Aglasio's
inception, sparked by a TOOL concert, led to a unique musical fusion. From
finding guitarist VV online to their evolving sound and success, this interview
explores their journey and upcoming EP.
1. Can
you share more about the moment when the idea of forming Aglasio came about,
particularly after attending a TOOL concert together?
Our drummer and our singer went to a TOOL concert together, because the
drummer's father , who our singer Kevin plays in a cover band with, had a spare
ticket and needed someone with a car. So Kevin was the guy. After and during
the concert our drummer Jane and Kevin realized that they are on the same page
musically and because both wanted to create something new, the plan to form a
band was made.
2. How did you manage to find guitarist VV in the depths of the internet,
and what made you feel that he was the perfect fit for the band?
Kevin found VV on a musicians board and was impressed with his creations. So
was Jan when Kevin showed it to him. The musical influences and tastes aligned
fairly well, so a first rehearsal was set for June 2022.
3. The first sessions in June 2022 marked the beginning of Aglasio. What was
the creative process like during those early days, and how did you develop your
first songs?
We would usually start from some input from VV and go from there. That could be
a riff from his archives or something than came up spontaneously and would then
develop and structure that idea during jams. Our first the songs (Only Thruth,
Oscillation and Threshold) were created this way. This approach came naturally
to us.
4. It took until October to complete the band with bassist Uta. What unique
qualities did Uta bring to Aglasio that made the lineup feel complete?
Besides being a perfect fit on a personal basis her abilities and compositional
talent were, what made here the bassist for the band. Her influences and taste
varies a bit from the rest of the band, as she is mainly interested in bands
such as Queen and Led Zeppelin, but this new set of influences was welcomed by
the other band members.
5. Your first gig was scheduled just a few weeks after finalizing the band, under the name 'Blank Acknowledgements.' How did it feel to perform for the first time, and how has the band evolved since that initial show?
We started as Blank Acknowledgements on that day. We were very excited to show our music to a live audience. Our first gig was fairly successful and we realized that playing live is one of our core competencies. Since then the band grew individually and as a whole technically and personally, so we decided to rebrand ourselves with a more fitting and spellable name.
6. The release of 'Only Truth' in January 2023 marked a significant moment for Aglasio. Can you share the inspiration behind the song and how it represents the band's style?
The song takes the perspective of a false prophet and by this deals with propaganda from an unusual perspective. It represents the bands style in that aspect as we like to hypnotize our listeners to then punch the air out of their lungs at one point.
7. The second single, 'Oscillation,' pays homage to grunge ballads of the 90s. What drew you to that era, and how did it influence your creative process for this particular track?
It's mainly Kevin's vocal style that makes this reference and homage possible. Kevin still witnessed an area when MTV would play music videos from bands as Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins or Alice In Chains. Somehow the guitar part then developed into this sort of song, which was then used as an inspiration in the recording and production of that song.
8. 'Vyalentine,' released in September 2023, is described as a classic rock ballad. What inspired the shift in style for this particular track, and how was the response from your audience?
Vyalentine is now part of our deep lore and can only be found in the depths of the internet or on bandcamp. We had that idea of writing a summer love song. We just couldn't stop ourselves. It is always one of the songs that gets people moving during concerts. It's pretty danceable.
9. Securing second place in the SPH Music Masters preliminary round in Hamburg is a remarkable achievement. How did this experience impact the band, and what are your expectations for the city final in 2024?
Our performance was appreciated by the professional jury. We made quite an impact there, even though we had the opening slot. We were playing as intensely as always and we're rewarded for that. We don't have any expectations for the final except playing a show at a nice venue and have a nice evening in the beautiful city of Hamburg.
10. The band's style is described as somewhere between alternative rock and
progressive metal. How do you balance these influences, and what elements from
each genre do you find most compelling in your music?
Up until now we have been experimenting with this influences, blending them in
various ways that differ from song to song, all while remaining a balance.
Trying to remain somewhere in between, not to be a carbon copy or existing
music is one of the motivations we have.
11. Can you provide some insights into the upcoming EP planned for early
2024? What can fans expect in terms of themes, sounds, and overall vibe?
As themes go we venture into observations about the individual pursuit of
meaning, the failing of that, be it by falling into rabbit holes or succumbing
to the endless chase for dopamine. In our song Threshold we try to explore what
it feels like, when the boundaries between reality and states such as fever
dreams get blurred. Soundwise we chose a raw and very straight approach, to
give this EP a bit of a pseudo nostalgic feel.
12. The description of your sound includes "hard-hitting riff monsters,
progressive-hypnotic excursions into madness, and groovy alternative rock
bangers." How do you ensure a cohesive blend of these elements in your
music?
Our producer at Tuneworks made sure that the sound would remain cohesive. And even when playing in different variants of our musical cosm, the band members individually have a very distinctive way of playing their instruments.
13. How do you approach the complexity of your rhythms and daring guitar playing, and how do these musical elements contribute to the overall identity of Aglasio?
These aspects are essential for our identity. We most of the times try to stray a bit from beaten paths by progging familiar things up a bit and adding our spin to it.
14. Your diverse vocal styles, ranging from roaring to whispering, add a unique dimension to your sound. How do you decide on the vocal approach for each song, and how do these choices enhance the storytelling within your music?
We have no idea from which unholy depths of his mind and throat Kevin gets his ideas from. He can cover a lot of different styles. For the EP he chose mostly a gritty metal style, that is somewhere between Alice In Chains and Machine Head. Yet he sometimes sprinkles in a little bit of fairy dust, like with the chorus in Fallacy or he puts out very nasty growls.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire