Doomed Confessionary: Kiryk Drewinski (Wedge)

Photo credits: Henning Wienecke

Wedge was born into the spotlight in Berlin, Germany in 2014. Founded by guitarist/singer Kiryk Drewinski (ex-Liquid Visions, ex-The Magnificent Brotherhood), drummer Holger “The Holg” Grosser and bassist/organist David Götz, the power trio describes their unique sound as driving a wedge between many different musical genres like hard rock, garage, progressive rock, psychedelia, stoner rock and all good kinds of vintage flavored long hair music.

This magic mixture allowed the band to establish a wide-ranging and steadily growing fan base across the planet. Playing hundreds of ecstatic gigs in numerous European countries and beyond, the group earned their reputation as a fantastic live act.

Aside from being constantly on the road, Wedge released three studio albums on Heavy Psych Sounds: »Wedge«, »Killing Tongue« (2018) and »Like No Tomorrow« (2021). In the tradition of bands like The Raconteurs, The Hellacopters, Graveyard or Wolfmother, Wedge are building on that vintage vibe we all know and love, while create their very own thing and connecting directly to here and now.

Can you please say a few words about your band?
We are WEDGE from Berlin. We’re not really a stoner rock band, but we’re also not 100% retro, psychedelic, kraut, nor are we a beat or garage rock group. I’m pretty sure we’re not a country or blues band, and sure as hell we’re not quiet. Probably we’re a bit of each, but what we really are is up to you. You tell us!

We play short (or very long) songs using fuzzy guitars, duct-taped organs, some kind of bass instruments and quite busy (loud) drums. Oh, and we sing too sometimes.

We formed in 2014 and have three studio LPs out on Heavy Psych Sounds. The fourth drops in November 2026 on Tonzonen Records.

What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Keeping up with the endless demand to post ten times a day on thirty social media channels just to appear “relevant” or “active.” We don’t do that. We think it shouldn’t be part of a musicians job.

And even though I work on band related stuff almost every single day, it rarely turns into content that’s fun, engaging, or viral.

So we try to please the algorithm just enough not to get declared dead by some bot. Mostly on Instagram and Facebook… please subscribe, give us an angry like, leave a polarizing comment.

What can you be most proud of so far?
We’ve been together over 12 years without changing the lineup. That’s quite rare. Around us, bands fall apart all the time, even the big names with far more financial (and surely sexual) success.

We fight a lot within the band. But I like to think that getting on each other’s nerves so badly and still wanting to make music together after all these years says something about how important our music and this constellation is to us.

And of course, your latest album is always your favorite baby. So until the next one arrives, we’re very proud of our latest record… which we just re-released as a gatefold special edition a few weeks ago on Tonzonen Records, BTW.

What was your biggest regret?
No huge regrets as a band. Personally, it’s probably selling those guitar pedals around 2001. Not because they’re worth a fortune today, but because it put me on a one-way street: ever since, I’ve only been buying gear and can’t bring myself to sell anything.

What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Oh, I think the best ones are yet to come! But honestly, we try to play every show like there’s no tomorrow. Also, every single show is unique on so many levels, so there’s always something to take away… even if sometimes we can’t remember it the next day.

What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
We find it truly mind-boggling that, at festivals for example, everything else gets paid right away – stage hire, security staff, sound engineers, rented gear, bartenders – without a second thought. But paying the band, the very reason people show up? That suddenly becomes a negotiation, as if our work isn’t worth the same. What baffles me even more is that so many bands seem to have fully accepted this practice. Even worse, their acceptance undermines the efforts of other bands who don’t see working for free or for less as acceptable.

Yes, making music brings joy like nothing else… but at the same time, it’s work just like any other.

What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I have a huge collection of 60s and 70s albums, though I rarely get to listen these days.

When I was a teen, all I did was get high on music, go to concerts, and dig for records… Back then you could completely blow my mind with the fact that this cool band I had just discovered called Led Zeppelin apparently had another studio album between Led Zeppelin 1 and Led Zeppelin 3. Happy days! Everything is new and exciting for a sixteen-year-old who has just discovered a whole new world.
But once you seriously start creating your own music, it doesn’t leave too much room for anything else, to be frank. The radio in your head just keeps getting louder with the years, and you can barely keep up with recording even half of it for later use.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Be yourself. Humans have a finely tuned bullshit detector built into their souls. Try to fake it, and your audience will know immediately.

Making music is just another form of expressing yourself. I think many people believe that’s some kind of metaphor, but it’s not. It’s meant very literally and directly. It’s like speaking or uttering thoughts. Same thing, just with music.

You can’t hide who you are when you play a solo. That’s why I love music. Pure expression. No filter. No faking. You truly and immediately get to know the people behind the song, the instrument, the lyric.

What are your guilty pleasures?
I really have a thing for Coke… Coca-Cola Zero, that is, of course!
Since giving up alcohol and drugs years ago, my brain tries to fill the gap… usually with sweets and junk food. I love doughy stuff. I love food in general. I could eat an entire cow sometimes… preferably filled with chocolate.

Can you say something more about the current music scene in Berlin?
Berlin has always been the city of electronic music, so rock (apart from metal) isn’t exactly hip.
Though Berlin is a big city, the scene for our kind of music is quite small. Those who let the freak’n’roll flag fly may be few, but they make up for it with sheer dedication.

Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We play live constantly. The best way to keep track is our homepage (a very underrated tool in social media times, though you’ll get the info there too).

We’re going on a longer tour in November 2026, including Spain and France, when the new album drops. Hope to see you there.

What are your plans for the future as a band?
We want to give people that feeling only great music can give. A drug-like experience, if done right. That feeling you get from your favorite record… even after years.

Creating real music, live and in the studio, for real people made of flesh and bone – as long as it’s still possible, for various (mostly AI-related) reasons.

How can people best support your band?
Visit our gigs. Go to WEDGEband.com and buy physical copies of our music. We put a lot of love into every detail of our releases, and there are always extras, posters, goodies…

Of course, like every band, we earn more from shirts than music. That’s okay – we have those too, and plenty more.

Following us on Instagram and Facebook, and interacting with us, really does make a difference in this digital world. Also, just tell your friends if you like a band – you’d be surprised what that can do if everyone did it.

Do you have any message for your listeners?
My advice: don’t let anyone give you any advice.

Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well