Solar
Fragment
Can we say that Solar Fragment
will be the new force in the metal scene from Germany? I am sure that they
have the abilities to do it and with their latest promo CD everyone can
realize what I’m talking about. Take a look at our conversation with the
band and find some really interesting things in it.
1. First of all I want to congratulate
you on your promo CD.
Hey, thanks a lot. Always great to hear that
people like our music.
2. Now I want you to tell me in a few lines
the history of Solar Fragment.
It all started when Dominic (bass player)
and I got sick of our former band and started looking for other musicians
that would like to play power metal. We first found Gunnar (former drummer)
over the internet and started rehearsing in October 2003. As we definitely
needed a second guitar player, in April 2004 Marc joined. I had met him
in conjunction with his other band Salome's Dance. Another 4 months later
I talked to Robert (singer) also via internet. He was sceptical at first
because he has to travel around 90 minutes to get to our practice room
but once he had taken part in a rehearsal session all doubts were dispelled.
In October 04 we played live for the first time and started recording the
demo in November which was released in July 2005. We took in Sascha as
our new drummer in October 2005.
3. Can you tell me why you chose this name
for the band?
We were looking for something powerful with
a mystical touch. So at first someone came up with the sun as an object
of great energy and light intensity. There is no better symbol for power.
The fragment brings in a fantasy element - a piece of the sun which came
down to earth to enlighten us all.
4. Give me some details from the recording
sessions of your promo CD.
Oh, it was a little strange but fun. A friend
of ours does a lot of live mixing for various international bands, and
he also owns a studio. It took us about 5 days to record the songs, but
due to live gigs and the sound guy's engagement in his jobs it took almost
five months to spend those 5 complete days in the studio. Getting the recording
mixed and mastered again took much longer than we wanted - but well. In
the end it worked out.
5. Which things inspired Robert to write lyrics
for?
Robert mainly is inspired by literature, movies
and so on. Some fantasy stuff as well, as he is a keen role player.
6. If someone hasn't heard your music, could
you describe it for him?
I think I'd describe our music as fast and
melodic heavy metal, or typical power metal but with a less annoying voice.
I hope this helps to attract the right audience. We might sound like a
mix of Falconer and Sonata Arctica without the keyboards.
7. You come from a country that has a great
history in metal music. Do you believe that this will help you a little?
Difficult to say, it depends probably. From
an international perspective it could definitely help us, but within Germany
not at all. The huge number of really fantastic metal groups over here
maybe makes it even harder to stick out.
8. If your music was an emotion, what would
it be?
It would definitely be enthusiasm.
9. Tell me the first five words that you have
in your mind when you hear: Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Children of Bodom
and Pain of Salvation.
Cheesy, excellent, geniuses, progressive.
10. Tell me your wildest dream about Solar
Fragment.
A Japan tour with Kamelot or Sonata Arctica
would be fun.
11. You have a management behind you. Do you
believe that this is a professional movement and should all the bands have
a manager behind them so that they can only focus on their music?
I can definitely recommend them all to have
a manager, especially our manager. A manager can do much more, in terms
of promotion and booking. He (in our case: she) will always have better
connections than the band has and will do all that as daily business. Less
effort and better results for everyone involved.
12. I want to thank you for your time and I
hope we will soon listen to your debut album.
It's been a pleasure and you will possibly
get to hear our debut in 2006.
Antonis Maglaras
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