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?!
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