Music Interviews : Heedless Elegance

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
   My name is Samuel Konter, I’m the vocalist of Heedless Elegance.
   
2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
   The idea of creating a band came to our minds around 2015 I think, we were in a rock/metal
   festival in Hungary. Zsolt and I were totally sober and we said to ourselves “lets try it one more
   time, but this time do it for real“. We had projects where we were playing together with Zsolt, but
   something was missing from them, so we decided to follow a path where we’ll be very conscious
   about what we are going to do. Of course we were continuously bumped into problems and
   mistakes, but in a different level. Since the official start of the band which was in 2018, we had
   quite a few band members on each instruments, cause there was always something that came up
   to the surface. Those things were in a scale from ‘problems with the attitude’ to ‘the person literally
   went insane’! But eventually in 2020 the final line up of the band was found and now I can proudly
   say that I’m in a band with amazing musicians and friends: Zsolt Forgó, Mátyás Erős, Dani Varga
   and Albert Csobán. Since than we got into the top 25 “Best Emerging Bands of Hungary” as the
   only metal music group by winning a showcase talent show in Herend and a major governmental
   showcase competition.
3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?

• It is a good question, as much as I know our music deeply now I would say it is that kind of music
  which hits you hard with it’s heaviness but in the same time could make you very emotional with
  it’s melodies. We are paying attention on making this two motives balanced in our music.

1. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?

• We were lucky to have time to get together for 3 months to complete our newest album called
  “LIBRA”, the best thing about was the living together!

1. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?

• I would choose the entire “LIBRA” album, I’m really proud of this release and all the songs are
  like my children.

1. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?

• I started my “career” with Green Day when I was a child, their CD was the first I’ve ever gotten,
  after that step by step I started to fall into the heavier stuffs, first Metallica, than my all time
  favourite band System Of a Down and after all the metalcore deathcore stuffs. I think I can feel the
  impact of these bands in my vision of music, but these days my influences are coming from other
  genres and arts. For example mostly these days I’m only listening to the songs of Twenty One Pilots
  or Ennio Morricone and some electronic musics like Drum and Bass or Goa.

1. Where can someone looking for your music, find it?

• You can find us on all of the major social media platforms.

1. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?

• My dream is to travel all around the world, the best thing is that I’m able to see more and more
  places on our globe.

1. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?

• To be honest, I hope that if someone is listening to our music, especially the new album “LIBRA”
  they will feel something different when they are hearing it, something that makes them say this
  is not just another metalcore-deathcore something, and they want to listen it again and again,
  and find new moments in it every time they are hearing it, and maybe in the future the name will
  grow on the style and someone will say instead of “This is so metalcore”, but “This is so Heedless”.
  I think the message is depending on the listener, he/she need to figure out what is going on and how
  to transform it into their lives.

1. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band?

-With our new album “LIBRA” we hope that we will find new opportunities to show ourselves to the
world, I really believe it will happen. Our plans are to play as many concerts in as many places to
as many people as possible in the next years, and we will continuously work on to make our shows
bigger, smellier, more colourful and more professional. We hope that the belief what we have in our
music, and the attitude we trying to follow will takes us to where we want to be.

• If you would like to check us out or you’d like to order merchandise or the albums you can find us
  on these links:
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heedless.elegance
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heedlesselegance

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yNr78pUKCO7heCTAoSlF8?si=koEjmcmbT-
6WCNmLhLqFIQ

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJc7CBQEV75-AIWdQl4UuJw
Bandcamp: https://heedlesseleganceofficial.bandcamp.com/releases
If you would like to order merchandise or the albums, you can do it here in the
webshop of metal.hu
https://metal.hu/zenekarok/heedless-elegance/

