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Tommy Hash Speaks with Vivien Lalu - Lalu
Having worked on multiple projects over the past few years, Vivien Lalu finally got his own project together, something he had wanted to do for some time. The result of that rendered Oniric Metal and album that featured a balance of both melodic and progressive metal, with technical insight to enhance the album's nature for melodies. With what Lalu says was "a way to express himself 100%," it was a way for him to finally do a project on his own terms as he begins by saying, "I really couldn't wait to release my own debut album. Shadrane was so long to produce that I needed to do something in between, or get crazy!!"
So with the musical element intact, the recording process is what would include Joop Wolters, Ryan Van Poederooyen, Martin LeMar, and Russell Bergquist; hosting an album of musicians that were a perfect match for what Lalu had in mind, and like many projects, most of it was done at a home studio, which worked out all well, "Joop and myself recorded our parts at home, and Ryan, Russell and Martin recorded at a studio in their respective hometowns," explains Lalu about the recording process, "We used both the snail mail and e-mail for sending each other the tracks. Phoned/Discussed a lot. It was very nice working this way. I think we almost sound like a typical rehearsing band on ONIRIC METAL, don't you? Just like we'd have recorded together, at the same place. (All the Musicians) were all very professional and much more talented than I will ever be. Joop would get to my tracks and record them in one evening or a couple of days at max, delivering the best studio guitars I could dream of. Ryan is one of the best guest drummers I ever worked with, I'm not only mentioning his technique (god knows he can play). But he was completely professional, always rehearsing and learning my music and he blew me away in the end. Russell Bergquist was the real surprise for me, the guy formerly from Annihilator recorded the whole bass ideas I came up with, adding his own feeling and stuff. For a progressive metal album!!! Martin LeMar? Who the hell is he?"
Asking him about the inspiration behind this record, Lalu explains that there was some things that he wanted to stay away from when writing the lyrical content, but yet he gives us a surprise into what certain form of media inspired some of the record by stating "Dreams, books, movies, everything but real life. I'm a dreamer and would hate to make a piece of art about everyday's life or politics. I'm not feeling in harmony with the world I live in, so Oniric Metal is about escapism. Yesterdayman, the opener, is talking about a man fed up with everything, saying he's going to escape to a far island. In some kind of way, he's pissed off by human beings, he's leaving them and try to start living as. Something else? Martin should get the credits for it, he would even answer better but he's probably occupied playing GTA San Andreas. Anyway. There are lots of reference to movies and especially video games (Night In Poenari being a reference to Castlevania; Potboy - The Final Fantasy - a tribute to the Final Fantasy series etc.)"
Having worked with Hubi Meisel, Lalu now explains the difference between his project and Meisel's, "Well it's not the same context at all," begins Lalu on the contrasts, "EmOcean was Hubi's project, he was the mastermind behind it, I was just his composer. I wrote the songs under his directions, following his concept and I tried to help him reach his "vision" the best I could. That included many changes to do (according to Hubi's tastes) and in the end it sounded a lot like "Hubi" (especially that I had no involvement regarding the vocals harmonies). On Oniric Metal, it's different, because I had NO concept to follow, nothing to stop me stylishly and I also had a real involvement into the vocals process (I pressured Martin a lot more compared to the others). So Oniric Metal is much heavier, much more "in your face" than Hubi's EmOcean (which, I repeat, was not my album). I could totally unleash my "metal side" and let my heart speak through the songs."
Having been a fan of certain keyboards, he can't say enough good things about his favorite piece of gear the Roland XP-80, for which he speaks about how he uses it on his recordings, "For both Hubi Meisel's works and Oniric Metal I've used the standard "Midi Grand" piano a lot (the same that Mike Pinnella of Symphony X uses, out of a JV expander I guess)," elaborates Lalu, "plus tons of sounds out of the SR-JV "Session" expansion set which really defined Hubi Meisel's key style, like: 8 "Water Piano", 115 "Martian Chimes", 19 "Str+Choir1" (really the most heard in my productions), but also the "Orchestral" SR-JV expansion card which featured patch 227 "Choirs 1", one of these mighty layers you could always hear in my music so far. But today I'm using the Roland "Fantom", I sold my XP (I never thought this would happen one day). That's the sound you gonna hear on my next albums, although "Temporal", the follow up to Oniric Metal, was recorded with the XP ."
Having played all different types of metal, from prog to doom, it is interesting to hear this keyboardist insight on how that has changed him personally as a musician and his views on music in general over the years, "I'm never categorizing music; I see it as a "whole". I'm using elements from so many different "styles", in the end it's just about doing what you want. I think it helped me to be more versatile, which seems not to be always appreciated. When I would write heavier parts, neo progressive fans will say there's too much aggression, and when I would compose proggy parts, metalheads would be pissed off. So I just do what pleases me and never wonder too much. Some people will like, some won't. It's life. I can't change it" explains Lalu who now speaks of his evolution as a musician, "I don't know! I must have changed radically at a certain point, when I stopped doing music for myself in my student room and started a serious project out (Shadrane) in 2001. When you're signed by a label for the first time, how to say - it's a great impression, very inspiring. I felt that I could finally realize my dreams, so I put all my heart at work. I think I evolved from there, especially when I worked with Hubi Meisel. I can say I have changed a lot since a few years back, when I was doing stuff at home."
The next big project that he is working on is title Shadrane, which Lalu admits that it will be in the vein of Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon, but by no means a clone, "it's different from Ayreon. However, the "form" is the same," speaks Lalu, "A multi-features product. It's about to record my favorite artists and make MY OWN dream album. The music is really progressive compared to LALU (which is heavy). Shadrane is a kind of "TOTO meets Dream Theater" extravaganza, if you know what I mean. But it's not done yet. I have NO pressure at all. I'm only taking the time to make the best possible album, I can release it when I'm 60 if I want, I don't care. The music will be better! Of course, I'm joking, I'm very eager to release it and aim for a 2006 date through Lion Music. But when I say things like that, people will contact me if it's not ready next year."
The deal with Lion Music came about when he recorded with Anders Johannson and was introduced by label boss Lasse Mattsson, leading to an excellent relationship between the Lalu and the label, as he says enthusiastically, "I love the fact that I have a total freedom making my music there, and I know it's a chance for me being able to release my CD's through them. I will never be thankful enough!"
Besides a possible small tour this December, Lalu explains what he would love to do in the future as a musician, "I don't want to be part of a band," states Lalu, "But I had to play some keys on the new Ark album and that didn't happen because Ark broke up, but I'm certainly planning to release stuff I did with John Macaluso and do more things with him. I also want to expand my reputation as a composer beyond "Hubi Meisel", and why not work with artists like Jorn Lande, Russell Allen, Mark Boals etc. Regarding producing, I should first make my own productions sound better, expand my reputation before I would dare to help a band. Maybe in the future? I'm totally happy with what I'm doing so far."
The final word from Vivien Lalu is his thoughts on heavy metal, he concludes this interview by saying, "Bright future for us metal makers.Heavy Metal is GREAT. I really can't live without it. I dig it so much that it will always be a part of my music. In the past I already thought things like "Let's do a real old school progressive-rock album, and I will invite Jon Anderson to sing on it" but in the end, I know, I would come up with very heavy parts and ask Martin LeMar instead (and he would kick ass, eventually). "
And you can't argue with those opinions and ambitions, Shadrane is definitely something to look out for in the metal world, so until then check out Oniric Metal, it stands well among many melodic and progressive metal albums.
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Written by Hashman - 9/28/2005 |
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