E.T. EXPLORE ME - "We are actually planning a tour in January for France and Spain…."
Their name had intrigued me for some time. I liked their music, and they've just released a new album on the Reverend Beatman's label. So that was three opportunities to contact them...
Jeroen answers.
Hi Jeroen Blijleve, are you still working at the Patronaat club in Haarlem, near Amsterdam? And what do the other members do?
Hi there! First of all. Thanks for getting in contact. We love your blog! I have been working at the Patronaat venue years ago. In the meantime I founded a new venue with rehearsal spaces, studio’s and a stage called “ Slachthuis” in Haarlem. Now I have a dark, alternative synth driven concept at “ Down the Rabbit Hole Festival” with Dj’s, VJ’s, performers and art. The rest of the time I am making music, mainly a solo project called Las Marulas, sort of electronic, experimental cumbia. I started E.T. Explore Me together with Joost Varkevisser, our singer, organist and guitar player. His daily job is working with people with aphasia, people who are unable or have difficulty to formulate a language through brain damage. It appears that playing music and singing stimulates the brain and people actually evolve. Which is amazing. Our new drummer is Bart van Hasselt runs one of the sound studio’s at Slachthuis. A very cool (analog) studio stuffed with gear. He is also the main technician there. He also plays in other bands like Asbest Boys and produced our latest album “ Drug me”.
From a universal perpective we are all from other planets. If you indulge in the quantum mechanics we exist in endless different versions on different levels. Which is quite a mindfuck. But anyway. Who actually does like the internet? I mean, it doesn’t bring anything good to anyone. I think it is a great tool and saves us a lot of time, but in the end I haven’t got the impression it actually gives us more spare time. We actually have thought to get rid of it all bandwise. Like the socials and everything. It’s a surreal world where everybody is happy and cool and just putting up useless stuff online to stay in the algorithm and in the meantime environmentally fuck the world up. I think it can be good for activism, building up communities (which is essential in these times) and just plain promotion. But we all fell like the main thing is the real thing. Meeting people. Playing live. Read a book. Makes music. What can I say about the band members. Well. Furthermore Joost has a strict 3 month cycle. So there is always a new thing every 3 months he is very enthusiastic about which eventually dies out. There are few things that actually stay and I leave that open for suggestion. He is also my best friend. Bart is my new best friend. And Joost’s. Bart is like a puppy. Always positive. Lots of energy. And the official curtain philosopher of the band.
.jfif)
Dead Moon (they too had a name from outer space!) is a band that's been very important to you. How have they influenced you?
Dead Moon (they too had a name from outer space!) is a band that's been very important to you. How have they influenced you?
Dead Moon just destroyed all the boundaries of possibilities, musically and socially. Joost and I recognized that from the beginning. I mean, musically it’s very simple, but nonetheless so much emotion and energy. It’s just incomparable to anything else. The stubbornness. The DIY mentality to the max. I mean have you seen the documentary? Touring, recording, their record label, music shop. Fred bought his own ghost hotel, they built their own house, pressed their own records, kicked Jim Morrisson off stage. I have booked Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows and Fred & Toody always at the patronaat till the point that Fred just couldn’t anymore. We have played with Dead Moon where Fred would be at the side of the stage and nods approvingly. Andrew would hit his booze in our backstage because he wasn’t allowed to drink anymore from “ mom and dad”, as he would call Fred and Toody. It’s a shame he died so soon. I have seen Dead Moon live more than any other band and it was always fantastic. So for us it’s always the reference. Stay Dead Moon. Which means grounded. Do what you really want to do. In life and thus with the band. It’s been a safe jacket in anything I have been doing in my life.
We listen to so much music it’s just impossible to know where it was an influence or not. Many times after the show people come to us and start yelling band names of which they believe we we’re influenced by. Mostly we don’t even listen to these bands or like them. Or find out later that we like them. It’s funny. I think you wouldn’t believe we actually love Herman van Veen’s earliest records. I think Nick Cave was one of the greatest artists of this time until I cancelled him due to his pro Israel stand. Fontaines DC really hit us. But I listen mostly to non western music. I love the Meridian Brothers for instance. Lots of old cumbia and Ethiopian shit. I think Bart is in the studio all the time so he listens to all these local bands mostly haha. I think we like the simpleness in artists and then create something unusual. Like the Velvet Underground for instance. Billy Childish. When we started E.T. explore me it was really about the energy we missed in the bands we played in at the time. What we had done was all very serious. And static on stage. So we just started jamming in the rehearsal room playing like we we’re playing before a great audience, getting steam off. And also getting rid off our (stage) fright I guess. We recorded everything for fun and gave a tape to someone with these recording and before we knew it we we’re actually on stage. And we just exploded on stage. And that feeling never disappeared. So in the beginning it was just playing, playing, playing. And that evolved through the years into more and more studio time. I have to confess that for the latest album we started with this idea of “ crispy nice”. It was our way of saying that the sound needed to be very clear. I think we derived that idea after listening to Talking Heads. Nobody will hear that reference in the album I suppose haha.
