In this interview, we delve into the creative journey behind Sorrowsight's debut album "Essence of Existence." Discover the emotions, influences, and experiences that shaped their unique sound and artistic vision.
1. Congratulations
on the release of your debut album, "Essence of Existence"! Could you
share with us the emotions and thoughts that went into creating this album?
While
creating the first album we just continued to live our lives. The
surrounding events led us to think about different aspects of our life.
Our personal experiences and the socio-political context of living in Ukraine
heavily influenced our songwriting. The hardships and challenges we faced were
reflected in our music, giving it an authenticity and urgency that resonates
with our listeners. It was a rather long period of our lives
that's why the topics are different. Thus the album consists of the
songs on philosophical topics: the opportunity to experience aesthetic pleasure
from art, the aim and meaning of life being, the ability to feel your true
emotions, the fleetingness of time, the role of the religions for humanity, the
reason and consequences of the wars etc.
2. Your
band's name, Sorrowsight, suggests a deep emotional connection to your music.
How does the theme of melancholy or sadness influence your songwriting process?
Our band
likes dark, gothic culture. Besides, our guitarist and vocalist are melancholic
persons in some way. Our lyrics often delve into personal and collective
experiences of sorrow, loss, and existential reflection. The melodies and
harmonies in our songs are crafted to complement the themes of sadness and
introspection. We use minor keys, dissonant chords to create a somber and
reflective mood. The song's structure is often complicated as every
person's soul. The interplay between heavy riffs and melodic elements creates a
dynamic contrast that mirrors the struggle between despair and hope. Our
vocalist Mariia's ability to switch between clean, melodic singing and
powerful, extreme vocals allows us to explore a wide range of emotional
expressions. The intensity of her performance helps to drive home the themes of
suffering and resilience. Incorporating themes of melancholy and sadness
into our songwriting allows Sorrowsight to create music that is emotionally
rich and deeply resonant.
3. "Essence
of Existence" features a fusion of gothic, death, and doom metal. How do
you balance these genres to create a cohesive sound, and what challenges did
you face in blending them together?
We think
that a common feature of gothic, death and doom metal is an emphasis on the
dark atmosphere as their component and their common emotions. However from the
technical view of music: different rhythms, tempos, song structures,
instruments, vocal techniques, of course these genres differ and it was the
main сomplexity to
blend these genres together from the technical view.
4. The
addition of a violinist brings a unique symphonic element to your music. How
did this decision come about, and how does the violin contribute to
Sorrowsight's overall sound?
This
question leads us to the history of forming a band. Our first drummer Volodymyr
wanted to add a second guitarist for a denser sound. Our vocalist Mariia
suggested her acquaintance musician Lianna Kaushanskaya, who played both guitar
and violin. Lianna proposed using the violin instead of the guitar and created
the first violin parts for the songs. Pavlo, who wanted to add a symphonic
element to the band's sound, found this option intriguing. The other members
also appreciated the lyrical sound of the violin, which helped define the
band's unique style. The incorporation of violin parts adds a lyrical, enhances
the emotional depth of our music.
5. Your
song "The Fallen" was created during a challenging time in Ukraine.
How did real-life events impact the creation of this song, and what message do
you hope listeners take away from it?
The
real-life events such as the bombing of civilian objects, accompanying
accidental deaths, mutilations, air alarms, the constant threat to life in our
native city during the russian aggression deeply influenced the creation of the
song "The Fallen", filling it with genuine emotions that we ourselves
felt. We want listeners to gain a deeper understanding of the harsh realities
of war. By exposing them to the true stories and images of the conflict, we
hope to foster empathy and raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine. By
confronting the brutal realities of war, we aim to motivate people to work
towards a world where such conflicts are less likely to occur.
6. Could
you tell us about the artwork and visual elements associated with "Essence
of Existence"? How do these visuals complement the themes explored in your
music?
This
artwork was created by guitarist's friend Max Lacrimath who made the logo
for the band and artwork of the single previously. Max likes and often draws
the different styled females. As our band is represented by a female vocalist
it was decided to depict the gothic style girl on the album's artwork. The
hourglass reflects the fleetingness of life time. Max also added several gothic
symbol elements, snake for complementing the dark atmosphere. Thus it is hinted
that the lyrics of the songs will be in a gothic-philosophical vein and the
overall album's atmosphere combines darkness and beauty.
7. Sorrowsight
has undergone lineup changes over the years. How has this affected the band's
dynamics and musical direction, especially during the creation of your debut
album?
The lineup
changes in Sorrowsight have undeniably impacted the band's dynamics and musical
direction. Lineup changes also posed challenges, such as ensuring cohesion and
maintaining a unified vision for our music. Each transition required a period
of adjustment, where new members needed to integrate into the band's existing
dynamics. The creation of our debut album, "Essence of Existence,"
reflects this journey, showcasing a blend of diverse influences and personal
experiences. Each member, past and present, has contributed to shaping the
band's identity, resulting in a rich, authentic, and compelling musical
narrative.
The initial lineup consisted of guitarist Pavlo (Paul) Korovchuk, vocalist
Mariia (Mary) Diachenko, drummer Volodymyr Ostapenko, and bassist Artur Pholax.
This foundational team established the core sound of Sorrowsight, blending
death and doom metal elements.
The addition of Lianna Kaushanskaya on violin marked a pivotal shift, bringing
a unique symphonic, gothic layer that became a signature aspect of our
music.Each new member brought their unique influences and skills, which helped
shape and evolve our sound.
Changes in the rhythm section, such as the introduction of Georgy Kokkin as a
drummer and later Mykyta Pushkin, Mykola Skvortsov as a bassist, brought
different drumming styles and techniques, bass parts which added new textures
and energy to our music. Natali Bakhtina on violin brought renewed enthusiasm
and innovative ideas, enriching the album's sound.
8. As a
Ukrainian band, how has your cultural background influenced your music, both in
terms of themes and musical style?
It seems to
us that these themes and musical styles are international. Of course, generally
Ukrainian culture has a deep connection with melancholy, often expressed
through music, literature, and art. From this point of view we can say
this intrinsic melancholic sensibility is a key element in our gothic
death/doom metal style. However we didn't use any ukrainian folk motives
in our music. So this connection is not obvious. The band's main influences
include Ne Obliviscaris, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth, Fleshgod
Apocalypse, The Sins of Thy Beloved and Draconian.
9. What
are some of the most memorable experiences or challenges you faced while
recording "Essence of Existence"?
The first
work in the studio, collaborative songwriting were the most memorable
experiences. Meanwhile, lineup changes, the impact of the war and the need to
maintain a cohesive sound tested our resilience and adaptability.
10. Looking
ahead, what are your plans and aspirations for Sorrowsight's future, and how do
you envision your musical evolution moving forward?
Our
guitarist is already working on new material for our next album. He is
interested in incorporating more symphonic elements, orchestral arrangements.
Next album will be also interesting from a musical and lyrics view.
Unfortunately due to war our concert activity is under question in the nearest
future.
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