The
Green Evening Requiem
The Green Evening Requiem
is a U.S. based band that offers new dimensions and new prespectives to
both the atmospheric and extreme sound. This band is an example of thought
provoking lyrics and intriguing sound and you should make sure to check
their music out! Evan and Joe are here to answer lots of questions about
the band and their music...
1.FIRST OF ALL GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO INDICATING
THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S EXISTENCE.
Joe: Evan and myself have been playing music
together in various forms for probably 6 years now. We started the project
that would eventually morph into Green Evening around the Spring of 1999.
Our original sound was a lot closer to straight ahead black metal, kinda
in the vein of early Marduk, Immortal, etc. Over the next few years we
wrote and recorded a few demos as a two piece, and during this time our
sound evolved into something closer to what we play now. Last summer we
asked Shane (who is Evan's brother) to play bass for us and soon after
we worked on arranging and recording the songs for the Winter 2004 demo.
About a month ago we asked Chris to join as another guitar player and vocalist.
2.I THINK AT THIS POINT AN EXPLENATION OF THE BAND'S
MONIKER IS MORE THAN NECESSARY. THE GREEN EVENING REQUIEM IS ONE OF THE
MOST PECULIAR BAND NAMES. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Evan: The name of our band is a collection of
words that each independently can be used to describe the sound of our
music. When those words are combined, the resultant phrase is the best
description of our work that we can give. The name is defined by the music.
3.WHAT AMAZED ME IS THE FACT THAT ALL OF YOU CONTRIBUTE
ON THE VOCALS, BOTH THE CLEAN AND THE HARSH ONES. WHY? WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU "ADD" TO YOUR MUSIC THIS WAY? IS IT PERHAPS DUE TO THE FACT THAT EACH
ONE OF YOU "UNDERSTANDS" AND "FEELS" BETTER THE SONGS HE SINGS IN?
Joe: The first three songs on the demo were written
anywhere from two to four years ago, before we had a “full” band. When
the opportunity to give the songs proper studio treatment arose, we felt
that each member had a unique vocal style to contribute that was appropriate
for particular passages. We feel that utilizing a variety of vocal styles
and voices enhances our sound as a band.
4.I THINK THAT YOUR MUSIC IS THE PERFECT AMALGAM
OF MELODY/ATMOSPHERE AND RAGE/AGGRESSIVENESS. IT COMPRISES CONTROVERSIAL
ELEMENTS. DO YOU AGREE? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE CREATOR'S POINT OF VIEW.
Joe: I don't see any reason why these elements
should be controversial. All of us listen to all sorts of music and it
only seems natural to include a wide variety of influences when making
music. I really appreciate when I hear a band that chooses to diversify
its sound rather than stick to a tried and true formula.
Evan: I appreciate that you can feel different
atmospheres in our music. We strive to write songs based on emotions and
it is natural for us to give weight to each atmosphere based on how we
feel.
5.WHAT I ALSO OBSERVED OR, TO PUT IT BETTER, WHAT
I "RECEIVED" FROM YOUR SONGS ARE BOTH COLD/DARK/PESSIMISTIC FEELINGS AND
WARM TINGES, SENTIMENTS THAT REVEAL HOPE AND PATIENCE. AM I RIGHT? WHICH
MOOD OF THESE IMPOSES TO THE OTHER?
Evan: There is always a balance between extremes.
We don’t try to place emphasis on one over the other, but our music tends
to naturally come across as dark more often than not.
6.SO, IS THERE ANY HOPE AFTER ALL? IS THERE A GLIMPSE
OF JOY OR ONLY MELANCHOLY AND SADNESS? IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF LIFE OPTIMISTIC,
PESSIMISTIC OR REALISTIC?
Joe: This may sound funny, but I perceive myself
as being extremely optimistic about many things. Unfortunately, this tends
to lead to much disappointment and disillusionment with life in general.
I find that most of my lyrics are concerned with coping with various disappointments
and failures. In reality, hope is impossible to rid of oneself.
7.CAN YOU TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE DEMO AND
THE PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTED IN ITS MAKING? ARE YOU FULLY SATISFIED WITH
THE FINAL RESULT? I THINK THE SOUND IS A BIT DIM.
