We had the opportunity to talk with Aaron Marshall of Intervals, a progressive band of Canadian origin formed in 2011. Marshall He tells us a little more about his independence as a band, the progressive scene and his arrival in Mexico for the first time, where they will play alongside Haken and they will have a first approach with their Mexican fanbase.
Canadian bands have become stronger in the metal industry, bands like Intervals, Annihilator or Kataklysm. How do you see your own local scene?
It has become an incredible environment, and I liked to experiment mainly in the progressive and all this with my music team, there are very good bands like Protest the Hero, others more classic and all with their own style, but in the instrumental area , progressive in rock and metal have grown more and more every day and that is incredible to see, this type of music has grown in the last two years and more in terms of bands with instrumental waves.
Progressive music is growing again, especially in the rock and metal scene where we can see great bands like Gojira, Mastodon or Tool as headliners of great festivals around the world. Do you think people are appreciating it?
Yes, especially in places in Europe due to the cultural roots they have, and I feel that it has been incredible to see the bands grow in this genre in the last two years, we supported Animals as Leaders in 2016 and it is incredible to see the level of I support these bands, that although they don't have a vocalist and are more instrumental, they grow more and more, the shows are always very energetic and it's incredible to be part of them.
Can you see Animal As Leaders or Intervals as headliners in the future?
Sure, we have opportunities to do it and that tour I mentioned in 2016 that we support Animal As Leaders is an example of how we can do it, at 2017 festivals in Europe too, so we always try to give our best in shows and have the best production in our material to achieve it.
'The Way Forward' is your third album as a freelance artist and achieved 1 million streams on Spotify the first month. What was the process of becoming independent?
The process is always similar in terms of how we create the music at least when we are going to release it, the sound always starts in my head and I already write the body of the song, and for this album it has been amazing, at the end of the day I get the trust of my fans for my way of making music, as for my creative process, I just grab the instruments and they start to flow, I compose the songs completely and in the studio they put the drum track on and everything starts, I always carry the same process but I really enjoy it and I am very proud of it. I will be in the studio again, but since we have spent it in shows I have not been able to start creating new music, we will be giving shows all over the world and that has been quite incredible.
"Rock is not dead, but it is
dies will be the fault of consumers. "
Can you compose when you are on tour?
If it is possible, but it is very difficult due to all the distractions of the tour, I prefer to compose privately to be able to think and create the songs, it allows me to be more creative, but if I can collect ideas that I get on the bus or in the soundcheck, but not I sit down to sketch the songs because I am focused on the tour. I collect ideas but don't fully develop them.
As a guitarist, what guitar gear do you prefer to experiment with and make new music that you listen to while on tour? Or do you prefer to keep the line you have had in Intervals?
I think that depends, I like the frames and keys that we have as Intervals but I also like to be inspired by new things and new sounds in the places where we go or even with other instruments, such as the saxophone, we are very open to ideas, and Every time I sit down to compose my head it is fresh to be able to create anything, I am trying to have the same line but I am open to get out of it.
Lately many musicians have mentioned that rock is dead. What do you think about that?
I feel that the streaming of more commercial genres has influenced in thinking that, but you know that it depends on each one, because of me I am completely independent, I do not have a label, only a manager, and then you have to stay to be well alone, even So, but I think the future is very bright and more so when it comes to rock and metal music, there is a lot of money at stake and they are usually bands of 4 or 5 people and sometimes it is difficult to dedicate only to music in order to live, but That depends on the infrastructure of each band, I think it is very difficult to say that rock and metal is dead, I do not think that is possible and if it dies it is the fault of those who consume music, while the bands continue to sell records and shows to the At the end of the day, maintaining this genre is the decision of the fans, to support the music of their favorite artists, but I think it is very weak to say that rock is dead.
You will be in Mexico to present your show in Guadalajara and Mexico City together with Haken. Tell us how you feel about your arrival in our country.
I'm excited I've never played in Mexico, but many friends have told me that it's amazing to play there, I'm excited for both shows and I can't wait for the next week and that I can be there, I'm really very excited.
