Interview Damascus Steel

Discover the origin and inspiration behind Damascus Steel's progressive metal journey. From diverse influences to the interplay of musical elements, Sameer and Gabriel share insights on their collaborative process and balancing music with career.

1. How did Damascus Steel come together as a band, and what inspired you to delve into Progressive Metal?
We came together during the pandemic to work on one song, which then ended up into a concept album and an exciting collaboration. We were drawn to Prog Metal because it combines influences from Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Classical, Blues and Jazz music. Prog Metal artists are story tellers; they perfect their craft and mastery of their various instruments, and weave complex musical compositions befitting of the stories they’re telling. That’s what inspired us.

2. Your influences range from Dio and Dream Theater to Beethoven and Hans Zimmer. How do you manage to incorporate such diverse inspirations into your music?
Singers like Dio and Freddie Mercury leverage their powerful voices to tell stories, singing like operatic Tenors. Meanwhile, legendary guitarists like Blackmore and Petrucci pair their virtuosity with inspiration from the great masters of classical music. They in turn have inspired us to incorporate such elements in our music, from emotional and charged vocals and melodic guitar solos to intricate musical progressions. We focus on writing music that captures the listener, much the same way that Hans Zimmer draws on people’s emotions with epic pieces. We try to showcase the interplay between all the instruments, with heavy emphasis on guitars and vocals, while also adding symphonic elements to our songs like heavy strings, choir sounds, and orchestral percussion. If you listen to the last song on our album, War, you might even hear Beethoven's Claire de Lune 3rd movement mixed in there!

3. Sameer, as the founder and lead singer, can you elaborate on the significance of choosing the name Damascus Steel for the band and its connection to your personal journey and the band's musical style?
I picked the name Damascus Steel for three reasons. First, Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and the bedrock of civilization, is my birth city, and where I started singing in a choir at age 6. Second, it's also where I discovered progressive rock and metal (hence “Steel”) listening to songs like Stargazer (Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio), Heaven & Hell (Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio), and One Vision (Queen). Third, Damascus Steel blades were known for their toughness and beauty, made using a formula passed on by word of mouth, and lost to history, which makes them rare and special - just how we want our music to be!

4. The interplay between various musical elements is a hallmark of Progressive Metal. How do you approach the collaborative process when creating intricate and melodic compositions?
We typically start with the story that we’re trying to tell, and the emotions that that story evokes. That typically sets the tone for each composition, and whether it requires a somber sound or a hopeful and optimistic sound. We work hard on the synergy between expressive vocals and dynamic instrumentals to amplify each song’s resonance. Through iteration and time – allowing the song to evolve - we typically arrive at a product that we then enhance and tweak until we get to our finished product.

5. The band features guest musician Gabriel Cyr, winner of the 2018 Guitarist of the Year competition. How did the collaboration with Gabriel come about, and how has his versatile guitar playing influenced your sound?
Sameer who founded Damascus Steel, had been following Gabriel Cyr, the award-winning guitarist and multi-instrumentalist for several years, listening to his band Universe Effects, and admiring his ability to cover any guitarist, from Govan to Vai to EVH. During the pandemic, Sameer reached out to Gabriel and suggested a collaboration on one song. We had such a fun time on that first project, it evolved into another, and then grew into writing a concept album. Gabriel is nothing short of brilliant. He is a true inspiration to work with, and goes well beyond being a guitar virtuoso to being an incredible musical composer. Like Sameer, he is a perfectionist, which makes the collaboration that much more fun.

6. Sameer, outside of Damascus Steel, you manage an IT Software & Services company. How do you balance your professional life with your passion for music and creative endeavors?
My work allows me to leverage the analytical part of my brain, while affording me the opportunity to interact with people on a daily basis. I use my creativity to help find solutions to complex problems. Those interactions also enable me to continue to learn about the human condition which in turn inspires my music. Creating music and writing poetry allows me to leverage another part of my brain, which enables me to connect with people in a different way. I enjoy both, and work hard to balance the interplay.

