On Friday 10th May we welcome the Polish Noise rock band HANAKO to Nottingham for the first bUTTONpUSHER gig at a new venue called The Old Bus Depot.

We caught up with them to find out a bit more about them ahead of the show next month which also features their touring partners DUSKER and Derby based math rockers CHEAP JAZZ!

1. Can you please introduce yourselves and tell us when did you start playing together and how did you all meet each other?

Bibi: Hi, we’re Bibi (vocs, keys) and Mateusz (vocs, guitars) from Hanako (Warsaw, Poland). We formed the band 7 years ago and with Krzysiek (bass) and Paweł (drums) we’re playing since 2018.

We all met through the alternative music scene in Warsaw, that we were all very actively involved in, going to shows, playing them or putting them up for other bands.

Mateusz: Bibi once shared with me a vision of a band in which she could shout. I happen to have always listened to bands like ihatesex, Analena or Heart on My Sleeve. I was thinking of doing something like that musically. I wrote two songs in this style. Once, coming back from our friend’s concert we went to the rehearsal room and tried how it would work. It worked. At the same time we regularly passed each other at gigs with the guys from our first line-up. That’s how it started and strangely enough it’s been going on ever since.

2. What are the main musical influences across the band?

Mateusz: Each person in the band listens to a lot of music, and each of us has also booked gigs so far or at some stage in our lives, so we knew a lot of interesting niche line-ups. Half of our line-up (Krzysztof and Paweł) runs the label Peleton Records. I can only answer for myself. My favourite albums of the last few months are “Holiday On Earth” by Ghost in the Tapes, “Jouska” by Storm Noir, “MADRA” by NewDad, “Film Noir” by Bolts Of Melody, “if i were a real man i would be able to break the neck of a suffering bird” by Lillie West and “The Collective” by Kim Gordon. I’m also looking forward to the new DIIV album. Probably depending on the person, it would indicate other inspirations.

3. Will this be your first time in the UK? if so what are you most excited about?

Mateusz: I played about a decade ago with another band of mine at Liverpool Music Week. My string broke, my guitar stopped tuning and it was one of the worst gigs of my life. We played rather Sonic Youth style stuff and after the gig one of the few audience members who looked metal said we sounded cool and a bit like Agalloch. You can imagine how happy that made me. Great that at least one person enjoyed it. I hope someone likes our music now too. For me I just hope that I don’t play the worst concert of my life. I don’t have too many other expectations.

Bibi: The rest of us have never played in the UK and we can’t wait. It’s gonna be great to share the stage with Dusker again, but I’m also very excited to see Sun Dog (new band of Jordy and Todd from Dusker lead by musician and visual artist AJ) and Kkett, whom I’ve seen before and that’s the bop you wanna blast.

4. Your touring with our friends in DUSKER , how did that all come about?

Bibi: Before the pandemic we did a tour in Europe. We were struggling to book gigs in Hamburg and Kiel and finally our promoter teamed up with two touring UK bands’ promoter and joined our shows. That’s how we met Kermes and Personal Best. We instantly clicked, especially with Jordy from Kermes who, after the band broke up, started playing in Dusker. He was even booking a UK tour for us, but the pandemic hit and we had to cancel. Last year we invited Dusker for a Europe tour together and now they’re gonna show us around their home (shoutout to Jordy for putting all the effort into the bookings!).

5. What are your tour essentials when you hit the road?

Bibi: My teddy bear, flip flops, headphones and a pillow.

Mateusz: Book, music, headphones, wet wipes, notebook, pen.

6. Any crazy tour stories you can share with us?

Bibi: There’s always something when you go on tour, the crazy is just unavoidable. We played on a boat, in a 5 meter high abandoned shipyard building, we stayed in the house that once belonged to the last Czech witch that got burned at stake, we went on a mini tour a week after i sprained my ankle and was still using crotches and so on. Just come hang out with us after the shows for a chat about the old adventures or the making of new ones. Thankfully our gear never got stolen and our car never broke mid tour. We’re fully open to one of us getting abducted by aliens though.

7. What can the people of the UK expect from a HANAKO show?

Mateusz: Whatever the conditions, we always put our whole hearts into our music. We got a lot of nice feedback from both the audience and other bands we played with. You can expect an attempt to reconcile chaotic noise with melodies. Also, I think you can expect that most audiences will not understand our lyrics. Fortunately, their English  translations are waiting for all the curious on bandcamp.

Bibi: After a gig we played in Enschede some dude referred to us per “crazy motherfuckers from Poland”, so expect that, I guess xd And bring your ear plugs just in case.

8. How is the music scene in Poland and are there any bands you think we should be checking out?

Bibi: some of my favourites are Kartografia, Trujące Kwiaty, Eli’s Ladder, Szlugazer, Mateusz Tomczak, Sonda, Kakofonium, NANA, Ugory, Skinny Girls and QX.

Mateusz: There is a lot of great music from Poland. In recent days, I’ve listened most to acts such as Ryfa Ri, Konera, Teo Olter Quintet, Smutny Tuńczyk, Młody Gołąb, Czechoslovakia and Sztr.

9. Any final words of wisdom you’d care to share?

Bibi: Be kind and remember about sleep hygiene. And self-care in general. Also, you’re probably so much more than you think you are. Unless you’re a total douche in which case go get your shit together cus this just ain’t right, mate.

Mateusz: I have nothing smarter to add than Bibi. A very important part of music is the opportunity to be together. We heard a lot about the interesting DIY communities in the UK. I hope to see you at the concert and spend time together that will be of value to each person.