Priest gives us a peak inside their world with a second interview!
Photo Credit: sccchhhhh (www.sccchhhhh.com)
Interview time again Mayhem! Lady Siren Song here, bringing you a second interview with the Swedish band, Priest. The fascinating trio has been working very hard with live performances and working on new material since our last chat. Even with their busy schedule, the Puppet Master was gracious to grant us this interview after the release of their first full length album, ”New Flesh.” This time, we get to know a little more about the trio of Mercury, Salt and Sulfur. Enjoy!
1. Priest has begun a small venture in touring with recent shows in Sweden and Vienna. It would seem you were very well received. What are your thoughts (or the members’ thoughts) on their first shows?
“It’s been somewhat of an adventure! The first time when a new machine is tested or used can be both magical and horrifying at the same time. We had the chance to experience just that, both off and on stage. Mostly, it’s been everything we could wish for – we are very pleased to see that our prototype is performing well.”
2. The band is constantly working. Can you tell us about new music you are working on? Does it go in a different direction in terms of sound or concept than New Flesh?
“So far, not even we fully know where we`ll end up. What we do know is that we don’t like to simply repeat ourselves. One of the members, who have a background in the Swedish underground electronic scene, might take on a bigger role in refining the sound and concepts of upcoming material. There is an ambition in all of us to go harder, and experiment more from this point. I really hope we´ll end up surprising ourselves. That would be one of the greatest possible outcomes.”
3. The band’s image in contrast to the music is interesting. The image is dark…but I don’t find the music to be dark. It has a very dance-friendly beat. What would you call the style of music? How would you categorize it, if it can be categorized at all?
“We feel that we simply represent electro music in many different forms. Our “style” isn´t really carved in stone, the latest album had a real straight “synth-pop”- vibe to it. But, we have no intention of staying put there. Perhaps one might feel that our sounds might reflect our image to a larger extent in the future. But contrasts are interesting, no?”
4. “Reloader,” has been a song that raised some questions for me. I am going to be honest and say at first, it was not a favorite. I am not a fan of the falsetto singing style. However, It grew on me after a few listens, and became one of my favorite songs. The music fit the song and blended with the vocals perfectly. Well done! A bit reminiscent of the Bee Gees singing style. Was this a nod to them, or just a different singing style you wanted to try that worked well?
“That the song raised questions for you is, in my opinion, the best grade you could have given it. So thank you! Now, to answer those questions; no it was not a specific nod to the Bee Gees. However, the singer is a fan of those types of vocals, as are we all. The song needed to be honest, the voice small in contrast to the large “space” that was in it. The more broken it became, the stronger the whole song felt. It is also the only song on the album recorded with a dynamic microphone.”
5. To expand on singing (and instruments in general), I think it would be pleasing to the fans to get to know each band member anonymously of course.
Mercury (vocals) – We know that Mercury has classical voice training.Could he tell us more about that?How long has he been singing?As a singer myself, (though not professionally), I am often challenged by some of the songs I sing.Were any of the songs more challenging for him?
“Though each member has their own voice, we all make up the collected consciousness that is, “The Puppet Master.” And, speaking of Mercury’s voice…
“I’ve been singing since before I could talk. I woke my creators up at night while I was still in the crib, by humming tunes in my sleep. No Joke. The by far most challenging song to get right in the studio was “Call my name.” It resides in that weird no-man’s-land between head voice and chest voice. At the same time it’s a fragile song by its nature, and one of my favorites.”
Salt (synthesizers) – I know very little about synthesizers, so he may have to school me here. Where does he draw his inspiration for the particular sounds he uses? Does he change anything up when onstage versus in the studio? How does his work differ from what Sulfur does?
“Oh, big question – the sounds that end up on tape are there because they soothe the artificial membranes placed under our ears. Just like honey drips. Get your hands on a nice synth and fiddle around a little to see what I mean! Start with a MicroKorg or something. Salt himself has a weak spot for Moog synthesizers. One of his main constructors implanted that in him.”
