Doomed Nation

Sounds For The Lost Generation

Doomed Confessionary: Atanas Bro (Sex Blender)

Sex Blender is a psychedelic rock band from Lviv, Ukraine. Their debut release, »Hormonizer« dropped in April 2018 and came out on vinyl via Drone Rock Records the following year. It consisted of 4 instrumental compositions featuring a mix of motoric, drone, blues, oriental, dub, post-rock, metal and classic rock. The initial vinyl pressing sold out in rapid time and a repress followed a few months later. In 2019 along with numerous shows in Ukraine they went on several tours playing at some of the hottest european clubs and festivals with the likes of Dope Smoker, Nadja and Pressor.

Their second album, »The Second Coming«, became available digitally in June 2020 with the vinyl version arriving a couple of months later, again released on Drone Rock Records. The album surges with a more eclectic mix of musical genres and features extra vintage organ and cello sounds. Sex Blender’s third album »Naїve Core« was just released this Friday, September 6th, 2024 via Smolder Brains Records, Teschio Dischi, Echodelick Records and Dirty Filthy Records.

Sex Blender currently consists of Yurko Savchuk (guitar), Rostyk Garbar (bass), Mira Shulak (keys), Andy Sumer’s (guitar) and Atanas Bro (drums).

Can you say a few words about your band?
As a band, we started in April 2017 after a productive jam session with friends. That’s how the core of the band was formed – Rostyk, Andy, and Atanas (that’s me). Things started quite optimistically, as within half a year, we had already recorded our debut, which was more successful than we expected. But over time, we began to realize how incompatible we were in life.

What was the biggest challenge for the band?
We realized that despite all the difficulties of interacting with each other, the band is something bigger than our overblown egos. Not all of us have fully grasped this yet. But as long as the band exists, this process will continue.

What can you be most proud of so far?
We’re proud that we continue creating music, despite all the circumstances and challenges of living with Ukrainian identities.

What was your biggest regret?
We still keep arguing and sorting out relationships, showing disrespect for one another. It’s something that frustrates and disappoints us, and we hope to get rid of it in the future.

What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Our first tour was unforgettable because our hired driver decided not to continue after the second show. He simply left our stuff on one of the streets in Ostrava (Czech Republic) and went about his business. That’s how our love for the Czech Republic began. We didn’t miss a single scheduled show, by the way.

What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The surprise is that the music we love, with the ’70s vibe, is still alive, even though that era has long passed.

What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Here Lies Man, Yeti, Acid Rooster, Eating Sports, Osees, Heavenphetamine, King Gizz…

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
We’ve never listened to any advice – maybe that’s why we’re still playing.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Being a musician because it has already ruined many of my relationships.

Can you say something more about the music scene in Lviv area?
Here in Galicia, the psychedelic and stoner scenes are well-developed, but due to isolation from Europe and now the war, our musicians receive much less attention than they deserve. Local heroes like Sherpa the Tiger, Sealand Airlines, Planet Bit, Nonsun, Pan Pupets, Dreadnought in the Pond, Ogyda, Argos, and Seira definitely deserve more recognition.

Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Our guitarist Yurko Savchuk is currently serving his civic duty in the war, and without him, we can’t perform. So, if you want to see us on tour again – donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

What are your plans for the future as a band?
We currently exist as a studio project, and in these circumstances, that’s the most we can do to keep the Sex Blender vibe alive.

How can people best support your band?
Listen to and buy our new album »Naїve Core«, which was released on September 6 on all available formats and streaming platforms.

Do you have any message for your listeners?
Life is short, music is immortal. Especially on vinyl.

Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

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

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