Filed under: Progressive Metal | Tags: Carbon Based Anatomy, Cosmic Metal, Cynic, Jazz Metal, Progressive Metal, Season of Mist, Technical Death Metal
All of these questions were collaboratively contributed by the staff of Orlandooom.com.
OD6 – How did you guys become involved with Exivious in the first place, seeing as they’re from a different country?
Tymon was a long time Cynic fan and actually a moderator on the Cynic forum where I got to know him. His name came up in a conversation with Ad (guitarist of Epica at the time) who was doing a gig in LA and mentioned his own band sounded so much like Cynic that he might be a good fit. I didn’t really know of his group before then, since they just had a few demos out years before. Turns out Tymon already did know much of our music so it was an easy transition. We didn’t really think to audition people here in the states at the time. Robin, his bass player was brought in later for touring.
OD6 – There are obviously a lot of jazz and fusion influences in Cynic, both in Focus and Traced in Air, what would you say your biggest jazz fusion influences (besides Allan Holdsworth) would be?
Pat Metheney, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, Ben Monder, Mike Moreno, Jonathan Kreisberg, Aaron Parks, Chick Corea, Tribal Tech, Frank Zappa, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Weather Report, the list goes on…
OD6 – Textures” (after “How Could I”) is probably my favorite track off of Focus, will Cynic be writing more additional instrumental tracks on future albums? They were sorely missed on Traced In Air.
It’s possible.
OD6 – What do you think of the new generation of metal fusion bands such as Intronaut and Animals as Leaders? What would you say they are doing right/wrong, and what advice, if any, would you have for other musicians who are trying to blend these genres?
I’m a fan first of a solid song with strong melodies before any technical skills or chops. The only thing we need technical skills for is to have the freedom to say whatever we need to say. It’s about having a broader palette of choices, so, I’m always encouraging younger musicians to work on discovering their own voice. Having a sense of originality and having something to say as an artist. Ultimately creating your own style would be the goal verses getting caught up in genre labels.
OD6 – Is the absence of all ‘Harsh” vocals on the ep a conscious decision or the de facto of recording without Tymon Kruidenier?
Completely conscious. Keep in mind, Tymon recorded on Re-Traced which didn’t have growls either. We’re in a different place as evolving artists and this is the music that feels most representative of us now.
OD6 – Have any of you visited the indigenous people of the amazon (themed in the new Carbon Based Anatomy EP)?
I haven’t been to the Amazon yet (physically), but have befriended a few shamans from Peru visiting the states over the past 10 years.
OD6 – How does you all feel about the Occupy Wallstreet movement and have any of you been involved at all?
Not at all.
OD6 – Do you feel that Miami is still the hottest place in the entire world? If not, where is?
I grew up in Miami and my folks are still there, and the temperatures do get quite high 😉
I’ve lived in Los Angeles for over 15 years now, so I’m not too hip as to whether Miami’s actually ‘hot’ or not.
OD6 – What kind of tours should we expect from Cynic going into 2012?
Who knows! We’ll be focusing on a new record come the new year, so if anything next summer is a possibility.
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