Music Interviews : Rozu

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
   Hey guys, this is Tim
   Graham (vocals), DJ Sundine (guitar), Henry Navarre (bass), and Brian Robertson (drums).
2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band? We all kind of met through different stages
   of life in the Denver music scene where we reside. Tim and DJ were in a previous band together and
   through the process of that band dissolving they started coming up with ideas for this band. Brian was in
   this other band that played with Tim and DJ’s old band and Henry was a mutual friend through Tim’s
   friends and we all kind of got together and wanted to start something special, and sure enough Rozu was
   born.
3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future? We ride a very fine line of
   metalcore and post hardcore music. So far fans and consumers have only heard our heavy side, but we
   have been writing some really cool classic post hardcore jams throughout the quarantine.
4. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together? Really when it comes down
   to it, we all have a very similar mindset when it comes to the studio and writing process. We don’t allow
   ourselves to stick to a formula and let the music flow out of us which gives fans something different with
   every song that still has the Rozu sound we have been trying to perfect.
5. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music? Lyrically our main themes are
   experiences Tim has gone through or currently going through. We really want to leave that message that
   yes, we all hit low points and go through shit situations but there is always a light or beacon of hope. It’s
   cliché for this genre but we want consumers who are maybe going through the same feelings to know that
   they are not alone.
6. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work? A lot of
   our influences for this project come from the likes of Underoath, Like Moths to Flames, Wage War, Fit
   For a King, and The Plot in You.
7. Where can someone looking for your music, find it? We are on every streaming platform, but the
   easiest way to get connected with us is heading to http://www.rozuband.com.
8. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances? Well to be completely honest the
   live show is really our payoff or reward for all the work we put into this band. Touring, and studio time,
   and everything that goes into making a band is seriously hard work and can take a huge toll on people.
   It’s fun yes but especially touring is super hard being away from your loved ones for periods of time and
   sacrifices a lot of times missed. Having people give a damn and coming to shows is the payoff for all that
   hard work and tough days.
9. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music? We touched on it a little
   earlier, but we just want fans to know that they are not alone in their hardships of life. This music for us is
   our therapeutic release and having fans connect with it and feel they are a part of it is the true beauty of
   music across the board. We all have different walks of life, but a live show setting is a place where
   everyone actually comes together for a collective cause and is a beautiful sight.
10. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band? Currently
    we are just waiting patiently for the world to open back up. We have been working tirelessly for so long
    on our debut album and we just can’t wait to release that and be allowed to travel again!

Music Interviews : Ivy Gold

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
   We are a newly formed contemporary blues rock band called Ivy Gold and my name is
   Manou, I am the singer.
2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
   Well, after we were finished with the pre-production, we decided to get in touch with Tal
   Bergman who has worked with Joe Bonamassa and many other awesome artists. He did
   like our music a lot and joined us immediately. Believe me – I was thrilled! From that point
   on we knew we had something special going on – totally out of the blue we had a project
   and we decided to put a great band together, not only for the studio but also for live
   touring. Our friend Kevin Moore joined right after and then I asked my dear friend Sari
   Schorr to help me find a great keyboard player – that’s how we found the awesome Anders
   Olinder from the UK. And then I had put together a very special cosmopolitan band with
   members from the US, the UK and Germany! 
3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
   Our style is contemporary blues rock that is full of energy yet very emotional, at times very
   rocky, then melancholic – we try to bring Rock-, Blues-, Funk- and Prog-song material to
   it’s full potential.
4. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
   For me it really is the creative process that I really love, it’s creating something out of the
   nothingness. And of course the most important and most fun part is playing live with the
   whole band. That is the gift after the hard work of writing, recording and promoting is done.
5. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?
   I explore many different themes when writing songs. I do get a lot of inspiration when I
   travel by interacting with the local people and just talking to them about life. And then also I
   like to write about my personal experiences, things that I think about, fears and of course
   about love and relationships.. my life is packed with adventure and experiences, so there
   are always plenty of things going on … 🙂
6. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your
   work?
   Oh there are so many great artists and singers that I really love and adore. I have been
   listening to so many great male rock singers such as Richie Kotzen, Steve Lukather,
   Bobby Kimball. Of course Joe Bonamassa but also female singers like Sari Schorr, Beth
   Hart and many more…
7. Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
   You can find us on all social media channels and all important physical and digital sales
   channels or right here : http://www.linktr.ee/ivygold.net
8. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?
   My favourite part is getting in touch with the audience and feeling the vibes from them. I
   love it when people pick up the energy from our music and feel into it. Meeting real people
   who love good hand made music is awesome!
9. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
   I am hoping to reach out to the listeners heart and soul when listening to our music. Music
   is the universal language and it builds bridges amongst people, cultures and all races –
   music spreads so much good energy and brings a strong message across – I would love it
   when the fans pick up on the positive emotions and vibes.
10. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are your future plans for the
    band?
    We are currently still working on the promotion of our debut album “Six Dusty Winds”
    which has been released worldwide in March. As we decided to not sign to any record
    label! So we are doing everything by ourselves: promotion, marketing, management,
    distribution, public relation etc. And of course we really try hard to put a nice tour together
    in these crazy times, so let’s hope that things will get back to normal very soon!
    On top of it all – we are writing new songs, so we are busy but so happy!
    Thanks so much for this interview!! And of course for sharing and supporting Ivy Gold 🙂
    we really appreciate it a lot – it means a lot to us!!
    All the best to all of you!!
    Manou & Ivy Gold
    https://linktr.ee/ivygold.net

