Stonerhenge hails from Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Serge Skrypniczenka, the project has been facing many challenges over the past few years. But these did not stop Serge to stop creating. In an interview with Progarchy, Serge talks about the latest studio offering, 2023’s record “Gemini Twins,” but he does not dwell on the past.

You launched an album with Stonerhenge entitled “Gemini Twins” back in December 2023. How do you feel about the release? 

Work on the album took longer, longer than I had originally planned. And when it was finally over, I was very happy. Because the feeling of unfinished work is one of the most unpleasant human experiences. Moreover, I was already in full swing working on even newer material (I’ll tell you about this a little later) and I was terribly nervous about the situation with the incompleteness of Gemini Twins. Based on all that has been said, I can say that I am very pleased with the result. Yes, when a new album is still being planned, the authors have a more or less definite idea of the final version. I mean the sound, the composition and the number of tracks. But some interesting and unplanned nuances are always added to the work. In the end, the album is still somewhat different from its original image, which was in the minds of the authors. In most cases, these are good differences, that is, more and better have been created than expected. It’s the same with Gemini Twins – the way I initially imagined the final work changed a little during the recording process. And it definitely got better. Although not all created tracks were included in the album. I once said that when working on music, sometimes you have to exclude some individual works from the general program. That is, this is not filtering out the bad, but rather excluding not entirely suitable material from the concept being created. These same excluded tracks are not “bad”. It just dawns on me that the mentioned tracks are not suitable for this particular album. But they are good on their own. And since working on Andromeda, certain songs or instrumental compositions have always been put aside for me. One day I will publish them under the name Outtakes.

And when the release label Space Rock Productions informed me that Gemini Twins would be released on CD, I was beside myself with surprise and with the understanding that I had chosen the right path. Many thanks to the owners Sabine and Scott for believing in me!

How much of a challenge was it to work on the album?

I repeat, there was a completely unclear situation with the line-up of the group. So I couldn’t figure out who I would record with. But there were no technical problems. Well, or almost not, I’ll tell you now. I haven’t been dependent on studios for a long time. However, in the twenty-first century, the cost (and availability) of professional studio equipment cannot be compared with what was on the market fifteen to twenty years ago. And I have all the conditions for full-fledged work on recording music. If any restrictions arise, I can turn to studio owners I know and get everything I need. So, just before the recording sessions, I finished working on my pedalboard. But, as often happens, the pedalboard needs some minor improvements. I’m working on it. But in the process of recording Gemini Twins, I didn’t like some of the guitar parts after the fact during mixing. And I re-recorded them right at home directly into the computer and processed them with various guitar emulators and cabinet impulses. This did not affect the overall sound picture in any way. The fact that I was only re-recording small fragments also plays a role. And, frankly, no one will ever be able to determine this by ear. This was the only “difficulty” you are asking about. I’ve been doing “all this stuff” for many years and have been entering the studio fully prepared for work for a long time.

Speaking of challenges, have you set any in the early phase of what has become the final result?

Actually, I have already answered this question above.

Tell me about the different instrumental and lyrical aspects that you explore on these new songs.

A few years ago I was at a musical impasse. After the story of my original group žygimont VAZA ended, I created a hard blues project The Blue Devils. But I simply couldn’t find suitable musicians. It all ended with recording professional demo versions. And then I lived with a lack of understanding of what direction I needed to move on. However, “once a musician, always a musician.” At some point I “found” a direction that seemed interesting to me. And as I immersed myself in the topic, I suddenly discovered a whole huge world of what had arisen around the stoner core. In this genre I feel like a fish in water. It’s interesting for me to listen to it and write it myself.

From an instrumental point of view, I feel like I’m in the right place and don’t have any difficulties in writing new material.

And the lyrical aspects? What can I say, the eternal questions of Humanity: who am I, where am I from, where am I going? Love, betrayal, happiness, grief, war, life and its end – death. And is this the end? As I once said in another interview, for me the theme of Sci-fi in music is not something like “trendy”. It seems that this is required “according to the laws of the genre.” I am quite capable of creating themes and images within the framework of the conventional Sci-fi and at the same time touching upon phenomena that are quite real, not fantastic. If we make a parallel comparison, then in world science fiction literature there is a whole mass of works of very different artistic levels. From the simplest semi-comics, shooters “Earthlings against Aliens” to large, detailed works in which the authors touch on the most important themes of existence and create entire worlds of their own.

What is your opinion about the progressive rock scene today? 

Oh, this is what makes me incredibly happy. I am quite sincere. It is clear that the concept of “progressive rock” is so broad that it can simply include diametrically opposed artists. But still, this direction exists and is developing. You can find groups for every taste. From boring “math nerds” to completely liberated, jaunti characters who seem to have just returned from their performance at Woodstock yesterday:) And, most importantly, modern progressive rock is not “plowing the old field,” so to speak. Yes, you can style it to the music of the 70s, you can wear bell-bottoms and look like a classic hippie. But at the same time, you can create music that is completely relevant for our time and be interesting for today’s listeners and fellow musicians.

