SOURCE – The latest Conan album is Evidence of Immortality, the fifth for the group. You chose to record this album with Chris Fielding – discuss the mood surrounding the songwriting and recording sessions, and what you were able to achieve with this record that once again seems to expand upon the ambiance, atmosphere, and type of rock you deliver?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – Well, first of all I am Chris Fielding so it made sense for me to record the album as I’m in the band and it’ll save us a few quid! But seriously though, I’ve recorded every Conan studio release since the beginning, and I joined the band just after we had recorded the Blood Eagle record so I know what sound I want to get out of the band in the studio. The writing process foe this album, like with pretty much every other band over the last few years, was frustrated by the Covid lockdowns – especially as Johnny the drummer lives in Ireland. We got together when we could but it felt difficult initially to get any momentum on the writing over the two years since we started back in December 2019. However, we seem to work well under pressure so once we had booked the studio to coincide with the end of our UK tour last autumn, the songs came together very quickly and naturally. In the studio the ideas seemed to flow very quickly and it was exciting to hear the songs develop.
SOURCE – Tell us about the video shoot for Levitation Hoax. What do you enjoy most about expressing yourselves through this visual medium – does it give the music listeners and followers more insight into the concepts you wish to get across?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – We had almost no input in the video at all – we aren’t really even in it! Jon (Davis) suggested a few ideas but we essentially left it in the hands of the director. We were asked to film ourselves pulling some stupid faces which are projected on the faces of the women playing in the video, but apart from that, the first we saw of it was a few days before it was released! I think it came out great though. I know none of us would want to perform in a traditional “band playing together” style video – and I don’t think that would suit the aesthetic of the music and artwork either.
SOURCE – Was this approach different on Evidence of Immortality compared to Existential Void Guardian?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – It was very similar in how we recorded and wrote the album, however, the main difference was that this line-up has been stable now for 5 years. When we wrote and recorded Existential Void Guardian, Johnny (King) had only just joined the band. We definitely have grown tighter as a band after this time.
SOURCE – How important is it to assemble the right team of people beyond the band members into management, booking agents, and behind the scenes people in order to promote the brand of the band into the right areas for success?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – We have worked with many of the same people for a long time now, from my wife Sarah Fielding who prints and manages most of our merch with Heck Press, Vadim at Made In Brooklyn does that for us in America. Marie Leclère has handled our european bookings and tour management, Nathan Carson at Nanotear books us in the USA and for a while now Tyler Hodges has managed the UK side of the bookings.
Jon handles most of the general band management and as I said earlier, I do all the studio recording. We like to keep things fairly simple and DIY but it definitely makes a huge difference when you know you can trust people to do a good job.
SOURCE – Where do you see the biggest differences in the approach and outlook of stoner/doom metal from bands of your generation and the younger, newer acts that are developing?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – I’m not sure that I do see a difference to be honest, the newer bands coming up now that are doing really well, like Greenlung for example, have the same attitude that Conan has always adopted which is to be able to put the work in. It takes a lot of commitment and effort to be able to do the touring required to take your band to the next level.
SOURCE – What are some of the biggest worries and concerns that you have regarding the world that we live in today?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – It wouldn’t be very doom to sit and worry about the direction the world is heading, it’s much better to simply accept the misery of it all and revel in its inevitable collapse.
SOURCE – What would you consider three of the most important albums that helped shape your outlook on the metal genre – and what’s your favorite concert memory of a show or festival you took in purely as an audience member, and what made that show so special and memorable to you?
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – Possibly Master of Puppets, s/t Iron Monkey and Sleep Jerusalem (subsequently the Dopesmoker version when that was finally released). They all heavily influenced my direction and how I ended up where I am today.
One really great live moment for me was at Maryland Deathfest in 2015, we had just played and then Yob followed on after us. They were playing the track ‘In Our Blood’ and Mike (Scheidt) was having issues with his vocal microphone, which kept cutting out. Eventually, he gave up and stood back to allow a stage tech to run on and replace the mic as the band jammed for a minute. The tech managed to fix the issue just in time for Mike to walk back up to the microphone, and with both hands held in the air he triumphantly yelled the line “In Our Blood!” with crystal clear sound. When the band kicked back in it sounded 10 times heavier than before, a real hairs standing up on the back of your neck moment.
SOURCE – Thanks for taking the time with us. If you have any closing-remarks, now is your chance!
Chris Fielding (Bass, Vocals) – Thanks for the questions!
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