London-based psych-tinged doom trio BOREHEAD delves into profound soundscapes with their debut album Vita est Morte est Vita. Signed with Octopus Rising, they reflect on their journey, musical evolution, and captivating live performances.
1. Congratulations
on signing with Octopus Rising! How has the journey been for BOREHEAD leading
up to this debut album, Vita est Morte est Vita?
It’s been
wild! From just jamming after work, with the intention of playing the odd gig,
to playing shows like Desertfest and putting out a record with such a great
label has been a real trip. We’re lucky to be part of a really great scene here
in London. Everyone is so friendly and really works to lift each other up.
2. Your music is known for its richly
textured, psych-tinged doom soundscapes. How did you go about developing this
distinctive style as a three-piece instrumental band?
The style
developed really organically. The set-up of the band has always been an
instrumental three-piece, so we’ve just played what has come naturally to us.
The bass and guitar are always on a pretty even footing; not having one more
prominent than the other. This has allowed us to try interesting things with
the dynamics of the tunes, with sometimes the bass driving the feel, and at
other times the guitar.
3. The track titles and album theme
hint at a deep, perhaps philosophical, exploration. Can you explain the concept
behind Vita est Morte est Vita and how it came together?
This record
always had the concept of a journey, and that was the intention since the tunes
really started to take shape. As for the title, it comes from a sample we used
in the track Circadian, taken from the movie Eternal Evil. It literally
translates to “Life is death is life”. This perfectly captured the imagery of
the journey we wanted to convey – being born of the earth, then returning to it
in death.
4. You’ve mentioned that the album invites
listeners to “Discover, Enter, Understand, and Become.” How did these themes
shape the individual tracks and the album’s overall structure?
Each track
is intended to represent a stage of ‘the journey’. In Estate, we discover. The
unusual, glitchy intro collapses into ‘discovering’ the heavy guitar/bass/drums
driven sound of the band. The change in time signatures symbolises the sound
trying to find where it sits and what it really is.
Circadian
is where we enter. The signature sound of the record has been solidified in
this track and the journey has now begun in earnest. This track really captures
everything Borehead is at this moment, so the listener really gets to enter our
world.
Zoonosis is
about understanding this journey we have entered into together. The theme of
the track is based on the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s, and how
understanding and empathy were crucial in easing some of the terrible pain, and
to begin the healing of the communities affected.
Finally, in
Macadamia we become. This track acknowledges that dark and light, beauty and
horror, dreams and nightmares must co-exist to make our reality whole.
5. The album artwork is a unique part
of this release, especially with each track having its own piece by different
artists. What led to this choice, and how does each artwork connect to its
respective track?
The visual art is a tool to convey our intended meaning in much the same way the instruments are, only it offers a unique perspective, as the artists are a step removed from the band. We don’t have lyrics/vocals to paint pictures, so in a way, the visual art fills that role. Each of the artists took a different approach to the project, from just a vague brief, to long discussions and analysis of the music. We are absolutely delighted with all four pieces.
6. As an
instrumental band, you rely on music alone to convey emotions and stories. What
challenges and creative freedoms do you experience without a vocalist?
Being
instrumental does indeed allow a lot of freedom, but it’s a double edge sword.
There’s no falling back on verse/chorus/verse/chorus structures, or saying with
actual words the emotions you wish to convey. You really have to concentrate on
the minutia in order to keep the listener engaged. Whether we have achieved
that here or not, unfortunately, isn’t for us to decide. But we certainly hope
so.
7. The two singles, Macadamia and Zoonosis,
are being promoted for radio play. Can you tell us about these tracks
specifically and what they represent within the album’s journey?
It might
seem a bit arse-backwards to release the final part of the album as singles,
but we felt that these two tracks captured the vibe of the record without
giving too much away. Zoonosis was actually the first track we wrote for the
record, so that one anchored the tone for everything else that surrounds it. Macadamia
really challenged us, songwriting wise – it was a bit of a labor of love, and
didn’t come easy – so it felt right to make that one a single.
8. Recorded at Bear Bites Horse Studio with Wayne
Adams, how was the recording process? Did the studio environment or Wayne’s
influence shape the album’s sound in any way?
Wayne’s
input and influence on this record cannot be overstated. He absolutely
understood the assignment from the outset. He kept us honest with our playing,
but also had crucial creative input with the texture overlays. We’re already
excited to record our next offering with him. Thanks Wayne!
9. You’ve been known for immersive live shows that
are often described as transformative experiences. How do you approach
translating the album’s atmosphere into a live setting?
Incredibly
loud amplifiers do a good deal of the heavy lifting! But honestly, we just do
our best to make the shows an intense and personal experience. We rarely play
the same set twice, and always try to tweak and adapt the tunes in different
ways, so every show is a totally unique experience. This means lots and lots
and lots of rehearsals, but we love it, so it’s never a chore.
10. As a band that formed in 2019, how do you see
BOREHEAD evolving from here? Are there any specific directions or themes you’re
interested in exploring next?
We’ve
already begun writing the next release, but it’s early days, so whether we’re
looking at an album or EP is up in the air. It’s great fun to start the process
again. The new material has a slightly different vibe so far, but of course it
still sounds fundamentally Borehead. Themes, stories, and journeys tend to
evolve over the writing process. It’s not something we force. But for now, the
intention is to go on the road and play as many shows to as many people as we
can. We’ve been so fortunate to meet so many wonderful people at gigs – other
bands and audiences – we’re excited to get back out there.
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