Let me know about your influences — the artists that in a way shaped and continue to shape your music.

You see, I grew up in the Soviet Union. And everything related to information about world rock at that time and in that place was connected with a simply phenomenal phenomenon. Yes, there was a very real Iron Curtain. But, nevertheless, we listened to almost everything that listeners from free countries did. People brought records from abroad. All this was then instantly scattered throughout all fifteen republics in the form of tape recordings. The Soviet authorities jammed Western radio broadcasts around the clock. But even in such conditions, we still somehow managed to listen to the most current musical innovations of those years. Well, here’s another plus – all six western republics of the USSR bordered on the countries of the so-called “Socialist Camp”. And in this very “Camp” the authorities were incomparably softer about the existence of such a phenomenon as rock music. And rockers in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, Romania and Yugoslavia not only could officially perform in their countries. They also recorded records and these records – OFFICIALLY – were exported to the USSR, in the form of a “socialist cultural exchange”. And we, in Lithuania, Latvia, Western Belarus, Western Ukraine and Moldova, could easily listen to the radio and even watch television programs from neighboring countries. And in Estonia, radios and televisions generally received programs from Finland and even Sweden. So, in addition to all the classic rock music, we were also influenced by the music from the “Neighboring Barracks of the Socialism Camp”.

Of course, I love Pink Floyd dearly. I even have on my smartphone the complete discographies of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad and other greats. I listen to them in the car or on headphones when I’m walking. However, I have never been tied to any one direction. And my musical preferences are very, very broad. I adore Tom Waits. There’s a lot I like about Bruce Springsteen. Yes, he has a lot of self-repetitions. But many of his things just knock straight to my heart. I have always loved and still listen to The Police and Sting’s solo work. I’ve always liked Steve Vai. On the one hand, I admire the music of AC/DC, and on the other hand, I have always been comfortable listening to Kraftwerk. And ABBA – yes, I’m not kidding 🙂 Or, for example, Frank Zappa – he’s just a colossus! I won’t even talk about Hendrix – it’s clear that this is also my personal rock hero.

Among contemporary artists, I would immediately single out King Buffalo (also all albums on a smartphone), Villagers of Ioannina City, All Them Witches, Black Sky Giant, Cracked Machine. In 2021, a simply incredibly cool album was released by Elara Sunstreak Band. Wonderful German band Kosmodrom. Also the Germans Fuser – I even virtually know their bassist. I like the bands Madmess and Lucid Void. Cool Turkish band Uluru.

Our Ukrainian neighbors Somali Yacht Club have been in my top list since the first listen. Polish neighbors also create excellent music, for example, Power Plant. Wodorost recently released a wonderful album. I also know the guitarist of Solar Trip and I am incredibly in tune with their music.

I am also very interested in musicians from Mali, and very diverse musicians: Tamikrest, Tinariwen or Fatoumata Diawara. Also from Africa is the wonderful Gambian kora player Sona Jobarteh.

It is clear that I cannot list everyone here now.

What are your top 5 records of all time?

Oh, this is such an incorrect question. There can’t be anything “better”. Or someone “better”. Who is the best writer? Who is the best physicist? Who is the best painter? Etc.

Same with records. I like a lot of things. But there is also such a thing as periods of infatuation. Sometimes something comes up and I start listening to The Rolling Stones. And at some other time I don’t listen to them at all. Or, for example, I initially couldn’t stand Grand Funk Railroad. They just pissed me off and annoyed me. And then suddenly I began to really like them and I listen to them with pleasure. I listen to Polish rock from the 80s, and then my mood changes and I listen to The Who.

Of course, I can immediately cite something from the “generally accepted top lists” as an example. But if I say The Dark Side Of The Moon, then I just don’t know how not to mention Wish You Were Here or Animals? Or “it is customary to call” Sgt. Pepper the pinnacle of the Beatles’ creativity. But then what about Revolver or Abbey Road?

One day, my friend and I were talking over a glass of beer and the conversation just turned to the topic: “Tomorrow you are forced to go to a Desert Island for the rest of your life. And you can only take three records with you.” Keeping my answer in mind then, I’ll try to expand it to five positions:

Tom Waits: Closing Time.

Jimi Hendrix. Axis. Bold as Love.

Pink Floyd. Wish You Were Here

Led Zeppelin. Physical Graffiti

Bruce Springsteen. Tunnel Of Love

Besides the release of “Gemini Twins” are there any other plans for the future?

I have good news. While this whole Gemini Twins story was going on, I created a new album, “Solaris”. Yes, this is my stoner/psychedelic interpretation of Stanislaw Lem’s famous work. Recently Cichan Zolatau (bass player with whom we recorded our first two albums) called and said that he was ready to work. I gave him the recorded demo and he is working on his parts. But that’s not all – just the other day, the wonderful drummer Alex Sanchez joined us! He also received a demo of “Solaris” and recording will begin in the near future. So everything is moving forward. Thank you.