Introducing….Mycena
Emerging from the depths of the Croatian rock scene, Mycena has been redefining psychedelic rock since 2019. With their sixth album, "Serendisarray", Aleksandar Vrhovec, Marin Mitić, and their bandmates push their creative boundaries further than ever before.
Blending psych rock, prog, black metal, jazz, and more across seven tracks, they deliver an experience that’s both serene and mind-boggling. In this interview with Click Roll Boom, we dive into the creative minds behind Mycena, exploring their inspirations, process, and the making of "Serendisarray." Join us as we uncover the journey of this innovative band.
Could you share how your band first came together? What initially sparked the collaboration?
The idea, the concept of the band was initially exclusively an improvisational band that doesn't have rehearsals at all; instead, we will meet directly at concerts and improvise like that. That idea came about because at that time, in the current band, I found it difficult to schedule concerts because the other members were very busy with another musical project, so most weekends were occupied for them. Mycena was then formed as a band that can change its members; the concert must take place, and whoever is available will play. The spark that initiated everything was the impossibility of performing whenever I was called to play.
After the initial idea, I started thinking about who in my small town was capable of playing a concert for an hour or two without prior preparation. My first option was my best friend from childhood, Marin Mitić, who also played on the latest album "Serendisarray". After that, I called an acquaintance, Pavle Bojanić, who had a band in a similar genre (psychedelia, noise), and he suggested Karlo Cmrk, a phenomenal bassist who perfectly understood the concept of Mycena. Marin suggested the drummer Igor Vidaković, an excellent drummer with whom he had played several times in the past. We met in my rehearsal space and embarked on this journey through Mycena :)
Who would you say has influenced your music the most, and are there any less obvious influences you draw from?
During that period of my life, I grew tired of rehearsing with the band complex songs to perfection, which we couldn't perform due to scheduling conflicts, causing tensions to rise within the band. I needed something simple, without constraints, completely the opposite. Perhaps the greatest inspiration for me at that time was the band Acid Mothers Temple, whom I watched perform in Zagreb, Croatia. Another source of inspiration for me at that time was the early albums of the Croatian band Seven that Spells. These were my inspirations for the band's concept, but each member brought their influences through playing because there were no constraints or guidelines. Everyone played whatever they thought fit in the given moment.
The latest album is a conceptual album that is no longer improvisational in arrangement; there's only improvisation through several solo sections. The inspiration for the latest album was to infuse psychedelia through black metal, through prog, and through stoner elements.
Could you walk us through your songwriting process? How do you typically go from an initial idea to a finished track?
On the latest album "Serendisarray," the songwriting process typically begins with a guitar riff. That riff then needs drums and other layers. Some songs started with drum patterns I had from previous projects, but there was always a riff first, which we then fitted to the drums we had. That's the starting point. Some songs were very prog-oriented, so it wasn't easy to fit, for example, a 4/4 riff into a 13/8 drum pattern. Then we perhaps work on a second riff and iterate until everything falls into place. Dissonance was also crucial for us, especially creating more tension than release.
After the riff and drums, we work on the bass, add more guitar layers, and then synth. Any remaining spaces are filled with vocals. Once everything is recorded, we add extra ambient sounds, and then I spend several weeks on the mix. That's the basic idea behind the album "Serendisarray." Of course, now that we've proven to ourselves that we can do it, Marin Mitić and I are planning a new album that will be even more complex. We're currently conceptualizing the songwriting process, and we'll start writing and recording in the fall.
What do you aim to convey in your live performances? Is there a particular vibe or energy you strive to bring to your shows?
Currently, in our live performances, I strive to create an ambient atmosphere first, where the music aligns with the visuals, lighting, and smoke. Volume is also crucial. Mycena is a band that doesn't play often, but almost every concert is different and has a slightly different concept, though there's always that psychedelic effect. The current live idea is captured on "Live at Funk," where I had the concept of Desert Psychedelia. The idea of the desert, the walking, and the continuous mantra. I play a riff that stretches throughout the entire song, while the others have the task of elevating and lowering the tension within the atmosphere.
How do interactions with your fans influence your music and performances? Can you share a memorable experience with a fan?
It's very important to me that attendees, or if I could call them fans, have an experience. That they move away from their daily lives and immerse themselves in the peace, the desert we build on stage. A memorable experience is that they often hug me after the concert, haha. Many different moments where they're genuinely happy because they didn't expect the concert to fill them with so much energy.
What can you tell us about your latest project? What themes or sounds were you exploring with this new release?
The last album had several themes; it even contains a puzzle within itself. The themes ranged from exhaustion from Dante's Inferno, Nostradamus, to even Aleister Crowley. The sounds are there to accompany that tension, void, floating in space. Essentially, if we achieve that it doesn't sound like something we know, then we're on the right track. With this album, we really took our time; we worked on it for about a year, through roughly 10 recording sessions. We constantly listened to each song and thought about what could be strange, surprising for us and the listener alike. It's important first that we're satisfied with the song. Each one should be different.
Every band faces challenges, whether it's creating music or on tour. Could you share one significant challenge you've overcome and what it taught you?
The toughest thing we learned on this album is ego control, making a song, an album for the sake of the songs, not for ourselves. It's hardest when a band member believes they have a good riff and forcefully wants to fit it into the album, even if it doesn't need that riff or theme but needs something else instead. The balance in songwriting, working on the concept we've set for ourselves but without stress, without feeling like the album has to come out at all; many albums I work on may never see the light of day. I have the privilege of owning my own record label and being accountable to no one. Every musician should have that foundation set for their music. After years of questioning and recording, this album taught me that music is entertainment, and I never plan for it to be a job. We've also learned to layer instruments more easily, and I think, above all, I've learned to arrange, to turn a single riff into a complete, listenable song. We're fortunate to currently have the perfect session drummer, Gio Maucieri, working with us, who can execute any wild idea or rhythm that comes to mind. Similarly, the demanding mix taught me a lot for the future.
Looking ahead, what are some goals or aspirations you have for the band? Are there new musical directions you're excited to explore?
Right now, we don't even know what our goals are; we're focusing on working peacefully on a new album for which we don't even know the genre yet. Psychedelia will certainly be present, but perhaps without as much prog. The idea is that there won't be just instrumentals anymore; each song should have vocals. We'll see. Other goals include possibly playing a few concerts during that period, not too many. I think the direction will naturally reveal itself as we start in the fall. First, we need to promote this album and take a good rest over the summer. Maybe even finish another project, another album.
Outside of music, what influences or inspires you? Are there books, films, or artworks that resonate with your band's ethos?
There's a lot, truly a myriad of music genres: stoner, black metal, doom, psy, noise, drone. Japanese art is also a significant inspiration, as well as the Balkan lifestyle where we reside—not particularly modern Balkan music, but more so the rural life and customs. The Mediterranean, ancient Rome, Greece. Vintage guitars and amps. Murakami's books. Anything of quality, like the craftsmanship involved in making katana swords, endeavors that take a lifetime to master. I enjoy learning and observing masters like that in any field of life around me. I also admire minimalists in life and work, those who are filled with experiences but infuse only the essence of perfection into their work without any fuss.
If you had one message or piece of advice to share with your fans, what would it be?
Thank you for every click, for every listen, for every piece of merchandise purchased. In today's world where music is so accessible, we're truly grateful for anyone who dedicates their time to listening to Mycena. See you at one of the concerts.
