Interviews: Fjords

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Metal band Fjords from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

We originally had another moniker “Onirica” that we eventually moved away from to reflect a changing sound, one of the reasons the album is titled as such though is a homage to that time. As for how we are now known, the music and lyrics are hugely inspired by the natural world and its manifestation in dreams and mythology. We wanted a name that represented both our soundscapes and those lyrical themes, “Fjords” felt like it fulfilled that.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

The energy, passion and breadth of emotions contained in this genre is vast. We wanted to play music that can touch on all of those, from dark to light, and do it with the free reign to go on a journey when writing a song.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The band in its current incarnation has various relationships formed before we came together as Fjords. In the case of Jack, Dav and Dan this was through playing together in that early project “Onirica”. Ben was brought into the band from Jack having played in Ben’s band, another long serving doomy act from Nottingham, “Twilight’s Embrace”.

4. Each band member favorite band?

While we tend to have different leanings, it is this type of metal we play that brings us all together, so it would be easiest to summarise by mentioning Opeth, Katatonia, Novembre, Agalloch, Tool and Arcturus.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

The natural world, feelings of nostalgia, myths, folklore and dreams

6. Where was your last gig?

Though it was some time ago now, our last gig was at a day festival in Derby, we played with some great bands from the UK underground

7. Where would you like to play?

We would love to play some festivals in Europe, we have had a positive response to our music from people across the channel and feel our particular brand of metal would fit well on a number of these festivals.

8. Who would you like to support?

There are a number of bands who we share a common DNA that we would love to play with, as an example Novembre, Katatonia, Disillusion or Swallow the Sun.

9. Who not?

We would like to think we would play with anyone, whether they or their fans would appreciate what we are doing is an entirely different question!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Unless you play week in, week out it is hard to normalise playing live. Whilst we have all played many shows in various bands we have been in, there is always an element of apprehension before a show. Pushing through and using the nervous energy may sound like a cliche, but it is true that the feeling tends to disappear when you are in the moment

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The band that has inspired us most for writing music is an Italian band called Novembre. Whilst they are not hugely known, they hold the respect of peers in that genre of metal. They have a sound as emotive as any music I have heard and amongst others who blend a distinct atmosphere into their songs (Agalloch for example) have had a big impact on our writing.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

I can’t say we are at a level that we have had the pleasure of this being a problem! 

13. What do you think of your fans?

We have had a really positive response to all the music we have put out so far and it is great to see and hear the comments of people who appreciate it. We set out to write music for ourselves, so it is great to find like minded people who like what we are doing.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a great source of information to learn about new artists and releases. It is getting harder these days with the volume of content bombarding us on the internet to be aware when something new arrives. Curation of that content is only ever a good thing!

15. Something to add?

Thanks for having us!