Sulfur- Since both Salt and Sulfur are both responsible for the synthesizer sounds in the band, how you Sulfur separate himself from what Salt does?Is there anything in particular that inspires Sulfur in his work? “As his current inspiration mostly derives from the immense clubbing he pulled his body through recent years, I find his choice of sounds usually to be dark and very rhythmic. Silence can be the best tool to reach that feeling of being in the best loop ever. He seems to be addicted to loops. However, on stage together with Salt most things happen on the go. We´ve spent a lot of time improvising in the studio and I think it has made us comfortable together. His part is my rhythmic though, as he plays drums as well as synthesizers and Ableton Live.”
6. For the future of Priest music, do you see adding additional instruments or perhaps change up the vocals a bit? I know there is vocal distortion that is done, but would Priest and Alpha consider potentially removing the distortion in the production process?
"Absolutely, no door is closed. We go where we feel like, with both instruments and vocals. We are however an electro act, so don’t expect us to go full rock band any time soon. As for the vocals, we believe that each song tells its own story, which goes for the character as well. And, our singer is one adaptable piece of machinery."
7. My thoughts are that while Priest is developing, they will keep their touring primarily in Sweden and various European countries. What are the future touring plans for Priest?
“We`re currently nailing down dates as we speak. It is however a complicated process, one that takes time. Of course, we´re going to do the entire world, when the pieces fall into place. For now, as you said, it’s mostly Europe and Sweden. But news will keep coming… The best way to stay updated is to follow us on social media and our website: priestnexus.com
8. The use of plague doctor masks and spike masks in tandem with dark suits is interesting. Personally, it’s like a mixture of Men in Black and old historical reference to the times of the plague. Can you tell us more about the appearance of the band and what inspired the look?
“We all wear masks. It’s what humans and their puppets do in order to function and maintain social order. If anything, someone should rip the masks of our faces and just expose the bizarre, fact that we all just swallow this. Especially with populists such as ourselves, our masks pay somewhat of homage to classical imagery connected with religion, electro music and sickness. The inspiration was everywhere to be found in these subjects. Religion also seems to have this weird relationship with sex…”
9. For the upcoming album, will there be change in costume or appearance of the band?
“Most likely. We are but a prototype. And we will never stop changing, never stop improving. What that will be however, is yet to be seen.”
10. Finally, it’s always great for the fans to know what type of music their favorite musicians listen to. I think it also introduces the fans to new artists or genres they are not familiar with. It broadens the mind and ear to listen to new things. Can you tell us what Mercury, Salt and Sulfur are listening to on their iPods or streaming? How about you Puppet Master? Anything that is soothing or pleasing to the fiber–optic nerves?
"Mercury is very multi faceted. He listens to everything from old school hip hop like Geto Boys to classical German composers such as (Robert) Schumann. He originally came out of a love for heavy rock and new wave, especially the darker and more dramatic stuff. Nowadays, he dwells more and more into EBM and Acid, which seems to be a byproduct of Priest itself…”
“Salt doesn’t listen to music, but he is currently programmed with melodic/rhythmical algorithms from musicians like: Charli XCX, Shackleton, Eggstone. Also, various industrial/EBM productions made in the eighties and early nineties such as work from: Skinny Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Front Line Assembly, Portion Control, Front 242 and so on… He also likes poorly made horror movies. Yesterday he watched “Slime City” and enjoyed it.”
“Sulfur, as we speak, is listening to Jóhann Jóhannsson’s album Orphée. Yet another brilliant composer who has, unfortunately, left us. Other musicians who turn his senses on would be Clock DVA, Legowelt, Sand Circles, Abdullah Rashim, Biosphere, Donato Dozzy, Aphex Twin, Drexciya, Varg, Polar Inertia, Underworld, etc."
Puppet Master: “Since I am all the above, and perhaps some of you even, (?) I have no limits. Quality and knowledge is all I need in my net. And the net is vast and infinite…”
Hope you guys and gals enjoyed the interview. Go check out their new album “New Flesh,” available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, and for streaming on Spotify and other great streaming stations!