For as long as I've been reading your name and hearing your music, I've been wondering where your name comes from. Can you unravel the mystery for us?
Well. Have you ever had the feeling that the universe reveals itself to you? So much, that you shout into the skies to anyone out there to come and get you? Well, that’s where the name comes from. You have this squatters communion village called “ Ruigoord” near Haarlem and they have shows and events too. This happened at one of their events. Years later an American girl came to us and she confessed to us that she experienced the bandname as very kinky. We just never had thought of that. That’s a better explanation even.
You've been releasing singles for many years, are you the kind of people who only listen to singles like Nuggets fans?
We used to, actually. Still do. A lot more than full length albums. But it was never one or the other. We just felt that our music was just too much (or actually too bad) for a full length album. We love the 10 to 15 minutes burst of energy from a single. We actually recorded a full length album years ago and decided to not release it and just use a few recording. This became the “ one man band” EP. Not so long ago we stumbled on the recordings of the full length and we were actually overwhelmed by the quality.. we thought is was shit haha. Plan is to release it as a bootleg or something. We are a slow band. Self made. We learned to play our instruments ourselves. And the recording process took us a long time to feel really comfortable with it. The latest album is to us the best we have ever done. In all its ways. We are very, very proud of that one. Although when we listen to the previous one it is very good as well. I think we just forget sometimes. Sometimes it just takes years to appreciate something, when you’re in the middle of it you don’t see it. I guess that’s life.
Why did you self-produce these records and not entrust the job to a label? Did you want to be in control of your art? Are you perfectionists?
It’s part of the DIY mentality I guess. It just never occurred to us that a label or anyone else could produce or record us. But Jaap and Bart we’re producers to us. They we’re the fourth member during the process. Until Jaap fell asleep at the studio and until Bart became our drummer haha… We are very sloppy. We like “ faults”. We embrace them. But still we are perfectionists too I guess. Drug Me was recorded through the covid years. We had a lot of time. We started with no songs. We built the record up from scratch. Just getting along with anything creative. This was perfect for us. I guess that will never come back. So for a new album we have to do it differently. Out of need. We also delivered the art for the covers of the albums, but Beatman is just one in a million. Which we love, but this means video’s or album covers are just made without discussion by him. But I mean, he is the boss. He is the Voodoo God. And he knows best for the label. We can live with that for sure.
This is a very special story. In Holland you have the annual Sleaze Fest. It started as a BBQ and now is a renowned 24 hour festival on the beach. We have played there several times. This time we played there, but a band cancelled. We pay tribute to one man bands during the show and we even called a song Beatman by lack of a proper name. This can be very confusing for us as we mix everything up sometimes while playing. Anyway. We are playing and the we see Bone (from The Anomaly's) in the audience with Beatman. Both smiling their heads off. That was kinda awkward. Paying tribute to someone who is actually in the audience. But felt good too. So we met Beatman and well you know. As festivals do. For us they never end. And that was that. In this period we had made a deal with Suburban Records for the debut album. All was done and the album was being printed at this point in the factory when we got a call from Beatman. And I remember this vividly. We we’re driving back from a show in Groningen, massive hangovers.. And it was Beatman. If we had recorded an album and if so he wanted to release it. Hahaha. We we’re just flabbergasted. Voodoo Rhythm to us is the holy grail. Beatman a hero. So I confirmed there was a record, but regretfully we just made a deal with Suburban. "I don’t care” is what Beatman said. Hahaha. Some stopped beside of the highway and I called Ronald from Suburban to tell him about this and Ronald immediately felt that we had to do this. Which was a very very noble act of him. So that’s why the album was releases twice. The first with the cover by the great Typex and the second was remastered by Beatman and a cover by him.
What do you see as the difference between Voodoo Rhythm and Suburban Records, which released your first album? Why did you release the same album twice, “E.T. Explore Me” and ‘Shine’ with a different mix? What was the point, in your eyes, and would you be prepared to release it again as a remastered version?
What do you see as the difference between Voodoo Rhythm and Suburban Records, which released your first album? Why did you release the same album twice, “E.T. Explore Me” and ‘Shine’ with a different mix? What was the point, in your eyes, and would you be prepared to release it again as a remastered version?
It’s really only a different cover and master. But the master is very different. Anyone can hear it. The Suburban release is more sixties, the voodoo one just blasts your socks off.
