Doomed Confessionary: Ergün, Markus, Manuel & Peter (Transonic Science)
Transonic Science, pioneers of the German stoner rock scene since 1997, have left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Over the years, they’ve shared stages with renowned acts like Dozer, Girls Against Boys, and Blackmail, solidifying their presence in the industry.
The band has recently signed with Argonauta Records to release their new album »Psychobulb« in early 2024.
Transonic Science are Ergün Aktürk on vocals, Markus Bongardt on guitar, Manuel Estrada on bass and Peter Begerow on drums.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Four friends, who are making music together they love. We call our music “Bulldozer Blues” – located somewhere in the stoner rock scence since the beginning of the band in 1997 in Cologne, Germany. We restarted in 2020 after the tragic loss of our former bassman and co-founder Gerald, realising that with the band we have something of high value, that we don’t want to give up.
What was the biggest challenge for the band this year?
After the pandemic actually it felt very easy. We were able to play gigs again! The biggest challenge maybe was the mixing and mastering process of our new album, but in the end we were happy with the results! Album release via Argonauta Records will be early 2024.
What can you be most proud of this year?
Definitely our new album »Psychobulb«, we love these songs very much. There are 2 tunes, which we still wrote together with Gerald and then 7 songs, which we wrote together in the new line-up with Manuel on bass. Everything fits together very harmoniously and is varied and dynamic at the same time.
What was your biggest regret?
We have no regrets.
What was the best concert/tour this year and why?
One of the best concerts was in Cologne, Niehler Freiheit. The sound, location, audience, atmosphere, everything was just right that evening and we played really well together. You can tell immediately from the feedback from the audience during and after the show. Then I remember two concerts, one in Telgte and one in Leuven (Belgium). Nobody knew us there, and it’s nice to see people getting excited about our music. Especially in Telgte, even though there were only 30 people there on an evening like that, the spark was really ignited and we had a great concert together!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It’s always cool to see how many really good underground rock bands there are, whether here in Cologne, in Germany, in Europe or anywhere else in the world. They’re all passionate about it, releasing albums, playing concerts, touring – and there are a lot of people who support that and keep going to concerts and listening to the music. Not forgetting all the concert promoters, labels, magazines, bookers etc. There are also some younger people who come along and listen to this stuff or form a band. I think that’s great and shows me that music culture outside the mainstream is still alive and kicking.
Where can we see you live next year (concerts/tours)?
We play next in Cologne just before New Year, then in January we go on to Asenhausen in northern Germany. We’re planning to play in Belgium again, we’ll probably play in Ghent, and we also have some festivals lined up for the summer. We’re still waiting for the final confirmations, then we’ll make all the dates public on the platforms.
What are your plans for the next year as a band? What do you personally want the most?
Next year will be all about our album release. We hope that the release will enable us to play even more concerts and present the record to as many people as possible. At the same time, we are already working on new songs, and we may be able to record another new album at the end of 2024. Personally, I want us to stay together as a band, that we and our friends and families stay healthy and have fun!
How can people best support your band?
Any support is welcome. We just want as many people as possible to hear our music, whether live or on record. This is our creative output and we want people to enjoy engaging with it. If you then get feedback and see what others think and feel, then that is worth more than anything else. Of course we make the music we like and first and foremost because we like making music. But when listeners are involved, it takes it to a whole new, deeper level. You can connect with others through music – and to do that you don’t have to be perfect on the instrument, you don’t have to be a brilliant songwriter or a superstar. Even without that, you can convey feelings and energy with your music and as a listener you can give back feelings, thoughts and energy. That’s a great experience.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Just a big thank you and may you be well and happy!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well