Lay Of The Autumn’s upcoming album Of Love And Sorrow blends symphonic power metal with deep emotional themes. Davide and Iryna discuss love, sorrow, and musical influences.
1. "After
All This Time? Always" is inspired by Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows. How did this particular story and its themes influence the song,
and why did you choose this title?
[Davide]: The
title is taken from a famous dialogue by the Professor Dumbledore and The
Professor Snape.
When Harry get
the Professor Snape’s tear at the end of the final movie, and he watches the
life of his antagonist, he discovers that Snape had actually always been in
love with his mother, and he sacrificed himself to protect him.
This title, as
well as its meaning, symbolize a sacrifice of eternal love.
I’ve chosen this
title beacuse it perfectly symbolizes the meaning of love to me.
2. Your
upcoming album Of Love And Sorrow merges Symphonic Power Metal
with deeply emotional storytelling. Can you share the overarching themes
explored on this album?
This album talks
about themes like love, rejection, loss, change, knowledge, acceptance.
I am talking
about the eternal and immutable change in our life we have no control on it, we
can just internalize, understand and accept it.
The main purpose
of this project is to send a message: the acceptance of the negative as a part
of us, in the same way we accept the positive in our life.
Everything is
clearly explained in the lyrics of the self-named track “Of Love and Sorrow”,
just read it.
3. The
band's sound has been compared to legends like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius,
and Nightwish. How do these influences shape your music, and what do you think
sets Lay Of The Autumn apart from these classic acts?
[Davide]: Basically, I grew with these
legends, therefore the music I compose is fully contaminated by their
sonorities.
In my
personal opinion, they are still the best nowadays, I don't have the presumption
to consider my music better than theirs.
In what Lay
Of The Autumn is different?
Essentially,
I try to mix their styles in my tracks with my personal way to compose, and
doing always my best.
It means
that my purpose is not to be different or create something new at all costs.
I compose
music because I feel it and because I need it; I write lyrics that have a
meaning to me.
It's
important that I like my music first of all, then if someone else will like it
too, I will be happy about it.
4.
Iryna, your vocals on "After All This Time? Always" have been
described as majestic. How do you approach singing such emotionally charged
songs, and what was it like recording this ballad?
[Iryna]: I am grateful that my performance
can be appreciated.
I always
try to interpret the part I sing according to the context, to express the right
emotions.
This track
is about love, sadness, hope and courage.
I did my
best to make a recording worthy of its music and lyrics.
5. The
album promises a blend of Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, and Melodic Death Metal
with cinematic soundtracks. How did you approach balancing these different
styles to create a cohesive sound across the album?
[Davide]: From
the very first years I started play an insturment I’ve continued to learn,
learn, learn…
In the recent
years I deeper studied cinematic composition, audio theory and mix-mastering
techniques.
A very important
skill for a composer is to understand how to put everything properly within the
DAW, and how the audio works in the real life, in order to make everything
perfectly audible, clear and not tiring for the listener.
Even if we are
talking about mixing several styles in one track.
Last but not
least, if you cannot mix and master your own music, choose a mixer engineer who
will take care of that, as if he were you.
6.
Davide Scuteri has played a key role in composing and arranging the music
for Of Love And Sorrow. Davide, can you tell us about your
songwriting process for this album and how the rest of the band contributed to
bringing your vision to life?
[Davide]: I use
to compose the music first of all.
The main idea may
come when I play the Piano or some riffs with my keyboard.
Secondary, I give
a sense to the entire structure of the song, including vocal melody and lyrics
(when I have to).
Since the lyrics
have been written way later than the music were composed, they are very mush
related to the music.
I wrote the
lyrics basing on my feelings while listening to a specific song
Then, Iryna
managed the most of the vocal melodies, and the rest of the band arranged the
scores that I wrote for their instruments.
It’s really
important to choose wisely the bandmates; mine know exactly what purpose we
want to achieve and how to do it.
