The talented twin brothers Josef and Jan Prasil, better known as AMISTAT, a musical duo born in Germany but raised under the warm Italian sun, have just concluded a European tour that shook the foundations of the most prestigious venues. AMISTAT will be in Italy for an unmissable concert at the Legend Club in Milan, presenting their new EP “A Moment in The Sun,” released on March 8th. A resounding success following their 2023 European tour, marked by sold-out shows in iconic locations such as Munich’s “Muffathalle” and Vienna’s “Arena,” with over 10,000 tickets sold.
NDP had the pleasure of interviewing them.
1. Twins born in Germany, raised in Italy, with roots in the Czech Republic and Australia. How do these diverse cultural influences reflect in your music?
Having been raised bilingual and in many different countries, we’ve kind of soaked up a lot of different cultures and influences. Those have definitely impacted the way we’ve approached music, especially our stay in Australia from 2012 to 2020. When we write and create music, we don’t only think in one language but in four. This definitely reflects in our music and the way we channel through it.
2. On your recent European tour, you played in some of the most prestigious venues, such as Munich’s “Muffathalle” and Vienna’s “Arena.” What was your reaction to this overwhelming success, and how will it influence your upcoming tour?
To be honest, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and very overwhelming at times. Having played bigger and bigger venues, we’ve had to adapt to new challenges and situations, such as being on the road for weeks at a time, being constantly surrounded by people, and having little to no routine and private time. That said, it’s also been the most incredible time and a dream come true to be touring all over Europe and having people come to the shows and sing our songs back at us!
3. Your music is often compared to that of Simon and Garfunkel, Ben Howard, Kings of Convenience, and Kodaline. How do these influences translate into your unique musical identity?
We grew up listening to Cat Stevens, The Bee Gees, and the godfathers of harmonies, Simon and Garfunkel. They had an early impact on our style of music. The biggest influence on our music, however, was Ben Howard. He introduced us to the world of open tunings and different kinds of guitar styles like tapping and using the guitar as a percussive element.
4. With over 150 shows in less than 7 months in 10 countries in 2022, you’ve faced an extraordinary workload. How do you maintain energy and passion during such an intense tour?
We love meditating and have a very strict routine when it comes to mental and physical health. Exercising is a big one for us, and we focus on doing sports and working out every second day while on tour. Having a set routine and sticking to it is pivotal for us!
5. Your lyrics reflect life and love experiences, often written during your travels. What role does your personal experiences play in your songs, and how do they translate to the audience?
We find that people can relate to our songs the most when we write as directly and simply as possible. When going through a certain situation or being faced with a challenge, it allows us to channel that frequency and put it into our music. In order to keep writing music that inspires ourselves and others, we need to keep pushing ourselves to grow and become better.
6. Your bond as twins is evident in your vocal harmonies. How does this connection influence your music creation and your connection with the audience?
As twins, we’ve always spent all our time together and have shared everything. Being this close almost makes it feel as though we were one person sometimes. This closeness lets us channel and create music from the same place. That closeness we share shows on stage and seems to connect with people.
7. You won the Marton Guitar Emerging Artist of the Year 2018 award at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. How has this recognition influenced your career and your approach to music?
Winning the Maton Emerging Artist Award was a very special achievement for us back then and came at a time when we had been playing music for many years and going through very challenging times. It definitely kept us going and believing that it’s possible to keep living our dream and being successful in what we do.
8. Let’s talk about your past and recent works. Five EPs, including the fresh “A Moment in The Sun” and the debut album “Parley.” What is your creative key in navigating through different sonic landscapes while remaining true to your musical identity?
We are constantly evolving as people, and things are constantly changing. So is music and the way we like to approach it. Trying out new sounds and bringing in different elements is key to keeping inspired and expanding our musical journey. As long as we stay true to ourselves and create from a place of inspiration and love, it will always be us.
9. Josef, Jan, are you ready for the upcoming 2024 European and British tour? How do you foresee it influencing your artistic growth and the success of the new EP?
We are more than ready and excited to hit the road and play the new songs live! Being as present as possible with the audience each night and creating a space of connectedness is all we can hope for.