A Chat with THE HYBRIS (06.12.23)
Like a slap in the face followed by a tender embrace, rock group THE HYBRIS are punchy, powerful and a little chaotic – but in a good way. We speak with band members Ringo Rabbit, Beanie Bison and Malcolm Mandrill about their new album Cozy Resistance, singing songs in the shower, future plans and more.
OSR: First question: why the pseudonyms and masks? Why do you prefer Ringo Rabbit, Beanie Bison and Malcolm Mandrill without showing your faces at all?
Beanie: These masks give us the power to create great rock music and wield our weapons of choice. We are not hiding behind them, we are living in them! Without the masks we would not be who we are: A bunch of superheroes on a mission to save the planet.
OSR: Cliché, but what drew you to music and how did The Hybris come about?
Ringo: Music has always been there, in the background or in the front from a very early point in our lives. As a band, we already had experiences individually and together stepping out of the sandbox. Lives did separate along the line but music was and still is the common factor for us all. And even though distances between us are great the music is what keeps us engaging almost daily. Forming THE HYBRIS is just the result of a lifelong passion and friendship.
OSR: You recently released your album Cozy Resistance. What can you tell us about the album?
Malcolm: In true superhero fashion it is bold, unafraid to be different and hits you in the face when you least expect it. It is the accumulation of hard work, passion and love to detail that has led us to this place and it has been a privilege to be part of it. We have summoned the gods of Rock and they have heard us, equipped us with the means of battle, and guided us in the quest to save the planet and its all creatures.
OSR: What were the most exciting and least exciting things about creating Cozy Resistance?
Beanie: We are still excited about Cozy Resistance. It’s been a wild ride. The thing that strikes me most is how we progress from an initial idea to a finished song. It is a true team effort. A lot of trust, willingness to accept compromises and to be able to step behind your inner ego are prerequisites for a long-distance work relationship. The least exciting thing about releasing an album is the wait for it to hit the platforms.
OSR: If you could change one thing about Cozy Resistance, what would it be?
Malcolm: We love collaborations, unfortunately there has only been one external involvement on this album, and we are might proud to have Ulli on one of our songs. I think we would like to have more of this type of shared creativity on the next album.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Ringo: A sense of urgency for change and maybe a little bit of hope that things might get better. This place is the only one we have and it is up to us to keep it a place that supports life. The second earth is a long way away and even though the Idea is sweet as sugar unfortunately it’s just part of a song.
OSR: Random questions: What song do you secretly sing in the shower?
Beanie: I hum the battle hymn by Manowar from time to time.
Ringo: It’s still ‘Chop Suey’ from System Of A Down at least once a week.
Malcolm: ‘Knights of Snowdonia’ by Muse.
VIEW DISCRETION IS ADVISED
OSR: What do you consider to be the smartest thing you’ve ever done in your life so far?
Beanie: Get on a boat from England to France.
Malcolm: I don’t do smart, I am a loose cannon!
Ringo: Start recording virtually.
OSR: What advice do you have for upcoming artists?
Malcolm: Stick to your guns, reload them, aim small and miss small.
OSR: What can we expect from THE HYBRIS in the future?
Beanie: A third album next year and more mayhem from Malcolm.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Ringo: Our unfettered love for music and its echo across the planet has put us into a position of privilege. We want to thank every single one of our listeners and hope that they feel the same way about our music as we do. May the rock live on forever and peace to the world. Sayonara.
Many thanks to Ringo Rabbit, Beanie Bison, and Malcolm Mandrill for speaking with us! For more from THE HYBRIS check out their official website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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