Polemica’s …and now…: A Musical Rollercoaster of Hope and Despair – Album Preview

Polemica’s upcoming album, …and now…, bursts into life with the electrifying track “Paranoia.” The band wastes no time in immersing listeners in a hard-hitting rock sound that captivates from the very first note. The instrumentations on “Paranoia” and throughout the album are meticulously crafted, showcasing the band’s skill in creating alternating yet cohesive arrangements that keep the listener on their toes.

Leading the charge is Hilary, whose vocal prowess shines on every track. With a knack for singing, she effortlessly navigates the diverse range of songs, complementing each one with her dynamic delivery. Whether she rises to the occasion or conveys a poignant message with a softer touch, Hilary’s vocals are a force to be reckoned with.

In a recent interview with Mister Styx of Musicarenagh, Hilary and Vik provided glimpses into their personal lives, adding an extra layer of intimacy to the album. With 10 original songs, …and now… takes listeners on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, never allowing a dull moment to seep in. It’s a violation of conventions, an exploration of purity, and an affirmation of a yet-to-be-defined identity. Each track stands out as a testament to the band’s ability to seamlessly blend elements of rock, experimental vitality, and noisy hymns.

Set to release on September 30, 2023, …and now… serves as a musical reflection of both hope and despair. The pulsating grooves, sonic reflections, and undeniable presence within the music cut through the incessant social noise, offering a respite and encouraging independent thinking. This album is a testament to the power of independent music and deserves to be played loud and shared widely.

The album’s artwork, crafted by British artists Paul Brennan and Dionne Swift, adds a visually striking dimension to Polemica’s message. Pop, symbolic, and powerful, the artwork perfectly complements the band and the essence of the album itself.

With 10 energetic tracks that embrace their varied musical personalities, Polemica presents …and now… as their vibrant embodiment of thinkrock. From punk to funk to noise, this album is an invitation to embrace a new wave of musical expression. Brace yourself for the journey that begins where it ends, and be ready to embrace the unstoppable force that is Polemica. Support independent music, get your hands on this album, and prepare to be moved.

Tracklist

Paranoia

The vote

Bad habit

Roe V wade

Good riddance

Its our time

Isolation

Winter whisper

War is anachronistic

Tranny me

The album would be released on September 30^th, check out their catalogue while you wait

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Write a short intro for an interview

What is your stage name?

Hilary- Polemica

Is there a story behind your stage name?

Hilary – We wanted to have a band name that reflected the idea that music can create change and present radical idea in a non-threatening manner. We also wanted to have a name that would be easily recognizable in Italian and English, as the band is based in Italy, but we have an American singer.

Where do you find inspiration?

Hilary – For the music, we are inspired by each other – our varied musical backgrounds, ages and experience. For the lyrics, suffice it to say the inspiration is the continuing injustices plaguing ourselves and our environment.

What was the role of music in the early years of your life?

Hilary – Music has always been a communication tool. only one of us has been classically trained on their instrument (the drummer), but we all have been playing music since we were very young.

Are you from a musical or artistic family?

Hilary – Not really, though some of us have siblings and parents who can play, though not as more than a hobby.
Vik – No. My father plays the accordion, but just for fun.

Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?

Hilary – The goal has never been to be part of the music industry, rather to show that music can’t be controlled by the few for the many. That said, I personally have been encouraged and inspired by many musicians in the punk scene.

How did you learn to sing/write/to play?

Hilary – Although, as mentioned earlier, only one of us has classical training on their instrument, some of us classically studied other instruments, which we don’t use in the group, like piano, violin, and contrabass.

Vik – Only later did I improve everything by starting to take lessons and study it thoroughly.

What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? I don’t Hilary – know about the others, but my first live concert (aside from symphony concerts), was the group Bread in 1977.

How could you describe your music?

Hilary – We call it “thinkrock.” From our socials description; POLEMICA is the international 4-piece thinkrock band based in Italy. With their new album …and now…(2023), POLEMICA continues to assault social injustices and provoke critical questions.

Describe your creative process.

Hilary – In general, we jam first and then choose passages to arrange. occasionally, I have brough lyrics with a melody and developed it with the rest of the group.

What is your main inspiration?

Hilary – Injustice, inequality, prejudice and authoritarian control.

What musician do you admire most and why?

Hilary – It is difficult to pinpoint one musician as inspiration, but I admire all musicians who keep control of their creative ideas and strive to encourage others to do the same😊

Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?

Hilary – Of course. The more one plays, records, tours and composes, the easier it is to translate thoughts into music.

Who do you see as your main competitor?

Hilary – Commercial music and cover bands

Vik – Competitor? Music is not a competition

What are your interests outside of music?

Hilary – Organizing events, travel, cooking, learning

Vik – Skateboarding, understanding yourself better, helping to make the world a better place

If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?

Hilary – All of us still work jobs to support being able to play music, record, tour and, of course, maintain our instruments. This is the plight of many independent musicians.

Vik – A carpenter!

What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?

Hilary – Besides not being able to live from making music, I personally have faced challenges as a woman in the rock music milieu. I have been playing drums for over 30 years, and even though I don’t play drums in polemica, I still fight for equality.

If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?

Hilary – You can’t put a bandaid on an amputation. At the core, the idea of a “music industry” inherently excludes people. Support for decentralization and autonomy is critical.

Vik – That until enough money is earned to find someone to do it for you, you have to work hard for the entrepreneurial part of your songs, often having no more time to create music. A real paradox!

Why did you choose this as the title of this project?

Hilary – The title of our record, ..and now…, embodies the idea that the music on this record is both new AND a continuation of our collective musical journey.

What are your plans for the coming months?

Hilary – Publicity through pre-release campaigns, release the record, and tour to support it!

Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?

Hilary – Back in 2020, we released a conceptual collaborative project entitled “Herstory in 3 parts: Repeat, Remove, Create.” We worked with 7 musicians from around the world to create “a musical reflection on the repetition, removal and creation of herstory using music as the tool for the discourse and collaboration as the method to expand the reflection. We all know the music industry is dominated by the patriarchy.

We choose to block or subvert this imbalance wherever and however we can, not just for herstory, but for all *stories not created by dominance and abuse of power.” Currently we are working with various video artists to produce visuals to accompany the songs on the record. We cherish the opportunity to collaborate and share in the creative process.

What message would you like to give to your fans?

#stayindie