SECRETS OF THE SKY interview by Destructive-music.com!
Following the release of their brand new album “To Sail Black Waters” and my subsequent review I got the chance to ask Secrets of the Sky a few questions. Here is what they had to say…
Thank you for taking the time out to speak with me. I’d like to start by asking about the name of your band. Secrets of the Sky brings to mind many images and thoughts, whether it be one of faith, Gods inhabiting the skies and looking down on us, or the frequent aerial battles that have been waged in the last century. Can you describe to me what the name means to you?
Garett: (vocals/keys) There is a way in which we want that to be revealed, but I don’t think we want to just tell of it outright, the lyrics, the sound, and the places between places that we hide the clues are where the listener can learn the meaning of our name, and once they do, I hope they will let us know… We would love for fans to figure it out.
It feels like there is a parallel when it comes to your new album. On one side your name Secrets of the Sky contrasts with its mirror image in a way, “To Sail Black Waters”. Is this merely a coincidence or was there an element of symmetry to your thinking?
Clayton: If we told you exactly what we had in mind, I think it would spoil the fun of the entire experience. We are working on writing the next record presently, and many of the themes we are touching on here will be revisited… things will become less cloudy as time goes on.
Garett: There is an inherent symmetrical element to all that we produce, it’s part of the greater work that is our undertaking. The title “To Sail Black Waters” represents a fragment of the symbolic tapestry which we have chosen for you to see.
“To Sail Black Waters” is put simply a quite stunning piece of work which uses many layers, influences and textures to create a very varied and intense body of work. Would you say that your sound has been born through an accumulation of music you have collectively listened too over the years or was your sound always set in stone? A conscious decision from the beginning?
Clayton: Thank you for that! When Chris (Anderson) and I starting working on material for what would become this project, I believe we set out to do something a bit different, definitely along the lines of how the album turned out. It doesn’t hurt that many of us listen to very different types of “metal” along with other genres. So the main writers on this album were definitely influenced by an astonishingly different array of influences. Some of us stopped listening to outside music at all during the writing.
How did you find the whole creative/writing/recording experience for this album? Do you enjoy your time in the studio or are you more comfortable in a live scenario?
Clayton: It was amazingly fun… all aspects. I think the stuff that we chose to focus on for the record came together over quite a long period, but it was always a natural process, never forced. Recording is always a good time and Juan Urteaga, who recorded and mixed the thing is an old friend and very good at what he does. Of course, we love playing live as well. The songs were all worked out and arranged live, so that is the most comfortable way to recreate them in my opinion.
Garett: For me it was a great experience to be in the studio, I’ve never worked with a sound engineer like Juan, being a metal vocalist himself, I feel like he just got it right away… Playing live is where it all comes to life for me, that’s what I live for, but I must say that recording this record was not only an inspiring event in my life, it was revolutionary for me personally in many ways.
Whilst listening to the album I picked up a very strong Type O Negative vibe about some parts of the music. Are you fans of Type O? Can you hear that influence within your own music?
Clayton: Ya, we have heard that comparison before. It’s cool… I love old Type O, most of the guys do in fact. I think our choice in keyboard voices probably brings that comparison out. I can understand that it comes across here and there, but I think we have a lot of other stuff going on that isn’t Type O-related at all.
Can you tell me about your local scene? How many people come to gigs in your local area? Are there many like-minded bands and would you recommend any?
Clayton: There are tons of legendary bands and clubs in and from the San Francisco bay area. We have had good responses so far for our local shows, I think. It also takes a minute for a new band to establish itself here due to the sheer volume of shows and different bands. We have connected with some likeminded locals, but probably more so with touring bands and people from outside of our area. Locally, Abstracter from Oakland, Saviours are always great, Catapult The Dead from the East Bay, lightsystem from Los Angeles, Before The Eyewall from Columbus, Ohio and In The Silence from Sacramento… too many to mention really.
What would you say your main influences are, be they musically or otherwise? What inspiration do you draw from them?
Clayton: Movie soundtracks and books, mostly of the darker variety. I like the idea of telling stories with music and I think we try to do that when we write.
Garett: I’m actually influenced by movie soundtracks and books as well, Danny Elfman soundtracks have been pivotal for me, and the late Oingo Boingo has been a huge influence on my lyrics. I’m also deeply inspired and indebted to bands like Tristania with Morten Veland, Watain, Gorgoroth with Gaahl, Dark Throne, Mayhem, Christian Death, Urgehal, Emperor, Immortal, Dimmu and Amon Amarth. Writings that have played a massive role for me have been works by American poet Edgar Allen Poe, and the beloved Morrissey, and Bob Smith of The Cure, to name a few.
Finally, what does the future hold for Secret’s of the Sky?
Clayton: Well, in the immediate future, our record comes out in October and we are doing a Western US tour as well in October. We filmed a video for the song “Decline” back in June with director Andrew Nethery, and that will be available shortly as well… other than planning for those things, we have been working on the next record and are extremely excited about it. After our tour, etc. we will probably get back to working on that as well as planning another tour, hopefully Europe (fingers crossed!).
Garett: I want to take this band to Europe.
Cheers for your time
Link:
http://destructive-music.com/?p=10020