Black Idol’s guitarist and lyricist Uroš shares the band’s journey, influences, and vision as they dive into the progressive metal scene with intensity and introspection.
1. Can
you tell us a bit about the formation of Black Idol? How did your journey from
playing together in school bands to becoming a progressive metal group evolve?
I started my first band at 14 with my best friend, and a year later we began
looking for a drummer. Through mutual friends, I heard about a 10-year-old kid
who could play anything on drums. That’s how I first met Aleksa back in 2009,
and I’ve been in bands of different genres with him ever since.
I met Alex, the band’s other guitarist, through an ad I posted on Facebook
about 10 years ago when I was looking to form a progressive rock/metal cover
band in Belgrade. That band didn’t materialize, but after rehearsing with him
once, I knew he was the guitarist I wanted to play with; he had amazing chops
and similar taste in music.
At the end of 2022, we decided to form a progressive metal band and pursue the
genre we loved the most, which we had never dared to attempt to write until
then. We always set high standards for our music, and I think the time was
simply right: we had reached the level of technical proficiency needed, and
we’d matured as both people and artists, allowing us to meet those standards.
The backbone of our band, Tim (drums) and Vasily (bass), I met in 2023 through
a mutual friend who I’m eternally grateful to for connecting us with our
incredible rhythm section. We hit it off quickly, both as musicians and people,
sharing a lot of influences, and our collaborative music-making process has
been steadily evolving ever since.
2. What
is the significance of the name 'Black Idol'? How does it reflect the themes or
vision of the band?
The name was inspired by the surrealist painter František Kupka and his
painting Black Idol, which also inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. Upon seeing it,
I felt both uneasy and at peace, oscillating between these emotions. It
represents the embodiment of things we’d rather not say or think, and how
confronting that darkness can lead to catharsis, similar to the feelings the
painting evoked in me.
3. Your
influences include a wide range of artists from Porcupine Tree to Deftones. How
do you blend such diverse sounds into Black Idol’s music?
We share many influences, including those you mentioned, but what makes it
interesting is that we each take away different aspects from them and often
have varying perspectives. It’s like having the same ingredients but adding
them in different proportions; we try to agree on the “measure” that satisfies
us all. We never consciously say, “this section needs a bit of Opethy screams,”
but we often recognize those influences after hearing the finished track.
4. Your
song "Son of No Desire" delves into deep emotional themes. Can you
explain how personal experiences or philosophical ideas shape your songwriting
process?
I believe that drawing inspiration from personal experiences and being honest
with oneself is essential for the music to resonate. It’s how we connect with
others through music. For me, it’s also intriguing to consider the broader
context of my experiences and expand on them. For instance, if I feel
disconnected and lonely, I might ponder how much it’s really possible to know
others.
5. What
was it like working with producers Linus Corneliusson and Tony Lindgren at
Fascination Street Studios? How did their expertise influence the final sound
of your EP?
Working with them
was incredibly smooth; they are amazing professionals who elevated our songs
significantly. The devil is in the details, and they have an exceptional sense
of what those details are, which helps to enhance the overall sonic experience.
6. You
won 3rd place at the Art-Waves International Song Contest with "Son of No
Desire" before it was even released. How did this recognition impact the
band’s confidence or direction?
At that time, we
all felt that what we were doing was great, but it hadn’t yet become a reality.
That recognition made our efforts feel real and boosted our confidence,
especially since the jury was composed of renowned Italian maestros and
artists.
7. With
members from different musical backgrounds and having played in various bands,
how does the songwriting process work in Black Idol? Is it collaborative, or
does someone take the lead?
It’s absolutely collaborative, which can make the process more complex and
demanding, but the results are far more interesting than if just one person
dictated what to play. We explore a variety of ideas and usually quickly agree
on the direction we want to take.
8.
"Son of No Desire" explores the clash between personal desires and
the sacrifice for loved ones. Are these types of introspective themes central
to your upcoming EP?
Introspection is always part of the themes we explore, and we often approach
them from a personal perspective. However, other songs on the EP will also
delve into more global or “inherently human” issues. For example, one song
focuses on the thoughts that can lead individuals to commit atrocities, trying
to capture the perpetrator's perspective rather than commenting from a
distance. We believe this approach helps us understand the human condition and
how individual experiences can lead to terrible outcomes. Merely expressing
disgust from afar wouldn’t be as powerful or cathartic.
9. How
would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound from your earliest jams in
Krusevac to now recording professionally in Belgrade?
Over time, we’ve learned that less is more, that it’s essential to listen, set
aside egos, and serve the song. Sometimes, this means not playing anything at
all and waiting for your moment to contribute, which comes with maturation and
being in tune with the music around you.
10.
Winning accolades and performing at local gigs has earned you a reputation for
innovation. How do you approach pushing musical boundaries within the
progressive metal genre?
The key is to constantly evolve as a person and musician and to apply your own
personality to your influences. You can be a great instrumentalist, but if you
haven’t developed a fresh perspective and worked on yourself as a person, your
writing is unlikely to result in something truly original. Musical clichés can
be reimagined endlessly if placed in the right context, so it’s about infusing
your unique personality into the music you create.
11. What
has been the most challenging part of bringing Black Idol’s music to life,
whether in the studio or live performances?
Time and money have been the biggest challenges. As a new band without a
following, we have to invest a lot of our personal finances to make things
happen, which requires balancing day jobs. Managing a day job alongside
pursuing our passion can be demanding, and being from Serbia, where there isn’t
a substantial audience for this type of music, adds to the difficulty.
Nevertheless, we are determined to reach listeners worldwide.
12.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from your upcoming releases? Do you have
plans for a full-length album or touring?
Fans can expect honesty and emotion in our upcoming EP; each song will delve
deeper into various themes. We plan to release the full EP by February 2025 and
will gig as much as possible afterward. The direction we’ll take beyond that is
hard to predict, but we’re confident that you will hear more from us in 2025
after the release of our debut EP.
Post a Comment