Juglans
Regia
Juglans Regia has recently
released their new album under the title "Controluce" and once again they
deliver well played, catchy and magnetizing progressive metal/rock with
lyrics in their mother tongue. Go on and read the interesting and sincere
answers that both Max and Alex have offered for us and enjoy!
1.HELLO! FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BAND BETWEEN THE RELEASE OF YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUM "PRISMA"
AND THE NEW ALBUM “CONTROLUCE"...
(Max) In a few words... Lapo, who played keyboards
on “Prisma” left the band in April 2003. We tried to find another Keyboard-player
… but the search was in vain. So, in the first month of 2004, we decided
to continue with the actual line-up: Alessandro – vocals, Antonello – guitar,
David – drums and I (Massimiliano) on bass.
2.IF WE COMPARE YOUR PREVIOUS WORK WITH THE NEW
ONE, CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH THE MAIN SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THEM ARE? CAN YOU TELL ME IN WHICH PARTS THE BAND HAS IMPROVED MUSICALLY?
(Max) First of all, I think that the songs
of “Controluce” are “in the vein of Juglans Regia” as the songs
of “Prisma”. In my opinion the spirit and the attitude are the same. As
for differences …. Well, without keyboards the sound could be... leener
or empty. So in many cases our approach in the compositions has been different,
specially regarding the guitar parts. In the songs of “Controluce” Antonello
used something peculiar lines or unusual chords … “to fill” the sound.
I think that the band has improved in creating a full sound with guitar,
bass and drums…
3.HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO COMPOSE THE NEW
SONGS? CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH METHOD YOU FOLLOW IN ORDER TO COMPOSE MUSIC?
IS IT A TEAM WORK OR ARE THE SONGS CREATED BY ONE PERSON?
(Max) About one year… we’re not fast! Every
song has its process and its life. But usually new idea rises during improvisation.
Sometimes Antonello and I suggest a riff or a groove and together
we all start to work on it … with full liberty. It happens also that one
of us comes with the structure of the new songs but it’s not usual!
4.ONCE AGAIN THE TITLE OF THE NEW ALBUM HAS TO
DO WITH THE LIGHT. THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS CALLED PRISMA AND THE NEW ONE CONTROLUCE.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS PERSISTANCE OF YOURS WITH THE LIGHT? IS THERE ANY
CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR PREVIOUS WORK AND YOUR NEW ALBUM?
(Alex) You’re the first that noticed this
similarity! What can I say... There aren’t any relations between the titles
of our CD, “Prisma” (Prism) and “Controluce” (counterlight/back lighting).
But this is an interesting question… The word “Prisma” reflects various
“faces” that men can have…“Controluce” connects with the search to be invisible…
5.WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO SING IN THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE?
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF COMPOSING A SONG IN ENGLISH? DON'T YOU THINK THAT
THE USE OF ITALIAN LANGUAGE IS AN OBSTACLE FOR YOU TO APPROACH MORE PEOPLE
THAT LISTEN TO PROGRESSIVE ROCK/METAL?
(Max) I can say that we are Italian so we
sing in Italian. But this is not correct at all. First of all we sing in
Italian because we like Italian lyrics… In my opinion to sing in English
means “to think” in English, to write a text in correct English and to
sing in English with good pronunciation. I like very much English songs….
Some of my favourite bands sing in English…. But what can we say about
ridicoulus pronunciation or elementary lyrics that contain the same 3 or
4 words?!?! To sing in Italian is an obstacle, especially – sometimes –
in Italy…. It’s strange but real…. For example… do you know the Russian
band Extrovert? They play a great heavy-prog metal sung in their anguage….
Great band, even though not English!
6.YOUR MUSIC IS VERY GOOD AND I AM CURIOUS WHY
A BAND LIKE YOU HASN'T FOUND A CONTRACT WITH A LABEL YET. DID YOU HAVE
ANY PROPOSALS FOR A CONTRACT SO FAR?
(Max) Thanks for your words but as yet … no
proposal or contract. Juglans Regia’s CDs are totally selfproduced.
7.WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE A LABEL TO OFFER YOU IN
ORDER TO SIGN A DEAL WITH IT?
(Max) Freedom and support.
8.I WANT TO STAND A LITTLE ON THE AMAZING SONG
THAT CARRIES THE TITLE "IL VENTO". CAN YOU TELL ME HOW LONG DID IT TAKE
YOU TO COMPOSE IT? FOR WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO THE LYRICS OF THIS SONG TALK
ABOUT?
(Max) The first version of “Il vento” (“The
wind”) goes back in 2002, after the recordings of “Prisma”. It was a different
version, with a lot of keyboards... When Lapo left the band we decided
to rearrange the structure of the song. The first part remained the same.
Antonello composed the rest; obviously same parts took form by improvisation
….
9.SINCE MY ITALIAN IS NOT GOOD, CAN YOU TELL US
IN A FEW WORDS WHICH THE THEME OF EACH SONG THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED YOUR
NEW ALBUM IS?
(Alex) “Controluce” is not a concept album;
the lyrics are about sensations and feelings that people can experience
in some situations of their life…. “Extreme” moments….
In a few words:
“Il prossimo errore” (“The next error”) talk
about serial killer…. Greed and primordial instinct that pushes the killer
in the search of the prey.
“Magnifica ossessione” (“Magnificent obsession”)
talks about the difficulty to feel your own emotions… not strictly related
to the masses….
“Riflessi” (“Reflection” … or “Tint”) try
to show the difficulty of some of us to accept ourselves totally. And it
brings someones to become invisible...
“Il vento” (“The wind”) is a sort of fantasy
story. The thirst of power brings a hypothetical civilization to a certain
self-destruction.
“L’ultimo respiro” (“The last breath”) describes
the last moments of a condamned … A new hope shines in the last seconds…
“Quel che sembra…” (“What that seems…”)….
After an execution there are smiles and tears ….
10.WHEN DO YOU BECOME MORE CREATIVE? WHEN YOU
WORK UNDER PRESSURE OR YOU WANT YOUR PIECE OF MIND?
(Max) Under pressure? It’ a Queen’s song!
No…. no limits. I prefer no limits…..
11.WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS AND IDEAS DO YOU WANT
TO CREATE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC TO THE LISTENER?
(Max) I don’t know… We enjoy playing our music
and we hope the listeners do the same. And we are also listeners ….
12.THAT'S IT FOR NOW! THANK YOU! GOOD LUCK WITH
YOUR NEW WORK. LEAVE A MESSAGE TO THE READERS OF BEHIND THE VEIL WEBZINE
AND WRITE WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT...
(Max) Thanks for reading us. To receive a
copy of “Controluce” just send 5 euro/7 $ (Post payed) to my address. Support
underground. Support the music you like.
Nick “William_Kidd”
Parastatidis
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