Visions Of Atlantis are again with their new album “Pirates 2 – Armada” and I had the possibility to sit down down with vocalist Clementine Delauney the place we had an opportunity to speak in depth in regards to the bands writing, imaginative and prescient and alter of focus since she joined the band in 2013. The brand new album is out by way of Napalm Data on July 5.
Andrew : Welcome to The Rockpit and welcome to Australia Clementine.
Clementine : Thanks.
Andrew : Congratulations on the brand new album, “Pirates 2 – Amada”. What an exquisite journey this album is.
Clementine : Thanks.
Andrew : Inform me just a little bit in regards to the concept behind the album and the choice to hold on and construct from 2022’s “Pirates”.
Clementine : We began to write down for the subsequent album after “Pirates” was launched in a short time as a result of Michele is our songwriter and he’s consistently writing music. He’s consistently channelling music from the divine. Let’s say he’s an actual music field inside, so he’s consistently writing the brand new music, it’s a steady circulation. It’s not like there’s an actual cease and now we begin writing. Now we must always do one thing. It’s like he wants to write down and he writes it and he writes music on a regular basis. So in a short time after the discharge or we had been achieved with the entire pirate manufacturing, we began to have new tracks and realizing new music coming in. And it was very apparent to us that we might need to proceed with what we began with ‘Pirates’ as a result of even earlier than this album was launched, we had been very assured that this was the most effective file we ever launched.
The choice of constructing that assertion of being a pirate band was very sturdy and caught folks’s consideration. And lots of people then when the album was launched, fully understood what we imply with the pirate stuff, that it’s a metaphor for an interior journey per se. We felt that we discovered ourselves and it empowered us a lot to enter that route. And there may be a lot that we are able to use and say inside that universe that the second at which we determined to make Visions Aside Band, we knew this was going to be our factor. And when the primary new songs got here in, we instantly put them into that pirate cinematic world. And the one factor that we determined to vary with too is with a little bit of maturity in comparison with pirates, we determined to reinforce and improve and enhance the manufacturing.
We determined to go heavier on the guitars as a result of Michele is getting greater, higher at riffing. So, there may be heavier guitar on Pirates Two in comparison with Pirates One. We determined to file the complete drum set at Diego occasions in that point to have that punch from the drums and the dynamics of it, which is an actual sport changer as properly within the sound. And that’s it. And we determined to name the Pirates Two, and never simply our mom utilizing the Pirates universe as a result of we actually need to emphasis on this cinematic facet that there’s in our music. Like Pirates Two has so many moments which can be extra about dragging you right into a universe, a temper or an atmosphere, somewhat than simply being music after music. And on stage we additionally wish to act just a little bit extra than simply being there and play our music. We borrowed the thought of constructing a saga, our data from the large saga motion pictures, and that’s it. That’s how we went from Pirates one to Pirates two. It’s a circulation and it’s a development on the identical time.
Andrew : There was that little bridge in between, each pirates components, which was the “Pirate Symphony” launched in 2023. Was that the place I assume you noticed a chance to broaden on this universe that you simply communicate of? As a result of it actually looks like you discovered one thing that was actually buildable and the truth that you employ the time period cinematic, this album actually is a journey from starting to finish. It’s a curler coaster. And having sat with it, I’ve solely had three performs via, however the second play via I made positive I listened to via headphones and the dynamics and the sweetness within the storytelling inside the way in which that this album is put collectively is wonderful. Who needed to maintain pushing these boundaries? Was it one thing that’s collective as a band.
Clementine : The workforce who’s behind and creating the music for Atlantis, Michele, myself, Thomas on the drums, and Felix Held our producer, and that was the workforce that already was across the first Pirates album. I feel to start with, I feel as an artist, and it’s the reality inside our band, is that we don’t need to repeat ourselves. We at all times need to outdo ourselves. We at all times need to go higher. We live our lives as a development, even on a private stage. We need to get higher at being who we’re and never doing what we do. With that mindset, we write songs with the thought of I have to prime no matter I’ve written earlier than, I have to turn into the most effective songwriter for this band. It’s not a contest, it’s not a stress both. It’s extra a mission of a imaginative and prescient.
The 4 of us are repeatedly pushed by this concept and this imaginative and prescient that we need to make this band as massive as we are able to, however not essentially simply from the success and the response from the music we make from the manufacturing we are able to have from the creativity, the affect, the worth, the standard that we need to ship. We’re pushed by at all times making an attempt to be the most effective we are able to. And that is the development from Visions of Atlanta is from “The Deep and The Darkish” to “Pirates 2” may be very massive by way of every thing has improved a lot. It is also checked out as if we had been a special band even from six years or six years in the past. And it does completely really feel like that. And yeah, it’s the 4 of us who’re driving this ethic of simply making an attempt to ship the most effective music we are able to in the intervening time that we’re writing it.
