Deeper Upper — MUSICIANS

(L-R) Ignas Ivaska, Kestutis Purvinskas, Rimantas Nasutavicius, Evaldas Arlauskas

Interview with the band Deeper Upper —

Deeper Upper is:

Evaldas Arlauskas (synths, programming)
Rimantas Nasutavicius (drums)
Ignas Ivaska (guitar)
Kestutis Purvinskas (vocals, guitar, synths)

1. Who are you and what do you do?
Ignas: We are a band from Lithuania called Deeper Upper. In terms of style, usually we are being called indie rock band, nevertheless, we try to never stick to one genre.
Evaldas: In our latest records you can hear many electronic music influences and sounds.
Kestutis: We’re four guys who are breathing oxygen from the music we create.

2. Why music?
Kęstutis: For us, this is the most relevant type of art to express ourselves.
Ignas: Yes, and now we have this wonderful opportunity to do what we love doing.

EP Cover for “Ceremony”

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be involved in music?
Evaldas: When I was a teenager I made my own mini-studio where I experimented with sounds and recorded music with my acoustic guitar.
Kęstutis: At my childhood I was always dreaming to be an actor. But at the same time, the fact, how a really good movie soundtrack can affect movie’s atmosphere, surprised me more.

4. What are your favorite subject(s) and style(s)?
Ignas: We all are listeners of different kinds of music styles, from rock to electronic music. As time passes and you’re more involved in the music, the style itself becomes the least important part of the art. The more important thing is how the emotion of the music catches you and what you find interesting in the piece you’re listening to.

Evaldas Arlauskas

Kestutis Purvinskas

5. How do you work and approach a new piece that you are working on?
Evaldas: Usually it all starts with a jamming session. We all play different sounds and parts at the same time, until we feel something matching and sounding interesting. Then we start the building session of the song. Sometimes it takes days, while sometimes it can take even months.
Kęstutis: We are perfectionists in our studio. Before we announce the song is finished, we will go through it deeply many times from the beginning to the end, till we prove ourselves that we have nothing to add or remove.

6. Who are your favorite musician(s), singer(s)?
Ignas: The ones, who can always surprise listener with their new song or album. Stagnation and repetition is the worst thing can happen for any kind of artist, in my opinion.
Evaldas: I can name the band Editors, because they were the first ones to introduce me to indie rock.
Kęstutis: A word “favorite” is too abstract here, because there are many things I can like and hate at the same about the same artist.

Kestutis Purvinskas
photo by Rytis Seskaitis

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
Rimantas: Each time when the audience welcomes us warmly is the biggest prize for us.
Kęstutis: I agree, the support from the listener is what keeps us moving.
Evaldas: I believe people singing the lyrics during our performances really catch me the most, because it means they’re really involved in the music you’re making, and that’s beautiful.

9. What advice would you give to other musicians?
Rimantas: My advice would be – Don’t give any advice to other musicians.
Evaldas: As we have experienced, everything takes time. We have been together as a band for 5 years, and only now I can say we have matured enough to take on big stages and deliver the best songs yet. So the advice would be – If you love what you’re doing, don’t stop doing it.

‘Deeper Upper’ – Coming back home

10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Ignas: Our goal is performing in front of thousands of people in the largest venues and stadiums all over the Europe.
Rimantas: On our tour bus.
Kestutis: I’ll just correct some details on Ignas and Rimantas answers: 1….all over the World. 2. On our tour JET.

“Deeper Upper”
Photo by Vika Paskelyte

LINKS —

Website:  www.deeperupper.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DeeperUpper
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/DeeperUpper
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/DeeperUpper
Soundcloud:  www.soundcloud.com/DeeperUpper
Youtube:  www.youtube.com/DeeperUpper
 

Video clips —

Unity:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z801SDh5JI
CPR:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x9T–MRjT0