We are just days away from the release of the full length album, NOVA by RAVENEYE. The new album is set to release on September 23rd via their new label, Frontiers Music Srl. This album will surely capture the attention of music lovers as it boasts rich guitars, infectious hooks, addictive blues grooves and powerful rock.
With the release fast approaching, we wanted to bring you an interview with Oli and Aaron. Check it out here:
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Thank you so much guys for taking the time out to talk with us here at Music Junkie Press. You were definitely one of our highlights of last year’s Aftershock Festival. It won’t be the same without you guys! But you guys have definitely been keeping the tour wheels moving. How has Europe been and any stand out highlights you would like to share with us?
It’s been an amazing year for us for touring from our headline UK tour in Jan/Feb to support for The Darkness across the USA, writing and recording our debut album NOVA in New Jersey (USA), touring Europe (like you said), hitting some iconic festivals; we’ve been working hard and loving every second of it. It’s what we want to do, get on the road, meet new people and get our music out there!
We are very excited for the release of your debut album, NOVA later this month. How has the anticipation been for you guys on the release?
It’s funny we’ve almost lost sense of where the album sits with us because we feel like we’ve been waiting so long for the thing to release! But no, we spent so much time getting inside the songs to the point of obsession to then spend a few months promoting the pre-release, we just want to get the album out there and have people experience it for themselves. We’re excited to hear the feedback from our fans.
This album is definitely going to grab everyone’s attention. It is as if you bring the energy that you deliver on stage right into the album. How was the recording process for you guys?
We love recording. We’d live in the studio given the chance. It’s such a creative environment and we thrive on it. I think all the aspects of the creative process contribute to recording; the time spent writing, getting the demos together, performing live and getting a band sound – it’s all part of the process.
The album brings to life a range of emotions, what is also as an emotional process during recording?
Yes and no. We had almost all the music written out, forms, lyics, drum, bass and guitar parts, so part of the recording process is clinical in the sense that we go in and nail those parts that we have written and rehearsed. It’s more about the delivery of the lyrics and the guitar solos that draw out specific emotions.
The other emotional side of the recording process is simply the time spent and how that affects your state of mind. We were working 12 noon until 4 am everyday, straight through, no breaks and after coming straight off the road with the Darkness for 30 days, it caught up with us half way through the recording and we had to take a half day to simply sleep and catch up.
We have to mention that the album brings a nostalgic raw texture to the recording which we love, what gear did you use to create that vintage vibe? Special pedals, amps, gear, etc?
We used our usual touring rigs in the studio; Oli used his Hofner Very-Thins, a Les Paul, Fender Strat, Baritone Guitar and even a Gibson 12-string through his Silver Jubilee Marshall stacks. Aaron used his Union Bass (made in Perth, Australia) and a ‘74 Fender Jazz. The sound came together with producer Warren Riker, he knew our sound from the Breaking Out EP and for this album, thankfully we had more time, so we were able to explore bigger, grander sounds and get that grungy thing going.
Was there any stories from the studio you would like to share with us?
You asked about emotions in the studios, when Oli was singing the vocal track of Hate, he blew out his voice yelling Hate so vehemently for the choruses. We were trying to capture the pure aggression of yelling HATE and telling all those people that doubt you how you feel and it was enough to cook his voice. What made it funny (or slightly worrying) was that it was his first song in, so it threw a spanner in the schedule, but it all turned out killer!
This album is a statement making album, that will surely demand RAVENEY to be heard. What do you most want listeners to take away from this album?
We feel like NOVA has something for everyone, although that’s not what we set out to do. We have deep grooves and killer guitar solos, complex lyrics and fuzzed out bass, grungy guitar riffs and songs that you just want to turn up and sing along to. We wanted the album to have a shape; a journey of it’s own and so we put a lot of time into song order and timings between songs to get that ‘album’ feel to it rather than just a collection of songs. The album is also about the extremes of emotions whether love or hate or sex or fear, we tried to capture those emotions.
We are huge vinyl lovers here, will the album be available on vinyl?
Yes! We announced vinyl this week, check out our bandcamp: https://itsraveneye.bandcamp.com
Your track Hero is badass, can you tell us more about the song and inspiration behind it?
Hero is about not being dragged down by people that take a back seat when they think the hard work is over. We’ve all met people who are cruising through life and we wanted to write a song about trying to break free of those mind-sets.
I know our songs are like our little kids and we don’t like playing favorites, but is there any particular song on the album for each of that may carry a special meaning for you?
My favorite is Out Of The Rain. This song has such an epic quality to it with the layered vocals and guitars and open sections, it really touches on so many different sonic landscapes. It’s also poignant because it says to the people that doubt you “one day soon you’ll know my name.” (Aaron)
You are gearing up for your UK Tour, will we have to wait long for your return to the US?
We’re hoping to be in the USA a lot next year, at this stage we’re looking at Jan and April. If we were to record again, we are aiming to get back to New Jersey and record at Water Music again, the space was just amazing and we’re so happy with the sound we got there, it’s a no-brainer to go back and record there with Warren.
The three of you have created such a powerful sound that is reminiscent of the great classic rock bands. Music that captures your attention, grooves and rocks all at the same time. Timeless. Where do you see RavenEye in 5 years?
We just want to keep making great music, keep touring hard and maintaining our relationship with our fans. If we get a few supports or festival opportunities, we will go in there and smash it out of the park! But we’re in it for the long haul, so come what may!
Lastly, is there anything else you would like to share with your fans and our audience?
Please get in touch with us on social media – Facebook, twitter, instagram, we handle all our socials so you’ll be speaking with us! Signup to our mailing list and check out our website, all the good stuff is there!
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Track Listing for NOVA:
- Wanna Feel You
- Come With Me
- Inside
- Hero
- Supernova
- Walls
- Oh My Love
- Madeline
- Hate
- Out Of The Rain
- Eternity
Make sure to pick up the new album and crank it up loud! Head over to iTunes here. Visit their social media sites to stay up to date on their upcoming tour dates. You don’t want to miss them when they bring their high energy rockin sets to a stage near you!
~ Marisol
Information & Links:
- Website: http://www.raveneyeofficial.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RavenEye
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsRavenEye/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/itsraveneye/
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nova/id1132498338
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