1. Thanks for taking the time to talk to The Times! You have a new album out, Tell us about it!
Hey! How are you? All good? Good! Well, it’s an EP, it’s called “Autumnus”, which in Latin Means something like “The Fall” which intends to reflect where we, as humans, are going in the short/medium term, it’s all going not the best way for all of us, putting aside the current sanitary situation, and it’s the overview in general.
The creation/production process is actually very modern and very high-end, technologically speaking; since we’re all located in different areas of Europe (I’m in France, the rest are in Spain/Portugal/USA) the main thing was that Carlos (Rex) every time he came up with some idea in the guitar, it would be heavily analyzed and brainstormed to see what could be improved, then came the whole basic concept of the songs, then, with those ideas, then we would start recording the official tracks, with the right tones in the guitar, you know, the right way, then it drums, Herman would enter studio to track drums (which let me say, this guy did in Record Time, it took like, a weekend to track it all!)
With drums done and good, tracks would come to me, to track the synths with solid, metronome perfect tracks, as you might have heard in the record, I use a lot of Arpeggiated sounds, and a lot of click/tempo-based sounds to give this kind of “cinematic” idea and highly dynamic sounds, so I needed the click-perfect drums and strings to get inspired, and not mess up any track
Then Antony came in Vocals and well, the rest is history, results are more than good!
2. Where was it recorded? Is all the material new?
Most of the recordings took place in our own home studio, as it is compliant with the equipment necessary to have good tracking results to deliver hi quality raw tracks, so they can be later processed.
Drums were a bit trickier; they were recorded in studio, the way it has to be done.
Vocals were recorded in Ohio, where Antony lives
Now engineering; it was Mixed and Mastered by the all mighty Daniel Cardoso, from Anathema at OhMe! Studios, in Portugal, that’s why it sounds like a beast.
3. What is the biggest difference between your last release and the new one?
That’s an easy one, it’s our first release, BUT!, let me give you a hint, if you found this EP good, wait for the full-length, it’s going to be wild, trust me, production process is almost complete (as we’re having this interview) and it’s wicked!
4. Are you signed to a label? , If so which one and how did they help or support the process?
We’re knocking some doors, to see which is the good label out there for us, so, if any label AR reads this… “Hey hello, we’re good guys, we’re cool and nice and always have a chocolate for you” *laughs*
5. What has been going on with the band between albums? Did you tour?
Not yet, you know, this world we live in is kind of not permissive of going out and tour, but hey, let’s hope that really soon we’ll be on the road, we miss being on stage, we miss the adrenaline rush of the “30 minutes, guys” before going on stage… Soon, my friends, soon!
6. Do you have any new members?
Well, the most recent member is our new Bass Player, Mike, this guy’s a tempo machine! Plus his bass tone, reminds me of Billy Sheehan’s iconic tone, so we had to get this guy with us!
Love you Mike <3
7. Who produced the new album and how did they affect the album?
Well, it was mostly self-produced; minds working together, that can achieve a lot of things!
Of course, we took into consideration third party ideas, to improve if course! Thanks guys who contributed in the song-creation process, you rock!
8. Some like to record naked or in the dark with candles, did you have any strange studio practices?
I cannot track if I have no background TV, it’s something that is mandatory for me, at very low volume, but something’s got to emit some sound, the sound of nothingness kind of stresses me out *laughs*
Oh and of course, Red Bull (this is not a sponsored message), to get the focus and the blood flow going (That’s what she said)
9. Of course tell us where to pick up your album and how to learn more about you.
Well, there are all our socials which are;
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and even TikTok (who would have thought); all goes by Ancient Settlers.
We’re all over there, checking out, so we don’t miss anything of the people that’s interested in our material, and if we get to meet on the road, share a few beers and a few jokes (oh yeah, I love pranking strangers)
10. What are your plans now that the new album is out?
Well, as every up and coming band, get put in the map, get in the radar, and then, when the world allows it, gigs, gigs like there’s not tomorrow, we will give out best to deliver the best show we can do, not to brag it up, but we’re actually live shows specialists, we thrive on live shows!