Bones in Butter is an intriguing act based in Serbia – a nation we don’t often get to hear much new music from! We’ve reviewed a few of their tracks in recent years and also conducted an interview last year. I wanted to have a bit of a catch up with the band to see how they were getting on after checking out latest release Scenes From The Metro. If you’ve somehow missed their music, a stream can be found at the bottom.
By Jane Howkins
You released a single titled Scenes From The Metro. What can you tell us about the track?
Milutin: Scenes From The Metro is sort of experimental as it represents our venture into the post-rock and psychedelic genres. I tried to conjure an eerie atmosphere that is reminiscent of the 1930s but would also contain futuristic or even dystopian elements, so I sampled a very old song, Lili Marlen, performed by Lale Andersen, played it backwards and added parts of it to the mix. Interesting fact: Lili Marlen was premiered via Radio Belgrade in 1941, during Nazi occupation.
And Scenes From The Metro is a true tale, it is the story of a centennial dream, the dream of the Belgrade Metro. The project was started in the twenties of the last century, when Yugoslavia was a kingdom. Sadly, the project has never been implemented – to this day. Belgrade remains one of Europe’s last capitals without an underground network.
How has the reception to Scenes From The Metro been so far, and where can the song be purchased?
Milutin: To my surprise, the song has been received very well by everybody who had the opportunity to hear it. When I first wrote the song and after recording it with my band mates, I thought oh boy, this sounds great but weird indeed, however, it will never in our lives enter the charts…
The track has been distributed to all major platforms. Come visit our Bandcamp page. Here, this and any other of our released tracks can be bought in digital format.
Luna: It seems that this song sparked particular interest which I’m quite glad about, since it’s one of the more experimental songs that we did. When we’re working on our songs, we never know what the response may be like, and it’s great when some of our more obscure stuff get’s the spotlight!
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future? Do you plan to release an EP or an album anytime soon?
Milutin: Scenes From The Metro was the last in a series of tracks we intend to include in our album Songs For A Sane Society. To answer your question: No, as we’re still in the process of finding the right label that will help us release said album on CD and on vinyl. So this endeavour will have top priority. However, I have already written a dozen new songs and made some initial recordings with the band. Now their ideas have to be implemented. It will probably be late autumn this year before we start releasing our new stuff.
Your music has an arty rock sound. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
Milutin: I simply don’t know where to start… There’s been a wide range of musicians and bands that have influenced me since my childhood. Apart from punk/new wave bands of the late seventies such as the Stranglers and Wire and Magazine. I’ve always been a sucker for the pompous sound of the Electric Light Orchestra and the songwriting genius of Jeff Lynne.
And now… I must admit that I refrain from listening to other music than my own during my songwriting period. But when I do, I love listening to John Maus, Shortparis, Mitski and Fontaines D.C. but also classical music. There’s a Finnish composer of modern classical music I’ve discovered recently, Uumo Klami. Highly interesting stuff.
Luna: Lately I’ve been loving French pop music such as L’Impératrice, Femme; and also some amazing Dutch stuff like Sevdaliza and Weval!
Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year?
Milutin: Well, if everything goes according to plan, we will release our first full-length album on CD and on vinyl.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in the music business at the moment?
Milutin: To overwhelm and defeat the streaming services’ gatekeepers and make a living from one’s art.
Luna: Getting the exposure, especially as an indie artist/band.
You’re based in Belgrade. How is the music scene faring at the moment?
Luna: The music scene in the region is full of young people who are creating fresh and exciting music! Unfortunately, in regards to alternative scene, there are still very few festivals and venues that can accommodate less affirmed bands; but to me it seems as though things are slowly but surely getting better.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Milutin: Oh I wish we had, but due to the nature of the project Bones in Butter, the manic songwriting period I’m going through at the moment and the other band members’ involvement in various projects, I fear we won’t be touring this year, neither in the UK nor in Serbia nor anywhere else.
Any last words for the fans?
Milutin: Sure. All you fans out there, we love you all even though we don’t know you all, and we hope that we will never disappoint you and that we will ensure a never-ending supply of good and interesting music.