Welcome to our interview with Hail, a symphonic metal band hailing from the South of England. Today, we delve into their journey from solo beginnings to a collaborative force in the British metal scene.
1. Can you start by introducing the members of Hail and
sharing a brief background on how the
band came together?
• Hayley: We have Chris on bass, Charlie on guitar, Jake on drums and I do the
vocals.
The band started as my solo project, where I was recording with a producer. I
decided I wanted to branch out and start gigging, so I put out an advert and
found
the others. Thankfully, we are all quite likeminded and share the same goals
and
ambition.
2. Your music draws influence from prominent symphonic metal bands like
Evanescence,
Within Temptation, and Lacuna Coil. How do these influences manifest in your
music, and
what sets Hail apart from these bands?
• chris: although we take some influence from these bands, bring a British band
out roots
are very much in the British metal scene. There are symphonic elements, but you
can
also hear bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead and even early Muse
and
Radiohead.
3. "Fallen Angel" is your final solo recording as Hayley before
forming Hail. Can you tell us about
the transition from your solo career to forming a band and the reasons behind
it?
• Hayley: I really enjoyed creating music in the studio, but the sounds were so
big! I spent a lot
of time releasing music online, but it was hard to get out and gig because I
wasn’t able to
create the right atmosphere by myself just singing with a backing track.
4. Being based in the South of England, how has the local music scene shaped
your band's
sound and opportunities for live performances?
• Jake: . We have all come from bands of different genres and have made have
made
good friends with people here we are looking to take all we have learned and
apply it
to symphonic metal
• Chris: over the last 10 years, I found the music scene in the south of
England has
diminished somewhat. I think for us personally that spurred us on to do even
better
and put ourselves on the map.
5. What is the typical songwriting process like for Hail? How do you blend the
symphonic
elements with metal in your compositions?
• Jake: Typically chris or Charlie will come up with a bass or guitar riff and
then we
figure out a symphonic part i then come up with a drum beat. We then form the
structure for a song and Hayley comes up with ideas for what the song is about
and
writes lyrics we then play song with lyrics and tinker with structure until
it’s a song
we are all happy with. Once we have the initial structure nailed, then Chris
goes into
hiding and arranges the orchestral elements before we all give it the thumbs
up.
6. You mentioned that one of your goals was to start gigging. How has the live
performance
experience been for Hail so far, and do you have any memorable moments to
share?
• Hayley: Our first gig was interesting – we saw an advert for a Battle of the
Bands with
an open slot less than 24 hours before the performance. We just decided to go
for it!
We didn’t win, but it was good fun to try out and see how the audience and
judges
reacted to our sound.
7. How do the dynamics within the band contribute to the overall sound and
direction of Hail's
music?
• Hayley: I think where everyone is quite mature, like-minded and courteous,
it’s
making the writing process enjoyable. We have open discussions about where the
music is heading and we spend a lot of practice time just experimenting with
different ideas. Often someone will work on something in their own time and
come
back to the group with a new idea. It’s lovely to see everyone being so
enthusiastic
and I hope that will come across when we perform or record.
8. Can you talk about the evolution of Hail's sound since forming the band and
how it has
grown from your solo work?
• Hayley: We are still in the early stages of creating music as a band, but so
far the
sound has a similar vibe to the latest solo songs. I know that the others like
Oblivion
and Fallen Angel the best, and so far we seem to be following on from that. We
might add a fair bit of orchestra and some higher pitched vocals though!
9. Are there any new releases or projects in the pipeline for Hail that fans
can look forward to?
• Jake: We are currently writing new material and are looking to record and
release in
2024
10. What challenges have you encountered as a symphonic metal band, and how
have you
overcome them?
• Chris: When we initially set up the band we went for a couple of lineup
changes before we
found what was the right fit for us. On top of that, being a symphonic metal
band,
it’s difficult to incorporate the orchestral elements into a live setting with
very few
people in the band. This is what we are currently working on as part of our
rehearsal
schedule.
11. Lyrically, what themes or concepts do you explore in your songs, and how do
they relate to
your personal experiences and emotions?
• Hayley: The three most recent songs have explored different aspects of loss
and
grief. Oblivion, In Time and Fallen Angel are three connected songs released as
a
trilogy. Oblivion is about the numbness of grief, In Time is coming to terms
with loss
and finding hope for the future. Fallen Angel is about seeing the lies and
betrayal. I
wrote all three songs surrounding a bad break-up and they are the first songs
I’ve
written that I’ve felt an overwhelming emotional connection to.
• Chris: For me personally, lyrics always come last when I write a song. It’s
the music
that guides the theme for the lyrics and I wrote to match how the song makes me
feel.
12. Could you delve into the instrumentation and techniques used by the band to
create your
unique symphonic metal sound?
• Charlie: Riff, chord structure, song structure, twiddly bits, lyrics,
orchestra. In that
order.
13. What are your long-term ambitions for Hail, both in terms of musical
achievements and
personal growth as artists?
Jake: Long term we would like to be playing festivals regularly every year
• Hayley: I would definitely like to see us gigging regularly and creating new
music
together.
• Chris: On a personal level, I’m really enjoying the challenge of arranging
the songs for
an orchestra. Some sections have really taken me out of my comfort zone and I’m
pleased with the results.
14. How do you connect with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping
your journey as a
band?
• Jake: Social media has a massive part to play with us connecting to fans
everywhere
they are as much a part of the band as we are and want to get them involved any
which way we can
15. What do you think of the South of England's metal scene, and how do you see
Hail
contributing to it in the future?
• Hayley: There’s definitely a big community out there, supporting all
sub-genres of
metal. I’m personally looking forward to getting out there and making
connections
with other musicians and music fans, and just generally having fun.
16. Finally, is there a message you'd like to convey to your current and future
fans as you
continue to evolve and make music as Hail?
• Jake: Get ready we are all going on an adventure!
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