SOURCE – How did the George Kollias project come about?
George Kollias – It was just an idea in the beginning, recording some of the songs I wrote for my 2 instructional DVDs and just release something official for the fans. I saw many people enjoying my music and asking for more songs so that was the main motivation for me.
Although it was a fun project, there was no plan for getting a band together or something like that, this is why I put my name on and I have no other musicians to this “band”. I write music since I was 12 but I’m not contributing guitar parts with the bands I am playing for, I don’t wanna get into their area you know? So my instuctional DVDs was the first step for me to write some songs and perform some extreme drumming in there so people can watch and learn, then some of the songs got people’s attention and there you go. I just enjoy writing and performing my own songs, I can tell you I enjoyed it most of anything else I have done in the past and I’m so looking forward for the next one!
SOURCE – Why was this the right time for you to release your first solo album?
George Kollias – After 2 Drum DVDs and have some of my songs released on YouTube as demo versions people started to bugging me about a full release, which was awesome! So I started thinking about it, and finally I started getting a full album together. Then the idea
dropped about doing it all by myself, seemed like a nice challenge. And I was actually late because of my touring schedule – which is crazy – and studio schedule with other bands, I do several recordings for many bands so I’m always super busy back home so my solo project pushed back several times. One thing I can tell you just to give you an example is that I wrote almost all the lyrics while flying from country to country touring… it was crazy! But again, I enjoyed it more!
SOURCE – Describe the songwriting process for Invictus. Were most of the recording sessions actually done in your presence, or was a lot of it done via the magic of the Internet and sending files back and forth?
George Kollias – As you know I wrote all the music and I performed every instrument, drums/guitars/bass/keys/percussion and I also sang in there. So of course, I did everything on my own, hahaha. I had a few guests playing a guitar solo in there, so the solos were done in their own studios and of course it was not necessary for them to record in my studio. So yes, except from the guitar solos (not all of them) I have performed everything myself.
All the writing was done between tours and drum clinics while I was home, it didn’t take too much, I was pretty fast with it actually but the recordings took alot cause in order to get in the studio and start recording you have to get ready, getting sound for the kit for example can take a week, then the actual drum recording took only 2 days. Then I had to go on tour and after 2 months I got some free time to track guitars. Then later on I started with the vocals and that was the final thing, vocals was so much fun to do but the
lyrics killed me… it was a long time since I wrote lyrics for the last time so that kinda kicked my ass hahaha. But I did it and I am very happy with everything.
SOURCE – Is part of the fun of doing a solo album getting to play with all those different guest musicians that you brought on board for this album?
George Kollias – No, that was just an idea I had because my guitar solos are not the best, they suck actually hahaha. I mean I’m doing a few solos in there but they are not that great so i invited some of the best guitar players to contribute a solo for me. It was fun, I really
enjoyed it and it was a huge honor to have these guys playing on my album I was stoked!
We will see with the next one, if I don’t sit down and practice some guitar soloing then I will probably have more guests…
SOURCE – What are the pros and cons of producing the album yourselves?
George Kollias – Well I had a couple friends mixing and mastering the album, they are both professionals and they did an amazing work. I was there too so I could tell them exactly what I needed and they got it for me. I think that part was a super important chapter too, to have 2 professionals mixing the album but also friends who know me very well and know what I like. It worked very nice, and the album sounds exactly like I wanted it to sound.
SOURCE – What was the first album you bought with your own money?
George Kollias – AC/DC, Flick of the Switch. I was 7 years old and I still love that album. Days later I bought Powerslave from Iron Maiden which is still my favourite Maiden album. Both vinyl!
SOURCE – This day and age, so many people listen to the album without buying it, through streaming services, Spotify, and things like that. Everything’s different in how people consume it. What’s your opinion about it?
George Kollias – It’s something I can’t do anything about it and of course I don’t like it as much, I prefer the old days when people were buying vinyls or CDs to support the bands. The whole industry goes so bad right now because of that, and what most people don’t understand is that if you stop supporting something sonner or later it will go away… Bands will not be able to afford playing music anymore. It’s pretty rough already, but it only gonna get worst. Same thing is for DVDs and everything, there is no money support anymore so musicians are struggling to make a living and we will miss some great music soon, we do already…
SOURCE – With your other obligations, are you going to be able to do any shows or any tours in support of the solo album?
George Kollias – Yes I will. The first idea is to make a big clinic tour where I will be performing all the album by myself with backing tracks but there are also ideas of getting a band together and go out for a few shows. Nothing is set yet so I can’t say much but I would love to do that sometime soon! I will definitely start from Europe with some clinics first, I can’t wait!
SOURCE – Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
George Kollias – I would like to say that the album is out from Season of Mist which they did an amazing job with it and they supporting this project so much. It’s also available on my website so whoever wants to check it out they can do it for free. I think it’s a good album and will please everyone’s ears, I promise you will not get disappointed! Thank you for your support!
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