Bang! the new “indie” – Three questions to Christophe Waetens
Three questions for Christophe Waetens — co-founder of the Bang label
The Bang label, known as one of the pioneers of new Belgian sound, has just teamed up with another independent, Distrisound. Between them, he forms a new label, Bang Distribution, a rather rare occurrence in the musical world, especially since they concern lovers.
This "new wave" that you have seen grow, how to characterize it?
CW - I don't know if we can really qualify as a "new wave". Because they are artists who have been working for ten years. People just realize it now. I would speak of a beautiful revival. With albums that have a clear qualitative value, research of sound, text. There is a sort of emulation from above. There is a sound. A detachment. The search for originality. Between a Ghinzu and a Jeronimo, who manage to swallow post-rock and French song (Editor's note: one singing in English, the other in French), there is not much to see.
Where does this diversity come from?
CW - Perhaps the result of our Belgium being influenced by all sounds. All of these groups have access to different styles of music. We are lucky to have radio stations (Pure Fm, studio brussels), which educate people and broadcast their music from morning to night. Not to have formatted radios. Artists are sponges.
Why grow today?
CW - It was necessary. The first Bang label had become too small. Just at the logistical level. For example, before, when we had a delivery, the street was blocked, and everyone stopped working to unload the truck. Today you can drive a semi-trailer into the yard. At the musical level, we offer a complete catalog, with Distrisound, more popular and song and Bang more pointed and pop-rock. And we can attract international big names (necessary to live). We have an advantage over other labels, which keep their eye on profits: the shareholding belongs to us. And we are not aiming for the super short term, but for the growing medium term. This does not mean that you have to agree to distribute anything and everything. We must remain demanding vis-à-vis the groups.
Interview by NG-V.
