What are the
steps forward from Anima to Unreal?
SUE – This the kind of difficult question for a band, as we have no distance
from our albums. Anyway let's try to answer! In Unreal, we've tried to compose
deeper melodies, darker riffs, we wanted to develop our material much more than
in Anima, where we tended to switch from one riff/melody to the next one very
quickly. Here we kind of calmed down, while kicking louder and heavier –
paradox!
A new
recording every two years: would you call that an administrative routine or a
well-planned
dynamic?
SUE – No routine at all, because between each couple of years the story is
always different. Different concerts, festivals, musical experiences, personal
experiences as well... Let's say that we are inspired, willing to compose music
together, so after one year of concerts/promotion of an album, we immediately
start composing another album the next year. But it might change with the next
album, it'll perhaps come next year or within 3 years! Who knows? Not us! We do
not plan that at all.
The guitar
solos on Unreal are as sharp as the rhythm guitar, but there is not so much lead
guitar. That does not alterate the quality of the songs, but some prog metal
fans could say it goes against a kind of tradition in this music genre. What
would you answer to them?
SUE – Hehe we knew we would hear/read that! You could say the same about
keyboard solos! As a matter of fact, we didn't follow the omnipresent virtuoso
tradition of prog metal, but it was not intentional, we just composed the songs,
and when we felt there was room for guitar leads or keyboard solos, when it was
naturally relevant, we put a lead or a solo. In the end we inserted few leads.
Some dark, paranormal songs just didn't require that. Simple as that. And there
was no way we systematically keep a solo part in each and every song after the 2nd
chorus, just because we had to showcase our musicianship or meet progmetal
standards (if there is any standard, or “tradition” as you say, in progressive
metal, then it is no longer progressive. The fact it is considered a “music
genre” as you say, is absurd and anti-progressive as well! But this is another
debate! Whoops!). This is just old-fashioned and it would have distorted the
special paranormal mood of the songs. We soloed a lot in Anima and Mental
Torments. It was time to modernise the approach and not distort the concept of
the album. And there are sooooo many other ways for a musician to express his
feelings than just solos... Arrangements and melodies and riffs mean so much
more than note flows...
Some others,
and I am among them here, could ask why O.B.E. is so short?
Quantity and quality are two different things, but don't you think this superb
instrumental could have been developed a little bit more?
SUE – There again, there should not be any time length requirement for
instrumentals. We are just free to compose the way we want. This is progressive
music! The thing about O.B.E. is simple – we had this 4-minute instrumental
piece, we really felt it was complete, there was nothing more to add. So we
asked ourselves whether we should insert it as an instrumental part in one of
the songs, but none of the songs required another 4-minute instrumental part and
this instrumental part did not require any song before or after it. It was fine
the way it was. It's just like Halleygretto in Mental Torments, which was 2
minutes or so! Very short! But complete. You know, when the artist feels his/her
piece is achieved, s/he does not have to make it bigger just to make it bigger.
That's what happened with O.B.E. It's a four-minute out-of-body experience.
Listeners should take it this way and just consider the concept. Not a
musicianship showcase, as I mentioned in the previous question.
What about the
lyrics on Unreal? Are you the closest to “message carriers” or to “only
entertainers”?
SUE – There is no particular message in Unreal. No political, social,
philosophical message. There is a concept – paranormal phenomenon. We're talking
about one specific phenomenon per song. Curses, previous life, telepathy,
aliens, experiences, poltergeist, afterlife, prophetic dreams... So yes this may
be called entertainement only. It is analysis of (un)real concept through
fiction stories. How would you call that?!
Do you think
the prog metal audience is receptive to lyrics?
SUE – We do. Prog metal fans do pay attention to lyrics. Much more than you may
think. Of course it's a music-based genre. Fans listen to music first. But after
several spins, they start listening to the album with the booklet in their
hands, and then appears the lyrical dimension. If often adds something more to
the listening experience. We cannot and don't want to neglect lyrics. And you
know what? Even if all fans didn't give a shit to lyrics, we would keep on
working hard on writing texts, just because we love it!
Could a song
like “Down Memory Lane”
be sent to radio stations as a single?
Have Trendkill and Sensory plans about it?
SUE – Hey! Why not! Considering the catchy chorus and short time length, it
could. But it's still far away from what major radios air these days/years...
Therefore we don't think our labels have any plan about it.
Some tour
plans for 2009-2010? What about big metal summer festivals?
SUE – No summer fest planned but a European tour with Threshold in autumn!
What are the
benefits and the disadvantages of being based in the south-east of
France
for a prog metal band?
SUE – Benefits: 340 days of sunny weather per year, and beautiful landscape,
which inspires a lot. Disadvantages: Being far from the intense metal activity
of Northern Europe. It costs an arm and a leg to
get us playing anywhere in Europe. Heavy metal
is almost dead in Latin Europe, and we're too far from where it's alive and
kicking... too bad.
Do you think
an autodidact musician should sometimes take some lessons even after a long
career? And should a musician who studied years at music school learn to forget
in order to create?
SUE – This is totally true. An autodidact musician (also a school-trained
musician) always have something to learn, at any moment of his/her career. And
on the other hand, trying to forget about theory is sometimes very useful and
essential for a musician in order to rediscover a natural, spontaneous approach
of music and composition.
A conclusion?
SUE – No, just the beginning! \m/
Seriously, we would like, once again to thank all of our fans for making the SUE
history together with us. We hope they will enjoy Unreal and we can't wait to
meet them during our autumn European tour!
Interview by
Philippe Leconte