Music Interviews : Bleeding Raven

Would you please introduce yourself and explain your project—Bleeding Raven?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: “Bleeding Raven” is a very recent project. I have been involved in another project, “Gnostic Gorilla” which has released material that is ‘Gothic’ and ‘industrial’ and generally dark alternative electronic music. I wanted to do an album that was specifically ‘aggrotech’ and so I started “Bleeding Raven” as an experiment in this genre. But, then, after the release of “Darkness Consumed” (Cleopatra Records), the debut album, I began to experiment with more ‘dark ambient’ type music but also some dark techno as well. 

How did you begin your journey in music?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: I started off in music as a kid in school and put out a single with some mates from the area. It was a cross between Maiden and Bauhaus…lol   The tracks were “Dark Hallway/Golgotha” and it was released simply as “Dean Mason”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p05YqqTOS_M    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=047Pk2GhPnY    and it was released on “Lonely Ghost Productions” indie label. In 2012, I revisited the idea of doing music strictly as a hobby, as I have a ‘career’ and thus was born [initially] “The Lonely Ghost Project”. I recorded a few singles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEnSgqaI3JA  and released them, but never really took myself seriously.  (still don’t) In 2016, I decided to release an entire album, but used the name “Gnostic Gorilla” and then that album was rereleased by Cleopatra Records in 2018. I was offered a deal with them (Cleopatra) in January of 2018 and I admit I was immensely surprised. Quite an honor. So…I released a few albums as “Gnostic Gorilla” (with other labels as well) and then finally, in May of 2019, I wanted to do a more aggrotech type project and thus was born “Bleeding Raven” with the debut “Darkness Consumed”. (also released on Cleopatra Records) There have been several releases since “Darkness Consumed”, mostly from February 2020 to September 2020. 

What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: Bleeding Raven is more ‘aggrotech’, or at least that’s how I started. But during the Lockdown I did some ‘ambient’. Some would call it ‘black metal ambient’ or just ‘dark ambient’.  Now in September I released “VERRTRANDT” and I can’t even tell you what ‘genre’ that would technically fit in. Who cares right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDX10-7cv2c

What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: To be honest, it’s more of a hobby for me. I have a career and music isn’t it. That hobby landed me a label deal with Cleopatra Records and a few other labels, so I guess it’s not so bad. But, for me, recording music is a way to exercise demons…to wrestle with some of the dark shit in life…personal and global. It’s an attempt at art. Emphasis on ‘attempt’. 

What are some of your favorite themes to explore through your music?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: I’ve touched upon a lot of themes. I write a lot about the ‘religious’ questions but not in a way whereby I sort of dictate to anyone what to believe. Many of my songs, believe it or not have a lot to do with the ‘passion of Christ’. Now, I don’t approach that in an overly pious way and I certainly don’t go into the “died for sins” stuff as I think that’s unreal and erroneous. I speak of the ‘passion’ as a symbol of suffering humanity and that this is not just an event of two thousand years ago…but now. Connected in some ways to that is many of my songs are about injustice and persecution and racism and homophobia etc. My EP “Blood of Innocents” is all about these questions. https://bleedingraven.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-innocents VERRTRANDT, which for me is a very important song is about a young gay man who reaches out for help via a helpline only to be told by the so called counsellor, who was an Evangelical type, that unless he ‘converted’ and stopped being gay, he was doomed. Nice eh? 

Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: Well, the list is long. I’m assuming that you’re referring to artists/bands that have inspired me. Some ‘inspire’ and yet others are more influential in my own approach to music. So, I have to start with Gary Numan. God, the more I think of it the more I see how much that man has influenced other artists that today fall under the categories of “Industrial/Goth/Aggrotech/Electronic”. But speaking personally, Numan was a huge part of my life growing up. Before that, of course there was KISS. I look back at the early KISS images and it was just unreal. The ‘masquerade’ was so powerful to me. But as I got older, there were different bands that truly inspired. Now, before going on, I have to mention Elvis. As a really small child, I was absolutely taken in by Elvis and I still am. His voice is like none other. Anyway, eventually I discovered all sorts of music and my taste certainly evolved over time. So, to name a lot of great bands/artists who have had an impact on me: Numan, KISS, Black Sabbath, DIO, Type O Negative, Rammstein, Nash the Slash, Ministry, Culture Club (yup…believe it or not) Japan/David Sylvian, Zardonic, Die Sektor Psyclon Nine, CRIX IIIX, Pandamonium Bureau and Fear Incorporated, Global Citizen, TONTTU, Skinny Puppy, The Cult, Psychedelic Furs, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Iron Butterfly and on and on. But I have to mention at the close of this, THE DOORS. The Doors and Gary Numan will always be the biggest inspirations for me! Couldn’t see myself without either one of them.  

Where can someone looking for your music, find it?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: All my music, or most anyway, is on iTunes and Spotify and YouTube, Amazon etc. All one has to do is Google Bleeding Raven or Gnostic Gorilla (my other project) and you’ll find lots of goodies. See links below as well. 

What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: Well, that’s a difficult question because I like people to decide what a song may mean to them. That said, I’d like to say this, and I speak of this often…let’s stop all this fucking hate we are seeing in the world! We can start with our own surroundings. Too many angry and vile people who define themselves in terms of who they hate. It’s stupid and it should stop! 

Where do you see yourself in the future, or what are you future plans for the project? 

Dean Mason of Bleeding Raven: I honestly don’t have a clue right now. I’m not trying to be a goof here…I just don’t know…but I will try like mad to promote what I already have because there is lots and its all waiting to be discovered.

https://bleedingraven.bandcamp.com/

https://www.geishab0yrecords.co.uk/category/gnostic-gorilla

Music Interviews : The Last Element

Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
The Last Element originates when we face the passing of one dearly loved, the hardship of
a broken home or the breaking of hearts – it is the first spark, the first sense of emotion, a
first feeling that evolves into a creative mind. Bringing these elements together they find a
way to grow – Broken hearts fit like pieces of puzzles and these pieces mend into one big
heart.
We believe there are many like us, waiting to join our hearts.
Together we are stronger, together we are The Last Element.
My name is Jasper and my role is the lead singer.

Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
We started a while ago, Jan and Robert already knew each other from previous musical
endeavors, later on they found Jasper and Noah and The Last Element was
formed!
For each of us it just fitted like pieces of puzzles, the sound, the style it all came together.

What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
We make metal and in the future we would like to make metal :)! Kidding, I think we play a
variety of styles, but the core is metal/rock. We love experimenting and not binding
ourselves though, so each song has the opportunity to be what it’s supposed to be.

What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
Hearing a song come to life, it’s just magical, when step by step you hear the things that
we’re inside your head being recorded and shaped into a whole. Furthermore Jan, Noah
and me we can really bring new aspects to a song when working together and sparring on
how it should sound.

What are some of your favorite themes to explore through your music?
That would be life, simple as that, a lot of emotions arise from the daily, when I write lyrics
it’s always inspired by real life events that I go through, some I’ve been through and some
are happening, but mostly I just write what pops up in my head. I guess it’s mostly inspired
by darker themes in my life, or at least troubles we as humans deal with. I need a pen and
paper to clear my head, screaming and singing it all out of my head when I record. In the
end it’s something we all face and we all have different ways of expressing what we feel.
I’m sure a lot of people can relate to the lyrics, cause honestly it’s not about me… it’s about
you.

Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your
work?
There are tooo many! But a small sample of artists I love and that influenced me in no
particular order.
Marilyn Manson, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Slipknot to
name a few. In different stages of my live I wanted to sound exactly like some of those guys and I wondered if I ever could sing or sound like that. In the end though, it’s all
different styles that I fooled around with, that helped me get better and helped me find my
own sound/voice.

Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
Everywhere! We’re on Spotify, Pandora, Youtube, Deezer, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch…
just everything. But if you want a quick link, here you can find us on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L9ieGr5a3eLcVo9fvVipB

What’s your favorite part about touring/ doing live performances?
Giving it our all, seeing the crowd respond and meeting new people! It’s just such a blast
to perform and especially when it’s a bigger show, seeing so many people enjoy the music
you make, it’s the best feeling in the world.

What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
Always be strong and hold on, life has some pretty nasty twists, but also so much beauty,
Each of our songs tries to shed light on both aspects, but in the end I believe we are made
to be with each other, finding strength as one, sharing our hearts our laughs our everything
with the people around us. So keep sharing yourself with the world.

Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the
band?
Hopefully doing some very cool shows, releasing an epic album and meeting a lot of cool
people along the way. We really want to aim for the stars, probably gonna be hard, but it’s
all about the journey right. We love making music and love playing the songs we wrote, it’s
amazing to see how many people have already joined our crusade to conquer the world.
Hopefully you will become one of them as well !

Music Interviews : Ade Fabola

Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
a. I’m Ade Fabola, solo singer-songwriter. I write, perform and record my songs together with
the folks at Animal Farm Records.

Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
a. For the most part my band is just me, I’m mostly a solo act. I do have a few friends that I
get together to jam with, record demos etc. As for my recently released record, and the
ones to come in 2021, the instrumentation features myself and the folks at the Animal
Farm Label.

What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
a. My music is a blend of folk, blues, Jazz and world music. It’s predominantly acoustic and
driven by warm nylon string guitars that produce intricate melodies. My sound is
predominantly warm and it’s characterized by soft, soulful vocals paired with precise guitar
fingerpicking. My vocal timbre is similar (as I’ve been told) to that of Tracy Chapman and
Jack Johnson, and my guitar style is somewhat evocative of that of Passenger and Tallest
Man on Earth. These are all fairly loose comparisons, of course. They’re influences and
sources of inspiration.

What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
a. I love it when everything in a song – lyrics, melodies, instrumentation ideas – comes
rushing altogether, all at once. Like one moment you have an idea in your head and the
next you can hear it out in the open with other people. I feel like we underestimate how
cool it is to make an inanimate object sing, and to do so in such a way that it all gels
together is really cool.

What are some of your favorite themes to explore through your music?
a. My music tends to explore themes around love, kindness, gratitude and socio-political
happenings. For the most part I like to keep things light-hearted, as it’s a key ingredient in
making music that’s suitable for easy listening. That said, music, and art generally is so
powerful in effecting change and spreading messages so if I have a message burning on
my heart, I have to get it out there.

Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?
a. I love Passenger, Tallest Man on Earth, Jack Johnson, Tracy Chapman, and Jason Mraz.
These are some of my favorite artists that have influenced my musical style over the
years. Bob Dylan’s music is also a big one for me; in fact, Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright is
probably the song that made me want to learn fingerstyle guitar.

Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
a. My music is available on all the streaming platforms – Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube,
Bandcamp and so on. Listeners can also keep in touch and stay up to date with my
socials; I’m @DrFabola on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

What’s your favorite part about touring/ doing live performances?
a. I love being able to connect with the crowd; there’s something about being on stage that
makes me vulnerable and strong at the same time, it truly is my happy place.

What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
a. I’d like to thank new listeners for taking the time to listen, for taking a chance on new
artists like me. I hope that my music makes them feel good. I hope that listening to my
music will give folks a warm, fuzzy feeling in their core, a feeling that reminds us of what it
means to be human, to take pleasure in the little things and to be kind to each other.

Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band?
a. The plan is to make and release more music and keep enjoying the process. I wrote a lot
in 2020 and was fortunate to record a bunch of songs which will be coming out this year.
Something Good is just the start, the first of those songs, so there’s a lot more coming
later in the year (the next one will be announced real soon :)).
b. I’ve been writing away in lockdown and I’m looking forward to when we can get back in
the studio to record more. When things get better, it would be nice to go out and play
these songs live, maybe even go on tour when the logistics allow, but for now I’m focused
on making music and building my online following.

Music Interviews : Simon from story metal band – Pressure

Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
My name is Simon and I am the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Pressure. I have
been playing guitar for over 30 years now and its in my blood. I live for my music and its with
me everywhere I go. I am also the songwriter of the band and because of that I look for new
stories and inspiration everywhere!

Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
The story of the band began when Emil signed up as a guitar student of mine. I liked him but he needed to get out and play! So… when I had the chance I got him involved in my bands.
Actually it was as a bass player first. He had to learn like 60 songs in two weeks. But it went well
and after that gig we agreed we could do more with two guitars and my regular bass player also returned. We played the cover/party scene for many years before starting to rewrite songs.
When we did that we started to look for a frontman, a real lead vocalist. We looked long and
hard and eventually found our Messenger, Mr. Olol Jönsson.

