Feature: Katakan Decodes “Heart of Stone”
What was the creative process like for this particular “Heart of Stone?”
It was an interesting journey. The long intro was a part we had written during the COVID pandemic. We were not able to rehearse with the band, but the 2 guitarists did meet quite often (after it was allowed of course). We wrote a ton of riffs, but it was quite clear that this one was going to be one of the first we would be tackling after band rehearsals were back on the table. After that, 90% of the song was finished quite easily. The break in the middle was a little bit more work before it fell into place. But once it fit in, we knew that this was going to be one of the songs of our upcoming EP.
What did you enjoy most about making “Heart of Stone?”
Finishing it. There was more than a year and a half between the moment we wrote the first riff and the moment the song was finished. That’s a long time. We normally write quite quickly. So it was a new experience, but luckily, we pulled it off. And we are very pleased we did.
How do you feel “Heart of Stone” represents your artistic identity?
A lot of things we like and stand for as a band are put together in “Heart of Stone.” We love mellow instrumental pieces, but we like the heavy riffs as well. We like to take a U-turn mid-song, which we think we do after the instrumental intro. We love the compelling stoner riff a lot, but the more metal inspired hooks afterwards are also very fun to make and play.
So it’s a nice introduction to Katakan as a band.
In your own words, how would you describe the music that you typically create?
We are rooted in stoner rock, but it’s clear that a lot of other genres like metal, hardcore and even doom sometimes have been great influences. But when thinking about our music, the first word that pops to mind is ‘riffs’. Everything starts with a guitar riff and then we see what happens. And we’re not always sure how or why, but in the end it always sounds like a Katakan song. We often try to do new things, but somehow we never cross that ‘Katakan line’, we always maintain our own sound.
How do you prepare yourself for a live performance, and do you have any pre-shows rituals?
Solid rehearsals are important. Just a confirmation that we’re ready to perform. On show night, we don’t have that many things. We gather at the venue a couple of hours before we have to play. Then of course sound check, grab a bite to eat and have a drink together. Our singer does have a warming-up ritual for her voice. Oh, and there is one little thing. When we go on stage, right before the very first intro starts, we wish each other a good show. And then we play.
