Interviews: NADAE

This is a new interview with the Progressive Metalcore artist NADAE from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the artist on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

The idea came from some creative reflection. So, I’d say the name is both planned and not planned. ‘Nadae’ is an inspired anagram of the name ‘Aaden,’ which roughly means “spark’ or ‘little fire.’ The connotation for ‘little fire’ can be understood as meaning something akin to ‘spark born from the sun.’ I would say this connotation was the key thought behind the name choice.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I would say expressive freedom. Heavy music has a much wider expressive range than non- heavy music, and I have a great deal to say. Non-heavy music has an implicit restriction that says what can and what cannot be played, whereas heavy music does not have this restriction. I can write an angelic choir expressing an almost religious euphoria and then rip the listener right into a monstrous verse, all in the same song. The ‘anti-establishment’ attitude underlying heavy music allows for greater creativity in that way, at least according to my experience.

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

I am a solo artist. I would hope I know my bandmates before starting the Nadae project! Being a stranger to oneself is a real problem in our day and age.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

This is an extremely tough question, as I have a thousand favorites that span genres. Relative to heavy music, there are the obvious bands like Killswitch Engage, In Flames, As I Lay Dying, and August Burns Red that I love. However, I would say the two top bands are Underoath and Chevelle. Their discographies are usually on repeat in my house.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

This is a tough question, as it is fun yet deceptively simple. To provide an equally deceptive answer, I would say my genius or daemon inspires me to write songs, the contents of which tend to center around the urges of human becoming.

6. Where was your last gig?

I toured for a decade in an older project before the project disbanded. Nadae, however, is still a new project -still has the ‘new car smell’ to it. It just recently turned one year old. However, I am planning to support the new album with a first tour!

7. Where would you like to act?

I am an American, who has recently moved to the United Kingdom. While growing up in the US, I have always wanted to tour Europe. It’s a professional goal and a life dream for me. So, for right now, I’d say ‘Europe’ broadly speaking is where I would like to act. I am anticipating some European tour in the not-so-distant future, supporting the new record release.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

I am extremely flexible. If the feature fits and is mutually beneficial, I welcome it.

9. Whom not?

I find any exclusively beneficial or mutually harmful feature distasteful.

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

I love entertaining people and have decades of experience handling crowds. I find peculiar confidence on stage now as if something else inside me takes over as soon as the set starts. Even so, there are always nerves before performing and there were immense nerves when I started performing many years ago. The best thing that I have found to relax any stage nerves and focus on performance is to intentionally make a mistake. Why do people freeze up? They are terrified of making a mistake, as they have equated mistakes with emotional pain. The trick is to make a mistake at the beginning and on purpose, where you have control over the mistake being made. Get it out of your system at the start, so you get back to having fun and making the best memory for everyone. You will find that the mistake leads to a great deal of pleasure, as it allows you to relax and just focus on the performance. People will always reward you for a powerful performance.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

This is the same dilemma as an earlier question. I would say that some of the most influential heavy bands have been from the Solid State golden era roster, which includes bands like Underoath, Norma Jean, Haste The Day, Oh Sleeper, He Is Legend, Demon Hunter, August Burns Red, etc. Right now, I would say Underoath stands out as their whole discography is powerful -minus the Erase Me album. In my head, I am always in competition with them. I am coming for your neck guys -respectfully!

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

This is a great question. To be honest, most fans tend to be respectful, if not outright timid. I would say the occasional odd item that they want to be signed, like a body part, would be the ‘weirdest’ request.

13. What do you think of your fans?

I love them! I value the human support, connection, and meaning we create together.

14. What do you think of our site?

I think it’s a great media resource. It’s clean, professional, and informative. I feel honored to be featured, so thank you for the opportunity.

15. Something to add?

I have three final points. First, please follow Nadae on all social media sources -YouTube, FB, Insta, TikTok, etc. The second is that Nadae, being a labelless project, is crowd-funding the first LP. If you like the ‘The Fighter’ check our socials for the Kickstarter link. Last, I would like to share that I have a form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome. I have always been the ‘black sheep.’ Yet, I am a professional musician, an award-winning filmmaker, a philosophy PhD student, and a happy husband among other things. I wanted to leave the reader with the general encouragement: you have everything within you to create your happiness. You are enough. Use what is unique about you and get moving!

Thank you for reading!