Interview with Dying Embers
Tell us about your latest release: the main concept; what fans should expect; what were/are your goals with it:
In three words: Dark, epic, melodic. If you are into music that is heavy, but also hooks you with melodies and transports a somber atmosphere, you should give it a try! You will find up tempo smashers together with gloomy anthems.
Lyrically it deals with topics like morbidity, loss, grief, anger or decadence, but it is not a concept album.
Did you have a specific sound in mind when you formed the band, or did that grow and evolve as you played together?
The basic ideas for the song “Darkside” originated back in 2005. Back then it was actually already clear for me, that I want to make a project in vein of that sometime. Though I was busy with my black/death band Unhallowed in the following years, I collected song ideas for Dying Embers. There actually was no strict specification regarding the style or sound, but I always aim to create cool melodies and harmonies.
How does your writing process normally work out?
There is no standardized procedure regarding that. Sometimes it occurs that I e.g. sit in my car and suddenly have a new melody in my mind. Sometimes I just casually play around on my acoustic guitar and suddenly something promising appears. Starting from very basic ideas like that, I start to write the actual song by producing demos with my recording software using a very simple drum computer. In the following I rework part after part until the song takes it’s final shape.
What are your ambitions and how far do you want to push your band?
Of course I want reach as many people as possible with my music, because I totally stand behind Dying Embers. Since it is only a studio project for the moment, I am nevertheless aware, that that is not something to be taken for granted.
What are your influences/musical references and the impact those same influences had in your sound?
The whole Gothenburg scene with bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity (to mention a few) but also Sentenced, Cemetary or Paradise Lost had a deep impact on me. Still I had the ambition to create my own mixture that is different. So you might be able to conjecture my influences when hearing the songs, but they won’t jump out at you.
What’s next for you?
Since “Where Shadeless Dwell Frozen” was actually finished back in December 2017, I have already collected some new ideas. So I definitely want make a second album, because I’m convinced, that I can up the ante. Another challenge would be to bring Dying Embers on stage, because the songs crave for being performed live.
Answers by: Jürgen Schurz