There were only one year passed beetween publishing each of your
first three albums. And after realising „Magic” your fans had to wait
three years for another studio album. But Magic came out along with live
album, and soon after that you recorded acoustic CD. So I understand
this three years publishing pause. But, why did you decide to publish
three cd’s in the row back in 2017?
Dominik Sebastian: We needed to stay on track and prove to be a band and
not just a project. Also for touring it is necessary to have something
new. For my taste it was too much and too fast. But anyway it brought us
where we are.
During that time, you also changed line-up. I assume, Alex and
Bob are busy with their main bands. But could you tell me why Jan left
the band?
DS: Personal reasons. And he could not (or didn‘t want to) tour like we did.
Btw, there are still a lot of keyboard parts at new album. And
you are playing it from „tape” during live shows. Did you consider hire
permanent keyboard player?
DS: No. On the latest recordings keyboards are no lead instruments. And
that for it‘s not necessary to have another musician on board.
I saw your concert in Cracow and loved it, how did you guys enjoy your first visit in Poland?
DS: Yes, we did indeed and I‘m sure we‘ll be back.
In this case you played as the support band. And also with the intention to reach new fans.
Was it hard for you guys to pick the setlist? There are some hits
already in your discography, plus you have to promote new studio
album…
DS: It was not easy. We decided to take the more powerful and faster
tracks and just one new song – you know, we‘ve been with Battle Beast
and Hammerfall!
You have booked some dates for autumn tour. Any chance to see you guys in Poland again?
DS: For sure, but I ain‘t got any idea when it could happen.
Let’s
skip to the new album „Suite 226”, I didn’t reach any storyboard, but
graphics and some lyrics seems to be connected somehow. What is the
story behind the album?
DS: Most of the songs treat the mental illness theme and experiments
about it. There is not really a storyline throughout the album.
I think there is more hard rock in your new compositions, do you agree?
DS: We wanted to go back to the roots, more like on our debut album. And I‘m sure we should stay on that way.
I felt some oriental mood in some of your songs too. Do you like to mixing such parts in your music.
DS: I absolutely love mixing up styles of different countries and
regions. Oriental stuff belongs to my favorites. I would like to play
those things on original instruments as well, but I ain‘t got them yet.
„Castiel” and „Heaven Shall Burn” has (IMO) Nightwish(ish)
guitar riffs along orchestral keyboards, was it intended? Sounds modern I
have to say.
DS: Those songs are written by Urban. As he doesn’t listen to Nightwish
at all, there can‘t be any intention at all – not from that way.
Did you feel the pressure with composing new material after releasing fantastic concept album „Magic”?
DS: As we used some of the material from the former sessions, there was
no big pressure. The pressure came when the release date came nearer and
nearer and some (vocal) files were still missing for the mix. Somehow
we did it.
Your videoclips always impressed me. I enjoy the clip you shot to first single „When the Stars Are Right”. Are you proud of it?
DS: Absolutely! But the real work was made by the fantastic film crew in
Belgrade who coached us and built all the CG-rooms around us.
So do you consider videos are still important with the promotion
of music – in times of shorties, when people can’t focus on the movie
longer than a minute? 😛
DS: Yes I think that (at least well made) videos are still important. It has to catch you from the first second on.
Thank you for your time. I cross fingers and wish you luck with the promotion of the album.
DS: Thank you for your interest! Rock on!
Questions: Piotr Spyra
