Explore the evolution of Solar System's sound, the creative process behind their latest album, and their plans for the future in this insightful interview.
1. Your
band has been active since 2010 and has undergone several lineup changes. How
has this evolution impacted the sound and direction of Solar System over the
years?
Lineup
changes are only about what a particular musician is capable to play. I’ll give
you an example, a friend of mine, who loves Iron Maiden, tried to play with us
and when he started stuffing the horse rhythm of Steve Harris into our music,
it sounded really funny, we couldn’t believe our ears. The sound and its
direction is controlled by our guitarist Petr and the band sometimes comes with
some ideas how to improve it. Changes are bad, they always bring the band back
to the beginning.
2. Your
latest album, "Synchronicita," was released in 2020 under the Slovak
Metal Army label and mastered by Roland Grapow. Can you tell us about the
creative process behind this album and what it represents for the band?
It was
during the lockdown, which gave us enough time to finally finish the new
material. It was really nice for us to estabilish cooperation with a real
underground publisher and especially a person who had a metal heart.
Unfortunately, he left this world not long after. It was great to have Roland
master the album. During the preparation of the album, there was another change
on the post of drummer. At the moment we are without a publisher, we are
working on new songs and we will see where will it take us.
3. With
your upcoming third album in the works, how do you plan to innovate and push
the boundaries of your music while staying true to the Solar System sound?
I think the
main ingredients of the sound are guitars and the way Petr composes and plays
songs. Therefore, we are not planning any deviation, the band has its own
specific sound and it’s like when you hear Accept, Judas Priest or Megadeth for
example, you recognize them immediately, thanks to that specificity. That’s
probably how it should be, it’s like a wife’s voice, if she had a different
voice every day, it would probably be completely messed up. Of course we would
like to move it forward, that’s why we have arrenged producer this time for the
recording of the third album. And here comes a question how will we deal with
it.
4. Solar
System has had the opportunity to perform at some of the biggest festivals in
the Czech Republic and tour with bands like Crystallion. How have these
experiences shaped your live performances and interactions with fans?
The band
has to play, it builds confidence on stage and confidence in communicating with
fans live. We are ordinary people, so we have normal feelings about it. So it
shapes you to be completely comfortable on stage.
5. Your
music combines catchy riffs, melodic keys, and Czech lyrics. What inspires your
songwriting process, and how do you balance these elements to create a cohesive
sound?
Everything
flows by itself, we come with compositionally almost finished song, vocals,
then we adjust details that we want to change, it has its own process.
6. The
band includes founding members Oto Gajdoš and Petr Štrauch, alongside other
permanent members. How do you maintain cohesion and synergy within the group
despite changes in lineup?
When people
in band fit to each other, you don’t have to maintain anything, but of course
the music and love for it holds us together. We try to be cool, we’re old
enough to deal with some non important bullshit. You have to evaluate in time
what’s important for the band to work as a whole and what’s not.
7. Can
you share any memorable moments or stories from your time on the road or in the
studio that have had a significant impact on the band?
Now I won’t
be specific, but that’s the way it is and I tell this to friends from other
bands as well. It’s important to make time for fans after the show. Then those
moments and stories come and you never know which one of those moments can
change your life.
8. What
are your thoughts on the current state of the metal music scene, and how do you
see Solar System contributing to its evolution?
The metal
scene is alive and that’s the main thing! We try to do what we can …
9. You
have upcoming mini-tours with Moribund Oblivion and Phenomy. What are you most
looking forward to about these experiences, and what can fans expect from your
live performances?
We are
mainly preparing the third year of our own festival, the festival is growing
even though it is still underground. It’s amazing to meet there all those great
people and musicians not only from the bands playing there, but also fans and
friends that come to support us. As for these concerts, we look forward to
spending time together with the bands. They are incredibly talented and humble
people. Fans know that they will get a little solar hell from us!
10. Lastly,
where do you see Solar System in the next few years, both musically and as a
band?
We will have another album and let ourselves be surprised, surprise is the best!
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