Saturday, May 4, 2019

SOLAR CYCLES INTERVIEW

1.Introduce yourself and your band and tell us why we should listen to you.

Hi! I’m Sascha lead singer and bassist from Solarcycles. Solarcycles is a folk metal from the Netherlands. Our music is quite unlike your typical folk metal band. Our main focus is on clean vocals and our music is influenced by all kind of genres. We make what we want/love to create and the result is floating, emotional, melodic and ethereal though strong and powerful at the same time: a balance between light and dark; physicality and transcendence.

2.What do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?

Folk metal / rock music with Celtic and Scandinavian folk influences as well as references to Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal and British Indie Rock.

3.With digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?

I would definitely vote to keep physical media. I always find it an amazing experience to physically have a cd of a band/artist that I really like. In the physical form it is the music as an artwork/art form in the way it was meant to be. In the most ideal situation I listen the whole cd on headphones without interruption, with my eyes closed and some improvised dances. Then I truly experience the art. On Digital music platforms it is more about sounds and playlists and less about the music and artists as an individual multidimensional expressive art form and experience. Also I do not like the ads on platforms like Spotify and Youtube that completely destroy your musical experience and the flow you’re in. These ads are always a reminder of the world we live in, in which you always have to give to be able to receive, whereas a physical cd played without interruption is a transcendent experience, a sort of escapism or nostalgia to times and places unknown.

4.What is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid off?

It has been my dream since I was a very young child. I started as a real musician at age 17 when I experienced the transcendent / emotional powers of truly being touched in my soul by music. I finally felt complete when I experienced the most absolute form of being a fan of a specific band. I felt like my soul could finally come to expression and I felt this massive strength insight of me that made me want to fight for myself and my dreams (after being bullied for many years). I felt this tremendous life-force and I knew music is what I needed to express myself. Music is so much more than we can even understand or express in words. Music is part of my being and always will be.

5.How do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?

I don’t think it is fair to give someone more attention based on their gender/sex. Men en women should be equal and get equal amounts of attention. What I think is totally unfair, is that most women in metal get attention and opportunities based on their looks rather than their talent. I’ve seen female guitarists get lots of attention while some male guitarists are way better (also performance wise) are completely ignored! Really unfair!

6.In the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal being an “ angry” music
Do you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?

Not at all! Our music is meant to let people feel pleased with themselves. To let them feel complete and happy. To let them feel things strongly and be powerful in finding the path of life they are meant to follow. It is okay to strongly feel things. I see that as a strength and a connection to nature. I want to make everybody feel loved and give them the strength to follow their dreams.

7.Are you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?

I am not opposed to religious beliefs and politics being used in music. I see music as an art, and art should be completely free of obligations. Also I see music as a powerful medium to find likeminded souls/people and connect people in a peaceful way. Of course this could also be a bad thing if a destructive and dangerous belief is being spread. But still music should be a free art. You can achieve beautiful things with the power of music.

8.We have dive into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music sends a message and if so what is it?

It definitely does but that message cannot be expressed in words. I see it as a transcendent message that only your soul understands. But if we’re talking about literal messages there are a lot of references in our lyrics to lost (esoteric) history and knowledge as well as a definite plea for human and nature to be united once again. I’ve always felt really connected to nature and more cyclical ways of thinking. To think in terms of progression and linearity feels simply unnatural to me.

9.The market has changed and many bands believe that record labels are a thing of the past, with many labels now charging bands to “sign” how do you think a band can make it in todays scene?

To be honest, I have no clue of any fast formula of how a band can make it in the current music scene. It does bother me that rich people can buy themselves into the most listened playlists on spotify and maybe become famous because of it. It feels like the industry is all about money these days, but I still hope it is not. The way I would find the best way of making it in today’s scene is by (slowly) getting discovered by more and more people that truly like your music and as a result of that you will get your fan audience and you will be truly wanted on the festival they attend. Of course it would definitely help to get signed by well-known labels such as nuclear blast.

10.Why with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events everything on demand
Why do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say in your music?

I do think that music is important in people’s lives and could really make them feel more happy and complete. I think our music could be valuable as we’ve been told regularly by our fans that our music has a special emotional impact on them.

11.How do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?

I don’t think it is fair. It is just another sign that today’s music industry is all about making money and that you could only achieve success by paying for your top rating. But on the other hand as a starting band you actually always pay to play as no venue ever pays enough to cover the costs.

12.It is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what you think is the most important key to success?

The most important key to success is choosing what makes you happy as I think being happy is the most important thing you could achieve for yourself and therefor is success. But if we’re talking about being famous, I want the most important thing to be the uniqueness, creativity, kindness and talent of the artist. I think being true to yourself, your emotions and your art is a way to success.

13.In country music and even in some cases rock music is written and performed by different people would your band perform a song written by someone else?

It depends. We write everything ourselves and that’s what makes us happy and gives us our wanted creative freedom. Also, as a singer I find it really annoying to sing lyrics that I don’t like because I really want to feel that emotional connection to the lyrics. Our guitarist Iwan is our composer and I think he’s truly amazing so I wouldn’t want to change that! I do love to sing covers of songs that are close to my heart though, but I do that at home ;). This band is all about our own creations but we might do a cover one day.

14.If you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?

I think sex shouldn’t be a thing to sell music. Being pro female is not a bad thing as there are much less women in metal music that get their audience and success. Most metal fans are still focused on men in metal which is old fashioned of course. I do think we should focus on talent regardless of sex though. Sex should be no issue at all. it should be all about the music. I think being pro female might be a preference for genre (like female fronted symphonic metal), a preference for female musicians or a preference for more female musicians arising from a wish for equality / equal representation. I think being ‘pro sex to sell music’ is a completely different thing that is not in definition connected to being pro female at all.

15.What is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?

It is not okay to offend someone and not okay to be disrespectful. Sometimes lawsuits are needed to get attention to a widespread issue and to propel the climate for change and a better future. Sometimes lawsuits might be unfair and damaging but sometimes they are fair and necessary. As long as I’m not the victim in the court I can’t really give a fair opinion about this. But what I do want to point out is that for me music has no essential connection to sex and drugs, so for me something that has to do with that has nothing to do with the art of music and therefore issues related to that doesn’t affect it for me. It does bother me though that people outside and insight the industry think sex is an essential part of it…..or am I the only exception? I do think sexism should be banished. I just want as much respect as any man in the scene.

16. Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?

My favorite band of all time is Florence and the Machine. Yep, although I listen to lots of metal my favorite band isn’t metal. Florence and the Machine was this life changing band I became a big fan of in 2010. It will always remain to have this special place in my heart.

17.What would you be doing if you were not in a band?

I would be bored and quite depressed probably making more paintings, movies and other arts

18. Do you have a favorite sports team?

No, I do not have a favorite sports team.

19.If you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?

Florence Welch or Wardruna.

20.This is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz

It is hard to get to your audience. It seems as if your music disappears in a black hole. Digital platforms have so much influence on who’s getting attention and who’s not (too powerful). It can be harder for women to get respected as a talented musician with brains. I hate genre discussions; who cares?!

SILVANA HELLO :)




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