Instant Boner were formed in September 2013 in Thessaloniki, Greece. They combine stoner rock with prog and psychedelic elements, thus creating a unique musical blend. The debut EP album, “Perfect Sunday,” was released in 2014, when they first started playing local gigs. With their line-up undergoing some changes, they eventually released their second EP, titled “Outburst” in 2016. Over the years, Instant Boner have shared the stage with acts such as Samsara Blues Experiment, Radio Moscow, 1000mods, Nightstalker, Universe217, Elder and many more, along with a few music festival appearances, such as Fuzztastic Planet Festival. After having a new vocalist join in 2018, Instant Boner began work on their first full-length album titled “High Place Phenomenon”, which was officially released in September 2020.
– If you could use three words to introduce and describe your musical style, what would they be?
Psychedelic Stoner Rock, or maybe Psychedelic Heavy Stoner
or in general
Atmospheric, heavy, trippy
– How easy or challenging is it to combine different music elements?
Bringing different elements together into one song is always a challenge, but having six musicians with different skill sets and influences actually makes it easier. Our tastes overlap across many of the genres we explore, and after years of jamming together, we’ve learnt how to blend these elements naturally. Each of us brings our own inner world into the music, and somehow those different paths always connect because we respect each other’s vibe. Sometimes the result even surprises us — like, ‘How did we just do that?’ — and other times we just laugh it off or spin it into a new idea from a happy accident.
– In an alternative universe, if you didn’t play stoner rock, what other music genre would you play?
Ah, we actually play so many different styles when we jam that it feels like all parallel universes collide for a moment. Then we return to our current universe until the next jam takes us on another trip. From funk-metal fusion, doom metal, country to Greek folk-metal, reggae… There are just so many possibilities!
– What inspires you when writing new music?
Like any creative craft, music needs a spark of inspiration. Daily routine and life can sometimes block those ‘downloads,’ but since the body and mind need a way to release pain and emotional weight, it always finds a way to transform into art. Often it starts while we’re jamming something new or from reflecting on things like unfairness, war, and its endless cycle. Music becomes our way to cope, and once you start, the art follows.
– Which song of yours is your favourite and why?
We all really enjoy our track ‘Inside Your Head.’ It’s the one song that practically wrote itself — it was born from a rehearsal jam, and we kept almost everything the same. We’re really proud of it. The saxophone solo gives you goosebumps, the chemistry between the walking bass and drums is out of this world, and the guitars are so trippy, creating the perfect carpet for a musical trip inside your head! So, yes, we’re in love with this one. The entire album is also amazing for any car trip, too.
Listen to the song here
– Do you feel like there are songs of yours that are underrated or misunderstood by the people?
We haven’t really put much thought into that, but since we include so many different elements in our tracks, the differences can be extreme. That means some people might love the ballad ‘Mid Air’ more than ‘Desert Hills,’ which leans more toward country-stoner rock or the opposite. Maybe ‘Perfect Sunday, Revisited’ is the most underrated one — it’s a full journey at 21 minutes long. Performing it live is wild, but the length isn’t really commercially or radio-friendly, and we totally get that.
Definitely, our latest single, Chasing Fire, is heavily influenced by the devastating wildfires here in Greece, especially in Evia, as well as other catastrophic events that continue to affect the country.
– How do you perceive the music industry in Thessaloniki and in Greece in general?
When it comes to the industry, it’s relatively small, and venues and opportunities to play can be a bit limited. Still, the music scene is very much alive, both in Thessaloniki and across Greece. Of course, Athens has bigger events and more chances to perform, but as long as bands keep forming, people love what they do, and they keep playing, the scene will be just fine.
– Is, in your opinion, stoner rock a genre with a specific audience in the country?
Greece has had a huge tradition in rock music, and Greek rock has been very varied over the years. From prog rockers like ‘Socrates Drank the Conium’ and ‘Aphrodite’s Child’ in the late ’60s and ’70s, to post-punk and alternative bands like ‘Trypes’ in the ’80s, and many more since. Stoner is just one of the forms Greek rock has taken in the 21st century. So, in short, if you’re a modern Greek rock fan, then you’re probably a Stoner fan too.
– What are some of the difficulties and challenges you face as a band?
Honestly, one of the biggest challenges is just finding a date for rehearsals. Believe me, it’s not easy with six people, jobs, and life running so fast.
– How easy is it for you to perform in front of an audience, and how do you feel onstage while performing?
This experience is different for everyone. It definitely helps that we are six people on stage — we’re there for each other and for everything we’ve been working on. Performing lets us express ourselves through music, hopefully take the audience on a mental journey with us, and feel the freedom and healing that music provides. It’s almost an out-of-body experience, where our frequencies collide with the audience’s, creating a strong energetic field that feels otherworldly and uplifting. Once the stress of pre-show preparations fades, the flow we create as a band and with the crowd is truly unique. We’re always excited to return to the stage and share this energy with everyone.
– What are your plans for the near future?
We surely aim for more rehearsals!
Right now, the most important thing for us is making new music that we’re happy with, and we’re very excited to share it. We are working on an album that we would like to record very soon. It’s pretty close to getting into the recording studios. We would also love to play both new and old material in many places, and who knows… maybe even go on tour?
You can find Instant Boner here
