Interview The Silent Era

Welcome to an exclusive insight into The Silent Era's sonic journey. From genre fusion to personal revelations, discover how this band navigates diverse influences, captures emotions, and evolves in the dark, dreamy realms of music. Dive into their upcoming release, 'Heaven//Hell,' and anticipate a 2024 filled with fuzz, reverb, and unique sounds. Join us in celebrating the blend of individuality and collaboration that defines The Silent Era. Keep those ears peeled for an unforgettable musical experience, where each note resonates with passion and authenticity.

1. Your music is a fusion of industrial, goth rock, shoegaze, and post-punk. How did you manage to blend these diverse influences to create your distinctive sound?

Nicolas: First it’s probably decades of discovering, absorbing, learning different things. And at the same time, experimenting with gear, pedals, techniques, softwares. Then, you put 4 different persons together with different backgrounds, different perceptions and voila.

Bri: We’ve defo got our own sound to it, but these genres tend to occupy a similar landscape and easily blend into each other with other bands. It’s just like a dark vibe without feeling too aggressive, but we can float across the spectrum provided by these influences and take it in our own direction. It’s a cool and spooky space to be occupying.

Chris: Some bands when they try and tie influences together, they’ll kinda be tacked on top of each other, like ‘oh here’s the metal bit, here’s the dance bit’. With us it’s kinda like you’ve put all these things in the wash and they’ve just all bled into each other. There’s noise rock dissonance living alongside driving industrial rhythms with groovy bass lines topped with soul vocals! It shouldn’t work, but it does because it comes from an organic place.

2. Coming from different countries and musical backgrounds, how did you find common ground in crafting The Silent Era's unique sonic landscape?

Nicolas: We managed to find each other based on common tastes so that would eventually translate into making music together. Although we keep learning from each other, we tend to understand each other pretty well now.

Bri: We have our differences, but we all clearly enjoy what we’re doing together. I’d heard a demo instrumental of ‘Heavy Cure’ and fell in love with the vibe. It was so easy for me to write to, and the guys seemed to dig what I did with it. And we kept going..

3. Your latest single, 'Heaven//Hell,' explores the blurred lines between good and evil. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this track and the message you aim to convey?

Nicolas: Instrumentally it’s one of these songs you think about beforehand, instead of experimenting and get somewhere somehow. The initial intention was more like ‘oh let’s do something catchy, energetic but with an industrial vibe’ with a structure that would start as a very industrial feel, kind of mechanical and gradually make it feel groovier, more human throughout the whole song, hence the last part with the solos (human wins against AI in this scenario, at least musically).

Bri: Evil is a point of view.. I doubt the people who wronged me thought they were, but for me, once I realised,  it certainly felt like it. For a period I was convinced that the situation was good for me, to the point that I was defending it to people who could see it from the outside… For me, the lyrical message is that hindsight is 20:20 - you can sometimes not realise in the moment that you are suffering, being manipulated etc. until you get out and look back at what you’ve been through. In my experience it takes a real shift to snap you out of it and change your perspective. It ties in with the theme of the music Nic described - I was going through the motions, dealing with the day-to-day, something snapped and I went through a phase of heavy, chaotic emotions leading to a resolution - the drum solo at the end feels like a sonic representation of the conflict and mental anguish I had to overcome - Thanks Jo! :)

4. The song 'Heaven//Hell' draws from personal experiences of manipulation and betrayal. How does the band approach translating such personal emotions into a musical narrative?

Bri: Personal emotions and feelings are so arbitrary and abstract that sometimes you don’t realise how to convey an idea until Nic sends over a new instrumental, haha.. Then it clicks into place. Yeah, the themes for Heaven//Hell are very personal, so I chose to write about them in a metaphorical, poetic way, drawing analogies trying to make it more relatable, instead of airing my dirty laundry in the town square..! Obviously, the whole piece can’t be so abstract if you want people to get what you’re on about, haha.. Having a clear message in the chorus is so important. I also wanted to go on a journey and come to a resolution, as that’s what I experienced - a tumultuous journey that I’ve (somewhat) come out the other side of.. I hope that not being so specific about the ins and outs makes the ideas easier to relate to, and that listeners can find their own meaning. I’m not writing to these ideas for sympathy, but because it’s something I’ve had the opportunity to explore in some kind of detail, in my own context, so I have something genuine to say about it, and it feels real when performing it.

