Scrit: When did 35007 form and whose brainchild was it? Had it always gone by that name?
Sander: 35007 was founded in Eindhoven somewhere around 1991. I don`t know whose brainchild it was, but I presume that it was just another occasion where bands are formed spontaneously.
Scrit: What was the original line-up of the band? I’d heard that there was a guitar player change over the years - was this the only change? Who else came and went?
Sander: There were drums, bass, and a guitar in the original line-up. Two and a half years ago we welcomed Tos in the band; he was replacing the original guitar player, Bertus. Keyboard players went on and off, but Mark Sponselee is on most of the records. For Phase V, Danny Gras helped us out. And there is also the additional pedal steel by Rene Barneveld.
Scrit: Regarding the only photo of the group, adorning the center spread of Especially for You - would you mind naming them left to right for me?
Sander: There are more photos of the group available (on the web). We don`t care that much for putting names on faces.
Scrit: The split from having vocals in the music to dropping them altogether (between Into the Void We Traveled and Sea of Tranquility), how conscious was that? Just a natural progression for the band?
Sander: It was a natural progression because our singer left the band. After a short period of trying out other voices we decided to switch to fully instrumental.
Scrit: Would you say 35007 played out live a lot? Was there a heavier period of playing out/ did it diminish over time? Has the band left The Netherlands very much?
Sander: We did some touring over the years, especially in Germany. And we did a lot of one-off shows over here in Holland.
Scrit: Are the rumors true that the band has split-up? I’ve heard that is the case, and I’ve also heard you are just on break for now. Can you tell us a bit about these circumstances?
Sander: What happened is that we had a few tracks ready for what finally became Phase V. Those were written without a keyboard player. At the end of the recording process, we added keyboards by Danny. At that point we already found out that there was no live band to take on the road. So we decided not to tour. So you can actually say that we’re in some kind of break. Although it`s not clear how long this break will last.
Scrit: Are there any other bands the members are currently involved in or starting up?
Sander: I can only speak for myself of course. But I`m busy at the moment with a new band called Gomer Pyle. Danny and I are also working together on a techno album and live set for which we already have eight tracks ready. Tos is now a member of Sunn0))).
Scrit: Do my fellow American tourists behave like assholes in your country the way they tend to do everywhere else?
Sander: I don`t meet your fellow Americans that much but the ones I’ve met are really nice and not at all behaving like assholes.
Scrit: Would you say the music that makes it to record is a fraction of what was recorded? Or would you say it is more or less all on there, having figured out a way to incorporate all your ideas?
Sander: We pretty much used all of our ideas on our albums. There are no leftovers.
[Editor’s note: Shortly after this interview, 35007 bassist Michel Boekhoudt updated their website. We kept the questions and answers in the interview as they made for interesting reading.]
Scrit: What is up with the website? Is it coming down, undergoing renovation, anything?
Sander: Nothing happens to the website I think. 35007 was and is never that interested in keeping websites. It does not make the music sound better.
Scrit: No, it doesn’t make the music sound better, indeed. It’s just a source for people to find out more about you guys, see live photos, listen to sound files. And there are plenty who have been curious.
Sander: Well, if there was enough interesting content to create a website, maybe it would work, but in our case we decided to do it this way. I understand that people like to know more about us but you can’t always get what you want. I’d like to mention the Stickman Records website; there is a 35007 section on it which pretty much says it all.
Scrit: Would you say the members came from vastly different influences or that you shared a common vision from the start? Did it just click immediately?
Sander: We have very different influences from heavy rock and soul to experimental electronics. But we share a common vision. I shared that vision already before I came in the band as I was a fan already and I guess we are making the music that we like to hear.
Scrit: Tell us a bit about Eindhoven. Are the members of 35007 still based there?
Sander: I`m from The Hague, so I can`t tell you that much about Eindhoven. The last version of 35007 did not have band members from Eindhoven involved. So in fact, 35007 is not an Eindhoven-based band anymore, but it is more a band from The Netherlands.
Scrit: I’m sure I’m not the first one to tell you how 35007 and psychedelics are like a hand in a glove. Care to share if psychoactives play(ed) a part in the creation of your music?
Sander: You don`t have to use drugs to create music that is considered as psychedelic.
Scrit: No, that is true, and forgive me, I feel silly now in having asked. Some people make and drink steaming mushroom tea when they play their music, some light up a doob, some talk about having done it, some don’t. So the answer in this case is “No.”
Sander: Let me put it this way: some experiences from the past may be helpful in creating music in the present time. But I can’t tell you what exactly is that influence you mention. 35007 is all about the chemistry between the band members. And the funny thing is that, although the band knew different line-ups, the music always has that special touch which makes it sound like 35007. But that’s the mystery behind every band, I guess. We just play what we think is nice music. And it always flatters me when I hear that people are having a cool experience when listening to our records.
Scrit: What bands are doing it for you these days? Are there a lot of those who came before you, or are your contemporaries filling up your CD player right now?
Sander: I listen a lot to electronic music. So my iPod contains a diversity of sounds that fits any mood of the day. I really dig the last Richie Hawtin album (great 5.1 mix), but I`m also listening to what Tos is doing with Sunn0))) these days, and I recently checked Keith Fullerton Whitman and Pharaoh Overlord, which I think is cool stuff.
Scrit: I have Pharaoh Overlord’s whole catalogue and they are cool as hell. Can you tell us about the sixth and non-existent track on Phase V, or am I just listening to it wrong?
Sander: Besides five tracks there are also two transitions on Phase V, but only one of those is a complete and different piece and therefore is mentioned in the track list.
Scrit: Thanks so much for your time with me, Sander, and best of luck with all your projects.
