The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

Embark on a musical journey with Vangardion as they blend the nostalgia of accordions with powerful rock. Explore the inspiration, creative process, and future goals in this exclusive interview.

1. Congratulations on your upcoming album! How did the fusion of "Vanguard" and "Accordion" shape Vangardion's unique sound, and what led to the exploration of the accordion in Symphonic Rock?

Thanks for your interest in this album, which fulfills a childhood dream for us! I see a perfect songwriting tool in the accordion. When I play it, I imagine orchestral dimensions and a powerful band sound. All compositions were born out of improvisations on the accordion. Our first idea was to replace the accordion scratches with keyboard and orchestra sounds but after a lot of experimenting we liked the idea of stacking different accordion registers and working with a whole accordion orchestra for our live premiere.

2. The theme of personal development and self-discovery runs through your lyrics. How do you approach these themes in a way that avoids being overly philosophical or moralizing?

In the same way the internal dialogue of our thoughts work: It can be a relief to create space for emotions and just watch them. Sometimes, I literally bathe in a feeling and suddenly it flows into a song idea. Maybe, I could be more critical with lyrics, but I just take spontaneous ideas as a gift and enjoy playing with them. „Stay" for example started with feelings full of self-pity after a failed relationship. Then the image of two birds in a broken cage came to my mind and I was able to take it less seriously. After playing with the motif, the song awakened energy and freedom. Because lyrics like this sound very flowery to me, I love the contrast of heavy riffs in our music.

3. Your music video "End of an Era" transports listeners to a unique world. Can you share the creative process behind this captivating visual representation and its connection to the song's theme?

We were looking for a confrontation of old and new and we were very lucky that our priest agreed to filming in our beautiful gothic church. The massive walls perfectly mirrored the song’s motif of being trapped and spotlights through the artful windows created an atmosphere of illumination in the middle of the night. The atmosphere in our band and orchestra was thrilling and immediately released the drama and energy this song needs.

4. "Symphony of Darkness" seems to flirt with '80s sound effects and a Power Metal vibe. What inspired the sound of this track, and how does it fit into the broader narrative of the album?

It was the last composition I wrote for this album and it felt right to experiment a little. This song recaps my whole workflow: Putting myself in a strong, usually melancholic mood and transforming it into euphoria. Maybe you can hear the pleasant anticipation we had for our album after years in search of a signature sound with the accordion.

5. In "The Maverick,“ and „El Dorado" Balkan-style accordions blend with cowboy guitar sounds. What drove the fusion of these diverse musical elements, and how does it contribute to the storytelling in the song?

Sounds come with associations and especially the accordion sound is biased. Eastern sounds add a wild and feisty element to our music that we love to contrast with heavy riffs and cool clean guitars. Our lyrical maverick is closer to nature than to his fellow men and finally finds his pride to leave all the ignorance behind.

6. „Over The Hills And Far Away" is described as a modern reinterpretation of a rock classic with Irish accordion sounds. How did you approach reinterpreting this classic, and what do you hope listeners take away from the song?

Ten years ago our journey started with Nightwish cover songs. This one is a real crowd-pleaser and reminds us of great live experiences. The fast riffs sound like they were composed for accordion and we added more solo parts. That makes it more traditional, which is a great contrast to clear vocals, electronic drums and a punchy mix. Fans of Tarja Turunen surely will relate to Leonie’s vocal performance on this track.

7. "Ever Last" is presented as a heartfelt ballad dealing with the futility of longing for the past. How did you capture the emotional essence of this theme both musically and lyrically?

The verses list observations and questions that make me feel bad time after time. A pure accordion accompaniment underlines solitude. The first chorus introduces the theme of turning back the clock in reflective melancholy accompanied by chord tensions. Then a lively drum groove brings the listener back to here and now and the song takes its way towards a positive perspective. The many key changes and surprising chord progressions support the motif of searching.

8. Your drummer Fabian Matzke and guitarist Fabian Horn play significant roles in shaping Vangardion's sound. How does each member's contribution influence the overall sonic landscape of the band?

My brother on drums is also a good guitar player and contributed riffs to our album. While I tend to write complex music, my brother often brings me back to earth. His double bass thunderstorms are a driving force for virtuosic accordion soli. Recording the album on e-drums, our producer Alan Vukelic also shaped the sound more electronic and unique. Fabian Horn on guitars loves to „kick asses“ with heavy riffs that contrast Leonies classical vocal technique.

9. The song "Step Inside" draws inspiration from the game "The Witcher." Can you delve into the creative process of translating a game's atmosphere into a musical invitation for listeners?

This song started with a guitar riff that we improvised over. At first, we had trouble to come up with lyrics but we knew that we wanted to create a theatrical haunted house atmosphere. My brother somewhen made a joke about getting the haircut of the character Olgierd von Everec, which I really did. Olgierd is a complex personality who lost all empathy. Soon the song got his lyrics and melody.

10. As a quartet performing live, how do you bring the grand orchestral elements of Symphonic Rock to the stage, and what can audiences expect from a Vangardion live performance?

While we decided to play no synthesizer sounds on our album, we layer accordion sounds with electronic sounds life. And while I played all the accordion parts on my own in the studio, we have the option to perform with a full accordion orchestra live. That's a massive sound!

Not only the Vangardion sound is worth the experience, but also the show: Leonie’s voice and movement are an eye-catcher and as a professional actor, Fabian comes up with unique special moves playing his guitar.

11. Matthias Matzke, as a multiple first-prize winner in international accordion competitions, has pioneered the digital accordion. How does this innovation play a role in Vangardion's music, and what possibilities does it open up for the band?

Before we worked out our studio sound, our core was the digital accordion attached to an Ableton Live rig which allowed me to play both, bass parts and orchestral sounds. This setup allows us to play completely without backing tracks which is quite unusual in Symphonic Rock & Metal. The accordion arrangements are very difficult so there’s a lot of finger acrobatics to enjoy on stage.

12. Looking ahead, what's on the horizon for Vangardion? Are there specific goals or directions you envision for the band's musical evolution and growth?

Our big goal is to perform on festivals like Wacken with our band and accordion orchestra. Just imagine the surprised faces in the audience! For me personally, it is very important to contribute to new perspectives for the accordion. Vangardion stands for a genre that nobody expects - but it’s so much fun to play and listen!

 Vangardion Band (@vangardion.symphonic.rock) • Instagram photos and videos

(27) Matthias Matzke - YouTube

Facebook


 

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post

Formulaire de contact