{"id":2689,"date":"2019-09-20T00:01:11","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T21:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/r1vibes.com\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2019-09-20T18:35:33","modified_gmt":"2019-09-20T15:35:33","slug":"talking-with-christopher-bennett-of-minsk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/r1vibes-bench.vust.cloud\/el\/2019\/09\/20\/talking-with-christopher-bennett-of-minsk\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking with Christopher Bennett of Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was about a year ago when we had the pleasure of seeing Minsk<\/a><\/strong> for the first time play a live show<\/strong> in Athens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A band<\/strong> from Peoria, Illinois that since 2002<\/strong> when they were founded, have given us magical melodic moments<\/strong> \u201cmoving\u201d around atmospheric\/post metal sounds<\/strong> with a bit of sludge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are self-described as \u201cpsychedelic metal<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since that night of October 2018<\/strong> in Kyttaro<\/strong> I wanted to approach and talk to them in order to gain more insight into the world of Minsk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I contacted them and their guitarist Christopher D Bennett<\/strong> responded immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The band\u2019s name was initially inspired by the Belarusian city of Minsk, with it being rebuilt from the ashes many times. You once said that the concepts of strength, endurance, rebirth all hold specific importance to you in more ways than just a musical perspective. Was there ever a time when the band felt being on the verge of quitting thus embracing those ideals and come back even stronger?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Though we have weathered a handful of storms over the years of existence of <\/em>Minsk<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>, I can\u2019t say that we have ever been on the verge of quitting.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undoubtedly, we have gone through several periods where changes needed to be made in order to move forward in the most free and creative way.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most notable example would be the years between \u201c<\/em>With Echoes in the Movement of Stone<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>\u201d and \u201c<\/em>The Crash And The Draw<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>\u201d.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2010, we recognized the necessity of making changes in the lineup and in the way we operated.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though unsure of our path at the time, we trusted that if we focused our energy and attention on moving forward in the most productive ways, our patience would be rewarded.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So in the years between the two aforementioned albums, we were fortunate to bring new blood into the <\/em>Minsk<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> family, and then proceed to make a new <\/em>record<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>, with no pressure or expectations, but to take as much time as was required to something we loved.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We certainly trusted that we would make changes which would lead to a stronger band, and every time we are allowed the pleasure to play for people, our dedication to stay on the path is galvanized.<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Is there a particular song or album that you consider to be the inspiration that sparked the flame for you to go on and make your own music as a full-time band?<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The list all of the sources of<\/em> inspiration<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> is endless, and that stream is ever-flowing.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me personally; I will never forget the moment at a middle-school dance when I heard Led Zeppelin\u2019s \u201c<\/em>Black Dog<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>\u201d played loudly on large speakers.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had heard many wonderful guitar moments at that point, but in that moment, I knew that I must pursue the spirit and the sound that combined to make a guitar sound like THAT! <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I, of course, had no clue how to make a <\/em>guitar sound <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>so gigantic, and I didn\u2019t even play <\/em>guitar<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> yet, but that moment is iconic in my life.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The constant pursuit for <\/em>music<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> that made me feel empowered, transported, and validated; advanced quicker and quicker as the desire to hear more and more intensified.  <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many <\/em>albums<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> have inspired us to make our own noise and the list evolves daily. <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To name a few\u2026<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n