Feature / One Question Interviews
Fonija

Words: Dennis • January 23, 2018

Fonija
Fonija

Deni Krstev (Fonija)

SPB: Fonija is changing their sound on every record so far. There is a certain risk attached to that: alienating your fanbase. How is this turning out for Fonija, do you have a strong fanbase that sticks around? And are you inspired by certain bands that kept changing and developing?

Deni: Heraclitus wrote that you cannot enter the same river twice. Why should we keep recording the same record over and over again if we think, listen to and feel differently? We want to be a band that stands the test of time and we want to leave an interesting story behind us. The only way to leave some legacy, to keep the audience and ourselves amused is to do something different each and every time. Of course, there is a tradition of doing radical changes from the musical point of view (but keeping the same philosophy all along) found in a lot of Macedonian bands like Leb i Sol, Mizar and Bernays Propaganda, we're just (deliberately or not) continuing that tradition. Of course the constant change of sound caries a risk of alienating our audience, but I'm more scared of doing the same old trick on every record. It's just pointless and I think by doing so, we would be underestimating our audience's musical intelligence. I strongly believe that we're growing along with our audience. 

 

Dennis • January 23, 2018

Fonija
Fonija

Related features

Glueman

One Question Interviews • December 8, 2025

Matt Glueman (Glueman) SPB: Your new album is simply titled “III”. What about a simple/to-the-point title appeals to you? Matt: Well, we love The Spits. They don’t have album titles, so why should we? GLUEMAN III.  Read more

Pulley and Fire Sale - Double interview

Interviews • December 6, 2025

When two bands come together on a split release, it’s more than just sharing music on vinyl. It’s a conversation in sound. Pulley and Fire Sale recently teamed up for a split 7" through Negative Progression Records that showcases both of their unique voices while still feeling like a cohesive … Read more

Guest Column: Allegedly Records

Regular Columns • December 3, 2025

Music touches the heart and soothes the soul. Through personal connection and community it reaches far beyond a listening experience. While it plays a role in our overall well-being, though, it's only part of the bigger equation. Through the mutual connections that music has brought us at SPB, we learned … Read more

Endless Mike and the Beagle Club

One Question Interviews • November 26, 2025

Mike Miller (Endless Mike and the Beagle Club) SPB; Why “The Beagle Club”? Do you have a favorite breed of dog? Miller: Looks like we get two questions for the One Question Interview. Love it. Why the Beagle Club? My friend Joe used to live on Beagle Club Road. At … Read more

PANEL

One Question Interviews • November 25, 2025

Annie Sparrows (PANEL) SPB: What does the name PANEL mean to you? Sparrows: I feel like PANEL is an aesthetically pleasing 5 letter word with multiple meanings that, in different contexts, appeal to me. "Panel of experts," as in everyone's a critic. "Wood panel," as in something nice looking that … Read more

Related reviews

Fonija

Mislev EP
Balkan Veliki (2017)

Fonija became one of my favorite punk bands… correction: favorite bands with the release of Mojot Pekol. I never heard of this Macedonian band before that release, but boy, that album left a lasting impression. It’s an album I still come back to on a regular basis. The album (...Bez Ime) and split with Culture Development (Magla) that followed are … Read more

More from this section

Glueman

One Question Interviews • December 8, 2025

Matt Glueman (Glueman) SPB: Your new album is simply titled “III”. What about a simple/to-the-point title appeals to you? Matt: Well, we love The Spits. They don’t have album titles, so why should we? GLUEMAN III.  Read more

Endless Mike and the Beagle Club

One Question Interviews • November 26, 2025

Mike Miller (Endless Mike and the Beagle Club) SPB; Why “The Beagle Club”? Do you have a favorite breed of dog? Miller: Looks like we get two questions for the One Question Interview. Love it. Why the Beagle Club? My friend Joe used to live on Beagle Club Road. At … Read more

PANEL

One Question Interviews • November 25, 2025

Annie Sparrows (PANEL) SPB: What does the name PANEL mean to you? Sparrows: I feel like PANEL is an aesthetically pleasing 5 letter word with multiple meanings that, in different contexts, appeal to me. "Panel of experts," as in everyone's a critic. "Wood panel," as in something nice looking that … Read more