After Forever – Arrives Epica
Yet another Dutch Gothic metal band with female vocals that hit it big in the last few years, Epica's debut "The Phantom Agony" has left a lasting impression on the current metal scene. With a growing number of record sales, and a new soundtrack album written by the band, it seems there's no stopping them. To find out more about the band, we spoke with the band's guitarist, Ad Sluijter.
Hi Ad, I'd like to start with the band's score for the new Joyride film, can you give us the details about it, how it came about?
Mark was contacted by the producers of the movie already while he was still in After Forever. It took a lot of time before the actual shooting started, but finally about a year ago it did so Mark could start with writing some music for it. Yves and Coen also joined in on this so there was plenty of material, even more than they bargained for. It would be a shame not to use all of this material, so instead of publishing it as “the joyride soundtrack” we choose to publish it under our own name. So besides songs that were used for the actual movie the cd also contains other material.
I read in your biography that some of your favourite albums are soundtracks, was hat something you were interested in creating before being approached for the film?
Soundtrack stuff is definitely our biggest influence in composing music, this has nothing to do with being approached by those producers but just because of the simple fact that it’s just great music.
I'd like to discuss "Consign To Oblivion", I understand the album deals with the Mayan culture, can you explain the idea behind the album and its lyrics?
Mark once got a book about the Mayan culture from his mom and he got inspired by it so much that he started writing some lyrics about them which ended up as a mini concept on the album.
You've worked with an orchestra on the album, while most bands tend to do the orchestral parts using keyboards, why an orchestra then, and how did the band write the orchestral parts?
Well of course we had a real string ensemble and a real choir, but as for the rest we just used samples as well, the sample libraries nowadays are so good that you just need a complete orchestra to get the same effect. About the writing process, we just write and record all of the orchestra parts on synthesiser before we enter the studios. When recording the album, we give these tracks to Miro [Producer/Keyboard Of Luca Turilli], who also works at the Gate Studio, and he arranges all of these stuff to orchestral parts, so for all of the different instruments.
To what kind of an audience do you think the score album will relate to?
The soundtrack genre isn’t a very popular genre when speaking of sales, so I think it will mostly contain Epica fans who are just fond of the soundtrack side of Epica.
I understand the band was named after a Kamelot album. can you tell us where did that idea come from and why was it chosen?
When we were in the studio recording TPA, we still didn’t have a name haha. We noticed the latest Kamelot album laying around, called Epica. We immediately thought it was a cool sounding name and when we found out it’s meaning (a place in the universe which holds all the answers to the question of life) we were sold, it just fits perfectly to what some of our lyrics are about.
You did shows with Kamelot, did they have a special meaning for band members because of that fact?
I am a big fan of Kamelot myself so it was a real honour to be able to do a tour with them. It was great, I watched them almost every show! I really enjoyed myself on that tour and I am looking forward to seeing them again later on this year in Brazil.
Can you tell us about the "Solitary Ground" single, why was it chosen as a single?
These decisions are made by our record label. I think they choose this one since it is the most commercial song on the album. Next single is going to be Quietus by the way, we just finished the video shoot last week.
What's different about the versions of the songs in the single then the album versions?
On the album it appears as we initially wrote it. The single also contains a piano version and a remix of this song.
What's the idea behind the video for the song?
It can be thought of in different ways, let the viewers decide it for themselves.
You have been compared and Simone has pointed out Nightwish as a vocal influence, what's your take on that band and any similarities?
Tuomas’ (NW’s main song writer) biggest influence is soundtrack stuff as well, so it’s obvious we have similarities in our music as well, but I do think we also have enough differences when comparing one another. But the fact still is that I like their music a lot and have a great admirations to what they have achieved.
The band started out with Mark leaving After Forever, I understand the bands did shows together, so there's no feeling of rivalry between the two?
Two of these shows were at a festival, so not much time to see each other, but one of them was a club show we did together and it was great. It was sold out already months before. Also After Forever is a band I admire a lot, so it was great doing a show together like that.
What about a new metallic album, are there any new tunes planned?
Ad: We already have written a lot of stuff and as it looks know it will be a lot harder than the previous albums:-) We will probably record the new album this year, so expect it to be released in the beginning of 2007.
What's the idea behind "The Embrace That Smothers"? is that a concept the band is planning to pursue?
Like the Mayan concept on CTO, this was a concept on TPA and we are planning to pursue and finish it on the next album.
Simon starts a lot in the visual side of the band, in the single cover, in the video, do you view her as a symbol or is it just because of her good looks?
Well these kind of decisions are made by the record label again and yes, probably this is an obvious decision since good looks sells.
Simon has been known for participating in different projects abd guest vocals she did; do other band members have any side projects outside of the band?
I have just finished some guitar work for Delain, which is the new band of ex-Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt which should be released soon.
Mark has been known to hold firm views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that somehow relate to the band's lyrics, do you know what they are, and do you hold a similar view of the situation here?
Ad: Well what his views are about can be read directly in these lyrics. I can agree on several points with him, but I don’t feel obligated to write lyrics about it.
You're actually a math teacher; do you still work as one?
Ad: At the moment I don’t, because of the busy schedule we have with the band, which I don’t mind of course… [Lauges]
To conclusion, what are you're plans for the close future?
We're going to finish writing the new album which, like I said is going to be recorded later this year.
