Interview with SOEN

The masters of progressive metal are back with their second album.

Last november has been released 'Tellurian' (Spinefarm Records) and our blog had the pleasure to talk with their drummer Martin Lopez.

LFdM: Hi Martin, thank you very much for your time.

Tellurian has just seen the light. First impressions?

ML: Very positive, It has been received well by both our audience and the media.

LFdM: Cognitive and Tellurian, two very nice and accurate albums, but diametrically opposed. 

The first with a clear stylistic references - see Tool, Opeth - the last more personal, almost visceral. What's behind Tellurian?

ML: Mainly a lot of time and hard work.

We have developed as a band and refined our identity as a band.

Cognitive was done quite fast without really knowing each other musically while Tellurian took a lot longer and we got to know each other musically in the process.

LFdM: I find that Ekelof has a very deep and passionate voice, able to communicate the sense of each individual track to the audience. Is it the kind of interpretation that you always had in mind from the beginning?

ML: I wanted clean vocals but didn´t have a clear idea of which kind of singer we wanted.

As soon as I heard Joel´s voice on the music I knew it was the perfect fit and that we could create some really emotional music together. We share the vision of how music should sound like.

LFdM: Despite only two years have passed, it seems that this album needed a long time to be developed: from the attention to details to the mixing of sounds. How important was the choice of the new producer?

ML: Our guitar player Kim produced the album, same as Cognitive. All details and compositions were ready before we started recording Tellurian.

LFdM: The songs have a lot of pace, there are clear ethnic references, a very good job. Who came up with this idea?

ML: Myself, I play and listen to a lot of “World Music” so it comes naturtally while writing songs.

Ethnic music tends to add a spiritual vibe to the songs that fits perfectly Soens musical vision.

The pace changes is our way to keep our music dynamic and adventurous.

LFdM: A spontaneous reflection comes about the combinations of melodic and dark vocals opposed to the most epic and challenging references. What can you tell us about that?

ML: We try to add as many influences as possible while maintaining the flow.

Variety makes music more interesting.

LFdM: About epic themes, we can say that Tellurian is a bit 'like a ship that has sailed over seas, from progressive to post-rock. What are your main influences?

ML: I don´t know what post-rock is so I cannot agree.

Progressive rock is to me, bands that play technical and compicated stuff while we just try to write good songs without really caring if it´s complicated or not.

LFdM: How your past musical experiences have been used in this new band?

ML: Everyones experience is reflected in Soen, It´s a part of who we are and it´s present while writing or performing music.

LFdM: Who are the Soen? Can you describe yourself individually?

ML: I rather describe us as a group.

We are 5 guys who love music doing the best they can, still learning and developing.

LFdM: In many bands there is the tendency to find an almost forgot post-punk sound. Which tools have nowadays the bands to re-creates curiosity in the younger audience for this kind of sound?

ML: The best way is by seeing rock bands live, just forget everything else and be there, be a part of the show and feel.

LFdM: Speaking in terms of production, the digital age has made life easy for many people, even those who did not own the basics for this profession. Let's face it: sometimes this works against more deserving people. What is your position on that?

ML: It´s both good and bad but i still believe you´ll never write better music just because you have a better production.

Music comes from the inside and computers can´t help you there.

LFdM: Will we see you soon in Italy?

ML: Yes we have two shows in a few weeks.

19.03 Bologna, Alchemia Club

20.03 Rome (Mezzago) at a club called Bloom.

I love the Italian crowd and we´re really looking forward to these shows!

LFdM: We love you too! 

Interview by Michela Edit by Alessandra