‘Boxed’ is a unique EP featuring Spanish-language tracks, remixes, and instrumentals. What inspired this collection, and how does it complement ‘Hunger’?
Alex: It was originally a bonus collection of outtakes and oddities that was sold as a limited special edition of ‘Hunger’ in 2022. It was a black box containing the CD, a flask with the TCS logo, a deck of cards in a TCS design and the bonus CD… later renamed as ‘Boxed’. Hence the title. It wasn’t released digitally, only as a physical release. The limited box edition is now sold out and can probably only be found on discogs and on similar sites.
Your recent album ‘Trickery’ has drawn comparisons to legendary post-punk bands like Joy Division and Bauhaus. How do you balance those influences while maintaining your own signature sound?
Alex: I try to stay away from the influences of bands like Joy Division and Bauhaus. I’m aware that people have said we have a clear resamblance to the classic new wave and post punk bands. We flourish in the same garden. That’s obvious, but I have no intension to sound just like them. When I pick up a guitar and start writing a song I am no more than a musician nourished by and grown up on that kind of culture. That’s probably why it sounds like it does. At the moment I am more influenced by Yellow Magic Orchestra and old school 70’s rock ‘n’ roll.
‘Feel The Cold’ was inspired by David Bowie’s final days. How does that imagery tie into the overall themes of ‘Trickery’?
Alex: Not really to be honest. Theme-wise it doesn’t have a tie to the rest of the album. The music in Then Comes Silence consistently features the subject of death.. This time it happened to be inspired by David Bowie.
You’ve collaborated with artists like Dusty Gannon of Vision Video on ‘Stay Strange.’ What was that experience like, and do you see more collaborations in the future?
Hugo: We use to have guests in every album. We’ve touring a lot with Vision Video and we became friends. Alex: We’re open for collaborations. It just needs to be relevant to what we’re doing and writing about.
Your music often carries a dark and cinematic quality. How do visual elements, such as your music videos and stage presence, contribute to the band’s identity?
Hugo: Visual elements are very important, but never more than the music.
What has the reception been like playing live in different regions, and do you notice any differences in your audience from country to country?
Hugo: The overall reception has been very good. There are differences in the audience from country to country, and even from town to town. Alex: Yes, there’s a slight difference. We enjoy playing in the US very much. That crowd is amazing and very committed to the band’s music. We want to go back soon, but we’ll see how things go over there.
The inclusion of Spanish-language tracks on ‘Boxed’ is intriguing. What led you to explore Spanish lyrics, and how has that been received by your fans?
My father was born in Colombia and I have family living there. I can speak some Spanish and I felt like doing something different. I wanted to try how that sounded like. That’s why the two Spanish tracks ended up on the bonus CD, and ‘Boxed’. I don’t know much about the reception yet. I guess it will take some time to reach out properly to the Spanish speaking audience. I have seen though that some latin americans have shared the songs on social media. That’s cool.
Your music blends goth, post-punk, and dark rock. How do you see the current state of these genres, and where do you feel Then Comes Silence fits within today’s alternative scene?
Hugo: TCS fits between the “rockier” side of the goth scene and the darker side of the rock scene.
Having released seven full-length albums, how has the band evolved since its inception? Are there any key moments that have defined your musical journey?
Alex: I think the third album, ‘Nyctophilian’ pointed out the real direction of the band. That album is where we found the sound we wanted to follow. An important key moment indeed. ‘Blood’ was the first album where I took a step back as the mixing producer of the recordings. After ‘Blood’, ‘Machine’, ‘Hunger’ and ‘Trickery’ I decided not to take control over the mixer again. There are much more competent people that make it sound better. I still have the vision and the idea when we enter the studio to start recording the next album. Good enough for me. The last key moment would be the creation of the trio Then Comes Silence. We work a bit differently as a trio.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Then Comes Silence? Any hints about future projects, new music, or unexpected creative directions?
Alex: I’m always writing and working on new material. Never a dull moment . We have more shows coming up this year. Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, Denmark, Portugal and the UK among others. We’re working on a new setlist. The world has changed a bit since the last time we played live back in February, and the setlist will change too.