It was the universe. Again.
When we recorded the singles we did everything as we would do live. We played live in the studio. Pressed record and play. With the first album we realized that it is a very different experience to see us live and to listen to us at home. So we concentrated a lot more on overdubs and just experimented all the way. We locked ourselves up in a crummy, leaky portocabin with Jaap Elzinga for a week and this at what came out. This idea evolved with the second album. I think the two are just different things. We like to get people get confused as well. Different recordings, masters, same albums, re recordings. And also that after a show people expect this punk, raw energetic music but instead get an album which is a lot more than that. The problem though is that we can’t play everything live. Or won’t. We would need extra people on stage to do that. And as you know. Three is the magical number.
It took you six years to release your new album Drug Me. Why did you wait so long?
Because we are lazy.
Tell us about the gestation process.
It arises from laziness. I am actually pretty serious about this. People don’t award themselves with laziness anymore.. As if it is a disease. From laziness derives all the creativity of the world I believe. I think making music comes from a place hidden inside your head. Or heart. The world just stops. And having that with other people is just a wonder. Sharing that. The three of us can just let it all go. Without fear. Any ideas are welcome and interesting to explore.
Your music has changed quite a bit compared to your previous album. Do you have a plan for the evolution of E.T.? Explore Me?
If so, what's the next musical episode? Aren't you afraid of losing your fans by changing styles?
Wel just talked about this a bit last week. We never come up with a definite plan or anything. But we feel like doing a weekender recording a more punk, energetic EP again. Because we feel like that. But then again. We start with that and something really different comes up in the end. Maybe in Dutch as well. It just feels authentic and real to sing in your own language. But I mean, this is Joost shouting this in the rehearsal room. It wasn’t a debate or anything. We will see. But we have planned recording days the coming months. And want to release the bootleg as well. As I said before. Life has a lot of restrictions. Freedom is an illusion. To us this idea of freedom comes close with the band. We have to stay authentic to ourselves. Not to the audience. It’s what I respect most in artists. I rather have them release a shitty record which is different than the same album every year. We notice that bookers now think we are this “ pop” group. Not punk anymore. Well. Fuck them. For me punk is attitude, activism. Socialism. Not a music style. It’s short sighted. For me the revolution and creativity is in the queer community anyway. And the fun part is, is that we are still this punk band live haha.
Talking of graphic design, can you tell us about Claudia, who designed the cover for your first single, and Typex? For the next three singles, I couldn't find the authors. Who were they?
Claudia Hek https://www.claudiahek.com/ was playing drums at the time in the Sixtyniners with Michiel Hoving (Famous Dutch cartoon artist of varkentje Rund). And she was an artist as well. We have kind of a thing with comics I guess. I think Claudia moved to one of the Dutch islands and started doing Yoga. And still making art though. But I actually do not know this for sure. Typex is a very famous Dutch cartoon / graphic novelist. https://typex.nl/ . And a good friend. He did the graphic novel about Rembrandt and Andy Warhol for instance. We met Typex as a friend of Peter Pontiac. https://peterpontiac.nl/ He did the “ When I’m Gone” single. And now he is actually gone. Peter is like the most famous in the comic underground. He was a big fan of ours. And we of him. Which could make things quite awkward I can tell you. His graphic novels Kraut and Styx are amazing. But anyone should check anything out. He did so many things. So for the last album we asked Jip to do the cover. https://www.instagram.com/jipjansen__/ but then Beatman decided to make his own. Haha. So the idea now is to use the cover for the bootleg. But it was designed as a gatefold sleeve so we have to figure out how and such. But it’s great. You’ll see. Where authors are not mentioned we just cut and paste ourselves. Oh no. The “ Vespa Bop” EP is by Erik de Bree. https://www.erikdebree.com/ . Serious art I’d say haha.
For “Do It”, Discog hides the cover, why do you think that is? Whose idea was it, and what do you think of censorship in general?
For “Do It”, Discog hides the cover, why do you think that is? Whose idea was it, and what do you think of censorship in general?
