DIY DAMASCUS: INTERVIEW WITH SYRIAN PUNK BAND, MAZHOTT.
Posted by falafelwarrior, (Marwan Kamel) December, 2009
Everything is more complicated in the Middle East, even playing punk rock.
It’s difficult for us, punks in the First World, to really understand true love for punk. We’re spoiled. With somewhat cheap equipment, tons of places to play, and no one determining what you can say, starting a band in the US is relatively easy.
This is Damascus, though. If you want to play punk, you need to really want to. The hand of politics is everywhere. Both US foreign policy and domestic law can make or break your band: trade embargoes determine whether or not you can get equipment and censors make it difficult to speak about any real issues. While the suffocating restrictions and obstacles are annoying, the fact that the punks exist is a testament to their perseverance.
In this interview, Rashwan, from Syrian band, Mazhott (Diesel in Arabic), shares their story about playing their brand of Arabic-infused, old school, pop-punk.
So, how did Mazhott start? Why did you start the band? Tell me the story behind it
Me and Dani, the drummer, started around 2007. I had a couple of songs that I had written, and I was “bandless,” but then we called up a few friends to get a bassist. We called it, “mazhott,” because it’s a funny word in Arabic, so we thought it had a certain shock value. This kinda name had never been used for a band name before [here]…
It’s a funny word, but it also reminds me of the petrol sellers that come around in the morning for heating oil. Did this have any effect on it?
Well that was the idea, a catchy, unusual and everyday name. And its not a very loved thing–the heating oil or the sellers,
because of the noise they make…
[laughing] That shit can be annoying… So, instead of hitting metal gas tanks, you’re doing it with electric guitars. Are there a lot of kids in Syria that are into punk?
There are, but they are mostly after what’s on TV. And since Green Day’s American Idiot went big, punk has been spreading–although people don’t know what punk is, so we’re trying to let them know ..
Yeah, it’s difficult to face up to the pop music industry. It seems like anyone that is trying to do something new, has to find a way to spread their music underground. Are you guys handing out your demos for free? How did you guys record?
Well, I recorded everything at home, using Fruity Loops for drums and a small, [chat] mic for the rest. We’re try to hand out CD’s
and promote them on the internet, but it’s still very underground.
Man, you guys are tech savvy. The last time i was in Syria, there weren’t that many computers around at all.
[Laughing] .. Well, it has improved in this context, but not so much on the internet, though. I mean, I’ve been telling people for ages to check out our songs online, but they just look surprised. Yeah, I am telling you, man, people are crazy lazy over here.
That can be a problem in terms of DIY, but you are pulling it off. Did you guys have any problems starting the band, like in terms of equipment or even in terms of getting a space to play?
We still have [problems], man. I only have a guitar, but no amp, and Akram and Kareem (guitar/bass) don’t either. We still don’t have a place to practice, so we have to rent a place each time, and it’s pretty fucking expensive. It’s like almost impossible to get a gig, unless you’re very lucky, so we play for free all the time, whenever we get the chance.
You mentioned to me before that you guys canceled your last show because people were “fucked up”? What did you mean by that?
Well, the audience would have thrown eggs and tomatoes at us and beat us up, man. So, we decided not to do it, because they were not the kind of people who would appreciate out music or anything like it.
Yeah, I guess that’s always a problem with shows. It’s never good to not play to the right crowd. You guys need the crowd that comes with a bunch of beer. I usually like to wait until people are drunk to start playing. You guys need to get sponsored by Barada Beer (Syrian national beer brand).
[Laughing] We are thinking about it, actually.
You guys have played in some pretty cool places though, like in el Medine 2edime (Old City). How do you guys pull that stuff off?
We got lucky actually, but having Arabic lyrics helps. There aren’t many places to play here except the Old City, so whenever a band wants a gig, they go there first.
Have you played in other cities in Syria yet?
No, not yet. There’s no such thing as touring here, and the percentage of people that listen to rock, in general, is very limited too.
There’s a lot of metal in the Middle East these days, but punk is a different ballgame. Why do you think that there aren’t that many other punk bands forming?
Well, the thing is, people, here, don’t care much about either punk or metal. So, anyone that plays an electric guitar is a metal-head
in Syria, and [they] think punk is silly, or whatever. Metal fans say it’s too easy, so it’s not good enough. But, normal kids like it, somehow, because it’s more poppy in a way. You know?
Yeah, and metal is sort of banned here, so it’s difficult for us (Syrian punks) too, since we’re connected to it.
I think that also might have to do with lyrics too. Metal lyrics can be really cheesy, sometimes. Maybe, your lyrics are more relevant to peoples’ lives. What do you guys sing about?
We sing about stuff that matters to young people, in general, and social [issues]. [For example], the high school diploma, here, is unbelievably difficult, so, we wrote about that. We wrote about fathers forcing their young daughters to marry older men, about our generation that is frustrated and lost and don’t know wot to do with their lives, about less separating of boys and girls, and about how we need more attention and freedom.
So, why do you think that punk and metal are banned? Does anyone cause complications for you guys playing at all?
Well, metal fans, here, are considered Satanists, so they’re opposed by everybody. And, yes, we have had some problems of that kind, but not big ones, since we sing in Arabic, which is a very positive thing, actually. People can relate more to the songs and it’s something new, so they get more interested. I think, since we’re an Arabic-speaking country. it would be stupid to write songs in English.
Yeah, I know what you mean. A lot of bands, in the rest of the world, think that it’s better to write songs in English because it’s more international. But, punk is always local at heart, and it’s our way of talking about things that matter to us. I guess, it’s difficult to do that in syria, without getting too political, so that you don’t have any “friends” from the government come visit you.
Yeah, we try to stick to social stuff. We have a song about corruption, though, “Baba.” If you’re a son of someone, or know someone important, people treat you different–or they treat others, with no connection, in a bad way. You know? Those things ..
Do you think that the future of punk in Syria is different from the rest of the Middle East?
I don’t know, actually, but I sure hope so. Rock bands are realizing the importance of writing in Arabic, which could make a better future for rock, in general, including punk. But, punk is getting noticed anyway–much more than it used to.
So, what’s coming up for Mazhott? recording?
Yeah, hopefully, and more gigs!
How can people get in contact with you or hear your music?
They can email us on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/mazhott or http://www.reverbnation.com/mazhott or on our group on Facebook.
Hey, I’ve gotta go the place (internet cafe) I’m at is closing. Salam.
Alright, Peace.
-Marwan
~Now, this was before all of the protests and the revolutionary spark. We are waiting to hear back from Marwan about the state of Mazhott and how they are holding up during all of this upheaval. Insha’allah they are all well and staying strong. Insha’allah.
Taqwacore Journal 