He manages time and plays a bass guitar whose sound can be heard at festivals and rock music events. Faithful to his youthful ideals, he draws inspiration from the classics of the genre – Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon have been playing in his soul for many years. Adrian Egorov, Team Manager of Amazon’s Technology Development Center, skillfully divides the day into two; in a balance between work and passion, in which the heavy sound of heavy metal smoothly transitions into Bass’n’Roll.

Very involved in music?

Very much, and that’s probably why I play in two completely different bands. Access Denied is the classic heavy metal sound of the 80’s, and in Hellvoid you can hear “Bass’n’Roll”.

Is bass’n’ roll a new genre?

We came up with this name ourselves, because it best reflects the line-up we play in. Here, in classic rock’n’roll, we use two bass guitars, drums and vocals.

How many years has Access Denied been heard on the music scene?

The band has been around since 2003 and I’ve been playing in it for 7 years.

How did you discover this rather niche genre?

In fact, contemporary heavy metal is more of a musical niche. On the other hand, it should be noted that rock and metal are coming back, more and more young people are reaching for them. I got my fascination with these sounds from home – my dad always listened to rock and heavy metal, so I grew up listening to the sounds of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and Saxon. That’s how I started my musical adventure when I was 11 years old, when everyone around me was listening to hip hop. Inevitably, I quickly became a class outsider (laughs).

Still with long hair?

I started growing when I was 14 or 15 years old. It was then, with my parents’ permission, that I went to my first concerts. I still remember Iron Maiden from 2003 in Dortmund, Germany.

Did they inspire you musically?

I think it’s stronger than I thought at the time. However, I didn’t start with a bass guitar, but from the beginning I dreamed of an electric guitar. I was fascinated by what my namesake, Adrian Smith, did on stage, and I was named after him!

What does the friendship with the bass guitar look like in practice?

When I work professionally, I have to limit myself to “meetings” lasting two hours a day. At the peak, I was even hitting 6, taking gaming seriously. Now I’m just as hard at it, but I’m trying to find a balance between work and passion.

Autodidact?

To a large extent, yes. In Germany, I graduated from a high school with a music profile, where the number of classes was much larger than in a classical institution. I have an idea, but I emphasize that it was not strictly a music school. I know the notes, I’m also familiar with the theory, but when it comes to playing instruments, I’m a typical self-taught musician.

How do you manage to reconcile playing for both teams?

At first glance, it may seem very complicated – but with Access Denied we don’t tour so intensively. We play up to 10 shows a year, rehearsals usually take place before, so I can focus much more on Hellvoid, which requires meetings 3-4 times a week. It can be reconciled, but I admit that sometimes it is difficult, so the key is to organize your time well.

Hellvoid’s concert schedule very tight?

Last year we played 28 concerts, now we are on the right track to beat the result. This summer there are a lot of opportunities, more and more often we are invited to various music events and festivals. On the last first weekend of August we played at a festival in Germany. There are more and more such opportunities.

Was it hard to break through?

In general, it’s difficult. The music market doesn’t allow too many new players, it has to be something innovative or outstanding. It’s easier with Hellvoid because we’re trying to create a new genre of music. Two basses at the same time are rare – of course, there were bands with such a line-up, but they were rather unique on the scene and for some reason they did not stay in the consciousness of the listeners for a long time, treated rather as experimental projects. Nobody played simple rock’n’roll, so it seems that this music is starting to defend itself, and our performance is starting to be noticed by organizers and promoters.

Radio stations too?

It varies. Last year, we were invited by Radio Gdańsk, where you could listen to a conversation with the band members and our musical proposals. Unfortunately, it’s not like big and well-known radio stations are knocking on our door, because regardless of the change in preferences, this music remains heavy and niche.

Ideal for the antenna of Antyradio

Yes, and that’s where we’re trying to get there with small steps. The condition for this to happen is the first full-length album, which we plan to record this year.

How many of them do you have?

One full-length is the third of Access Denied’s band, which came out last year. Hellvoid has already released two so-called “EPs” without me. I hope that we will be able to record the first full-length with the current line-up.

Is there an idea for a career overseas?

It’s not that easy (laughs).

At Amazon, do they know and listen?

There was no denying it! I’m not in the habit of boasting, but my image itself reveals that I have something in common with music, so at the very beginning I was asked if I was creating something, if I was playing in a band. My superiors are very supportive of passion, there is never a problem with holidays and when there are opportunities to tour, I get the green light for a free Friday.

Did your band also focus on heavy sounds?

I’m a Team Manager at Amazon’s Technology Development Center, I lead a team of 37 people, managing working time, not musical taste (laughs). Are they listening? Probably even out of sheer curiosity I happened to look at YouTube, and that means a lot to me.

Where and when to go to your concert?

With Hellvoid we usually perform outside the Tri-City, while Access Denied will be heard on August 16 during the ‘Weekend on rock’ in Puck. On August 17, I would like to invite you to a similar event, this time in Kosakowo.

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre Communication Team