Jadis
I bet that most of you
who are into progressive rock/metal music are familiar with Jadis, one
of the greatest and most quality bands there are out there. So, Jadis after
a long career and some excellent albums, have just released their newest
musical endeavor that listens to the interesting and yet weird name "Photoplay".
So, below you are given a good chance to understand many things concerning
Jadis and their most recent release.
1. HELLO! “PHOTOPLAY” IS AN ALBUM THAT IS
SURELY CHARACTERIZED BY VARIETY. HOW DO YOU, AS CREATORS, FEEL ABOUT THIS
ALBUM? WHAT NEW DOES IT BRING TO JADIS’ LONG CAREER?
I am very happy with “Photoplay” I think it
is the best Jadis project that I have been involved in, even after hearing/recording/mixing
the album I still enjoy listening to it and I think that is a very good
sign. It is definitely different from other Jadis CDs but it is still obviously
Jadis and it has a lot of Jadis trademarks, I just think this is how Jadis
should be sounding in 2006.
2. “PHOTPLAY” IS A SIMPLE TITLE YET MEANINGFUL.
WHEN I LISTENED TO YOUR ALBUM I THOUGHT THAT IT DESCRIBES IN A WAY THE
INTENTION OF THE BAND FOR EXPERIMENTATION WITH DIFFERENT SOUNDS. AM I RIGHT?
DOES IT HAVE A SECOND MEANING EXCEPT FOR THAT? SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO
WITH ITS LYRICS?
The title has not got a lot to do with the
lyrics. I just really liked the word it seemed to have a few different
meanings and could easily be interpreted to the 'playing' of the music
or the 'photos' within the artwork that have been experimented with and
manipulated
3. LET’S GO ON A TIME TRAVEL AND IN SPECIFIC LETS
STOP IN THE YEAR 1989. THAT WAS AN ERA THAT ONLY GARRY WAS LEFT IN THE
LINE-UP OF THE BAND. WHICH WERE THE REASONS THAT LED THE OTHER MEMBERS
TO LEAVE THE BAND? DID YOU EVER THINK TO QUIT THEN?
We had a band meeting and we argued about
something or other I can't quite remember what it was about but I know
that I did not agree, so I left the meeting and the next day all the guys
had left and it was only me....... but I was not upset I just saw
it as a challenge to put together a new band. In hindsight it was the best
thing that could have happened, Jadis became a lot better and stronger
after that and I never ever thought about quitting.
4. ANYWAY, YOU SOMEHOW FOUND THE WAY TO CONTINUE.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AFTER YOUR SURPASSING THAT PROBLEM, THINGS WENT BETTER
FOR JADIS? IN CASE YOU ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE
WILL YOU BE MORE PREPARED TO SOLVE IT?
Yes I would be more prepared I have learnt
over the years not to rely on too many people for too long, I think that
is why I like to organise the running of the band. I like to know exactly
what is going on and I am a firm believer in the saying ' if you want something
done...do it yourself'.
5. SINCE YOU PLAY PROGRESSIVE ROCK, I WOULD LIKE
TO ASK WHAT MATTERS THE MOST FOR YOU: TO WRITE A GOOD SONG OR TO SHOW OFF
YOUR SKILLS AS MUSICIANS? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK/METAL
BANDS THAT COMPOSE VERY COMPLICATED SONGS WITH ONLY PURPOSE TO SHOW OFF
THEIR SKILLS?
Firstly it is always the music that comes
first and then the lyrics come later, it is important to me that a good
song is written rather than just putting together a piece of music to show
off your musician skills... If you are good enough you should be able to
combine both good tune and good musician skills. When I hear some of these
prog /metal bands they leave me cold, and I am inclined not to buy the
CDs.
6. LET’S SAY THAT A NEW MUSICIAN ASKS YOU TO TELL
HIM ANY TRICKS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE TO COMPOSE MUSIC. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE
HIM?
Well firstly I think you have to have a good
ear for a melody and secondly how to create dynamics within a piece of
music it is very important to get a balance and not to have too many songs
that are the same tempo/pace /mood and sound, it is always good to experiment
with sounds I have this time experimented with a lot of keyboard sounds
and I think it has added a lot to the finished sound.
7. WHICH IS THE MOST PROVOKING THING YOU HAVE
NOTICED IN THE MODERN ROCK/METAL SCENE AND WHY?
Mainly that there are so many, many
bands. It is like thousands of new bands are forming every week it is just
makes getting noticed or heard that much more difficult.
8. THE 60’S, 70’S AND 80’S GAVE US A LOT OF CLASSIC
SONGS, SOMETHING THAT WE DON’T SEE VERY OFTEN LATELY. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE
THIS HAPPENS?
Probably because the best formats for song
and melody have already been discovered and written and it is more and
more difficult to be original.
9. WHICH IS YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE AS A MUSICIAN?
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WHEN YOU THINK OF, IT MAKES YOU FEEL ANXIOUS?
Yes, I am anxious about having low blood sugar
while playing live and forgetting how to play some of the guitar parts.
10. YOUR MUSIC HAS A VARIETY OF EMOTIONS, BUT
WHICH ONE DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS DOMINANT IN YOUR NEW RELEASE?
I think this album has a lot more power
and a lot more guitar riffs, but I think it is balanced up by a lot of
whistful, thoughtful and sometimes melancholy passages and melodies and
this does create a certain dynamic.
11. LET’S SAY THAT YOUR MUSIC IS A PAINTING OR
A MOVIE. WHAT KIND OF PAINTING OR MOVIE DO YOU IMAGINE IT COULD BE?
I really cannot imagine our music in those
terms.
12. IT WAS AN HONOR DOING THIS INTERVIEW WITH
YOU! THE LAST LINES BELONG TO YOU AND PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE TO THE READERS
OF BEHIND THE VEIL WEBZINE…
Thanks to one and all of the readers of Behind
the Veil for continually supporting bands such as Jadis. Your interest
and help over the years has been very supportive and ensures that we keep
writing new albums every 2 or 3 years.
Kind regards!
Gary
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis
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