More than one of
them has even more experience than me.
7.
Michele, with your background in bands like Chronosfear and Embrace of Souls,
how did your drumming influence the dynamic sound of Of Love And Sorrow?
[Michele]: My aim
for Of love and sorrow was to to provide a fast and powerful sound, that could
give a greater thrust to the pieces that Davide composed.
I also tried to
work a lot on the dynamics in the ballads to give the track an identity and a
sweetness according to my taste, that fits precisely with the Power Symphonic
project.
8. The
album includes a mix of heavy tracks and more melancholic, introspective
moments. How did you choose which songs to include, and what emotional journey
do you hope listeners experience when hearing the album?
[Davide]: In
terms of music we set the tracklist in order to provide a good balance of
powerful moments and quite melancholic moments.
There is not a
concept behind the position of each song, since we don’t want to tell a story.
As I ttold
before, the main purpose of this project is to send a message: the acceptance
of the negative as a part of us, in the same way we accept the positive in our
life.
For this reason,
each song has its own topic related to this.
Like James
Sunderland in Silent Hill 2, who went deeper and deeper into the darkness and
the shadows of his mind to discover the truth, in the same way we hope that the
fans can make their own personal journey within themselves through this album,
to rebirth with a new knowledge.
In terms of
lyrics, we hope that the listener becomes aware of the importance of their
personal sorrow in life, which should be shown rather than hidden.
9. One
of the standout tracks is the instrumental “Si Sta Come D'Autunno Sugli Alberi
Le Foglie.” Can you tell us more about this track and why you decided to
include an instrumental piece on the album?
[Davide]: This is
a hermetic title. During the First World War there was a poet into the
battlefield, his name was Giuseppe Ungaretti and he wrote these lines in his
poetry “Soldati (Soldiers)”, as perpetual symbol of the life in the trenches.
It meant that the
life of soldiers was like the autumn leaves on the branches of the trees: they
could pass away unexpectedly, at any time, suddenly.
Our message with
this track is that as the same way, our emotions can turn in pain unexpectedly,
at any time, suddenly.
Moreover, in the
videoclip of this single you can see a lady who keeps flowers in her hands.
In comparison
with her look so gentle and calm, the music so powerful and somehow chaotic
simbolizes what she actually feels: her hidden sorrow.
In terms of
music, I also wanted add a track in the style of Stratosphere and
Stratofortress by Stratovarius.
10. You
worked with Ettore Rigotti for mixing and mastering, which ensures the album’s
sound is flawless. What was it like collaborating with Ettore, and how did his
expertise shape the final product?
[Davide]: yes,
the mix and mastering has been made by Ettore Rigotti (Disarmonia Mundi) at his
“The Metal House Studios”.
Ettore put all
his professional and his love in his work for this album, he worked more than a
studio where you give money to have a product.
He acted like if
he were a member of this band.
It is an
invaluable thing nowadays.
11. The
cover artwork, designed by Mattias Norén, is striking and seems to complement
the album's themes. What was the inspiration behind the artwork, and how does
it tie into the music?
[Davide]: Yes, Mattias
Norén is the man behind this masterpiece, and behind the artwork of all my
bands.
I explained him
the image that I had in mind: a lady who turns into leaves during the fall, as
a symbol of the beauty who gives way to sorrow that comes suddenly.
We discussed
about the spirit of the project and we also decided together the main color to
focus on.
The result is
this concept: the artwork and also the logo, the first version that he created,
already perfect.
There were no
second drafts.
12.
With Of Love And Sorrow coming out on October 25th, what are
your plans for promoting the album? Can fans expect any live performances or
special releases leading up to the launch?
[Davide]:
Together with Rockshots Records we are planning to release new singles and
videos. There will probably be some surprises.
I can reveal that
we are already working on the sequel.
Stay tuned.
Lay Of The Autumn (@layoftheautumnband) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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