What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
We do story metal. Story metal is a sub genre of heavy metal with heavy focus on the lyrics and
the moods of the songs. Therefore, the songs reflects the lyrics and each song has it own sound.
Story metal is based upon true stories and experiences. I challenge each and everyone that write
music that if you don’t dare to live life how could you write or do music about life? There is so
many stories that needs to be told. The music has its roots in heavy metal, but also have
influences from metalcore, thrash metal, folk music and modern rock. All focus is on the mood
of the song and the connection to the listener. Each song has a double meaning and you are
encouraged to interpret the song as you would like it to be interpreted.

What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
The processes we have seems kind of complex but we love it. It almost always start with that I
am getting an idea, or is told a story. I get inspiration and need to write it. It all comes to me at
once and I have to write it. Its like an urge! I usually record a draft of the song. I record
everything from drums to the vocals and then I show the band after this our lead singer takes
over and adapts the song for his voice, and changes the lyrics and phrases to fit the song. I get it back and redo the draft and we keep doing this until we are satisfied and then we start to record it. We learn much from each other during the process and I really enjoy this. We build the
mood of the song together and everyone in the band has a say about how they find the song and react to it.

What are some of your favorite themes to explore through your music?
Our upcoming album is called “Path of a Shadow” and has been with me for over two years. It’s
the story of your life but told from your own shadow. Your shadow is someone who is always
around for everything that you experience. Your shadow is not judgmental or does not try to
make you into something you are not. So there is a lot of stories that the Shadow tells you. A lot
of truths. So I guess my answer to this questions is that I really want to write about life and the
pressures around you.

Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?
Oh, there is so many good artists. I love music that tell a story and therefore I want to say the
Swedish band Sabaton. They do power metal about different historical moments. Their music is
so powerful and its so well performed. I love the whole act.

Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
Here are some links for you to follow!
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pressuresweden

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pressuresweden
WWW
https://www.pressure.band
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/c/Pressuresweden
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7a9rKp03MYJv4leDN7Mm8k
Merch
https://shop.spreadshirt.se/pressure

What’s your favorite part about touring/ doing live performances?
The favorite part must be the connection you get with the audience. I love to talk to people and
to get their views on our music. Meeting new friends, making new enemies and just getting the
reaction is my favorite part!

What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
Our band is called Pressure and it is based upon our music. We do songs that are based upon
different kind of Pressures around us. Everyone has pressures in their life. It can be good or bad
pressures, but they still exist. We want to address the pressures and help people to handle their
life. We want our music to be used as tools to empower our listeners and make them understand that they are strong and that they are not alone with their kind of pressures and stories!

Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band?
We are releasing our album in the beginning of May and we are really looking forward to that.
After that we have a lot of things coming as well. There are some new singles that are already
recorded and we have an German EP coming as well so there is a lot of things happening!

Music Interviews : Steve, Alicja and Nelson from Evereal

Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
Steve: I kinda play everything….Guitar, keys, orchestration. I write drums, bass and
whatever needs to be done.
Nelson: I’m the drummer. I contribute to some of the lyric writing but Alicja writes most of
the lyrics.
Alicja: Hey there I’m Alicja and I do the singing around here, little acoustic guitar as well!

Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
Steve: I met Gord when I joined a Rush tribute band called “Moving Pictures”. We had a
great time and that was one killer band. So when I was looking for a bass player Gord and
I already had a strong musical history together. I met nelson when he auditioned for the
drumming job but had other commitments which meant we went with another drummer on
the first album. When we were ready to retool for a new release Nelson became available
and jumped on board.
Nelson: I actually joined Steve and Gord when Evereal was kind of on pause and they
were putting together an Evanescence tribute band called Foreverescence. We needed a
singer and I had been in a band with Alicja. When Steve asked if she might consider
singing for us I knew she would because when she was in high school she had actually
done an Evanescence tribute. She’s a huge Amy Lee fan. She wasn’t in Foreverescence
for long before Steve realized that Alicja would also be a good fit for Evereal because he
needed a singer who could also write lyrics and Alicja is actually a very good songwriter
herself. It was just a perfect fit.
Alicja: Yes needles to say I was obsessed with Evanescence in high school and I believed
I actually “was” her hahaha! When I was asked to partake in the tribute I did not even have
to think about it, it was soooo much fun.

What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
Steve: While I like what we do i would love to branch out a bit and add more heavy
electronica. I think that mixed with strings and piano would be an interesting sound.
Nelson: I just go with whatever Steve wants to do. He’s very much influenced by
progressive rock which I really enjoy playing. I know whatever he decides to do it’s going
to be challenging and interesting.

