KADIMA INTERVIEW

 

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

My name is Aidan Israel, I am the guitarist and songwriter for the band, Kadima. I hope our music inspires you and moves you both musically, spiritually, and sonically. I hope this album connects with you and resonates with you in ways that inspires you to chase your dreams and defeat the things you struggle with. I hope this guide towards the light of peace and tranquility.

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

When I first wrote this album my reference goals was to write a concept album in a Coheed and Cambria writing style but with sonic qualities similar to the Contortionist(we are lucky that Eric Guenther of the Contortionist recorded on this record so you can hear that influence). We are also inspired by Devin Townsend Heavily. Other people have noticed influences such as Destiney Potato, Scale the Summit, Sea in the Sky, Dream Theater, and a lot of other progressive bands.

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

Keep Physical Media, we still live in a physical world so why not

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

I wanted to be a musician ever since I was age 12 when I first heard Rush in my father’s car. It showed me that music was limitless and other worldly both in the endless sonic qualities and aspects one can perform as well as sending a message in a complex conceptual manner. One of my mentors, Eric Brown who taught me guitar for many years always told me, “The most important thing in Music is expression” And I really took that to heart. It just seems as a unique and ethereal manner of expressing ourselves. If I remember that is the purpose of music than I would say it has paid off. I am just trying to make cool and meaningful work. 

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

How would you define “fair?” Do we get a lot of attention because our vocalist is a female? Yes. Does it bother me? No, not in the slightest. I do not think females in metal purposefully chose to have that extra attention. In fact, I feel like it can be scary for them at times. I am a big advocate for women’s rights and, it is already hard enough to be a woman in any society due to attention and safety issues. People want to be recognized for their talents and not their gender. I think we as musicians and listeners should be more respectful to women in the scene and try to treat them the same as if they were a man. Regardless of gender we should acknowledge someone for their talents and their innate qualities rather than focus on them. We do a disservice by over sexualizing women in the metal scene and it is not right. Kaylee Jorene, the vocalist for Kadima is one of the most talented individuals I have ever met, and she is an amazing human being. She deserves an immense amount of credit for her artistic abilities rather than her gender. 

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? 

No, it has nothing to do with anger or hatred. It does however have to do with pain

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

I use my religious beliefs in my album as a method for expression and using it as a source of inspiration. I do not think my music is considered, “Jewish Music” but heavily inspired by Judaism. I try to make my music as pluralistic as possible when it comes to Religion. I think it is fine to be inspired by religious beliefs if we are not imposing those beliefs on other people. In terms of politics, I see no issue with it because it is a method for advocating for social and political change. Politics directly affects people, and it is the artist’s right to use their platform however they please in terms of expressing ideas.

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

Yes. Mental Health Reform. That people undergoing struggles with mental health issues both minor and extreme are not alone and that they will make it through the darkest of times. We are not alone in this fight.

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? 

Just by putting in the work. To be honest I am still figuring it out but we do live in a day in age where if you find the right people and do a lot of the leg work you can succeed.

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? 

It is their choice whether they want to listen to my music or not. I think that if anyone chooses to listen to it, I hope that they can relate to it someway and be moved by it. I think what I have made is incredibly unique and relatable while also being very progressive. I hope they can take something away by that.

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 think it is a sad reality of our society and industry, but it is part of the reality of the industry. I don’t have a lot of comments on this other than that.

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

Simply hard work and determination. If you are talented enough and put in some work the music should speak for itself, but you won’t get anywhere if you don’t put in the work and dedication. You must believe in yourself and in your own work.

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? 

Yeah that could be cool.

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

Have Kaylee answer that

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? 

We must be accountable for our actions and respectful of the safety and comfort of others. It honestly baffles me sometimes that this is still an issue to the extent of what it is. I do not see how it can be hard to not harass or abuse someone. We need to be responsible for how we make others feel and ideally, we want the largest audience for our art as we can, so with that in mind we should not offend our main audiences. I am a believer in justice and the safety of others. 

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

It must be Coheed and Cambria, and Dream Theater and Devin Townsend as Runners up. It fascinates me how simple yet elaborate Coheed has been with portraying the big ideas in the armory wars, while both being very progressive musically and easily digestible conceptually. They really impacted me hard with their songwriting style and sonic qualities. I will always love them. Dream Theater made a big influence on me through how progressive and massive they sound and how limitless one can be on their instruments. Devin Townsend is an all worldly being who is just brilliant in all aspects, musically, conceptually. He really inspires me as a man and as a musician. 

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

I would be doing activism for mental health reform, doing community service, working with animals, doing work on video games.  

18. Do you have a favorite sports team? 

Seattle Seahawks!

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

 Rush

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

Spotify and other streaming services need to do a better job paying their artists. That and metal should not be stigmatized for being angry rather people should be more open minded about it.