Hi there! At what point did you realize ILL GEARED wasn’t just another project, but something you had to make happen?
Tatu: It was pretty much at the beginning. When I started looking for people to join the band, I thought it is very difficult as a guitarist to find other members (drummer, vocalist, bass player), but when people started contacting me, Cem first, I realized I have to make this happen.
What’s been the biggest personal sacrifice or struggle in keeping ILL GEARED going?
Tatu: Managing the time, which is then away from everything else. But when motivation is high, time can be arranged.
In today’s digital world, what does the “DIY” ethos mean to you, and how does it help you stay true to yourselves?
Tatu: Not having producer, recording yourself, having sometimes clever innovations when not having proper (studio) gear and making music without any use of AI. Like buying handmade souvenir vs. a factory-built built. It might be bit rough on the edges, maybe the finishing quality is not superb, but there is something in it that makes it special.
Cem: I agree with Tatu. It’s also about putting yourself directly in your music without having any worries. Our ill Beginnings. EP is purely us now. A producer might have an excellent vision about what would make a song both sound and sell great but what if the soul of the song dies in that kind of production? Is the message still there? Does it still speak the artist’s heart out?
Is there a hidden layer to your music that people might miss if they’re only focused on the surface sound?
Cem: When I write lyrics, I mostly take events, ideas or feelings from real life or past experiences and exaggerate them with mythical or paranormal themes. For example, A Foul Fiend might sound like a person who is trying to prevent himself from turning into a werewolf again. However, it’s actually about doing your best to take control of your actions everytime you feel triggered from outside.
For those who haven’t heard your music yet, what’s the most important thing they need to understand about ILL GEARED?
Tatu: We are still quite fresh band (from 2023). We do mix different styles of metal, mostly groove, trash and doom, but don’t want to make it too much of a mess.. Some songs might be straight groove metal, where others are more doom style. Also, some tracks have even surprising melodic parts.
Tell us about a memorable disagreement or challenge in the studio—how did you push through it to make the track work?
Tatu: Vocal style. Cem uses three different vocal styles, shouting, low growls and screams. In practice and live he uses the screams much and it works. …but when we recorded, it sounded too thin. So in the end I pushed Cem to do shouts and/or low growls and re-recorded vocals.
What’s the hardest part of being an unsigned band in 2025? The grind, the long hours, or something else?
Tatu: Marketing and getting your music heard and really listened to (not just 30-second streaming). There is a lot of bands out there trying, and then this AI produced **it also. It is hard for an unsigned band to get people to listen to exactly their songs due to the sheer volume of the previously mentioned. Signed bands get proper exposure due to the marketing forces and connections by the label. Unsigned ones need to do this pretty much themselves and/or use services that provide it.
What’s the biggest misconception about “making it” as a metal band?
Tatu: That you need to consume lot of alcohol and drugs to break through.
Have you ever felt like you were taking a risk with a new song, or do you just follow your gut and see where it goes?
Tatu: Yes, quite a few times. You start thinking is this waste of time and effort… but want to see it until everything is there. Often it is better to make the song ready, and then the band will find out later if it will fit or not.
Looking back, what’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about the music industry so far?
Tatu: There is a lot, I mean a lot bands out there. Much more than say 15 years ago. This can bring a lot of frustration, so it is important to focus enjoying on making your own music and have dreams, but realistic ones.
Cem: Learn to be a good team before start dreaming about where you might go with your music. It’s team work and there are times band members need to cover each other’s backs or pull each other up whenever one of them feels down.
Are there any common metal clichés you refuse to buy into or that you actively avoid?
Tatu: Not taking band pictures in a snowy Finnish forest with penquine masks on.
What’s one thing outside of metal that might surprise people about your influences?
Tatu: I think we all have influences outside, for me I have listened and still listenlot of alternative and grunge rock, and like to jam some pop/rock with acoustic guitar.
Cem: I’m from Turkey and in my childhood I was exposed to a lot of Turkish pop music. There were both meaningful and meaningless ones but the memories are all good. Some of the melodies from those songs still live with me today.
What’s your future plans? Thank you for your time!
Tatu: We plan to release a new album towards end of 2025 / beginning of 2026.
And of course we plan to play more gigs, also outside of Helsinki and if possible, outside of Finland as well.
https://www.facebook.com/illgeared
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https://open.spotify.com/artist/3z2IqKmlkcmir5xbU7nLSr
https://youtube.com/@ILLGEAREDOfficial
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