Line Up:
Sergio Ochoa On Vocals
Kar Khurshudyan On Guitars
Karo Torosyan On Bass
Derek Vardumyan On Drums
Well,Friends Of Aristocracy!
We speak again of our newsroom, where in a little while, we will have in all its emotions, the interview 154 of the Aristocracy.This time, we talked to an American band that shows in a modern way and with cohesive musical structures shows a debut album of great security, intensity and technique.In addition, they mix the progressive side with extreme metal and strong hints of Armenian folklore. We are talking about the band Stryfe. As we said earlier, this is their debut album entitled Cursed Theater. We would like to sincerely thank the band and our great Italian brother Davide Pulitto for introducing us to this band.It's time for a song from them and the start of our interview with them. Let's start this right now, folks!
A1:Let’s talk about the composition work in “Cursed Theatre”?
Stryfe:The process for composition normally started with a number of ideas per song. We’d experiment with those ideas, and graudally peace them together, adding instruments and of course vocals.From time to time, riffs would come out from jam sessions, at other times they’d be pre-composed and brought to rehearsals or writing sessions. Overall, it’s a pretty fluid process.
A2:What kind of classics inspired you on this album?
Stryfe:I would say we each brought our own inspiration but to name a few from the classics, I’d have to say: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. From the newer generation of classics, we’d have to note:Tool, Metallica, System of a Down, Opeth, Muse, Chevelle, Three Days Grace, and many others.
A3:How were the progressive parts made for this album?
Stryfe:The more progressive sections in the songs on this album were written in the same way as you’d write any other section of any song. One part draws the inspiration for another and it comes out quite naturally for us.We don’t make a conscious decision to make one song more progressive than the previous or anything like that at all.What comes out organically is what you’ll hear in the recording.
A4:How does politics inspired the album?
Stryfe:Stryfe isn’t a political band, really.Politics impact the songs on the album in the sense that politics impacts everyone’s daily life.We write about our lives and the lives of those around us,sometimes politics creeps in, sometimes it doesn’t, it really depends on context.
A5:Some literature or film inspired the band?
Stryfe:The group often draws inspriation from different forms of art:movies, novels, poems, paintings, etc.Kar was reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez while working on some of the songs, notably “Duplicitious”,he certainly drew inspriation from the novel while composing the music.
A6:What kind of sensibility does this album seek to achieve?
Stryfe:We hope to inspire and motivate people to become the best versions of themselves and never let turmoil or difficulties overpower them to the point of regression and/or relapse in any way.Our whole album’s theme is about self growth and we hope to empower our fans and whoever listens to always seek this within themselves.
A7:How is Stryfe different from your previous bands?
Stryfe:Stryfe is a brotherhood. It is a business. It is a marriage.Everyone comes together and pulls their own weight and helps move the band as a single unit.We hold each other accountable and while all remaining focused on the singular goal of success.We are a professional band.
A8:What aspects of life did you want to address on this album?
Stryfe:Never see disappointment or hardship or pain as a means of giving up.It’s quite the opposite. Instead, look at it as an opportunity of growth.A moment to seize to bring yourself to the next level. In short, “Trust Your Stryfe”.
A9:What elements of Armenian folklore inspired this album?
Stryfe:There’s not too much in the way of folklore, but traditional Armenian music is very much a part of our musical DNA since 3/4s of the band is Armenian.Just like our tendency to wind up with some progressive sections in our music,we certainly have some natural Armenian influence in our music without any particular intention of its inclusion.
A10:Why does the band have this name?
Stryfe:Stryfe comes from the English word “strife”,which means conflict, discord, quarrel, struggle, etc.The core ideology of our music centers around inner struggle and finding a means to overcome and grow.
A11:What´s the idea behind the album’s artwork?
Stryfe:The artwork centers around a single seat in a theater,which is illuminated compared to the others.This is representative of a person who is able to overcome challenges or difficulties that life or the Cursed Theatre presents him with.
A12:Who is the Lazaro that the band refers to?
Stryfe:Lazaro is the name of a child that was involved in a heinous murder in south Florida. The official police case is titled “Baby Lollipops”.Please read at your own discretion since it is very distubring.
A13:Is this album conceptual?
Stryfe:This is not a concept album, but there are certain blocks of songs with shared themes.
A14:What is the truth that the band wanted to deliver in the seventh song?
Stryfe:The song “Hymn of the Truth” isn’t about a singular truth or anything of that nature. Quite smiply,it’s a song about salvation or redemption.It’s up to each person to determine what that means to them, and how they can get there.
A15:In the eighth song, does the band refer to the so-called fake news?
Stryfe:The song fake is actually not referring to news,but more so of how a person can become cognitively dissonant within themselves as they parade about with their self involved demeanor.The song is about humbling a person who is so lost within themselves that they don’t realize they are killing very good aspects within themselves.
A16:What kind of subject doesn´t deserve a Stryfe’s song?
Stryfe:I believe you will find that out album has the ability to lend an ear to any and all demographic and or situation someone might endure.
A17:What is the “Velvet Revolution”?
Stryfe:Velvet Revolution” is a reference to the 2018 non-violent revolution that took place in Armenia. It’s important to note, though, that the song’s purpose isn’t limited to one particular event in history.The song’s meaning itself is much more global,a call for “power to the people”, if you will.It’s about people standing up for themselves, their rights,their dignity and so on.Certainly not about praising one political force and bashing another,not at all. We are for people, not politics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLAmPGPbVCE
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