Evan: The recording process was plagued with
technical problems that hindered progress from the start, but we were able
to adapt to the situation and make use of the unique personality that the
recording began to take on as time passed. Shane and Joe each had to drive
two and a half hours to each session, which greatly limited the amount
of time that we could spend tracking. As time ran out, the distance factor
forced us to make certain concessions, but we had many helping hands, and
Nick Podgurski of the band Economist was able to fill in on Moog at the
last minute. As for Nick Hileman, he is a friend of mine whom I have collaborated
with in the past, and who eventually began to become involved with the
project that evolved into The Green Evening Requiem. Nick and Joe had a
very strong chemistry when it came to writing songs.
Joe: Also the production values we were shooting
for have little to do with those of traditional metal recordings. We wanted
the instruments to have an organic sound as opposed to being “slick” and
overproduced. There is always room for improvement, but ultimately we’re
pretty happy with the way the demo turned out.
8.WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LYRICS? WHICH KIND OF
TOPICS INTRIGUE YOU TO TALK ABOUT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF EACH
SONG IN FEW WORDS?
Joe: As you might have deduced, all of the songs
on our demo were written before Shane and Chris joined the band, so Evan
and myself were responsible for the lyrics on those songs. On newer Green
Evening material, Shane has contributed a good bit, and everyone is generally
open to contribution. “Severance” was basically my way of coping with the
confusion and feelings of rejection after the demise of a relationship.
I think “Tomorrow…” is a little more open to interpretation, but I think
it is a song about living a stagnant life, and the mental abuse one can
inflict upon oneself when lacking motivation.
Evan: “Dawn” is about waking up each morning
to a life of dissatisfaction and bitterness. The lyrics articulate
a feeling of wretched self-loathing. “Desolation” is really about finding
that someone has burnt your bridges for you, but that the burning can light
your way to a better place.
9.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? WHAT DO YOUOFFER
TO THE FANS IN YOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES?
Joe: We have been playing mostly local
shows for the time being. Much of our current live set is intended to showcase
new material in addition to the songs on the demo. We will look to tour
regionally in the near future after our next release. I would like to think
that our live show comes across as energetic, while retaining a heavily
atmospheric quality.
10.HAVE YOU SENT THE DEMO TO ANY LABELS? WHAT KIND
OF FEEDBACK DID YOU RECEIVE?
Evan: We don’t feel a need to approach
any labels at this point in time. We’re working very hard on our
own terms, and we’re hesitant to send anything out until we’re in a position
to bargain.
11.WHICH WAS THE BEST DESCRIPTION OF YOUR MUSIC THAT
YOU READ AND WHICH THE WORST?
Evan: We’ve received several positive comments
about our focus on songwriting, as opposed to trying to impress people
with flashy playing. That really meant a lot to us.
Joe: I think many reviewers have had a difficult
time placing us within a genre or comparing us to other bands. I guess
this leads to both the best and worst descriptions that I’ve heard. I take
great pride in being part of a band that confuses people, but at times
it is frustrating to be thrown into a genre that misrepresents our style.
12.WHICH, IS ACCORDING TO YOU, THE BEST AND WHICH
THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC? IN WHAT FIELD DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FURTHER
IMPROVEMENT?
Evan: I find it hard to maintain an objective
perspective on our own work, but there are always technical points that
can be improved upon both as individuals and as a band.
13.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
IF IT WERE A PAINTING WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Joe: Each member of the band projects a different
emotion at any given point in our music. To choose just one emotion would
be impossible.
Evan: The visual that each listener might draw
from our music would be unique. I for one would love to see what people
might divine from what we do.
14.IF YOU COULD INVITE FAMOUS MUSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE
IN YOUR DEMO, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Joe: The Green Evening Requiem is a very personal
project to everyone involved. I don’t think inviting other famous musicians
to participate would benefit our song craft and vision. If any of us were
to collaborate with other musicians I think we’d all agree that it would
be best in the form of a side project.
15.NAME SOME OF YOUR MOST BELOVED BANDS, MUSICIANS
AND ALBUMS.
Evan: Morton Feldman.
Joe: I’ve been influenced by countless bands and
albums. Currently I can include Isis and Katatonia among my favorites.
16.THANK YOU! LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE...
Evan: Thank you very much for taking the time
to talk with us. We have a new release scheduled for late this autumn,
please check it out. www.greenevening.com
Christine Parastatidou
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