Interviews: UXIA

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Metal band UXIA from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

Steve: The band name was there when I joined. And I still don't know how to pronounce it.

Dave: We had been thinking of ideas for a name, really just throwing out random crap to see what everyone could agree on; one day Liz [Ziegler] tossed in the band chat four or 5 random ideas and UXIA was somewhere in the list and we were all like yeah UXIA sounds cool. It came from a sci-fi movie Liz was watching one night, "Dagon" in which Uxia is portrayed as a mutant human/Dagon high priestess within the Esoteric Order of Dagon.

Jesse: Liz came up with it. Some other ideas were floated around the fact, but Uxia stuck pretty nicely.

Leigh: Our old member Liz, had seen the name in a movie. It was the name of a character, and she thought it was cool. We had a list of other potential names, but we all agreed on that one and just went for it! And none of us seems to pronounce it the same.

Reed: Liz, like all good mates, came up with it so I didn’t have to. 

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Steve: I started listening to metal in high school, and was a vocal performer for a while before getting into metal. It seemed natural to perform music I enjoy.

Dave: The genre kind of chose me, really. I'm a pretty straight-forward metal guy. I write in 4/4, I can't read music or understand time signatures... But when the project that involved Leigh, Reed, & Liz had lost their bass player, I asked to audition because I thought it would be a fun project to work on, and the draw to create original music again was very strong. So I took the opportunity, and the band's sound just evolved from there with Reed's foundations and all the creativity each member holds. The results are magical and nothing I could ever write on my own.

Jesse: Because it allows for a vast amount of freedom in what we can do musically. All of us have pretty different influences, and pulling from all of those gives us a lot of variety in our sound. We're not just a "metal" band; we're heavier than "rock" and our last song on the album even has influences from carnival music, so prog is a really good way to not have to describe every influence and genre that we pull from.

Leigh: This has been a dream genre of mine to play. As much as this is my soul music, I had never been in a band like this, really. I've played heavier stuff with prog elements, but never with a true prog band. This feels like a big deal to me in my musical journey.

Reed: I absolutely love that we’re a ‘prog’ band, because it really gives us carte blanche to do whatever the hell we want to do. It’s freeing; it means that we can make any sound we want, and it’ll still fall under the moniker of progressive metal. Plus, it really helps drive me to write things that aren’t quite ’normal.’ The fact that my mates are all into it as well is just a massive bonus!

3. Did you know each other before forming the band?

Steve: The only member I knew before joining UXIA was Dave. I originally met Dave where I was working. I was 19 years old, and he was 63 or something. I was delivering salt for the water softener in the restaurant where he worked. One day, he was wearing an Iron Maiden shirt, and I commented on it, as I'm an Iron Maiden fan as well. From there, we started talking music, and I auditioned to join his band at the time, Risingfall. Didn't make the cut, but we've since been friends and played in a few bands together.

Dave: Oooh, this gets fun and complicated. Firstly, I've known Steve forever. I think I met him when he was like 15 and I was 25, while I was working as a cook at a bar and he was being used as slave labor by a large evil corporation in a salt mine or something like that. We instantly connected through our love of metal; he even tried out for my old band Risingfall at the time, but he was TERRIBLE, so we were like, fuck that guy. Years later, we end up playing in a couple of other projects anyway, and when Uxia was looking for a vocalist, I suggested Steve as a stand-in until we could find a real vocalist. And now we're stuck with him cause we took band photos and stuff. I met Leigh and Reed through Liz, who was the original keyboardist and vocalist for what was formerly Portentum which became Uxia. I play with Liz and Jesse actually, in Imaginaerum: Minnesota's Tribute to Nightwish, and when the bass player for Portentum stormed off into the sunset, I got my opportunity to jump in. Liz, unfortunately, had to focus on other projects, and as she left, she recruited my fellow Imaginaerum counterpart Jesse to take her place on keys for the band. It has worked out amazingly, as we all have such great chemistry. Steve is also in the band.

