Interview Sorrowsight

In this interview, we delve into the creative journey behind Sorrowsight's debut album "Essence of Existence." Discover the emotions, influences, and experiences that shaped their unique sound and artistic vision.

1. Congratulations on the release of your debut album, "Essence of Existence"! Could you share with us the emotions and thoughts that went into creating this album?

While creating the first album we just continued to live our lives. The surrounding events led us to think about different aspects of our life. Our personal experiences and the socio-political context of living in Ukraine heavily influenced our songwriting. The hardships and challenges we faced were reflected in our music, giving it an authenticity and urgency that resonates with our listeners. It was a rather long period of our lives that's why the topics are different. Thus the album consists of the songs on philosophical topics: the opportunity to experience aesthetic pleasure from art, the aim and meaning of life being, the ability to feel your true emotions, the fleetingness of time, the role of the religions for humanity, the reason and consequences of the wars etc.

2. Your band's name, Sorrowsight, suggests a deep emotional connection to your music. How does the theme of melancholy or sadness influence your songwriting process?

Our band likes dark, gothic culture. Besides, our guitarist and vocalist are melancholic persons in some way. Our lyrics often delve into personal and collective experiences of sorrow, loss, and existential reflection. The melodies and harmonies in our songs are crafted to complement the themes of sadness and introspection. We use minor keys, dissonant chords to create a somber and reflective mood.  The song's structure is often complicated as every person's soul. The interplay between heavy riffs and melodic elements creates a dynamic contrast that mirrors the struggle between despair and hope. Our vocalist Mariia's ability to switch between clean, melodic singing and powerful, extreme vocals allows us to explore a wide range of emotional expressions. The intensity of her performance helps to drive home the themes of suffering and resilience. Incorporating themes of melancholy and sadness into our songwriting allows Sorrowsight to create music that is emotionally rich and deeply resonant. 

3. "Essence of Existence" features a fusion of gothic, death, and doom metal. How do you balance these genres to create a cohesive sound, and what challenges did you face in blending them together?

We think that a common feature of gothic, death and doom metal is an emphasis on the dark atmosphere as their component and their common emotions. However from the technical view of music:  different rhythms, tempos, song structures, instruments, vocal techniques, of course these genres differ and it was the main сomplexity to blend these genres together from the technical view.

4. The addition of a violinist brings a unique symphonic element to your music. How did this decision come about, and how does the violin contribute to Sorrowsight's overall sound?

This question leads us to the history of forming a band. Our first drummer Volodymyr wanted to add a second guitarist for a denser sound. Our vocalist Mariia suggested her acquaintance musician Lianna Kaushanskaya, who played both guitar and violin. Lianna proposed using the violin instead of the guitar and created the first violin parts for the songs. Pavlo, who wanted to add a symphonic element to the band's sound, found this option intriguing. The other members also appreciated the lyrical sound of the violin, which helped define the band's unique style. The incorporation of violin parts adds a lyrical, enhances the emotional depth of our music. 

5. Your song "The Fallen" was created during a challenging time in Ukraine. How did real-life events impact the creation of this song, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?

The real-life events such as the bombing of civilian objects, accompanying accidental deaths, mutilations, air alarms, the constant threat to life in our native city during the russian aggression deeply influenced the creation of the song "The Fallen", filling it with genuine emotions that we ourselves felt. We want listeners to gain a deeper understanding of the harsh realities of war. By exposing them to the true stories and images of the conflict, we hope to foster empathy and raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine. By confronting the brutal realities of war, we aim to motivate people to work towards a world where such conflicts are less likely to occur.

6. Could you tell us about the artwork and visual elements associated with "Essence of Existence"? How do these visuals complement the themes explored in your music?

This artwork was created by guitarist's friend Max Lacrimath  who made the logo for the band and artwork of the single previously. Max likes and often draws the different styled females. As our band is represented by a female vocalist it was decided to depict the gothic style girl on the album's artwork. The hourglass reflects the fleetingness of life time. Max also added several gothic symbol elements, snake for complementing the dark atmosphere. Thus it is hinted that the lyrics of the songs will be in a gothic-philosophical vein and the overall album's atmosphere combines darkness and beauty.

7. Sorrowsight has undergone lineup changes over the years. How has this affected the band's dynamics and musical direction, especially during the creation of your debut album?

The lineup changes in Sorrowsight have undeniably impacted the band's dynamics and musical direction. Lineup changes also posed challenges, such as ensuring cohesion and maintaining a unified vision for our music. Each transition required a period of adjustment, where new members needed to integrate into the band's existing dynamics. The creation of our debut album, "Essence of Existence," reflects this journey, showcasing a blend of diverse influences and personal experiences. Each member, past and present, has contributed to shaping the band's identity, resulting in a rich, authentic, and compelling musical narrative.
The initial lineup consisted of guitarist Pavlo (Paul) Korovchuk, vocalist Mariia (Mary) Diachenko, drummer Volodymyr Ostapenko, and bassist Artur Pholax. This foundational team established the core sound of Sorrowsight, blending death and doom metal elements.
The addition of Lianna Kaushanskaya on violin marked a pivotal shift, bringing a unique symphonic, gothic layer that became a signature aspect of our music.Each new member brought their unique influences and skills, which helped shape and evolve our sound.
Changes in the rhythm section, such as the introduction of Georgy Kokkin as a drummer and later Mykyta Pushkin, Mykola Skvortsov as a bassist, brought different drumming styles and techniques, bass parts which added new textures and energy to our music. Natali Bakhtina on violin brought renewed enthusiasm and innovative ideas, enriching the album's sound.

8. As a Ukrainian band, how has your cultural background influenced your music, both in terms of themes and musical style?

It seems to us that these themes and musical styles are international. Of course, generally Ukrainian culture has a deep connection with melancholy, often expressed through music, literature, and art. From this point of view  we can say this intrinsic melancholic sensibility is a key element in our gothic death/doom metal style.  However we didn't use any ukrainian folk motives in our music. So this connection is not obvious. The band's main influences  include Ne Obliviscaris, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, The Sins of Thy Beloved and Draconian. 

9. What are some of the most memorable experiences or challenges you faced while recording "Essence of Existence"?

The first work in the studio, collaborative songwriting were the most memorable experiences. Meanwhile, lineup changes, the impact of the war and the need to maintain a cohesive sound tested our resilience and adaptability.

10. Looking ahead, what are your plans and aspirations for Sorrowsight's future, and how do you envision your musical evolution moving forward?

Our guitarist is already working on new material for our next album.  He is interested in incorporating more symphonic elements, orchestral arrangements. Next album will be also interesting from a musical and lyrics view. Unfortunately due to war our concert activity is under question in the nearest future.  

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