Interviews: Asira

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

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name?

We wanted a single word that captured the colour of not only our music but our imagery as well. We started with the colour ‘azure’ and that eventually morphed into ‘asura’ and then finally ‘Asira’.

2. Where is the band based?

We’re based in Reading, UK.

3. Why did you want to play this genre?

Our sound is heavily influenced by many genres, including some obvious and some less so. Ultimately, we wanted to create something that had vibrancy, hope, and a sound that was unafraid to explore both melancholy and joy, often within the same track. Progressive music allows freedom to explore emotion and the human experience, and this is very important to us.

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

Yes - Jack and Martin have been friends since we were teenagers, and Jack met Ethan at university.

5. What is each band member's favourite band?

Jack: I zip back and forth between the classics. This month it's Iron Maiden! 

Martin: If forced at gunpoint, I’d probably have to say Opeth.

Ethan: I also change that answer on an almost daily basis, but at the moment I think it’s Alcest! 

6. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jack: Writing is a very reactive thing for me. It's not something I can turn on; it always happens in response to what is happening to me, to others, to the world. 

Martin: Colour and visual art inspire me hugely. We’re so lucky to have the incredible Scott Naismith’s artwork return for our second record, and it’s a massive inspiration to me. I like to try and write a song for each colour on the artwork; Clarity is the pinks and blues, Cauterise is the reds and blacks, and In Sunrise is the oranges and yellows.

Ethan: I find writing music is an emotional output, primarily inspired by events that happen to me or those around me.

7. Where was your last gig?

Warhorns Festival 🔥

8. Where would you like to play?

Prophecy Fest would be amazing! Cave gig 🖤

9. Who would you like to share stages with?

Martin: I think we’d go down well supporting Alcest.

Jack: I’d have to say Devin Townsend, because that would mean him coming out of live retirement.

Ethan: A bit left field, but at least plausible - I’d love to share the stage with the likes of A.A. Williams one day.

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

Martin: Every gig. I struggle with anxiety hugely, and a lot of the new record is about my struggles with it. It’s something that I have accepted is just part of me, and I have to face it every time. I guess the advice would be: don’t let it win. 

Jack: One thing I had to learn, particularly with more serious music, is that it's okay to separate the emotional craft that formed the songs from the act of performing them. There's a philosophy that once you've written the song and put it into the world, it is no longer yours. You're no longer its custodian, and this helps you have fun when bringing that song to the stage. It's not a betrayal to enjoy performing a song about heavy or negative emotions.

Ethan: I think I also tend to separate playing and writing music, so I don’t really think about it being “my music”; that definitely helps me to feel more comfortable on stage. One thing I often find stressful is the technological side of playing gigs, but I find the best way to deal with both sides is to make sure I’m as well-rehearsed as I can be with the material and using the setup.

11. Which bands/artists have inspired you the most?

Way more than this, but the first that come to mind are Eric Whitacre, Stevie Wonder, Steven Wilson, Opeth, Gareth Coker, Strapping Young Lad, Nobuo Uematsu, Alcest, Howard Shore, Daft Punk, Leprous, iamthemorning, Lydian Collective, and most recently, Lorien Testard.

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

A lovely bin jousting session.

13. What do you think of your fans? How important are they to you?

We don’t yet have many, but the fans we do have are dedicated and have been affected by our music in ways that even I didn’t consider when writing it. Hearing the stories about what the music means to them is a huge inspiration when composing new music. To everyone who has felt something while listening to Asira: thank you ❤️

14. What do you think of our website?

It’s a wonderful resource to discover new music, with no undercurrent of gatekeeping, which can often be felt in the metal world. Thank you for adding us to your roster!

15. Anything to add?

New music, gigs, etc? Our second album, ‘As Ink In Water’ released everywhere on 14th November 2025. If you like it, please save it, share it, and stream it as every little helps in getting the word out! Also, please consider buying some of our merch from our Bandcamp - https://asira.bandcamp.com/merch. Thank you!