Alicja:I love that idea Stephen, let’s do it!

What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
Steve: I enjoy the process of making something complete and polished from nothing or
from a rough idea… I like to call it “polishing the Turd”. It great to send an idea off the
Alicja and receive her ideas and see where those ideas take the music.
Nelson: He’s not kidding. Steve likes to polish and rewrite. When he gives me a rough
song to start learning I often end up having to learn many versions because he is
constantly reworking songs. The core melody and structure is still there but he will add or substract a lot of embellishments. I sometimes think he should be a producer because he
puts in a ton of work on the production side of things.
Alicja: Working together is a lot of fun, Stephen and I have a lot of funny moments when
we are working on vocals and we can be so insync sometimes and we both hear the same
harmony or something. I like hearing the idea in my head come to life.

What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?
Steve: I tend to gravitate towards more social and current news events. I also tend to write
alot in minor keys which tend to sound more mystic and darker.
Alicja: I tend to write from a darker, more moody place. I like using imagery, metaphors, rhyming…and
sometimes I do not know what the lyrics truly mean until I go through something and then I listen back and
I go “Ooooohhh, yes that’s what that means”.

Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on
your work?
Steve: So many….Where to start? some of the artists I really love don’t reflect what I write.
Bands such as Yes, King Crimson, Saga are all huge influences bit don’t reflect directly in
my sound.as far a guitar players I would say, Lifeson, Rhoads, Howe, Holdsworth, Vai they
all floor me and I love their styles.
Alicja: For me Amy Lee from Evanescence is a heavy influence as well as Christina
Aguilera in my early days.
Nelson: My early influences were Rush, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Ronnie
James Dio. More recently, Nightwish has been an influence since I played in a band
before this one that did a lot of Nightwish. I also really like Mike Portnoy’s various projects,
like Sons of Apollo and Winery Dogs.

Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
Steve: All the regular spots.
https://www.evereal.org/
https://www.facebook.com/everealband
https://www.instagram.com/everealofficial/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/c/EverealBand
https://open.spotify.com/artist/17mUVDdPEzybiGUGJ0zmBI?si=L0MQyJCvRpmHHYilmp9vNQ
https://nelsonbennett.wixsite.com/evereal-epk

What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?
Steve: The people. It really is about the fans. They are the singular reason you get
onstage. The energy they bring and give to you makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Meeting people and hearing their stories is strangely satisfying too.

Alicja: Yes it is the people and their energy for me as well. There is nothing like it, it’s
magic.

What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
Steve: On the last release there are some socially conscious messages related to
addiction, abuse and mental health that are all relevant. while they may not scream
socially aware in your face, if you read the lyrics a little deeper the messages are there.
Alicja: I hope the music inspires people in some way and maybe they find it helpful or healing or just plain
fun to rock out to.

Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are your future plans
for the band?
Steve: Continue to write and release music. Live shows and see where this journey takes
us. It’s really difficult with the current situation to tell what might happen in the near future
but we would like to be part of it.
Alicja: Yes we have been working on new music and we are trying to have a larger collaboration
with the entire band as well in our writing process.

Music Interviews : Vulgarithm

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?

My name is Andy “Dirt” McGurk and I play and produce every instrument.

2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?

I met myself as an infant many years ago, but I only discover myself for Vulgarithm back in late 2019. I had been in other bands, and still am, but I wanted to take a new musical direction.

3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?

I call it “Riff Rave”, you take the best guitar riffs from the early 2000s, mix it together with the essential sounds of 90s dance, and you come up with something pretty special. Over the course of my EP trilogy I hope to lock in on a sound that makes people say “That’s Vulgarithm!”

4. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?

I love making music, always have since the age of 10 or 11. whether it’s a simple chord structure or a full blown heavy riff, watching something come together and take shape is so much fun.

5. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?

Music is a great way to heal or escape, so my lyrical themes are either venting over aspects in life, be it personal or global. or they are over the top ridiculous songs that take your mind off the world for that split second. I don’t want to push myself into a corner and write about a few things, I want all things to be acceptable to write about.

6. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work

Trent Reznor of NIN and Maynard James Keenan of Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. The level of detail that goes into their songwriting is the bar I set myself when creating anything. As for Vulgarithm itself, many dance acts like The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Leftfield, Orbital etc. have influenced me a lot.

