|
(Patryk) At the time we were the first metal band that only used
keyboards and still sounded metal. A lot of our fans liked that
period. We have done a lot of promo to make our music available
to everyone. The answer was overwhelming! Now with the new studio
songs it's a new beginning! But I'm sure everyone will like the
new stuff better!
4- Is Howling Syn still doing good on mp3.com?
(Patryk) I'd say yes because we have less time to promote the
band on Mp3.com & this site is not what it used to be. But
now we still have 100 to 200 plays per day. We're still in the
top 10 charts from Montreal, Quebec with Cryptopsy & Quo Vadis.
It's not that bad!
5- How would you describe your band for
people that never heard it?
(Patryk) A journey into imagination, "Dark Tales of Rage
& Romance", symphonic
Gothic/Prog/Medieval/New Wave Metal.
(Sophie) I think it is a mix of all things dark. We take sides
with the evil guys and have fun with them! But still the medieval
side makes it feel lighter so it is somewhat ambiguous, and makes
it reach deeper inside you.
6- You have a new album,Forebearers of
Dusk. How is the reaction from the fans & media?
(Patryk) All the critics were very good! The fans loved it right
away! And this new CD gave us a lot of new fans. In fact the fanbase
is still growing everyday. In 2003 we will concentrate our efforts
on the US and the European market. Howling Syn still has a lot
of land to discover.
7- Your are blending many different elements
from Gothic, power metal & medieval music. Who influenced
your work?
(Patryk) A lot of theatrical artists have influenced me by their
music & shows. Just to name a few: Kiss, King Diamond, Moonspell,
Alice Cooper, Gwar, And also Black Sabbath, Metallica, Maiden
& the 80's New Wave & Pop era, etc... I like entertainers
with brains & good songwriting all in the same band. Some
classical composers have influenced me a lot too. Guys like John
Williams & Danny Elfman have a lot to do in my ochestrations.
8- Can you please talk about the concept
behind the lyrics of Forebearers of Dusk?
(Sophie) The story of Forebearers of Dusk started out with bits
and pieces that we recollected
and fitted together. It began with The War of Avalon because we
like those legends of old, with their characters and settings.
But we didn't want to tell the same old story once again so we
bent it our way. While in the process of creating this story came
another one with all kinds of creatures of the night who were
gathering for what would be their final victory. And when we looked
back to these two stories, though completely different, something
came out of them. No matter where or when in history, there have
always been and will always be people who crave for power, who
will do anything for it. So we used a somewhat twisted way of
creating an atmosphere with all our favorite details for a deeper
meaning. In fact, this is pretty much surrealistic!
9- I know that in the beginning you were
writting everything alone, but now that you got new musicians,
how's the writting process? Can we expect to see some changes
if Gilbert,Eric & Sophie are writting with you?
(Patryk) I still take care of the music even on the new tracks
but it's when we are playing the songs together that they give
their ideas about some parts of the songs and I'm never afraid
to change a part for the better. Now Eric & Sophie help me
a lot with the lyrics! They are adding a lot of maturity and mysticism
to the songs! The new songs will be more like a teamwork! You
can hear it quite well! Gilbert's guitarwork is quite nice too.
He was the last to join the pack but he made the band go a step
forward for sure.
(Sophie) In a way, we can say that the lyrics are as "multi-sided"
as the music is. I mean that Patryk uses a lot of different influences
and musical styles in his composing and that we are 3 lyricists
in the band and many songs have been written by 2 or more people.
So when it comes to lyrics, either we use the atmosphere of the
music with all the different things that we see to it, or we develop
an idea together and the music will be added afterwards.
10- What do you prefer, recording an album
in studio, the writing process or playing live? And why?
(Patryk) All 3 are necessary I think. Writing is the phase when
I'm alone and I let go all my ideas and I need that! The recording
is like the birth of your art! And playing live is like exposing
yourself & your feelings to all the crowd. I think I really
need to live those 3 phases.