Jesse: Only Dave. It was a great introduction, though the first time we got togethe,r and it felt like a great fit right away.

Leigh: Yes and no. Reed and I met on the internet in like 2018. He had gotten my name through an old drum shop customer of mine, and had asked if I could drum in a music video for his other band, Cthulhu Dreamt. I was booked and couldn't, but we kept in touch. Uxia used to be called Portentum. When Portentum decided to add a guitar player, I asked Reed if he wanted to join, and he did. Dave and Jesse were already in another band together with our old keyboardist, Liz. So I felt like we vaguely but not really knew each other. Dave came in after our old bassist left, which is when we decided to do the name change to Uxia. Liz had to leave a little after due to life circumstances, but she suggested Jesse to us, which all worked so perfectly. I did not know Steve at all, but he and Dave go way back. 

Reed: The meet-cute of UXIA is pretty great, in that it was like a ‘degrees of Kevin Bacon’ setup. I met Leigh, who invited me into her band. From there, when we replaced the bassist, Liz recommended Dave. And then, when Liz went to greener pastures, she replaced herself with Jesse from her other project. Then Dave recommended Steve. It was a winding road, but we got there, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the sheer talent and brilliance of these folks who are my bandmates and friends.

4. What is each band member's favorite band?

Steve: That's impossible to answer. I'll just go with DMX.

Dave: Could you ask a musician a more impossible question? Of all time: Iron Maiden Currently: Amorphis

Jesse: Dream Theater is most definitely the first band I'd mention, though Symphony X stands out as well, with other more power metal bands like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Mägo de Oz, and Adagio following REALLY close behind. 

Leigh: My absolute all-time favorite band ever is Dream Theater. Followed closely by Opeth and Mastodon.

Reed: My playlist algorithms are messed up, because I can go from John Williams, to Nine Inch Nails, to Sigrid, to IGORRR, to Harry Connick, Jr., to Natalie Holt, to Lagwagon, to Mastodon, to Eric Whitacre, to Dilated Peoples, to Gojira, to Hans Zimmer. I FUCKING LOVE MUSIC!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Steve: I enjoy writing lyrics, getting thoughts and feelings down. I draw my lyrical influence from Randy Blythe (Lamb of God), who was one of my main influences lyrically. I also learned a lot watching Dave early on in my attempt at a career. O,h and Stephen Sondheim.

Dave: The people I work with, and the Universe.

Jesse: Reed writes the song, Reed inspires me, I write to Reed. I'm kind of kidding, but also not. Honestly, it's tricky to figure out what "inspires" me, and most of the time, I have to force myself to sit down and actually flesh out ideas that I have. Inspiration hits me randomly a lot of the time, and I'm not usually in a position to drop what I'm doing and work on it, so I work... sporadically, I guess. I spend most of my time with instruments practicing, so that when inspiration does hit me, I'm able to quickly progress and work out what's in my head.

Leigh: Writing just satisfies the soul in a way other things can't. I am inspired by my favorite bands and drummers. But I am also inspired by my bandmates and all of the amazing, creative ideas they come up with. I feel like we all want to push the envelope in the same ways. I'm inspired by all of the possibilities and growth for our future. I also had an in-person drum lesson with Baard Kolstad from Leprous last year. I wish to someday have that level of creativity and skill. My time with him really helped me write some of the fills I'm most proud of on our record.

Reed: The music I hear often inspires me to see what goes into creating it (usually on the production side). And more often than not, it’s just sitting around with a keyboard or guitar and just discovering a sound or a cool riff, or a pattern that germinates into something. From there, the song starts building itself in my head, and I have to get it down before it weasels out of my thoughts. One really cool thing that pushes some of my writing is thinking about how my mates will think about what I’m writing… so, I’ll change things up slightly here and there to either appease their tastes, or give them space to shine with their skills as well. 

6. Where was your last gig?

Steve: I don't think I remember my last gig, before UXIA. But I bet it was in Minnesota, probably, maybe.