7. Where can someone looking for your music, find it?

Spotify link https://open.spotify.com/artist/5tDdWjYK9bws0iEfG2fPVWApple link https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vulgarithm/1475137798Amazon https://music.amazon.com/artists/B07VZWJGBF/vulgarithmvulgarithm.bandcamp.comyoutube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVlHfQUmKWjmxgOXIUQRNsQVulgarithm merch https://vulgarithm.dizzyjam.com/

8. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?

As Vulgarithm has only been in existence for a year, unfortunately we have not played live yet. One day we will be able to go to gigs and you will see the full majesty of what I want to do live.

9. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?

Say what needs to be said, music is very therapeutic for me so if I didn’t say it through my music then I’d bottle up a lot of emotions and I would be a fragile mess. Also see the funny side of everything, nothing can ever be too serious and as soon as something is you’ve lost the battle.

10. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band?
Playing live in front of people, being with other musicians and we are all having a good time. A simple vision in an unprecedented time.

Music Interviews : Fatal Switch

1. Would you guys please introduce yourselves and explain your role in the band?
   Steve Tobin – founding member and vocals
   Ryann Paqueo – guitar
   Max Rope – guitar
   David Vigliotti – bass
   Ralph A Salah – Drums

2. Where did you guys meet and how did you form this band?
   Always an interesting question. The band actually only formed once the album was already recorded. Going into the studio I was short on band members and decided to acquire session musicians to complete the instrumental completions on the tracks. Then once I had the recordings in hand I sourced the talent that now makes up Fatal Switch. Though it was a bit of a chaotic process I am very grateful for how things turned out. The dedication and chemistry we have is beyond anything I ever anticipated.
3. What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
   The first album is a mix of heavy groovy instrumentation injected with thought provoking hip hop storytelling. Our new material really pushes the boundaries even further on our hybrid sound as we blend metal and hip hop in it’s rawest forms. We are very excited to put new music out next year to show our fans how we have developed.
4. What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
   Coming up with music that we all build together is something that is very special about the writing process. We push each other to grow and become better musicians and people in the process. Then we get to stand back and watch this piece of art take form that will exist longer than we ever will and to me that is the best part of making music.
5. What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?
   We definitely have a dark apocalyptic theme that we explore. Anything that can get into people’s head and make them think about the song after its stopped playing is always our goal. Lots of horror, sci Fi and fantasy themes are at play which keeps things exciting. And being able to integrate real life into these stories is what I personally love the most. Transcending the barriers and brining down the walls between fiction and reality is what I enjoy the most in song writing.
6. Who are some artists that you love or who you’d say has had a huge influence on your work?

The cool thing with having so many guys in the band is that we all have different backgrounds and different sources for our inspiration. Bands that have played a role in inspiring us is quite vast and always expanding. But to throw a few examples out there we have drawn inspiration from bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Korn, tool, in flames, Eminem, 2pac, a tribe called quest, crazy Town X , etc…Where can someone looking for your music, find it?
Links; https://fatalswitch.fanlink.to/doctors-and-demons
This has links to all platforms where you can listen to our debut album Doctors & Demons

7. What’s your favourite part about touring/ doing live performances?
When you connect with a crowd, whether it’s existing fans or new ones discovering us, the thrill and satisfaction that brings is like no other feeling. When someone comes up to you and asks about your lyrics and songs it really makes all the hard work and effort worth it. It’s something that really validates the whole experience and keeps us motivated to create and share with our fans.

8. What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
We explore a lot of themes of duality. We always want to leave the listener with questions. Our songs are really in depth stories and they have some decent replay value to them. Every time you listen you can pick up another piece uou didn’t get on the first listen. The messages vary quite a big as well but the one that does seem to follow our theme would be one of power. To rise against the odds and find the inner strength within so that you can see the world around you with new eyes and to fight for what is just and right. To never believe that you are weak and unable to accomplish anything you set your mind to no matter the odds are stacked against you. Everything is perception and if you can see success you will achieve it.

9. Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for the band?
We are hunkered down right now filling our time as best we can amidst the challenges brought forth by the pandemic. We are doing our best to promote our debut album while we work on new material set to be recorded in 2021. We are very excited to be able to share new music with everyone as we are equally as excited to get everyone’s reaction from the current material circulating.

Thanks for taking the time to chat us! And thank you reading this and getting to know a bit more about us. We’d live to get to know you all as well so please feel free to drop us a line on our social media platforms.

Take care!