Interview with:Ad Sluijter
In a small dressing room in the Mezz in Breda, our interview started, around us people were chatting and walking around. Luckily we were then shown into another dressing room where we could understand each other and talk quietly. Halfway through the interview Simone (vocals) came in because she wanted to change in the empty dressing room but we promised not to look and could go on with the interview.
Success
Lately Epica has been doing very well; I see your name pop up more and more. How do you handle this, at first you played in small venues like the Ekko in Utrecht. "Well, we are not used to small venues that much. We have played in venues like 013 in Tilburg even in the beginning of our career. There are so many small venues in the Netherlands we haven’t seen yet, on that account we have nothing to complain about. It all went very fast." You have worked very hard for this. "Yes and of course there are bands who work even harder, we have been very lucky but, how to handle it indeed..."
Lately Epica has been doing very well; I see your name pop up more and more. How do you handle this, at first you played in small venues like the Ekko in Utrecht. "Well, we are not used to small venues that much. We have played in venues like 013 in Tilburg even in the beginning of our career. There are so many small venues in the Netherlands we haven’t seen yet, on that account we have nothing to complain about. It all went very fast." You have worked very hard for this. "Yes and of course there are bands who work even harder, we have been very lucky but, how to handle it indeed..."
Everybody still has their own commitments besides Epica, can you combine these things well? "I am still trying to graduate, that will probably happen in November but well, it is funny though. In the weekend you are the popular rock star and during the week I am mister Sluijter who is explaining math to a high school class. I am very level headed though, I mean you are still the same person and yes you are in a band which has many performances, sells many cd’s and has a very large fan base but, you stay the same."
At this point the manager of Epica came in to tell us there was a quiet dressing room reserved for the interview, we were happy to move so we could understand each other better. On an old couch we continued talking. The atmopshere was relaxed and comfortable.
At this point the manager of Epica came in to tell us there was a quiet dressing room reserved for the interview, we were happy to move so we could understand each other better. On an old couch we continued talking. The atmopshere was relaxed and comfortable.
Too hard or too soft?
This summer you will perform at very different festivals. On one hand metal festivals and on the other hand there is Pinkpop (Dutch festival)which is much more pop and dance oriented. "Yes, well not that different actually, Pinkpop has had metalbands in their line up each year. It was only last week when someone said to me, on a real metal festival you are to soft. We were asked to play at Parkpop (Dutch festival) but we already were booked for Fury fest in France and we were discussing it, that was a real metal festival so quite some heavy bands and then someone said we were too soft for this festival and too hard for the Parkpop festival. But when talking about Pinkpop as well, I think we have something to offer for both festivals. Not cutting the chase is a bit too sarcastic I think. It has to be accessible for people who don’t like metal but hard enough for metal fans. The advantage of this festival is that you can reach many people, many of whom have never heard you and who might even get interested."
The album
The new album has just been released, what does the title represent? "We chose the title of our album quite late. When we were in the studio we did not have a title yet. The song is favourite amongst many of the Epica members and then the idea arose to make it the title songs. Also to make a link to ‘The Phantom Agony’ (TPA)which is also the longest number of that album and the title track, as well as the last song. We were planning to make ‘Consign to Oblivion’ the last song and well, then decided to make it the title track. It is three words, just as PA which is catchy and easy to remember too."
So you chose this album title because it was the longest song with a catchy name more than because of the meaning of the song? "Yes we thought it might even be used against us ‘Consign to Oblivion’ an album you can forget about easily but we are full of confidence that it will succeed, it just was right."
At first it was said you were going to make a heavier album. "Yes that was the idea when the TPA had been released, to make a heavier album. But it can't be forced, we just did what felt right and this is what came to be, now we have the idea again to make a heavier album haha. The plans are there and I hope it will work out. There were some heavier pieces lying around but we haven't used them because they didn't fit. So we have a lot material to work with still".
These songs were mostly written with the keyboard as base, does this mean Coen has mainly set up all the songs? "No Mark does that, most of the time, keys are easier to compose and he plays the keyboard as well but then you just don't get to the heavy stuff as easily, then when you compose with a guitar. Most of the time the keyboard lines are composed first and then the guitars. Maybe we should and try to compose the new material on guitars instead."
A few songs are based on the Mayan culture. "The concept for this came from Mark, it has only influenced the texts. Musically there is no real connection, it has inspired him a lot though." You haven’t been exploring it? "No it was really Mark who brought this in, and wrote with this inspiration. I do have to do some research, I am very curious but I just never had the time to do so. I haven’t even had time to write a piece for Reflections of Darkness, let alone give my information (laughs), sorry for that."
Time to write?
After TPA you have had a busy period, many shows, visiting other countries, how did you find the time to write an album in between? "It is hard, TPA was released in 2003 so I thought lets write new songs in 2004 then but there was just no time, gigs kept coming in. You have things to do. Even rehearsing was impossible with two gigs each weekend.
Writing songs took place in the home studios of Mark, Yves and me. That way it is easier to write, you program a drum part and a guitar part and during rehearsals we went over a few songs but not all of them. Some have really been finished in the studio." There are a lot of choirs… "Yes, that is what Coen is for, he also did this for the first album. He has a great feeling for it and this time he experimented more, made it more exciting. The last album was a bit brave and now he has written canon parts and contrary melodies. He has gone much further." More double vocal parts too. "Yes that too. It is the first time Simone and Mark sing/scream together like that. I also like grunts and choirs singing together a lot."
Time was running out but I was curious so thought I’d just ask one last question: There is only one woman in the band, how does that work? "Most of the time, she is just one of the guys. We are all very comfortable around each other so there are no problems on that account."And suddenly Simone, who had been quiet all the time, busy preparing herself for the show let herself be heard: “ I can burp just as loudly as they can!”
After this I left so the band could prepare for their show later that evening, and what a show it was!
After this I left so the band could prepare for their show later that evening, and what a show it was!
We would like to thank Ad for his time and the Mezz for their space which have made this interview possible.
More articles about Epica
Concert Review - Landgraaf 2005
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