Doomed Confessionary: Dorian, Etienne, Antoine & Mathéa (Spiralpark)
Photos by Marine Neyssensas
Spiralpark is a four-piece psychedelic garage/fuzz rock band from Menton, France.
Formed in 2018 by Dorian (vocals, guitar), Etienne (bass), Antoine (drums) and Mathéa (synth, guitar), Spiralpark plays garage rock with hints of ’70s roots. The quartet cites artists such as Thee Oh Sees, Slift, Dead Kennedys, and Bass Drum Of Death as influences, while maintaining a unique artistic identity rooted in imaginative themes, blending captivating vocal melodies with fuzz-laden bursts.
The band released their first EP in November 2020 on Poutrasseau Records label and went on tour across France in March 2022 to promote it. Spiralpark’s debut album, titled »Nightshade«, was released on February 3rd, 2025.
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are Spiralpark, a psychedelic garage rock band from Menton, France. We’ ve been around since 2018.
Check us out on our social media and streaming platforms!
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The biggest challenge was to go on tour just by ourselves. In previous years we had help from friends. Our most recent tour (February this year) was the first one we managed and went on by ourselves. Things didn’t go flawlessly but that’s how you learn things, the experience was awesome and we would recommend it.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Our new album »Nightshade« means a lot to us, it’s the pinnacle of what we could achieve when we made it. It’s not by any means the perfect album, but definitely the best we could make when we made it. Something that makes us extremely proud, obviously.
What was your biggest regret?
Back to 2020 when we released our first EP. We didn’t expect the consequences of Covid and lockdown to be so severe. We ordered way too many CDs, and still have a lot of them left.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Our first show, back to Gouha Rock Fest 2019, in Gorbio, a small village in the mountains near where we’re from. We had a lot to learn, and still have, but the memories of your first gig can’t fade away.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It would definitely have to be Wormsand’s last LP: »You The King«. They’re some of our closest friends. Seeing what they have been able to achieve is something truly inspiring for us, particularly knowing where they come from. We hope to be able to make something as good as this in the future.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Recently, we’ve been listening to a lot of the talented French heavy rock scene: Wormsand, Occult Hand Order, Clavicule, Umbilical to name a few. Obviously being a 4 people band, we have divergent music tastes, some of us for example, are fans of hardcore music as well.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Definitely “Listen to the people you play with.” That’s probably the most important thing you have to keep in mind when you’re playing with other’s. They are not in your mind, neither are you in theirs, so listen to them playing, and ask them what they have in mind; it avoids some misunderstandings and saves you a lot of time.
What are your guilty pleasures?
We are big pizza fans (even frozen ones). It’s a meal that means a lot to all of us. Who doesn’t like pizza?
Can you say something more about current music scene in Menton?
We come from the French Riviera, a place where the scene was slowly dying. But thanks to associations like Poutrasseau, we still have rock gigs taking place in Nice (the nearest big city). We’re so grateful for them as there are so many extremely talented musicians in our area. It would be a shame if all these people had nowhere to play in a city so big.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Our next gig will be on May 3rd in La Fare les Oliviers, we’re booked on a few summer festivals and plan on going on another tour later this year around October. You can follow us on social media to keep an eye on any upcoming news.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We plan on performing as many gigs as we can, now that our first album, »Nightshade« is out. Then, after a while we’ll go back to the studio and start recording something new. Something we’ll be even more proud of.
How can people best support your band?
The best way to support us right now is listen to our music on all streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Obviously, if you have the opportunity to come to our gigs or to buy our merch online it helps us a lot as well.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
First of all, thanks for listening to us and coming to our gigs. We hope that you liked »Nightshade«, because we are really proud of what we’ve achieved with it. It’s not the last recording we will make, so follow us on social media to keep an eye on what’s yet to come.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well