CYGNUS UNFILTERED! BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CONCERT WITH LÉPOKA AND JOSÉ ANDRËA

The February 22 concert was epic, but behind the magic on stage, there were moments, emotions, and challenges we want to share from CYGNUS’s perspective. Here's everything we have to say:

1. What was the first thing you thought when the crowd shouted “ONE MORE, ONE MORE” after Valhalla?

Den: It was truly exciting. We often receive this kind of response, whether at our own concerts or in other cities, but not being the headliner of the lineup, having the audience ask for more songs is wonderful!

Ruxx: Oh, shit! I had already taken off my mic and one of my in-ears hahaha, but we had to keep going!

Stef: How beautiful it sounds! We have to keep going! 😬

J: It’s always nice to get that response from the audience, and it usually happens at all our concerts!

Drew: It felt amazing! Hearing the crowd asking for more, all their voices together chanting for more CYGNUS, was electrifying.

2. What do you think about the event’s organization?

Den: The event started off really, really badly. It was around 4 or 5 p.m., and they hadn’t hired a backline (drums, amplifiers, etc.). When they finally decided to do so and the equipment arrived at the venue, everything got delayed! CYGNUS couldn’t do a soundcheck; we only managed a line check, which is just making sure the instruments connect to the console without volume issues. Nothing more!

Ruxx: There was a lot of chaos, and I’ll keep some things to myself, but we pulled through.

Stef: A night without chaos wouldn’t be a rock ‘n’ roll night...

J: Terrible, hahaha, really bad logistics and treatment from some of the staff in charge.

Drew: The night was saved; that’s all I’ll say.

3. How did you feel when the Spanish organizer threatened to cut the sound?

Den: Honestly, I didn’t find out until after all the chaos was over and we were in the backstage. That’s when I was told what had been discussed while we were playing. During the show, I noticed the organizer was upset. So, while playing, I walked over to where he was, and he said something I didn’t understand. I just replied, “Yes,” and kept playing as if I cared, but honestly, all I cared about was the music and the audience. so F... him! Hahahahahaha

Ruxx: I was worried while mentally cursing him out, wishing him “good health,” hahaha.

Stef: I didn’t pay much attention. I knew that if he did that, he’d turn the crowd against him, so he wouldn’t dare! More than anything, it made me laugh nervously, haha.

J: I didn’t notice at the time, but I heard later that everyone ignored him! Hahaha.

Drew: It was frustrating when they threatened to cut the sound, but thanks to the audience, we managed to play a couple more songs. (Thank you, Cali!)

4. If you had to pick a hero of the night in CYGNUS, who would it be and why?

Den: I think the entire team acted honorably and focused on what we had to do: the musicians, the camera crew, and the staff members. However, the real heroes of the night were the audience. They paid for the tickets and have the right to choose what they want to hear.

Ruxx: Our staff! Especially the lights and screens crew. They made the show flawless!

Stef: Aren’t we all heroes in CYGNUS? 🤭

J: The audience. The voice of the people was heard, and they made their will known.

Drew: I believe the band is a team, and each one of us was important in the situation. We all gave our all to save the night. We’re all heroes.

5. How would you describe the reception from the Cali audience?

Den: Beautiful! Very few people in Cali know us, and with them, we fill the bars we play in. (Maybe it’s because they see us as neighbors and don’t take us seriously.) But when they finally got to see what we do and how we sound live, I feel they were pleasantly surprised, which explains such an incredible response. Seeing the folk and Mägo fans enjoying our show was amazing.

Ruxx: Absolutely insane!!

Stef: Freaking awesome!

J: Amazing!

Drew: It was magical. As soon as we started playing, they connected with us.

6. What was your favorite moment of the show, and what was the most challenging?

Den: The entire show was beautiful from the first minute, but if I had to pick, playing SKÅL and Gästabud were my favorite moments. The hardest was SKÅL, as it has many moments where things can go wrong, and you have to stay super focused.

Ruxx: My favorite moment was hearing the audience’s cheers. The most challenging was dealing with the sound.

Stef: Seeing the whole audience shouting was my favorite part. That connection is beautiful! The most challenging was not being able to hear myself properly, especially during Gästabud.

