Getting to Know… Bar II | Interview 🎤

In the 336^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Brussels rock band, Bar II.

“The main thing we are always focused on, is the hook.” A good hook is key, 🎙 Bar II! The Brussels rock band expounds, “Any part in our music is memorable, the main melody of course, but also all the gimmicks and riffs we push, even the drum part is nearly singable.” Woo! Like our many other Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on Bar II: the genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Bar II: Interview No. 336!

For those who may not be familiar with Bar II, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Well… Unique? I don’t know, I’d say the production is quite good for that level of fame maybe. But the main thing we are always focused on, is the hook. I think. Any part in our music is memorable, the main melody of course, but also all the gimmicks and riffs we push, even the drum part is nearly singable J. That is what we’re trying to do at least.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your Bar II form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

Bar II comprises of 🎙️ Mr Du Penfast and 🎙️ BARThom, who discovered that they were both not satisfied with their previous production experiences, but had complementary skills to make something cool, which resulted in their debut EP, 💿 Wake Up.

Mr Du Penfast, headphones on, QOTSA intravenously, shaggy hair, passed his thirties, recording and producing albums for others, realizes that rock can still surprise. But to him, an artistic void persists. Between brutalizing his guitar, attacking his drums, or going mad on his bass, he’s looking for something.

BARThom, dealing branding and media between the Brussels Leopold Quarter and Reyers, is called “El Mediator.” He appears to be calm on the outside but has a storm raging inside him. It is while screaming in front of a garbage can that he crosses the paths with Mister one October night.

The inner anger they mutually recognize will turn out to be the foundation that will bind these two, apparently very different, lads together.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Nothing really different, we just want to push the speakers…even if they broke.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Musically, talking it is quite obvious that we love heavy rock bands like Queens Of The Stone Age, Royal Blood, The Heavy, Arctic Monkeys, Soulwax and many others. But we like more generally what is raw, deranged, even aggressive. Everything is too polish these days, this is why we try to express the dark and mad side of our century, to see if something can really shine from this mud at the end.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

The next one is always the best because this is the exciting one…

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Except the fact that we shag chickens before smashing ourselves with our bass strings, I don’t see anything crunchy and exciting for the reader…listen the music maybe??

Closing out, what is BAR II currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

There is a new sound, I’d say for the next songs, everything is pretty done. This will be closer to the audience I think, so maybe new fans?? Close, but still deranged…whououuu, scary..

Follow… Bar II: linktr.ee/bartwotheband

Getting to Know… Bar II: Interview No. 336 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Bar II; Tumisu via Pixabay]