7. As a band drawn to storytelling, are there specific works of literature, historical events, or other sources that have particularly inspired your songwriting?
Our debut album couldn’t have come at a more timely moment, when the world seems ingulfed in conflict with multiple wars ongoing. What started as one song about the ugliness of war turned into a concept album that delved deeper into what causes war, the aftermath of destruction, the sacrifices made and the price paid by innocence, and what can influence whether wars persist or end. Prog Metal artists often write about a vast array of topics, from social and political issues, to works of literature, historical fiction, fantasy, science and technology, mythology and theology, and history. We are drawn to these themes, but are also inspired by describing the human journey, struggles, emotions, triumphs and failures. We hope that our songs will connect with people on an emotional and cerebral level, and evoke progress, positive change, and a deeper understanding of our humanity.

8. How do you envision the evolution of Damascus Steel's sound in the future, and are there any specific musical directions or themes you would like to explore?
We will continue to explore the interplay of music genre in formulating and informing the evolution of our sound. We are drawn to, and have talked about, varied themes that interest us, from historical concepts like ancient civilizations, to scientific endeavors like being an interplanetary species. We might even explore AI and its impact on humanity in a song or two!


9. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians, especially those looking to explore the complexity and depth of Progressive Metal?
Our advice is first to listen to a wide array of artists and bands, old and new. The early influences like Rainbow and Queen who gave rise to the genre, approached music differently from newer bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. And don’t forget to incorporate the many genre that influence Prog Metal, particularly Classical music. Second, work hard to master your craft. Most Prog Metal artists have reached incredible heights of mastery, and continue to push the envelope. Lastly, find your inspiration and dedicate the time to jumping in. We live at a time when there are so many tools and means of learning, making and sharing your music and inspiration. As Nike says: Just do it!

10. How can fans stay updated on your latest projects, upcoming shows, and connect with Damascus Steel on social media platforms?
You can visit our website at HOME | Damascus Steel (damascussteelmusic.com) or follow us on social media on YouTube (1) Damascus Steel - YouTube and Instagram Damascus Steel (@damascus_steel_music) • Photos et vidéos Instagram We look forward to sharing our musical journey with you!


11. In 2020, Gabriel, you released the Spectrum Exploration I and II EPs. How did these solo projects contribute to your overall musical journey, and did they impact your work with Damascus Steel?

Both of these EPs were recorded during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. I did most of them by myself at my home studio so it was a good opportunity for me to improve my skills as a guitar player and a composer, but also as a multi-instrumentalist. I recorded all the instruments and programmed the drums in the pre-production phase and for the real recordings I had the real drums recorded by a professional drummer in a good studio. I also had the bass re-recorded by a ‘’real’’ bassist for 2 of my songs. Finally, I did the mix for both EPs which was great fun to do and gave me a good opportunity to improve my production skills. These experiences certainly gave me the right tools to work on the Damascus Steel project. I knew I would be able to record and compose the parts for all these instruments and that I could deliver good sounding final versions of the songs.

12. Gabriel, as a versatile guitarist with influences in fusion and progressive metal, how do you navigate the different musical landscapes, both as a solo artist and contributing to Damascus Steel?

I’ve always been someone who listens to all sorts of music. When I was starting my guitar journey, I was really into metal, but I was also playing jazz in school, listening to the Beatles and playing flute in the school woodwind orchestra.
With Damascus Steel, I had a clear guideline to follow. When Sameer and I first discussed the project, we determined that the music would be mainly influenced by Symphony X and Dream Theater. It was then pretty easy to direct the compositions toward this kind of sonic aesthetic. I suppose the best way to navigate different styles is to make sure you know enough about each of them. It is always the same language that we use (music) but we need to know how to speak it right for the different contexts. You probably would not speak the same way if you were doing the narration for a BBC documentary on wild animals then if you were a sports commentator for a wrestling event or a hockey match.