Artist Interview- Rexoria "We have truly found our sound and style!"
Hello, Happy New Year, How are you?
We are fine! Hope you are as well!
Could you introduce yourselves to the readers?
We are the Swedish melodic metal band REXORIA, which consists of vocalist Frida Ohlin, guitarist/bassist Jonas Gustavsson, guitarist Cristofer Svensson and drummer Martin Gustavsson.
The band have existed since 2016, and we have released two albums and one EP before our upcoming album "Imperial Dawn". We play a mix of melodic, power and heavy metal with a focus on great melodies, heavy riffs, fast drums and shimmering keyboards.
REXORIA have a new album out next month called ‘Imperial Dawn’, what can you tell the readers what to expect?
The album is a step up from our previous albums, and we know and feel that we have truly found our sound and style! It's an energetic album, with many songs and choruses that stick to your head after only one listen. An album you can put on at parties, at the gym or when you just want to get some new metal energy! It is a more straightforward album than previous ones and has a great production.
You have a new single from the album called ‘Set Me On Fire’, what can you tell me about the track and what is the meaning behind it?
We wanted to write songs with a really great and fast keyboard hook, with a melody that was a bit slower to make a contrast to the fast keyboards.
We also wrote a lyric about power and strength to match the music. It came out the way we wanted, and we thought it was a good song to release as a first single to wake up the REXORIA fans after our break since the last album 🙂
How does the track play a part in the overall role of the album?
It does not have any special place on the album, because we feel that it is all the songs put together that make the feeling we want to show the listener. But it is one of the songs with a more kind of party feeling, while other songs are heavier or with a slower beat.
The album was mixed by Steffan Hellblad from Within Temptation. What can you tell me about how this collaboration came about?
When we just had a couple of songs written for the album we started to look for a mixing guy.
The band agreed on what kind of mix was required for us One important thing was that the mixing guy must have a "modern mixing style" since we knew the upcoming songs were going to have that kind of style. We searched for some time and then Frida noticed Stefan and contacted him in the hope to get a response. He replied and thought it was interesting. We sent him some demo tracks and he was in for cooperation with us!
What impact did Stefan have on the overall sound of the album?
Stefan was very responsive to what we wanted and which way we wanted to go, right from the first chat actually. We gave him some musical references and also told him to have his own personal touch for the mix. Since he plays and works with the great metal band Within Temptation we really trusted him all out. In short, the mixing of the album is exactly what we needed for these kinds of songs!
What was the writing and recording process like?
It was a bit different process now from how we have been working before. Earlier Frida and I (Jonas) have been working more parallel and just added each person's idea in a song, and in the end, a song was created. We tried that on a couple of songs and realized we didn't achieve what we wanted. We knew we had more potential in the songs, so we tried a new strategy to actually start from scratch together, and just very simple, with an acoustic guitar and a keyboard. And we could already in the beginning hear our vision of the songs, which helped us in the further process. Of course, there are a lot of details we have been working on for each song, but we really felt that this is the way we will write the best songs we can.
The band recently signed to Black Lodge Records, what can you tell me about the deal and the impact it has had on preparations for the new album?
We were in contact with the label and they knew what we had done before in the past so we sent them some demo songs for the new album and also what our vision of the album was, which people we would work together with and our vision of REXORIA's future. They liked the whole package and we were satisfied with the deal, so we signed with them.
This is the third release by REXORIA, how does ‘Imperial Dawn’ compare to those previous releases?
Stefan was very responsive to what we wanted and which way we wanted to go, right from the first chat actually. We gave him some musical references and also told him to have his own personal touch for the mix. Since he plays and works with the great metal band Within Temptation we really trusted him all out. In short, the mixing of the album is exactly what we needed for these kinds of songs!
What was the writing and recording process like?
It was a bit different process now from how we have been working before. Earlier Frida and I (Jonas) have been working more parallel and just added each person's idea in a song, and in the end, a song was created. We tried that on a couple of songs and realized we didn't achieve what we wanted. We knew we had more potential in the songs, so we tried a new strategy to actually start from scratch together, and just very simple, with an acoustic guitar and a keyboard. And we could already in the beginning hear our vision of the songs, which helped us in the further process. Of course, there are a lot of details we have been working on for each song, but we really felt that this is the way we will write the best songs we can.
The band recently signed to Black Lodge Records, what can you tell me about the deal and the impact it has had on preparations for the new album?
We were in contact with the label and they knew what we had done before in the past so we sent them some demo songs for the new album and also what our vision of the album was, which people we would work together with and our vision of REXORIA's future. They liked the whole package and we were satisfied with the deal, so we signed with them.
This is the third release by REXORIA, how does ‘Imperial Dawn’ compare to those previous releases?
Imperial Dawn is quite different from our two previous albums. This new album gives you a ton of everything that is just great! The main changes from the other albums are that we have faster songs, more keyboards, catchier choruses and in general a much more modern sound. These crucial elements combined with a very suitable mix take REXORIA together levels for sure.
REXORIA has toured several European countries with acts like Dynazty, Battle Beats and Hardcore Superstar. Does that form of exposure contribute to preparing for any new album?
In some ways absolutely. When writing a new album it's a lot of work ahead and quite many elements to have in mind during the whole process. While doing this you need to remember the great shows and what good energy we had back then, which gives you a lot of energy to keep on working in a good way.
This is very important when times are harder, which happens to everyone from time to time.
Do you plan to do any more tours in celebration of ‘Imperial Dawn’
REXORIA has toured several European countries with acts like Dynazty, Battle Beats and Hardcore Superstar. Does that form of exposure contribute to preparing for any new album?
In some ways absolutely. When writing a new album it's a lot of work ahead and quite many elements to have in mind during the whole process. While doing this you need to remember the great shows and what good energy we had back then, which gives you a lot of energy to keep on working in a good way.
This is very important when times are harder, which happens to everyone from time to time.
Do you plan to do any more tours in celebration of ‘Imperial Dawn’
We're working hard right now to get on a tour this spring but we can't confirm anything at the moment.
And finally, what aspirations does REXORIA hope for in 2023?
REXORIA hopes that our release 'Imperial Dawn 'will come out great to everyone who already knows REXORIA and those who don't know us yet!
We also hope for a lot of live shows!
And finally, what aspirations does REXORIA hope for in 2023?
REXORIA hopes that our release 'Imperial Dawn 'will come out great to everyone who already knows REXORIA and those who don't know us yet!
We also hope for a lot of live shows!
"Imperial Dawn" is set for release on February 3rd via Black Lodge Records on all available platforms.
Interview by Anselm Anderson
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SOCIAL MEDIA
'Set Me On Fire'
'Light Up The Sky'
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