a doubt! But if you would have a gun pointed in my head, I'd have to say The Beatles. Those melodies are forever!

Dado: The Beatles, because of the melodies and song structures.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Zika: You do not have enough space on your website to list everything that we could say. We were touring our country during the war in the 90's! That was sometimes really crazy and dangerous. We were still kids with no driver's licenses, so sometimes we were traveling by bus or train. Once while traveling to gigs on the coast, the bus driver had to turn off the lights while driving through territory where there was something that you can call an "improvised bridge." There was a huge risk of bombing and shelling of that "bridge," so he was driving fast, no lights, on a narrow "bridge." I forgot to say that the main bridge on that road was blown up few months before in the darkest night you could ever imagine. That was, well, quite unforgettable.

Dado: Another crazy thing happened in the south of Italy, where we were robbed by mafia while sleeping on the beach. We had a day off because mafia had set fire to the club we had to play in, so we decided to spend the night on a beautiful beach. The next morning, we wake up and realize we were robbed. They took all our money that we earned -- and it was the last day of our tour. We didn't have any money to get home, so we went to the nearest cities, knocked at the first clubs we saw, and asked if we could play to earn some money. We managed somehow, and then [on the way] back home, just one kilometer from our homes, the van completely broke. We also have so many interesting and amazing stories from Germany, Macedonia, The Netherlands, France.

What are you listening to now?

Zika: I really enjoy live music and I have to say that I have not bought a CD in quite some time. My brother is teaching me how to love some great classical music. I'm just weird.

Dado: Radio.

What's your "desert island" album?

Dado: None. I would rather take something useful to survive -- songs that I like are stored in my mind anyway.

Zika: Let's see some possible choices -- maybe Fugazi's 'Repeater,' or R.E.M.'s 'Document,' or NoMeansNo's '0 + 2 = 1,'or maybe the Velvet Underground, or some David Bowie. Any of the Beatles' albums. I also love Elvis! No, no, no, I know! I would take Stephen Colbert's audio book 'I Am America (And So Can You!).' I love his work!

Have you toured in the U.S. before?

Zika: We have never been to the States before and we're really looking forward to that experience. This time, we'll be touring Canada and heading down to SXSW, but in the near future, we are planning to spend some more time in the U.S. so that we can enjoy it much more deeply and in full.

Dado: Honestly, before, we didn't think about it -- although we've got some calls. Now, lots of our fans are there and people from the music scene are saying that we really should come.

What can we expect to see at your live show?

Zika: Some good music played with all our hearts. A lot of fun and positive energy. We enjoy playing live very much. That is the essence of our band. That is what we live for, and every time we play we want that people experience our own excitement and joy. And let me tell you with no fake modesty, we usually connect with our audience in the best possible way, and it is something you should not miss.

Dado: Expect the unexpected.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Zika: As I said we're really looking forward to seeing your great country and to be a part of SXSW 2010. It is a great honor for us, and we'll do our best to play a great gig for you guys.

Dado: And you're all invited. Kisses from Croatia, Europe, and see you soon in Austin!


Jennifer Bergen is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.