Interview mit George von Even If We Lose

How did you choose the name EVEN IF WE LOSE, and what does it mean to the band?
The name actually comes from the title of a song by one of our favorite Greek punk bands, DEUS EX MACHINA. It immediately resonated with us because it reflected the way we tend to look at different aspects of everyday life. The name just felt like a natural fit for our perspective, so we decided to stick with it.

All members of EVEN IF WE LOSE are originally from Greece, while the band is now based around Eindhoven in the Netherlands. How did that come, and how has that shaped the band’s identity?
We met in a pretty random way, actually. Initially, Spyros (guitarist) and I met at a VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY concert at Effenaar, and we instantly connected. At some point, he mentioned that he had an ex-bandmate, Aris (guitarist), who had recently moved to Amsterdam, so the three of us started having some interesting jamming sessions. A couple of months later, Aris and I met Chris at a BRUTUS concert in Utrecht. Chris was initially brought in as our bassist, but somewhere along the way he figured out that he could actually sing too. Our latest addition, Zoltan (bassist), was actually someone I was already playing with in another death/progressive band. He was originally playing guitar there, but when the opportunity came up to join us, he switched to bass and became part of the band. Our music really resonated with him, so it felt like a natural fit.
The funny thing is that the band was never originally supposed to have a vocalist at all. The idea was simply to create an instrumental project and see where the music would take us. Chris discovering that he could sing completely changed the direction of the band and, ultimately, became a big part of what we are today.

What made an EP the right format for EVEN IF WE LOSE’s first release in 2025?
We had actually been playing music together for quite some time, but somehow never had the courage (or perhaps the decision-making) to finally book a recording studio and make it happen.
We never wanted the EP to sound overly polished or like something recorded section by section. Everything on the recording was done as a live take, so you can hear mistakes and imperfections as well. But that’s actually what makes it what it is. We wanted to capture the energy and rawness of us playing together, rather than making everything sound perfect. On top of that, we didn’t do any separate mastering. We approached the whole thing more like a demo, but the end result really surprised us with how raw it sounded.

What was the central vision behind the self-titled EP?
Our primary goal was simply to write authentic music that reflects who we are. We never wanted to restrict ourselves to any specific genre, especially since each of us brings very different personal listening habits to the table. The main idea was to experiment freely, try out new concepts, and just let our sound evolve naturally.
That said, creating a distinct atmosphere and emotional impact was important for us. We needed the songs to carry real weight and intensity. Regardless of whether a section turns out heavy, melodic, or completely chaotic, the important thing is that it feels genuine to us. At the end of the day, we are just making the kind of music we would love to listen to ourselves, hoping that same energy resonates with the listener.

Why did you decide to go with Artichoque Studios in Tilburg for recording, mixing, and mastering – why were they your choice? Would you go there again?
We didn’t really have any particular reason behind the choice, we just felt a strong urge to finally track the material. René had an impressive setup, and working together was seamless and straightforward. Although his background wasn’t specifically rooted in post-metal, he delivered a result that made us very happy. His studio workflow worked so well for us that we’d certainly love to collaborate with him again down the line.

The EP was released one year ago – what’s your opinion on it from today’s point of view. Is there something you would change if you had the chance?
What is interesting is how several sections have naturally changed during our live shows. We bring a much more aggressive energy to the stage. While a few major parts have evolved, the most noticeable change is in „Xenos“ where we actually added vocals throughout the entire track instead of keeping them strictly at the tail end. That makes it a unique experience you can only catch when watching us play live.

You released the EP on CD and digitally, but as far as I’ve seen not on vinyl. What role do physical formats play for the band, and which format do you personally prefer to consume music?
We recently released a limited run of 100 vinyl copies across two separate variants through Vinyl Hex Records. They approached us directly looking to support an emerging act, and after hearing our tracks, they proposed a collaboration to craft a truly special physical release. We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. Vinyl carries a classic quality, which makes having our music on record feel genuinely meaningful to us.

What was your collaboration with Nezumi Studio like in developing the EP’s artwork, layout, and logo? How much input did you give?
Working with Maria-Christina (Nezumi Studios) was flawless. She was incredibly patient with us, especially when we were struggling to make decisions while putting together the moodboard for all our merch. Her ideas really helped tie everything together, and combining our vision with her artistic design led to a result we are truly proud of.

How would you describe your music stylistically, and how do your influences come together in your songwriting?
Our different musical backgrounds also play a big role. We all come from slightly different places musically, and I think that helps keep the songwriting from becoming too predictable. Rather than trying to separate our influences, we let them overlap and see what comes out of it. In the end, that’s probably what gives EVEN IF WE LOSE its own character. The post-metal side of our music gives us the space to build atmosphere, tension and dynamics, while the hardcore influence brings a more direct and aggressive energy into the songs. I think the two influences actually complement each other quite naturally.

How are you approaching the next release, and what timeline, if any, do you currently have in mind for a full-length album?
We actually have plenty of material around right now, but if there’s one thing that defines us, it’s how indecisive we can be. We’re currently deep in the writing process, though it’s hard to say exactly when everything will fully come together (laughs).

You also perform as a live band, and you won the “Guts & Glory” band competition held at Dynamo in Eindhoven. What did that mean for EVEN IF WE LOSE at such an early stage in your live-career?
Honestly, that outcome came as a total surprise to us. Sharing the stage with such incredible acts for only our second gig felt like an achievement in itself. Taking first place was something else entirely. I believe everyone thought about it but kept to themselves so as not to jinx it.
When you write original material and are still discovering your identity onstage, you naturally question if your sound connects with people. Securing that win gave us validation that our music lands. So this gave us a massive push to really focus on building our live presence.

Thank you for your time and your answers. To wrap things up, here’s our traditional Metal1.info brainstorming session:
NEUROSIS: Evolution
A song you wish you had written: LINKIN PARK – „Breaking The Habit“
ROADBURN FESTIVAL: Destination
Eindhoven after midnight: Unhinged
A non-musical inspiration: Chaos
EVEN IF WE LOSE in 10 years: Nostalgic

Publiziert am 11. Oktober 2026 von Moritz Grütz