Dave: Monti Invasion Indoor Rock Tribute Fest March 29, 2025 – Nordic Brewpub w/ Imaginaerum: Minnesota's Tribute to Nightwish

Jesse: Mine? That would have been a tribute festival out in Monticello with Imaginaerum, the tribute band for Nightwish that Dave and I have. I'm really looking forward to UXIA's first show, however. It will feel surreal to finally share all of our hard work on the stage!

Leigh: I'm in a million bands. My last gig was with Waves Collide at a fireman's dance in Lakefield, MN on Saturday, April 26th

Reed: It’s been a minute, but my last performance was directing an opera in 2009.

7. Where would you like to perform in the future?

Steve: I'm happy to perform anywhere. I feel like I need a new bucket list of venues.

Dave: I like to play anywhere, honestly. There are tons of stages I have yet to play, but it doesn't matter. It's an honor for any venue to give their stage up for me to be able to perform live.

Jesse: I have a more humble goal and then a big ask. First is The Cabooze. I always really enjoy every show I've been to at that place. It's a kind of more intimate venue, and all of the shows I've been to there have a more underground feel to them. The future goal is going to be The Armory. That place is amazing… 

Leigh: I would really like us to play in Amsterdam. I don't love the location because parking blows, but it is, I think, my favorite venue for local shows. Great stage. Always sounds amazing up there. Aiming a little bit higher, the Fillmore is definitely a dream venue. And aiming for the moon, the Armory. Haha

Reed: Because UXIA is just starting our next phase of life in playing live, I’m really stoked to play anywhere. It’s definitely a dream, but if we could ever open for someone big coming through Minneapolis at The Armory… that’d be the most sick (I love that venue).

8. Which artist or band would you like to collaborate with? 

Steve: I think that list may be too long to put down. As many people/groups as possible, I suppose.

Dave: I'm really happy with the artists I already collaborate with. The only other urge I have musically is to finish writing and recording all of my old material for my personal archive.

Jesse: Devin Townsend. He's an absolute force of nature, and I honestly believe he's capable of just about anything musically.

Leigh: Truthfully, I don't think about collaborations that much. I'm certainly open to them, but it's not something I usually even consider normally. I think it would be fun to have Liz back on a song just for nostalgia's sake, though.

Reed: I’d love to figure out how to write a killer crossover song to perform with Atmosphere.

9. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

Steve: Trapt or soil ever again. No thanks. Bad taste.

Dave: Uhh, Diddy?

Jesse: Gene Simmons, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ronnie Radkie, uh... MGK... Essentially, all of my favorite musicians are down-to-earth, humble people. I don't like ego, and I don't like assholes. Just because you're successful and potentially a master of your instrument doesn't give you a pass to be insufferable to those around you. I understand that in some cases it might be a "stage personality" kind of thing, but I don't appreciate it.

Leigh: I would not want to collaborate with any one who's a douche bag. Lol, other than that, I'm open.

Reed: Nazis

10. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on overcoming it?

Steve: I've had stage fright plenty of times. Honestly, I get it more by doing karaoke. You kinda get used to it over time. The worst instance of stage fright I experienced was probably when the band I was in opened for Chimera; it was the first packed venue I had played in front of. The way I curb the stage fright is to basically think of shows the same as I do rehearsals. Just relax, and imagine you're just in the jamspace with the band. It also helps when the stage lights are on and you can't see the crowd anyway from the stage.

Dave: I don't honestly get stage fright. The only thing that I get nervous about is making a horrible mistake that throws the rest of the band off their game. The way I look at performing is that I become a different character. That isn't Dave the Crew Leader, or Dave the Husband, or brother, but Dave the Rockstar! I get to be someone else for an hour and put all my stored-up energy into being a fun character to watch on stage. Well, I at least hope I'm fun to watch. For beginners? Just don't go up there thinking you have to be this huge star. Be good, but remember you are going to be your own worst critic. Just have fun and be entertaining.

