Interviews About Albums: Vesseles - I Am A Demon (2024)

In this new interview, we sat down with the American Symphonic Black Metal solo project Vesseles to ask questions about her album "I Am A Demon".

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD? 

This is my most personal project and release to date. It’s rooted in my identity dysphoria and tells a story of transformation. Instrumentally, there are a lot of eerie progressions and concepts of “decay” in the piano sections. It captures that feeling of longing, self-hatred, dysphoria, and loneliness.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

“I Am a Demon” is the entire purpose of this release; to essentially come out to the world as a demon and what that means in terms of coping.

3. Which one is the composer of the EP/CD?

I (Valira) am the composer behind this EP. 4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick? Dysphoria. My favorite song of any release tends to change as the creative process is in motion (album artwork, music videos, photoshoots, etc). I was sort of indifferent to the song until I saw the music video. It added so much of what I had wanted from the song in a way that made me fall madly in love with it. Even when I don’t watch the video with it, there’s a depth I feel for it now that I didn’t before. That song lyrically is also my favorite.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is, what is it?

Yes, while it’s all based around my own identity, I want it to inspire others to be honest and true to who they are and express that freely no matter what that is. 

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

Basically, the entirety of Dysphoria is very special lyrically to me but there’s a particular line I adore: “It makes my soul press against my bones” It doesn’t really matter what “it” is but this line in particular references seeing my true self within and not being able to obtain that form. What I enjoy about this line is it implies the separation of body and soul. The soul (in my case, a demon soul) is confined by the “prison” of the body and wants to get out.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

This EP is purely inspired by my own experiences so it’s primarily musically inspired by artists and bands that I’ve always been inspired by. Evanescence, PVRIS, Dark Funeral, and Cradle of Filth are a few of them. I suppose one person I could thank for this EP is my therapist. I have since graduated from therapy but because of them, I realized the importance of creating music as an outlet for what I have been feeling. Without them/therapy, I don’t know if this project would have existed.

8. Something to add?

Everything has been covered in the previous questions so thanks for the great interview!