Interviews: CELAVI

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Nu-Metal band CELAVI from Wales. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

We wanted a name that reflected our sound and our vibe. Our band name is actually Latin and reflects the gothic darkness of our sound. We find it interesting how people pronounce our band name;FACEBOOK PAGE a lot of them think the name is French. We don’t mind how it’s pronounced, art can be subjective, so it’s ace to hear the different pronunciations and chat about it!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

When we started the project, we didn’t have any preconceived notions of how we were going to sound. It just progressed naturally as we wrote more songs. We’re both massive nu-metal fans, and bands like Slipknot, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Kittie, Bring Me The Horizon, and Linkin Park have been a massive influence on us growing up. We love the down-tuned guitars, the aggression, the melodic influences.

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

We’ve both been in the music scene growing up, and we met in a different project. It became apparent that we both had the same musical ambitions and that we were both equally driven. It was a natural progression to create C E L A V I together. We both have some similar musical influences and some different musical influences. We think that’s what makes our sound authentic.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Gwion - My favourite band has always been Deftones. Everything about their music resonates with me. The complex and emotion-driven lyrics, the chunky riffs, and masterful drumming all come together in a way that nobody is able to emulate. They’re not averse to taking risks with their sounds, which you can hear from one album to the next. I admire that about them, especially when there are so many bands that play it safe. Art is supposed to push boundaries.

Sarah - Bring Me The Horizon is my favourite band. I think they’re incredibly innovative, both musically and visually, and there’s honestly nobody else like them. I love how they’ve evolved over the years while always staying true to themselves and doing exactly what they want creatively. They’re also amazing live - the energy, the atmosphere, the visuals.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We have a music room at home where we work on our ideas before we go to the Studio. We find inspiration every day! We have songs on our computers, lyrics in notepads, and notes on our phones! We find ourselves drawn to writing empowering songs and encouraging our listeners to be their unapologetic selves. Mental health is also very important to us, and a lot of our songwriting explores the internal and external negativity people can face. With our new EP, we feel that we’re becoming more vulnerable and setting more personal boundaries, and accepting that this is ok. Writing music can be a real catharsis for us too.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was at an International Showcase Festival called FOCUS Wales in Wrexham, North Wales. We played at a venue called The Rockin’ Chair. We’ve seen so many amazing bands perform at this iconic venue, including Sylosis, The Defiled, and Combichrist, so it was so exciting to play here! We had an awesome time, the crowd was vibing with us, so much fun!

7. Where would you like to play?

Our dream has been to play Download Festival at Castle Donington. It’s the biggest rock and metal festival in the UK. We’re playing The Doghouse stage this year, an absolute dream come true! We’ve both been going to Download Festival ourselves over the years. It’s an awesome festival with an amazing, inclusive community. We believe we’re the first band to perform in the Welsh language at Download too, so emotional! In the future, we’d love to play Germany and Scotland too!

8. Who would you like to support?

Ah, so many bands! We’d love to support Deftones, Bring Me The Horizon, Nine Inch Nails, Motionless in White, BABYMETAL, and Spiritbox! We’re supporting As December Falls in August at Chepstow Castle, we’re massive fans of the band, so we can’t wait!

9. Who not?

AI bands.

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

Always make sure you’re well-rehearsed before gigs and feel confident in your songs. We’d also recommend having a setlist prepared for the stage, so if the nerves kick in, you don’t have to worry about remembering the running order. It can also help to make a few notes beforehand - especially if you’re the lead singer speaking to the crowd between songs. Most importantly, be kind to yourself. The more prepared you are, the more confident and comfortable you’ll feel on stage. Performing is something that develops with experience, and every gig helps you grow into a stronger and more confident performer.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Hearing 'Ace of Spades' by the band Motörhead first inspired Gwion to make music. In terms of influences on Gwion’s playing, he was very inspired by the early 00’s nu-metal scene by bands like Deftones, Korn, Slipknot etc. Gwion then started delving into more sub-genres of metal, discovering bands like Nine Inch Nails, Cradle of Filth, and Combichrist. Sarah grew up listening to Avril Lavigne, Evanescence, Christina Aguilera, Little Mix, and was also influenced by her brother and watching Slipknot, Linkin Park, Korn, and Limp Bizkit on Kerrang!. Bring Me The Horizon has definitely inspired us both; they are such an influential band. We love how they have developed over the years, and how they continue to develop. They always stay in their own lane and experiment creatively, doing what they want to do, regardless of what anyone says. We love this, something that we definitely can relate to.

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

Someone online asked us if we could use Photoshop to photoshop a photo of them with us. We thought it was quite sweet, to be honest. We did think at first that someone was offering us some graphic design work! Ha!

13. What do you think of your fans?

Our fans are amazing! It’s such an awesome feeling playing live and seeing familiar faces in the crowd wearing their C E L Λ V I t-shirts and supporting us at shows. We’re genuinely so grateful to everyone who listens to our music, shares it, comes to see us live, and proudly wears our merch. Their support is what keeps us going and out on the road, and we can’t thank them enough - it truly means the world to us. 

14. What do you think of our site?

We love discovering metal bands from around the world on your site!

15. Something to add?

Awesome to chat with you! Thank you so much for supporting our music! Diolch! (Thank you in Welsh)

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