Jesse: It depends on the threshold of what you'd consider stage fright. Honestly, every time I get on stage, I'm nervous, but I've not yet had that "freeze-up" moment where I'm overwhelmed by it. As far as how to overcome it? Boring answer here, but practice. Play your instrument until you stop messing up, and you'll have a better time on stage. Don't tell anyone else I said that though... Something something stones in glass houses something something.

Leigh: I used to experience stage fright. Usually just for the first couple of songs, though, and then I would calm down. I feel like I have rituals or things that I have to have with me on stage that help me stay focused and relax a little better. I always take a pre-gig shower, I stretch, I have these wrist sweatbands I have to wear, and I have to be chewing gum. I mean.. we're all adults here, I also smoke some weed. But that's not the best anxiety reliever for some people, so know yourself.

Reed: Not that I can remember. As for tips… picture yourself naked. Wait...

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

Steve: For metal, it would be Lamb of God, Opeth, Children of Bodom, Iron Maiden, Iron Thrones, Soil Work, In Flames, Throwdown, Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris, Conducting from the Grave, Beyond the Embrace, and I'm sure there's more, that's what comes to mind.

Dave: So many, right? Iron Maiden, In Flames (RIP), Amorphis, Sentenced, GWAR, Deicide, Stryper, Death, Borknagar, I could go on……

Jesse: My biggest influence to date, I don't think, is even a band. He's a composer named Bear McCreary. He has composed a lot of amazing scores, and continues to influence my music taste and writing to this day.

Leigh: Dream Theater definitely tops that list. Most specifically, Mike Portnoy. He's the whole reason I play drums. My other biggest inspirations musically right now are Opeth, Mastodon, Leprous, Vola, Jinjer, Avatar, so many more.

Reed: Mastodon, Opeth, IGORRR, Between the Buried and Me, Gojira, and, I can’t play like them, but Animals As Leaders. Those are just the common genre influences. The reality is, everything I hear plays some role in influence and inspiration.

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

Steve: I've been asked to sign the upper portion of some breasts, which struck me as strange. Figured a person needed to be famous for that request, and I haven't understood why some people like to reach up and touch performers on stage. But nothing really crazy from a fan.

Dave: I'm a bass player; I don't get asked much.

Jesse: Stickers to put in an X over her bust. Why? I don't know.

Leigh: Sorry for the language..lol some VERY intoxicated woman at a casino in Wisconsin thought I was a dude and asked to suck my dick after the show..so that was... interesting. Lol

Reed: Never had any requests out of the ordinary. And let’s be honest, after Leigh’s answer, most things would be pretty mundane.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Steve: Love the fans. I'm always grateful to hear when other people enjoy the fruits of the work we put in. It's nice to know we aren't getting only ones enjoying what we're doing.

Dave: I have fans? If I do, then I'm so amazed and grateful that you would take time out of your life to acknowledge me!

Jesse: I love them, all two dozen of them.

Leigh: It's great to have fans. I mean, it's at least a little (or big) part of why we do this right? To connect with people through music.

Reed: They really help me realize that it’s lovely to share creation with people who appreciate it.

14. What do you think of our site?

Steve & Dave: Super exciting! Lots of news, new bands to discover, and music to listen to! Thanks for the love!

Jesse: It's great! I think with the world becoming more and more centralized, there's a huge need for independent journalism and publications, and I'm very appreciative that there are people out there bringing color to a monochromatic world.

Leigh: Love all the new music to check out! And the layout is really creative. 

Reed: I’m a huge fan of great places to be kept up-to-date on the world in which we exist in some small way.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Steve, Dave & Jesse: Try all the things, and take every suggestion/criticism as a way to open your mind and grow. There are quite a few parts in our music where I wouldn't have come up with the parts I play had someone not made a suggestion which I was able to build on, and additionally there are parts in our songs that I played that initially I would have scrapped and reworked, however through the vision of someone else in the band we were able to adapt and turn into something really cool, that I ended up really liking.

Leigh & Reed: What Jesse said ;)