In this interview, the dynamic duo behind Fallen Letters shares their musical journey, influences, and the deep emotional resonance that defines their unique alt rock and metal sound. Dive into the origins of "Forlorn Pages" and the band's aspiration to connect with listeners through their immersive, melancholic storytelling.
1. Can you tell us about the origin story of Fallen
Letters? How did the band come together, and what inspired the name
"Fallen Letters"?
Vishal and I been composing and storing up many riffs and ideas for a long time
and on re visiting these ideas, we realised that we have a lot of more melo and
darker rock riffs and ideas. We were also listening to a lot of Katatonia,
Opeth and Blackfiled; and Fallen Letters birthed out of the confluence of these
stored up ideas and influences.
At its core, the name symbolizes the myriad emotions, stories, and experiences
that often remain unspoken or unwritten. Just as fallen leaves tell tales of
changing seasons and fleeting moments, the 'letters' in our name evoke the
sentiments of souls that may have stumbled, but seek to find their voice. It's
a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a celebration of
vulnerability, and a nod to all the unsung emotions that make us human.
2. Your music is described as a blend of Alt Rock and Metal. How would you
define your unique sound, and what artists or experiences have influenced your
musical style?
At heart we both are metal heads and continue to listen to and follow metal
music so I guess it is inevitable that aspects of metal will show up in our
compositions. The Scandinavian metal scene has always enamoured us with its
deep roots in melody and overtones of dark melancholy. Like mentioned before,
Katatonia, Opeth and Steven Wilson’s work has been primary influences.
3. Vishal, you handle vocals, guitars, bass, and keys, while Aditya takes on
guitars, bass, and backing vocals. How does this dynamic duo setup contribute
to the band's creative process?
On a day to day basis we always share musical ideas with each other and are
pretty transparent and what should go where in terms of composition and
structure. We are also pretty aligned in terms of production ideas and Vishal
largely produces the track too. Sometimes one of us composes most of a song
while at other times we collaborate and build a track together based on one
idea or melody. There isn’t a fixed recipe but we are always guided by a common
goal of making good music.
4. Your music often embraces melancholy and vulnerability. Could you share
some insights into your songwriting process and what themes you explore in your
songs?
The melancholy and vulnerability in our songs are largely because of our
influences as mentioned earlier. And Wilson himself says ‘we're all kind of
bonded in sadness and melancholia and depression’, so who are we to argue,
hahahahah. We largely explore themes of longing and heart break, which I
suppose is a bit cliché but again it is very universal and connects with most
people. We hope our twist on it interests people in terms of lyrical themes.
5. You have a debut EP titled "Forlorn Pages" in the works,
scheduled for release in 2024. What can listeners expect from this EP, and how
does it represent the evolution of Fallen Letters' sound?
A- We believe this EP is a blend of numerous genres and themes of music and
would appeal to many listeners who like the Scandinavian melancholic vibe.
Slower ballad like tunes to fast gallopy riffs, it’s all there and we wear our
influences on our sleave proudly.
6. Renowned producer Mike Langford is working on mixing and drums for
"Forlorn Pages." How did this collaboration come about, and how has
it impacted the recording process?
Vishal was listening to lots of ‘Evans Blue’ and greatly appreciated the mix
and production elements. On investigation we found in to be Mike and reached
out to him. To our surprise he replied! And he also liked some of the demos we
sent him. Mike also agreed to play drums on the tracks and it has come out
brilliantly! We believe his ears and mixing touch as taken the songs to a whole
new level and are extremely grateful to have worked with him!
7. As a band based in Bangalore, India, how has your location influenced
your music and creative process?
Bangalore is a confluence of various forms of music, western and Indian, and we
have been exposed to all these forms from a young age. From Western bands
touring in India to local Fusion music, Bangalore has it all. This certainly
has widened our musical palate and resulted in an appreciation for all things
music, which is quite evident in our compositions I believe.
8. Could you share some memorable experiences or challenges you've faced as
a band on your journey to where you are today?
I think making music in this day and age is not too complicated, but getting it
‘out there’ in this ocean of music is the bigger challenge. In this endeavour
of getting our music heard(Vishal also has another solo music project), we have
created Sinusoidal Music. A company whose intention it is to help artists get
heard and get their music ‘out there’. AlterFate Records is a subsidiary of
Sinusoidal Music and we are releasing under AlterFate Records.
9. How do you approach live performances, and what can fans expect from a
Fallen Letters concert experience?
We are yet to release our first single so live performances aren’t in our minds
at the moment but we would love to perform live having said that!
10. In the age of digital music and streaming platforms, what are your
thoughts on how music consumption has evolved, and how do you navigate this
landscape as independent artists?
A- In this digital age of music, we believe engaging with artists is key and
making your music stand out in some way or the other is important, else it gets
drowned in the ocean of music being released every day. While music streaming
has made it easier than ever to consume music, for an artist, it is difficult
to navigate this landscape. We’re hoping we tick all the right boxes and most
important of all, connect with the most people.
11. Are there any particular songs or albums that have had a significant
impact on your lives and musical careers?
The most impactful bands in our lives are perhaps Opeth, Katatonia and
Agalloch, to name a few. These bands have shaped our influences and sound the
most.
12. What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are trying to make
their mark in the Alt Rock/Metal scene?
Alt Rock is a rather underground genre and to stand out, music that is different
would be the most important.
13. Beyond music, do you have any other creative interests or hobbies that
influence your artistry?
We are both Engineers by profession and work day jobs involving Sinusoidal
Music and our other business ventures. They probably do not directly influence
our art but certainly shape it in a particular direction as it is an essential
part of our life experience.
14. What are your long-term goals and aspirations as a band, both musically
and personally?
At it’s core we make music that would connect with, in our unique way, to the
most number of people globally. We haven’t really thought that long term but we
enjoy making music and will continue to do so 😊
15. Lastly, is there a message or sentiment you hope your music conveys to
your listeners, and what do you want them to take away from the experience of
listening to Fallen Letters?
We would love for people to completely immerse themselves in the overall sonic
journey that is Fallen Letters. We would like to believe our music is unique
and the melancholia and storytelling in the songs connect all of us in a
fundamental way.
Fallen Letters (alterfaterecords.com)
Fallen Letters (@fallenlettersband) • Instagram photos and videos
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