Interviews: Death Of A Dryad

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the  Atmospheric Dark Metal band, Death Of A Dryad, from France. 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?

Death of a Dryad is about the end of an idyllic world of beauty, of fantasy, of harmony between man and nature, which has for instance been represented by the English pictorial movement of the Pre-Raphaelites, or the French author Jean Giraudoux in his play Ondine. The world stands in contrast of our opposite industrialized, individualistic and polluted world. We wanted to choose a name that would define both our music and the things we wanted to express, contrasting sadness, suffering with ineffable sweetness and nostalgia. We felt that Death of a Dryad actually did both.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

We like to define Death of a Dryad as atmospheric dark metal, but we tend to blend elements from different genres, like metal riffs and aggressive vocals, with depressive atmospheres or medieval instruments. We do like to use the elements to create a unique universe within each song. It’s some form of synaesthesia, in which our music triggers imagination to bring the song atmosphere to life.

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

Carol and I became acquainted long before creating Death of a Dryad. We both played in death metal bands, but we shared a common desire to create a different kind of music, with no limitation of genre whatsoever. It was also an opportunity for us to express ourselves using less conventional instruments, such as the lute, the flute and other medieval instruments that we play.

4. Each band member favourite band?

It is always a tricky question, as there are so many bands we like, and not only in the metal genre. We are both great fans of bands like Summoning or Tiamat, which most certainly influence us in some ways, or even Dimmu Borgir and Wolves in the Throne Room. I (Nogh) am currently listening to a lot of Mastodon and a French band called Mars Red Sky. At the moment, Carol is listening to the Great Old Ones and Wardruna. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Melancholy is the essence of Death of a Dryad’s universe, and writing song is a cathartic way to deal with our own sadness. It’s a reflection of our own personalities, and, we feel, an appropriate way to express ourselves. In one way or another, our songs talk about the end of an ideal world, taken over by sadness, grief and despair. Concerning Hameln, we felt that we could relate the Piper’s story to Death of a Dryad universe, as we see it as a metaphor for the vengeance of a nature overexploited by man, eventually leading to the end of mankind. And it was really inspiring.

6. Where was your last gig?

As Death of a Dryad has always been a studio project, we do not play live. We have the chance to play in many different places with our other band called Mind Imperium – our last gig was in Toulouse 10 months ago, and we have not been able to perform since, due to COVID restrictions. We are currently reflecting on the possibility to bring Death of a Dryad on stage though, so you never know …

7. Where would you like to act?

We are quite fond of music festivals, as they give you the opportunity to see so many bands perform live in a short period of time. Festivals are unique out-of-time moments where each goer lives 100% through music, even if he or she is not in front of the stage. So if we had to choose were to act, it would be anywhere as long as it is during a festival.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Any band we mentioned above, and many more… But if we had to choose then Summoning, definitely, but I think they do not play live!

9. Whom not?

Radio-pop artists, as it is not really the genre we listen to, and I don’t even think they see music as we do.

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

Nogh is used to being a frontman, and isn’t affected by stage fright so much. I (Carol) usually deal with stage fright when it happens by focusing on the music we play on stage and concentrate on my instrument.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

I think we answered this one already, but we could also add some non-metal bands to the list, like Dead Can Dance, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, and classical composers like Debussy.

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

We do not share fan stories. Sorry to disappoint! … and nothing weird was ever ask 😊

13. What do you think of your fans?

I don’t think the word fan is appropriate, even more as Death of a Dryad is more a concept than a regular band performing on stage, so we rarely meet face to face with people listening to our music. Yet, every time we have this opportunity, it is heartwarming for us to see that they also feel and understand the emotions we tried to express in our songs, and it encourages us to continue sharing our works with them.

14. What do you think of our site?

Your website has a lot of content, and we could see I few bands we had the chance to meet. It’s also a great source of information and expression for bands. Keep up the good work!

15. Something add?

As Nietzsche said, “without music, life would be a mistake”. Our music lives because it is shared and spread by magazines like yours, so thank you very much!