Doomed Confessionary: Piotr Stępiński (Defying)
Photos by Beata Wiśniowska
Defying is a post-metal band from Olsztyn, Poland. Within 15 years of existing they released three records: »Nexus Artificial« (2014, LP), »The Splinter Of Light We Misread« (2016, EP) and »Wadera« (2024, LP). They combine a variety of genres in their music: progressive and post-metal with sludge, black metal and elements or ambient.
Defying’s latest studio album »Wadera« was released on February 23rd, 2024 via Italian label These Hands Melt. »Wadera« is a concept album inspired by the Polish horror film »The Wolf« (1983) and the short story »Wadera« (1977) by Jerzy Gierałtowski. The album is a musical story about revenge from beyond the grave, told in the spirit of dark romanticism.
Defying are Piotr Stępiński (guitars, vocals), Szymon Stadniczenko (guitars, clean vocals), Paweł Siemaszko (bass, backing vocals) and Tomasz Semeniuk (drums, programming).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Defying was founded in late 2008. Since the beginning, our main goal was to create music primarily focused on atmosphere. Initial inspirations were Opeth and Tool, but after some time and several line-up changes, Defying’s music evolved towards post-death metal with elements of black metal and ambient.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
I don’t look at it that way. We set goals for ourselves and try to achieve them as best we can. The new album, apart from mixing and mastering, we did ourselves (with the help of a few friends and our wives), i.e. recording, photos, artwork, videos, etc. We did an outdoors photo session in the middle of winter, in sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms. Without jackets, hats or nothing. It was rough, but I can’t say whether it was a bigger challenge than, for example, recording a few hundred tracks for a new album all by ourselves. Both dragged on for hours, and in the end everyone had had enough. However, we managed to achieve to do it in a way that was satisfactory for everyone, and that’s what counts. Then the next goal, and so on, until we achieve everything, we set out to do. We don’t compare, we act.
What can you be most proud of so far?
The new album »Wadera« and its positive reception. We put many years of work into this album and we are damn proud of it.
What was your biggest regret?
On the one hand, I regret that the work on »Wadera« lasted several years, which caused an eight-year gap in publishing. On the other hand, however, we created over an hour of complex material, using 20, maybe 30 percent of what we played during that time. It was a long, multi-year process, apparently it had to be that way.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
The performance at Summer Dying Loud this year. It’s the biggest festival we’ve played so far. Everything was professionally organized; we had a full house during the performance and the audience response was amazing.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It’s hard to choose the biggest one. Different things have surprised me at different stages of my life. When I was a child, my dad listened to a lot of music, mainly hard rock and heavy metal, from vinyl records, so I listened with him. One day he put on Pink Floyd and I was totally surprised by the eclecticism of these compositions and the diverse use of individual instruments. As a teenager, The Dillinger Escape Plan blew me away. Suddenly, it turned out that you don’t have to play black/death metal to turn the listener into mincemeat. In the last few years, the French Igorrr surprised me the most. I got to know this band’s music when they released »Savage Sinusoid«. It was so crazy that I immediately became their fan. And recently, the new album of Blood Incantation.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I try to keep up with the so-called mainstream metal. I check if the bands are already (or still) boring or not. Apart from recordings from my youth, to which I like to return, I reach for underground bands. They most often offer excellent music, created by passionate people. Not to look too far away, I can give a few examples from our label – These Hands Melt: Föhn, Ad Nihilum, WOLKN, or Domhain, whose EP »Nimue« is simply wonderful.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Turn down your gain. Play everything; play an onion, if you have to. Fulfill the vision that’s in the back of your mind.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Crappy Z-movies. Genre doesn’t matter, they can be horrors, karate movies made for a few bucks or gems like »The Room«. I know I’m wasting my time instead of reaching for something ambitious, but the need to watch this shit is stronger than me.
Can you say something more about the music scene in Olsztyn?
Many groups have unfortunately already disbanded, and I have the impression that fewer and fewer new ones are being formed. I mean, there are some, and I will probably sound like an old geezer, but… I feel that new bands are more likely to be formed by people that are – like me – around forty. People who were brought up listening to tapes, who, despite their age, have not given up and want to achieve something musically. When my peers and I were teenagers, half of us would pick up an instrument and start a band. Today, I meet young people more often in the audience rather than on the stage. Currently, in our region, apart from Defying, there are active crews such as Varmia, Krzta, Insidius, Yfel1710, Gorycz, Frontal Cortex, Thempest, Atrocious Filth. You don’t have to check their age, just look at the photos. But so as not to come across as a total old fart, I’ll mention the young crew from Olsztyn: Hektik. They’re getting better and better, and I’m rooting for them.
Where can we see you live soon (concerts/tours)?
As of this year (2024) we are done with live shows; we had some amazing gigs, but now we are busy planning shows for next year (in Warsaw, for example), and the dates will be announced soon.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Playing concerts in front of the largest possible audience and developing the band in terms of songwriting. I think there will be an opportunity for that on the next album, which we are already working on.
How can people best support your band?
The best support for us will be listening to our music and recommending it to others. Buying our merch always helps as well.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Discover new music and enjoy it. Check the underground, there is a lot of good stuff there. Thanks for the interview!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well