I actually didn't know this! I tried to find it here at home, but couldn’t find it. On the internet it is indeed not to be found.. I really can’t tell you why. What is so offensive about it? It’s a cover by Typex as well. I remember the white underwear? I don’t know. Censorship is bad. But then again. Racism, fascism, Misogyny. These are aspects you might want to boycot. On the other hand.. It isn’t the solution. You know, everything that is forbidden makes it more interesting isn’t it? We need to talk about shit. And when it’s out in the open you can address it. If you ban it, it will go underground and breed. All these NSBM bands, let them make a fool out of themselves. Assholes. I am afraid it is part of the rise of nationalism. And we have to address that. It’s something we actually do talk about a lot in the band. Politics. We haven’t found the right way to integrate this in our music. If we even want that. In a poet way we actually do. But all this reflects back to what I said earlier. It’s better to talk to people. Especially people from out of your own bubble. A few weeks ago I talked to someone in a village near Groningen about the AZC (shelter for refugees) nearby. And the nuisance they experienced in this small community. His friend was attacked with a knife. The whole pub was full of PVV voters (extreme right wing party in Holland). Still he built the temporarily homes at shelters all over the world. He started very negative, but while I kept asking him questions he changed. It was just that over there they are to talk in the same way about these things. We both we’re drawn from our bubble. I find that very interesting. Touring is a way of getting to do that. Try to unite ourselves. If we divide it’ll only make it easier to enslave us to this dead capitalistic western system. It’s time of a big change. But this needs time as well. Step by step. Anyway. What was the question..;)
Triogastones was a one time only gig we did. It was a sort of calypso ET style. Only acoustic self made instruments and we played on a wobbly pool table. And that was it haha. Griezelbaard is the name we use when we jam, yes we jam, in D off course. Lights out and set off. It’s a joke really. With De Kliko’s we actually recorded an album with. We we’re in a period that ET EXPLORE ME just didn’t feel right. No inspiration. Remind you that we have been playing for more than 20 years. So we just awarded us with the possibility to just do something else. And the songs just popped up. I think we even have all the songs for a second album. And if we would get to it we would have a third coming up as well haha. It was very fun to do. And to play with it as well. And it released the pressure off ET and then after a year we had enough of De Kliko’s and the inspiration for ET was there again. It’s just how it works I guess. I think the vinyl is sold out. As most of the ET EP’s as well I think.
What about France, where you've toured... Do you have any anecdotes?
Oh man, France. We played the Binic Festival twice. The first time we arrived there we we’re welcomed with open arms. The funny thing was that they we’re so pleased we we’re there because in their mind we never played, especially abroad. Which was kinda true, but not really. So they felt we made this huge exception for them which was funny. But then they told us we played the main stage. Which was right by our side. And was huge. And they told us that we would be the headliner of the day, AFTER, Sleaford Mods. So we panicked. We told them that that was really a bad idea. They should change the line up. But they didn’t want to know anything about it. So we had to. And then right before we had to go up. During line check. 5 minutes before showtime, my bass just quit. That never happened before. I was sweating my ass off. I mean. I never played on any other bass and it’s just the sound. The sound is essential within ET Explore Me. And the bass hangs very low.. With tape. Because I can throw it around a lot. Maybe that was why it was broken though. Hmmm. So then this technician comes up to me smiling. And puts in some tinfoil. And it just played again. It was amazing. I think I still play with the tinfoil in. I never got it out that;’s for sure. And then the crowd went nuts. It was so great to see like maybe 10.000 people go crazy. We will never forget that. Then again, all the places we played in France (and Spain for that matter) we’re great. The rock ’n roll vibe is just a lot stronger then in Holland. We love to come back. We are actually planning a tour in January for France and Spain….
You used to be a record dealer. Which record in your collection has the best personal story in your eyes? And what is that story?
Wow. Eehm. Damn. Well. Joost and I we’re both record dealers. Well. Actually I was his boss for a time haha. It was in the great age of the nineties where everybody wanted to get rid of their vinyl. I used to try and convince people to NOT sell them to me, because tI felt hey would regret it. I mean. Boxes full of Wipers, Swans, Joy Division, Beefheart, Cramps, Velvets. Hand stamped reggae albums from Jamaica. But they did. And I am glad. It’s still the better part of my collection haha. It was the time you could smoke still inside. I don’t think that’s an actual thing still in France and Spain in the rural parts. Cd was just coming up. Internet wasn’t a thing. We had a phone and a fax. People would come and listen to records ands talk about music. We made lots of friends that period. And it shaped our tastes. That’s where we found out that every genre has it’s good thing. We made it our rule. We would listen everything and always found out the gems. Mostly unexpected. We could also make some records grow very locally. If we played the records enough we would sell them. On a crowded Saturday we would play Songs: Ohia all the time. The label told us once that (in the beginning) he only sold records in Haarlem. And like a lot. It was fun. Good memories. We still would like to do that actually.
What can we expect from your band in the near future?
Well, as I said. We have planned some recording days. We have the luxury that one of our bandmembers owns a studio. And is the best producer in the world. So.. We also have a few gigs coming up. But that could be more I guess. But we are lazy as fuck. You need to ask us.
Thank you Jeroen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJFJ78zeMdM
ET EXPLORE ME PRESIDENT VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSPz3zc-cKA
ET EXPLORE ME LIVE BINIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_5R4hqVtSU
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