SOURCE – I wanted to start things off by asking about the new album Illuminated you have out. What were the actual changes that you tried to bring forth on this record?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – When we wrote and recorded our first album, “The Gravity of Fall”, we were in the midst of figuring out our sound. With “Illuminated”, we had a pretty good idea of how much layering and production we wanted to do before we even started. We wanted to put a lot of attention into each song, which resulted in a shorter but more emotionally focused album. We wanted to make sure every song was fully charged and ready to go!
SOURCE – Do you feel that there were any lessons that you learned as a band with The Gravity of Fall that you applied to the new album Illuminated?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – Absolutely! When we were finishing up production on “The Gravity of Fall”, we discovered our love for big, epic productions, and our fanbase seemed to follow suit! “Skies Set Ablaze” was our first song to make an impact, and that was the song we put the most time and attention into. We wanted to make sure that every song on “Illuminated” got that kind of focus.
SOURCE – How do you feel so far about the worldwide response to this record? Have there been any surprises in terms of appeal, and how do you handle any criticism if it’s given?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – It has been a lot of fun to watch people from all over the world respond so positively to our music! We have been really happy with the response, and cannot wait to get back on the road to promote it properly. It isn’t exactly a surprise, but we are always thrilled to see the massive international response that our music gets. South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe have all responded to “Illuminated” in a really big way, which we are very grateful for. We want to come meet all you guys!
SOURCE – What are your memories surrounding the video shoot for Old Ones?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – Filming ‘Old Ones’ was a really great experience! We filmed it over a couple of different weekends at a photography studio in Vancouver, Washington. It was a beautiful location with really great props, and we wanted to make the most of them. We went for a very elegant, even regal aesthetic with that music video, with a lot of gold and jewels! Everyone worked extremely hard for the final result, and we are happy that it has been so well-received! A big shout-out to our model Alyxandria, who worked with Avienne to create a lot of tension that was pivotal to the scene.
SOURCE – There’s been a very grandiose scope for the last few videos. What do you look for when you are making a video for a song? How important are the visual aspects?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – When we are writing a song, it is important to us that we set an epic scene. The music should evoke overwhelming feelings in the listener, juxtaposed with a quiet intimacy. If we are able to achieve it, we want to reflect those feelings in our music videos!
Karl, our bass player and video producer, has a great eye for bringing ideas together and is never afraid to pull off big shots. We think that visuals are a great accompaniment to our music, and we put a lot of thought into them!
SOURCE – What are your thoughts on the Oregon music community – as it seems to have developed its own distinct flavor and characteristics, where a multitude of musicians and bands have been able to succeed internationally as a result?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – There is definitely something unique about living and making music in the Pacific Northwest! We have long, rainy winters and epic beauty in every direction. There is no way that won’t influence the music we write! The local metal scene has treated us very well! We have great promoters and some truly awesome bands that support each other in a meaningful way.
Like a lot of local scenes, the trouble is that venues have trouble staying open.
SOURCE – Do you believe social media channels and platforms like Bandcamp, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, etc. have helped give independent bands like yourselves a better chance for gaining an international following?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – Absolutely, especially internationally! We are always amazed to hear from fans in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia in addition to fans closer to home. It makes us want to get on the road and visit all of those places! Of course, the other end of that sword is that there is a lot of competition for attention, but we just have to find new ways to stand apart!
SOURCE – What’s the band up to for the rest of the year?
Riley Nix (Guitars, Vocals) – We have a lot of plans in the works. If it weren’t for this quarantine, we would be announcing a very cool tour right about now. Because things are up in the air, we aren’t sure how much of that is still going to happen. As soon as the world starts to open back up, we will be ready to go with a lot of fresh energy and ideas! We can’t wait!
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