Andrew : And that leads into, I assume one of many different questions that I had, I imply clearly the band’s been round now for twenty-four years and it’s solely actually been up till this 2019 interval while you joined and Michele joined that the band actually appears to have aligned with one another. And I feel as you type of stated, you’re feeling like you might be residing as a band, as a single entity. Is that the change that has been discovered and unity that’s been discovered that’s translated into the writing and the content material?
Clementine : Christian Douscha our guitarist writes his personal solos, however he’s not contributing to music writing per se. Neither is Herbert Glos our bass participant. So, they’re probably not contributing to absolutely the creative worth forward of the exhibits. They’re extra the crew that’s wanted and that’s completely happy to be right here. However many bands, you’ve some driving forces. It’s not like everyone seems to be dedicated or in a position to carry one thing to the desk on the identical stage. So creative route, music and lyrics is me killing myself and Thomas. Thomas on the imaginative and prescient and on the imaginative and prescient for the band and on additionally for the duvet paintings administration. I’m accountable for lots of the creative, visible, creative instructions in terms of the platform. The photograph shoots to the video scripts. I write all of this. We full one another that very artistic cell, and it’s nice and we perceive one another. We need to go in the identical route.
The nuclear core of the band may be very sturdy and really devoted. And that’s a driving drive that has been completely chargeable for Visions to come back again on the symphonic steel scene with the energy that we’re displaying now. And why don’t we had been tour. Yeah, there’s this unit feeling like now this line up has been steady for the final 5 and a half years, nearly six years. That’s one thing that has helped carry peace to the method and deal with what’s necessary, which is the music and the exhibits and the way we current ourselves.
Andrew : So, while you’re writing songs and these preparations, had been you ever frightened that issues might have turn into too grand and that it could be one thing that might solely be really achieved justice in a studio.
Clementine : If I get it proper, are we afraid if once we write that it might not be reside pleasant?
Andrew : Effectively, sure, that it turns into arduous to duplicate. I assume the fantastic thing about having the studio is which you can layer upon layer upon layer upon layer and the reside surroundings appears to be just a little rawer, I assume. Was there ever a priority that you could be not be capable to replicate what you might be placing on file in a reside scenario?
Clementine : Now we have been writing music realizing the energy and the bounds of our band. With regards to all the true instrument part, we be sure that all of us are snug with what’s being written. We’re not going to layer 100 thousand traces of guitar riffing, realizing we solely have one guitar participant. So, we’re completely conscious of our limits right here. However in terms of the orchestrations and all, yeah, we don’t have a keyboard participant as a result of we don’t write for keyboards. We don’t write keyboards half per se, however we put every thing on samples and thus far, it’s by no means been of a problem. The samples themselves are blended in a method that they’ll completely work reside with the band on prime of it. And yeah, this has by no means been a restrict to the band or a pitfall for positive. There are some songs, there’s a ballad on Paris, two Ashes to the Sea that’s actually simply me and myself and a soundtrack.
I don’t suppose there may be even the true band enjoying there. Once we play these sorts of songs reside, it’d really feel like karaoke in a method as a result of it’s the 2 vocal calls on samples. However the reside sound could be so massive and the music itself may also be so emotional that in the long run the individuals are simply appreciating the efficiency all in all. And if it’s only one music, it’s additionally alright to not have every thing performed. It’s the factor with symphonic steel band, if you happen to needed to have all of the devices that you simply hear on the file, meaning each band must play with an orchestra on a regular basis. That’s completely not doable. In the present day individuals are used to samples.
Andrew : I’m not saying that may be a adverse factor, simply extra curious in regards to the method to all of it from a band perspective. It really is an incredible file. As I stated, I primarily three listens in and it actually has captured me. That’s an excellent credit score to you all. It’s a rather well written album. The storytelling, the musical cinema scape of all of it is phenomenal. I might be fairly at residence watching a manufacturing primarily based round this unimaginable storytelling. It actually is actually commendable to you all for delivering such an incredible file.
Clementine : Thanks.
Andrew : I’m intrigued by the entire pirates idea, is it primarily based upon a guide or a film or is it one thing that’s part of the artistic collective of you all as writers?
Clementine : Once I joined Imaginative and prescient of Atlantis 10 years in the past in 2013, I instructed Thomas the chief, okay, keen to affix and I simply have one need which is I would like to write down my very own lyrics. I have to sing my very own phrases. And what I imply, I have to really feel emotionally related to what we’re doing, so I would like to write down the lyrics. He stated, okay, nice with me, you are able to do that. So very early on I assumed, okay, I’ve to make Visions Of Atlantis’s universe mine in order that I can write for it. And I checked out what the band had achieved earlier than, in fact, many releases earlier than I joined. And I used to be like, okay. They modified songwriters and line up many instances. However I assumed, okay, there may be one frequent thread that connects every thing is the ocean associated universe. I assumed, okay, I preserve the ocean factor additionally as a result of we’re referred to as imaginative and prescient of Atlantis, so I preserve the ocean associated factor the remaining, I depart it to the previous.
