Interview:	PERSEFONE
Title:	New approach

This sextet is already geographically very special - Persefone hail from the Principality of Andorra, a parliamentary monarchy.

The band, which was founded in 2001, has also been able to amaze musically for years with its exceptionally virtuoso Progressive Melodic Death Metal. As a follow-up to their 2022 album „Metanoia“, they are now releasing the EP „Lingua Ignota: Part I“.

New vocalist Daniel Rodríguez Flys makes his debut on the album - guitarist Carlos Lozano Quintanilla reports on the not insignificant line-up change:

„Everything started when Marc Martins announced to the band that he had to step away for a while in order to put all his efforts on his family. Since we had a pretty busy schedule tour wise, we all decided to find a replacement for all the shows we had planned until Marc was ready to join back. Finding someone to replace Marc on stage is not an easy task, so we started looking for the right fit for the situation. Then, a close friend of the band told us about this young talented guy named Danny, and the next thing I know is that I’m in the rehearsing room with this person ready to go through the whole live set before even talking for the first time. He came prepared and did an outstanding job on the 3 tours and several festivals we had booked. Danny acted in a very professional and caring way during all the process until finally Marc had to step away in order to stay with his family full time, and then becoming the official singer in Persefone. At this point, we have been sharing the stages a lot, we have traveled together, shared many experiences, so him joining the band felt very natural and definitely the right choice. Hard worker, caring person and talented musician, he has done all the right things to fit in the band.“

How did the idea for the EP „Lingua Ignota: Part I“ come about and mature?

„After “Metanoia” we knew didn’t want to wait 2 or 3 years to release new music, but making music for Persefone isn’t something we can create overnight. It was then when the idea to create different parts for the same topic through EP releases came across. “Lingua Ignota” is about a concept we felt very inspired with and, being able to take on the writing process in EP format, gave us the opportunity to experiment for the first time with different approaches writing and sound wise not having to commit for a full album.“

How do you see and rate it yourselves?

„It’s been a cathartic experience all together. We have been in the middle of the busiest tour schedule ever and also dealing with the whole Marc / Danny situation. Now that it’s finally over, I can say that we are very proud of this release since we have been able to make happen all the different stuff we wanted to try for this release. Sound wise is the best sounding music we have ever released. Attention to every little detail is something we have always take care of in every release when it comes to the writing process. On “Lingua Ignota Pt. I” we have put all that effort also in the recording and production process like never before, and it shines when you listen to the music. When I listen to the whole thing, I feel excited. Excited because of the new dimension Danny’s vocals are adding to the sound, excited about the performances of every musician in the EP and. specially, excited about the songwriting itself. “Lingua Ignota Pt. I” is probably the least progressive release we have ever written, yet, it has all the elements that makes the music sound as “Persefone”. And of course, there are many crazy moments here and there for everyone to enjoy.

Please bring the readers closer to the main lyrical content of your upcoming EP!

„We have been known for trying to take on topics close to the spiritual side of life since around the release of “Spiritual Migration”, and we feel very comfortable writing about it. “Lingua Ignota” refers to a concept we have had in mind for many years to write about, but it took some years and releases to find the perfect moment to do it. It’s kind of complex, it has to do with the importance of the actual sound in many cultures spiritual wise. There are many examples for that and it’s referred in many ways from one to the other, but it’s a concept always present. With that in mind, we try to link that idea with the idea of one universal language that is common to everyone on earth yet it’s impossible to put into words or even try to speak it, even when it is within every living creature, within everything in every place. It is natural to feel it, to perceive it, communicate through it, but escapes to any effort from the human knowledge. From this ground we started writing the lyrics, music and concept for “Lingua Ignota” on this Part I, and we plan to elaborate in the future with the continuation of this EP.“

Are there any things, books, movies, etc. that can/have influenced you as musicians?

„I’m afraid that there are too many to be able to name them all here. I have the opinion that, if you have an open mind and open your eyes, you can find meaningful things almost everywhere. I like to read philosophy and psychology, and that is a major influence when it comes to the lyrical topics within the band. But when it comes to the music itself, I have to say that my main influence is also music. I love to find new artists, new ways to express musically, find out old artists and being able to understand what they wanted to express with their musical approach, revisit albums, try new ones, give music that I didn’t understand a new chance and find out that I love it now… I don’t know, music it’s a never-ending source of inspiration.“

Six fully individually thinking personalities in one band - often times pretty difficult to handle, or?

„There are difficult moments at times, like in every band, every family, but we are pretty logical and resolutive individuals when it comes to problems. When something happens, we like to talk to try to understand where the issue comes from and then it’s all about try to solve the problem and keep working in the healthiest environment possible. Anyway, most of the times problems come from the outside, like every other band, in the form of economics, logistic, letdowns, unexpected extra tasks or time management, but I can say that I feel blessed to be part of a band with such human quality in every member.“

Who out of you guys did the lion's share of the new song material?

„When we started the writing process for “Lingua Ignota”, we were in the middle of several difficult situations when it comes to some member’s personal life. That was something that made impossible to take on the effort of making new music the way we have been used in the past. We had to deal with that. It was very inconvenient but exciting at the same time since we were decided to try new stuff on this one, so we just trusted the process and tried to let everyone help somehow in the new music. In the past, Moe, Bobby and myself were the ones shaping the new music before showing it to the rest and gather their feedback, but on this one there has been tracks where Bobby and me had to deal with the majority of the writing and others where it was all Moe / Danny, and it shows on the music, and I feel that it’s something unique that will make this release something that may never happen again.“

How was the selection of songs for the EP done - was it difficult or rather easy for the band? 


„We conceived the writing process for the EP the same way we do when it comes to a full album. We use to write every album as a conceptual journey through music with several full-band tracks, some interludes, melodies that you can find throughout the album in more than one track and so on. Because of that, we use to know how many tracks and the vibe we want for each of them way before we start writing the music, and it was the same for this EP. Even when the length of the EP format won’t allow us to create the same kind of experience we pursue with the full albums, we have tried to recreate a minimalist version of the Persefone experience that will be complete with the next releases. That said, having to choose between tracks to decide which of those would make it into the EP wasn’t a thing since we already planned everything since the very beginning.“

Is there and in case yes, what is the o-n-e song with the most meaning for you on the new EP and why?

„In my personal opinion it would be the first single “One Word”, although “The Equable” and the title track, “Lingua Ignota” are necessary to experience the whole EP. “One Word” marks the very first recording with Danny taking in the vocal duties and the song is all about that one word we can perceive but not replicate trying to relate those words with the very meaning of the lyrical content for “Lingua Ignota”. Also, I had the feeling that the song is going to be a very important one for the live set since its creation. “One Word” feels like Persefone, but in a solid, minimalist, tight and focused way. Can’t wait to play it for the first time in front of people.“

Anything you would like to add?

„Thank you very much for this interview, we are very happy to be able to keep releasing music for everyone and to feel that there are people out there that care about our musical journey. I hope to see everyone on our next EU Tour in February along Hypno5e, Stellar Circuits and Lamprea! Take care and best wishes for everyone reading!“

© Markus Eck, 12.01.2024

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