5. With a discography that includes a cover ('Into Dust') and various singles, how does each release contribute to the overall evolution of The Silent Era's sound?

Nicolas: Our back catalogue is still very small but yeah these 4 songs - including Heaven//Hell - have different textures, different types of writing and production. We’re still a young band and have been trying different things since we started. I like to think that it’s going to be our thing, not sticking to one genre and to keep exploring and blending various aspects in our music. We have a few secret weapons though to keep things consistent, the main one being Bri, she has a very distinctive voice and style so easily identifiable.

Chris: We’re very considered about what we put out and when. As Nic touched on, with each track we put out we want to focus on a different aspect of what we do. I think we make more sense the more songs you hear, because while each song offers its own distinct kind of vibe, the through lines make more sense too. You can hear how our influences play out in different ways and in different contexts.

6. Tell us about your upcoming release 'Heaven//Hell.' What can listeners expect, and how does it differ from your previous works?

Nicolas: a step up in the production for sure. Considering we’ve worked in a different studio to record drums and guitars and I have levelled up my skills and equipment at home to record and mix. As for the sound, besides the obvious use of fuzz pedals on guitars and bass, there’s a few subtle elements that contribute to the general vibe such as the use of a Bass VI to double the bass in some parts, synths playing under the guitar riffs, a couple of percussion loops and also, keg hits doubling the snare drum.

Chris: For me, this one is kinda our goth club dance floor banger - that’s where it will be at its best I’m sure. We’ve paired that with a b-side that’s a kind of reworking on our last single ‘Scorpio’, kinda taking it down the stoner metal path a bit more. 

7. The band's sound is described as "heavy, dreamy soundscapes." How do you balance the heaviness with the dreamy elements in your music?

Bri: We have some heavy songs, we have some super dreamy songs.. And some are a mix of both. It’s a great idea to think about dynamics when creating music - you can view songs as mini stories and stories have ups, downs and various other directions. Using our version of ‘Into Dust’ as an example - the original is like a gentle, but deep meditation on the themes of love, loss and decay. The change we introduce is a more expressive lament with all my wailing and stuff and the heavier vibe at the end.

Chris: We’re a pretty loud band even when we’re quiet,  but I think dynamics are important for all of us. The best thing about music is that it can kinda cover a wide range of emotions that we often struggle to explain with just words alone - playing with dynamic ranges can be one way to do that. How do we balance that? The short answer is reverb.

8. Considering the diverse range of bands you're associated with in terms of influences, how do you navigate the challenge of creating something unique in a genre with such rich history?

Bri: Most goth bands sound the same, so it’s pretty easy actually.. Hahahaha

Nicolas: True, haha. But I don’t know, I guess we naturally do things our way even with clear influences and even if we try to mimic an existing song, it will sound unique because we won’t play it well haha resulting in something unique. Happy accidents make the difference.

9. The Silent Era has been gigging regularly in and out of London. How has the live performance experience shaped your music and the band's identity?

Bri: Really well, I think - it’s helped me to discover how best to convey what I need to and explore different ideas. It’s been a great way to watch how we each act and how to fit together better. I know a lot of bands plan their “show” in the rehearsal room, but in my experience that comes across super forced. Chris keeps joking that I need to get the crowd to “OPEN THE PIT UP” - as soon as we have a song that warrants that, I’m down. Currently, I don’t feel like that’s necessary, but if people wanna do it, they should! It’s also a great exercise to road and stress test new songs before recording them proper - new ideas or new ways of performing will pop out the more they’re played. The more you do something the better you understand it.. ideally!

