1. For those less fortunate, that have not heard of My Silent Wake. Give a brief description of your band ?
ANSWER: Death/doom, very English with gothic and folk being a big part of the sound. Experimental in places.
2. In retrospect, who or what inspired you to pick up an instrument and play?
ANSWER: Tony Iommi. When I was about 12, I used to have a really bad electric guitar which I would use to try to play along to Sabbath Vol 4. I remember using just the bottom string and wondering what all the others were for. Probably should have been a bassist.
3. Lyrically, what are your tracks based upon, a concept or a wide range of subjects?
ANSWER: A wide range of subjects. Kate's lyrics are the more poetic ones and mine are a bit more obvious as to what I am going on about. Generally I write from personal experiences and often at very low times so the lyrics can be a bit downbeat.
4. The band started off as a doom/death metal band, but now there is a stronger medieval/acoustic element. is this a permanent transition or an experimental stage?
ANSWER: It is something that has always been a part of what we do. On the first album there were two acoustic songs and on the second, there was a whole disk of a double album devoted to acoustic and more ambient songs. From the start the band has always been free to play what it wants.
5. You've toured as a band in the UK and most of Europe, which place in your opinion gave the best response?
ANSWER: Probably Norway or Czech Republic. Germany and Holland are always good too.
6. Have you any tours planned for 2014 and any releases planned?
ANSWER: We have a few gigs coming up and a small tour with King Goat as well as a gig in Birmingham with Conan. We have a vinyl release of different mixes from Et Lux Perpetua (minus two songs) and a couple of new tracks. We have recently signed with House of Ashes in Italy and this release is going to be a co-release between them and Fragile Branch in America. Matthew Vickerstaff will be working on some updated artwork for this and the mastering will be done by Jeff who mastered our earlier stuff. These will be the mixes we originally intended for this album. The acoustic album 'Preservation Restoration Reconstruction' has just come out on CD on Bombworks Records in America. It is available from us on vinyl.
7. In reflection, do you think you've achieved what you originally set out to do or do you think there is more to add?
ANSWER: I definitely think there is more to add. The band has had its fair share of troubles and amicable band member changes but the line-up is looking very strong at the moment. Lots of new songs from different writers within the band are being written and we are also going to be working on recording some ambient tracks for Martin Bowes from Attrition's Cage Sessions. Our next doom full length is scheduled for next year and we hope to do a ten year anniversary compilation.
8. Be honest, what other band would you dream of sharing the stage with?
ANSWER: Being realistic, someone like My Dying Bride would be a great band to play with. They are one of our inspirations and still a great band.
9. Have you any advice to give to young and upcoming bands of the same genre and the do's and don'ts?
ANSWER: Don't be too anxious for success, just enjoy your music. Even if only ten people show up at a gig or no one is interested in your demo - keep going and don't get discouraged. Play with conviction and play to the best of your ability rather than being flashy.
10. Final comments?
ANSWER: Thanks Matt for the interview. Been a long time since I did an interview for you! If anyone hasn't listened to MSW do a google search and look at our Facebook page where you can listen to some of our songs. There are a lot of videos on YouTube also.
ANSWER: Death/doom, very English with gothic and folk being a big part of the sound. Experimental in places.
2. In retrospect, who or what inspired you to pick up an instrument and play?
ANSWER: Tony Iommi. When I was about 12, I used to have a really bad electric guitar which I would use to try to play along to Sabbath Vol 4. I remember using just the bottom string and wondering what all the others were for. Probably should have been a bassist.
3. Lyrically, what are your tracks based upon, a concept or a wide range of subjects?
ANSWER: A wide range of subjects. Kate's lyrics are the more poetic ones and mine are a bit more obvious as to what I am going on about. Generally I write from personal experiences and often at very low times so the lyrics can be a bit downbeat.
4. The band started off as a doom/death metal band, but now there is a stronger medieval/acoustic element. is this a permanent transition or an experimental stage?
ANSWER: It is something that has always been a part of what we do. On the first album there were two acoustic songs and on the second, there was a whole disk of a double album devoted to acoustic and more ambient songs. From the start the band has always been free to play what it wants.
5. You've toured as a band in the UK and most of Europe, which place in your opinion gave the best response?
ANSWER: Probably Norway or Czech Republic. Germany and Holland are always good too.
6. Have you any tours planned for 2014 and any releases planned?
ANSWER: We have a few gigs coming up and a small tour with King Goat as well as a gig in Birmingham with Conan. We have a vinyl release of different mixes from Et Lux Perpetua (minus two songs) and a couple of new tracks. We have recently signed with House of Ashes in Italy and this release is going to be a co-release between them and Fragile Branch in America. Matthew Vickerstaff will be working on some updated artwork for this and the mastering will be done by Jeff who mastered our earlier stuff. These will be the mixes we originally intended for this album. The acoustic album 'Preservation Restoration Reconstruction' has just come out on CD on Bombworks Records in America. It is available from us on vinyl.
7. In reflection, do you think you've achieved what you originally set out to do or do you think there is more to add?
ANSWER: I definitely think there is more to add. The band has had its fair share of troubles and amicable band member changes but the line-up is looking very strong at the moment. Lots of new songs from different writers within the band are being written and we are also going to be working on recording some ambient tracks for Martin Bowes from Attrition's Cage Sessions. Our next doom full length is scheduled for next year and we hope to do a ten year anniversary compilation.
8. Be honest, what other band would you dream of sharing the stage with?
ANSWER: Being realistic, someone like My Dying Bride would be a great band to play with. They are one of our inspirations and still a great band.
9. Have you any advice to give to young and upcoming bands of the same genre and the do's and don'ts?
ANSWER: Don't be too anxious for success, just enjoy your music. Even if only ten people show up at a gig or no one is interested in your demo - keep going and don't get discouraged. Play with conviction and play to the best of your ability rather than being flashy.
10. Final comments?
ANSWER: Thanks Matt for the interview. Been a long time since I did an interview for you! If anyone hasn't listened to MSW do a google search and look at our Facebook page where you can listen to some of our songs. There are a lot of videos on YouTube also.
Source- Funereal Drone