1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the solo project since the recording and release of the new album?
For Xavernah I’ve been mostly focusing on extending further exposure for ‘Absence’. However, of course I have developing new concepts and working on new material, but besides ‘Absence’ my priorities currently lies with getting albums out for both my bands Epistulum (Keytar-driven melodeath) and Signs of Extinction (Symphonic Deathcore/Tech Death) later this year.
2.In February you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
Personally I tried to do something completely new for myself. Until the point of writing this record I worked/wrote predominantly on Death Metal/Deathcore, so this was an experiment to try something new with a very atmospheric approach to Black/Doom. Whilst a lot of different flavors seeped into the music, Black/Doom was still the foundation. Funnily enough, after release, the album is seemingly taking a life of its own and is regarded more as an atmospheric Blackened Death Metal-record. I'm not complaining, but I do find it funny and interesting how the album has been categorized so far!
3.A lot of your lyrics are inspired by writers of the 19th and 20th century, which authors had the most influence on your songwriting?
Definitely H.P. Lovecraft and Olaf Stapledon! Lovecraft for the more eerie and dreadful elements and Stapledon for the more sophisticated, thought-provoking "our-place-in-universe" elements. But with a song titled Ozymandias, and the lyrics being derived from the poem, I cannot go without mentioning Percy Bysshe Shelley too!
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Xavernah'?
'Xavernah', as far as I know, has no real meaning. I've taken it from the song 'Xavernah Glory' from the Romanian Black Metal band Katharos XIII, one of the many influences for this project. I really resonate with that song and the word itself is unique, sounds cool and happens to also look cool!
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover itself is 1/3 of the entire art piece! It is basically a panoramic amalgamation of the entire album’s story within a single piece of artwork, with the center being the climax of the record! Shout out to Nick Wilschut of Skycraft Productions for creating it! He really outdid himself and put down exactly the image I had in mind.
6.With this project you record a lot of the music by yourself but have experience working as a drummer with a full band, do you prefer to work solo?
Both have its pros and cons. Whilst I do relish the full un-compromised creative control when working solo, it does also ask a lot of you and whenever you get stuck or second guess yourself you don’t really have someone else to turn to. But that’s why I have multiple projects. With Xavernah I figure it out myself and at the end of the day have a product which is 100% me, and with my bands it is a different dynamic, leading to different results but just as fulfilling.
7.On the new album you also have a few guests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording?
I wouldn’t consider guests, but integral session musicians. Without them, there wouldn’t be an album.
Most of the people involved on the record are fellow students back from my class of music college I have graduated from since.
Martín Jaramillo, who recorded the electric guitars, is one of the many fellow students involved but also a band member within our band Signs of Extinction.
Thijs Ronteltap is one of the two who isn’t directly involved from my class! Frontman of Epistulum, which I drum for, I asked him to be part of the record and he ended up recording most of the vocals, some piano and acoustic guitars.
Siebe Sol Sijpkens, although an alumnus of the same college, far exceeds my year. Recommended last minute by the album’s mixer to record the bass, he is known primarily for playing with Blackbrair.
Whilst not actively “playing” on the record, also huge thanks to Jordy Hoogvliets (Vrøde) for the additional orchestration and Siebe van der Haring (Benchwarmers) for the additional programming on ’Thalassic Dream’.
8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
I’m not actively seeking, if that's what you mean. I did, soon after release, get approached by a label and we discussed the possibility of Xavernah signing a deal but we couldn’t come to an agreement. For the time being I don’t mind being an independent artist, but if the right label comes around… Who knows.
9.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal?
Whilst it has been quite hard to break through the noise that is the current music industry, the people it has reached have generally responded very positively! Applying a niche take on an already niche genre, I was expecting way more of a mixed reception, but that hasn’t really been the case! Even more, critics have been overwhelmingly positive so far!
10.What is going on with 'Epistulum' these days?
We have been working hard on a new album, and are putting the finishing touches on it! The album should see the light of day somewhere in the second half of this year!
11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
Oof, that’s a surprisingly deep question all the sudden. Honestly, I am not sure… Day by day the details change. But what remains consistent is that I want to make music that tells a story, moves people and pushes boundaries. Preferably for projects I am directly involved in, but I do think I would also do pretty well as a songwriter, producer or even some kind of (creative) consultant for other bands/artists.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Consciously or subconsciously nearly everything that I enjoy listening and playing has had some influence on the record, in one way or the other. But honing in on the important elements for this record the Black Metal influences came from artists like Mare Cognitum and The Great Old Ones, the Doom elements from artists like Bell Witch and Bismuth. The atmospheric elements come from both metal acts and other artists/media like Hans Zimmer’s Dune soundtrack or ambient artists like Cryo Chamber.
Whatever I’m listening to is kinda all over the place and changes weekly or even daily! However there is usually still a prominent metal element present. This week I’ve had Vildhjarta’s ‘måsstaden under vatten’ on repeat due to the recent album announcement, another (but very different) atmospheric metal journey!
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
First of all, thank you for having me!
For those still reading, please check out ‘Absence’ if you haven’t already! You can find it on Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify or your preferred streaming devices. And if you liked what you heard and want to stay in the loop about Xavernah go follow the project on Instagram and Facebook! Thank you!
Now there’s nothing left, merely absence
Bandcamp: https://xavernah.bandcamp.com/album/absence
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pj2ChpqDBXM7QHwmSmrfe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Xavernah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xavernah_project/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569326456220
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