(Sophie) To me, it's really just one big step and you have to
give it all you've got. Those are the 3 steps that make an original
band. If you only like performing, you can be a cover band. If
you only like writing, you can be a composer/lyricist. If you
just like recording, you can record ads for tv and radio.
11- There's a guy from Decayed Remains
that participated to my favorite song on the CD, Emperor of Tommorow.
Did you like the experience working with a guest singer on that
song? Can we expect to get more special guest on futur recording?
(Patryk) Yeah this song is special! We loved the experience! Eric
Massicotte is very professional so the track was done in no time!
We'd love to have a special guest on every CD, that would be very
unique I think!! Only the future will tell…
12- You guys are from Montreal, Quebec.
What do you think about your metal local scene?
(Patryk) This is a big scene with a lot of different point of
views. There's something for every metalhead! But I'm more interested
in the future of the scene because it's what will carry the flag
for the next generation.
13- In your opinion, who's the next band
from Quebec that could make it?
(Patryk) I'd say Moonlyght & Liva. Both bands have something
new & refreshing to offer!! I think we have a great bill for
the show on Nov 2nd!
14- What are you listening to those days?
What is the last CD you bought?
(Patryk) The last Moonspell, Soilwork, Nightwish, King Diamond
& Gwar are often in my CD player these days! And I'm digging
some old 80's stuff too, for the good melodies & memories.
Oh! Metallica S&M is pretty awesome too!
15- November 2nd is your CD launch at the
Zest here in Montreal. It's also an Halloween party. What can
we expect for this party? Anything special? Can you talk also
about the 2 bands that will play with you for those who don't
know them?
(Patryk) We are very excited to play on that show! Liva and Moonlyght
are very promising bands and we are very happy to share the stage
with them. In some ways Howling Syn, Liva & Moonlyght are
connected. Is it the style? the attitude? I don't know but there's
something going on. This night will be a big Halloween party and
Howling Syn, Liva & Moonlyght are launching their new CDs
and it's the first time we will play more than 45 minutes in Montreal!
We will play most of the songs from Forebearers of Dusk plus 5
new tracks. So it's something that should not be missed. The doors
open at 7 pm and it's all ages.
16- Now that your CD is released, what's
the next step for Howling Syn after the CD launch?
(Sophie) We plan to spread the word even more, especially in
the rest of Canada, US and Europe, and we want to give more shows.
We are also preparing a 2nd CD. We already have many songs and
probably more to come, so we'll have to be picky when we'll get
to choose which ones make it to the recording stage.
17- Are you expecting to tour outside of
quebec to promote your album?
(Patryk) We'd love to do it but right now we need to spread the
word about Howling Syn before anything else! Man! I wanna play
everywhere!! We are open to any offers!! A show from Howling Syn
is always full of energy & surprises.
18- Do you already begins to write for your
2nd album?
(Patryk) Yes and it will be great stuff! I can't wait to record
some of these songs! We will play some of them live on Nov. 2nd.
Here are some titles for ya: Bleed in Silence, Carnivorous Lunar
Activities, Samhain (the night he came home) just to name a few...
19- If you could change one thing in the
world, what would that be and why?
(Patryk) I'd like to get rid of people who talk a lot and don't
do much. If we knew what to expect from the beginning, everything
would be much easier!
(Sophie) I would eliminate everything that goes against dignity,
because without dignity your life is meaningless. ...I'd also
love to eliminate hip hop & rap "music"!
20- This is the time to plug your stuff
(website, special news, etc..)
(Patryk) Don't miss Howling Syn live on November 2nd in Montreal!
For more info and free music check out www.howlingsyn.net
& www.mp3.com/howlingsyn
Thanks a lot for doing that interview Pat
and YES, I'm going to STAY EVIL !!!!
Darkest Greetings,
Patrick
Good
to know that you're Staying Evil!! Thanks a lot for everything!!!!
|