Then I used to be like, okay, so what do I do with the ocean? What do I need to say with it? How do I exploit it to feed lyrics? What method, what angle can I exploit from the ocean? After which I assumed, we’re a steel band. Metallic band is steel. It’s rebellious, it’s untamed. And I assumed, okay, so who’re the rebels of the ocean? And I assumed, that’s the pirates. It was so clear to me. And I urged that again within the days that why not turning into a pirate band, not a full costume cosplay, no matter, however simply why not simply embracing that idea. And again within the days, I feel that was too early in Tom’s thoughts to make that massive of a shift when the band was getting back from his personal ashes and all and he was not connecting to the thought.
However nonetheless, I personally maintain onto held onto it. Like you’ll be able to see the pirates from the Swedish band, Yemenis Gravities within the video of “The Deep Within the Darkish”, launched in 2018. For that file, I wrote a music that known as ‘The Silent Mutiny’ that’s completely utilizing the pirate world. After which in wanders, we had been flirting with all these tales of being misplaced at sea and having to discovered your self happening extraordinary journeys right here and there. We’re not outspokenly pirates, however we had been already undoubtedly crusing the seas and looking for ourselves and our freedom. Since I stored writing about this for “Pirates” One, at this level, our producer was like, Felix, why don’t you simply turn into a pirate band? You’re speaking about all this and your exploration and freedom and la la la. And I used to be like, okay, thanks. Are you able to inform that to Thomas? And at that second, via the fitting individual, this concept reached Thomas, after which we determined to make that massive transfer and set up our imaginative and prescient of the Atlantis within the universe.
Andrew : It’s an unimaginable story. And I assume there’s additionally a metaphor for all times in there as properly.
Clementine : Completely.
Andrew : Now you guys are about to hit the street too. Clearly, we begin to head into European Competition season over the subsequent few months. How do you discover doing these festivals versus the headline exhibits that you’ve developing within the later a part of the 12 months via September and October?
Clementine : It’s a totally completely different method. Enjoying open air typically through the afternoon by daylight in comparison with enjoying membership exhibits. It’s a totally completely different expertise. And yeah, we simply ended up one month us tour and we performed our first summer season festivals as a pageant 10 days in the past. And the sound in our ears was so completely different since you don’t get any suggestions, the partitions of the room. As a result of even when you’ve got ears which can be as elating, you continue to get just a little little bit of sensations from the sound of the entrance of home coming again into your ears, being mirrored by the room. If you play open air, this sound can’t come again. So even when the phases are greater and there’s a bigger crowd, numerous instances the sound you’ve in your ears while you play on the festivals, it’s method thinner and typically if the stage is simply too massive, you don’t even hear the drums anymore as a result of they’re too far-off.
So it feels, it’s a really massive distinction to membership exhibits. However when you’ve tailored to that, when it’s going to be this manner, it’s wonderful to play outside as a result of you’ll be able to play with the weather. You could have the solar in your face, typically there’s numerous wind. Generally the surroundings is a part of the storytelling itself. There are festivals which can be surrounded with timber, with heels, with mountains, relying on the place we play. And being a band, speaking about exploring and storms and all. Once I look outdoors and I see the clouds forming, or if out of the blue there’s a ray of sunshine coming in, it turns into a part of the present. To me, the character that’s encompass us and the group, it’s our alternative to play in entrance of people that didn’t come to see us particularly, who has by no means heard of us, and we like to play with them.
We like to have them have the most effective time ever embracing the pageant. Enjoyable. It’s enjoyable. And our exhibits are extra once we find yourself being a headliner, we management every thing. It’s smaller rooms for positive in the intervening time than the massive festivals, in fact. And it’s darkish. We are able to do our present from A to Z and really feel like we actually ship what we meant to ship throughout the boundaries and limits of what we are able to do proper now. After all, we can’t play arenas with the most important manufacturing ever, however we develop our present with each tour; it’s a special mindset. I really like each as a result of it’s refreshing to leap from festivals to a tour and from a tour to festivals. Yeah, it’s simply the distinction. If in case you have an actor who likes to play theatre and cinema, it’s not precisely the identical, however you do the identical factor. However the mindset is completely different, and I personally get pleasure from each very a lot.
Andrew : I fully get every thing that you simply’ve stated there. Not counting on a room’s acoustics to present you one thing again typically can clearly, clearly offer you one thing additional and depart you within the second. We’d actually like to see you right here in Australia at some stage.
Clementine : Oh I might love to have the ability to come over there completely.
Andrew : I may communicate to you perpetually on this album and go actually deep into numerous the issues that I’ve picked up on it already. I simply needed to thanks to your time and for going so in depth into what we did cowl. Congratulations on ‘Pirates 2 – Armada’ and I can’t look forward to the remainder of the world to listen to it when it’s out on July 5. I want you and the band all the success with this file, and I’ll be posting my overview simply previous to launch, so I get to sit down with it for just a little bit longer. Thanks for an incredible file.
Clementine : Thanks a lot, Andrew.
Andrew : Take care. Thanks.
Clementine : Bye-bye.
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