10. You've mentioned plans to release a new batch of tracks in 2024. Can you provide any insights into what we can expect from this upcoming release?

Chris: 2024 is going to be a huge year for us, especially when it comes to releases. We’ve appeared pretty quiet for a lot of last year, but behind the scenes we’ve been working away getting things in order for this year. We’ve got some cool stuff in the bag, and a whole bunch of other things to pin down in the coming months. Let’s just say now is a good time to jump on board with us!

Bri: more variation on several themes

Nicolas: more fuzz, more reverb, more chorus

11. The band has undergone some lineup changes. How have these changes influenced the creative process, and what does each member bring to the table in terms of musical input?

Nicolas: It changes the approach, and obviously the results. On the songs we already had before Jo’s arrival, I can definitely feel the difference, he definitely brings up his personality into the songs. And on the new material, I’m just gonna give a quick example, the other day he and I spent the afternoon working on a drum machine part for one of our next songs. Something that never happened with most drummers I worked with in the past.

Chris: I think Jo brings a lot of heft to our songs, he’s also very conscious about not overplaying so things can still be quite punchy, despite all the other noise going on. I think Nic and I tend to think a lot about sounds and textures we can bring in on music level, but we might approach those in very different ways. Bri ties it all together melodically somehow.

12. The Silent Era's origins trace back to the implosion of your previous band, Ghost Wives. How did this experience shape the direction and goals of The Silent Era?

Nicolas: Purely artistically, not much especially since Chris and I are the only remaining members from that band now. That being said, the ghost wives experience certainly helped us cut our teeth and taught us how to work together. But The Silent Era is a very different band, can’t be compared really.

Chris: …I don’t want to talk about Ghost Wives…

13. The Silent Era's music is described as introspective, exploring the darker side of human nature. How does the band approach writing lyrics that delve into these themes?

Bri: Over the pandemic I had a lot of time to do some soul searching. I was writing loads of new lyrics while working with ex-collaborators (had a lot to delve into afterwards, too). I was jotting down my inner thoughts and feelings and trying to rationalise them in a somewhat mysterious and metaphorical way - I tried being direct, but that just wasn’t my bag.. I also didn’t want to say certain things directly, and that really aligns with how the feelings were manifesting. Being able to acknowledge the low and dark emotions I was experiencing and allowing myself to get it all down on the page was a real catharsis for me. Being able to perform these ideas along with music I find beautiful is so powerful, and I can do it in a genuine way, because I have felt it. In exploring these themes, I’m kind of telling my low self that things can turn around and there is hope if you work through the darkness.

14. Your b-side release, 'Slowpio - Live @ Brighton Electric,' showcases a live performance. How important is the live aspect for The Silent Era, and how does it differ from studio recordings?

Nicolas: About to get nerdy again, sorry..! I think it’s important to show different aspects of our creativity. I’m more a ‘studio nerd’ cause I love the fact that there are no real limitations, you can use a whole array of gear and stuff to create songs. How about using this pedal for that bit and that one there, why not double tracking the bass for this part and that synth sounds great here, the reverse reverb on the vocals here sounds nice, etc. Things that are really difficult to recreate to perfection on stage. That being said, the limitations of playing live become actual assets to create something a bit different because each of us adapt their playing/singing and manage our gear differently cause we can’t carry around too many pedals, too many instruments etc. For example, I use fuzz on my bass parts on stage a little more often than in studio versions. And we bring in visuals as well on stage which is a big part of our identity. And we haven’t figured out if we want to bring baseball bats, kegs and metal cupboards on stage or not yet.

 

15. For fans who are eagerly anticipating your new releases, what message would you like to convey to them as they keep their "ears peeled" for The Silent Era in 2024?

Nicolas: Keep supporting small artists, in any ways possible. It is fundamental for the survival of music as an art. It’d be a good idea to use AI to replace all the bullshit jobs instead of trying to replace artists. Anyway, new music made by humans is coming from us soon, I guarantee! Thank you so much for your support!

(Bri - vox, Chris - guitar, Nic - bass, Jo -drums)

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