J: My favorite moment was definitely the crowd asking for more CYGNUS. The most challenging was realizing my guitar wasn’t coming through the PA, only through the amp 😳.

Drew: The best moment was the audience’s support. The most challenging was having to leave while we still wanted to play and the crowd wanted more... It interrupted the ecstasy.

7. If Lépoka or José Andrëa had joined you on stage, which CYGNUS song would you have asked them to play?

Den: I would’ve loved to invite them to play SKÅL, but these Spanish artists don’t sing or speak English. It seems almost sacrilegious to them, hahaha. Still, it’s a song with very interesting content.

Ruxx: SKÅL, though I doubt they’d do it in English.

Stef: Gästabud. I’d love to hear those Spanish vibes on such a great song!

J: Fenrir the Wolf—let’s see how they’d handle it.

Drew: Valhalla.

8. What did you learn from sharing the stage with these international artists?

Den: That CYGNUS is on the same level. We have no reason to feel inferior to them. Yes, they are very famous artists with a long career, but CYGNUS has its own uniqueness. Just like them, we step onto the stage, go to the studio, and dedicate ourselves to music—to deliver our best every single time!

Ruxx: That we must always be kind 🤭 and decent.

Stef: That cultures are all so different, even though music is the same universal language.

J: I learned that recognition often outweighs quality, but many people saw through that.

Drew: I learned that we need to work harder musically, be more professional, and never lose humility and simplicity, no matter how much success we achieve.

9. What would you change about the experience, and what would you keep exactly the same?

Den: I think CYGNUS, despite the challenges, acted honorably, with respect and professionalism. Sometimes you feel like you could’ve done this or that differently or responded more "Viking-like," with axe and shield in hand, but as someone once told me, "Never regret being decent." That’s very wise. In the end, the one who came off badly was the Spanish organizer, like a petty, spoiled brat.

Ruxx: I wouldn’t change anything… Every experience leaves an important lesson.

Stef: I admit I’m a fan of Lépoka, and I wanted to take a photo with them… but I didn’t get close enough, haha. Still, I wouldn’t change anything. I know we’ll meet again on stage!

J: Sharing the stage with artists we grew up listening to was incredible, and the audience’s response was the best takeaway. The rest—logistics, security, organizers—I’d erase completely.

Drew: I’d change the contract terms to include proper dressing rooms and respect for the band. On stage, I’d demand a proper soundcheck so we could work well.

10. How does it feel to represent Cali, and that some people still don’t know CYGNUS is a local band?

Den: It feels incredible! Cali is known as the world capital of salsa. Lately, there’s a lot of reggaeton and country-style music around, but here we are, representing rock at the same level as international artists—fearlessly! We’ve received messages thanking us for putting Cali on the map, and that means everything!

Ruxx: It feels amazing, and I’d do it a thousand times over! I could die on stage doing it.

Stef: It’s so rewarding to know we can represent our city—our country! To show that not everything here is salsa 🩵J: We have a long way to go, but the love and quality of what we do will gradually earn us the place we’ve worked so hard for.

Drew: Representing Cali with CYGNUS is huge for me. For those who don’t know us, it’s amazing to see their reaction when they see us live for the first time. Later, they always ask, “Where are you from?” When I say Cali, it’s great to see how surprised they are.

11. To wrap it up: if you could describe this experience with a CYGNUS song title, which would it be and why?

Den: I think SKÅL fits perfectly, especially the part that says:WE FIGHT AS ONE TILL IT IS DONE!WE FIGHT TILL THE BATTLE IS WON!That’s CYGNUS. We fight together, we die together: Stef, Jota, Drew, Ruxx, myself, the crew—everyone fought so hard so that, in the end, we could be worthy of standing with the gods (the audience), celebrating and having an epic time!

Ruxx: Odin’s Wolves!

Stef: Dreams of Adventure… this trip has begun 🎶🪈⚔️

J: The Tavern of the Dwarves, because everything was chaos, but we kept playing, haha!

Drew: Fenrir the Wolf, because it’s brutal, delicate, complicated, and magnificent all at once!