Greek symphonic progressive metal act Quadrus are ready to take the world by storm with the release of their stunning debut album Entropia. Sea of Tranquility's Mark Antony Rossi caught up with vocalist Alexandra Misailidou to talk about some of the albums messaging and their immediate plans to support this exciting new release.
SoT: As referenced in my review of "Entropia" a band releasing their debut album as a concept album is simply unheard of in the annals of rock music. I cannot find a single musical example accept folk singer Woody Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Ballads" released in 1940. And musical historians are still debating if this album was a concept album.
Why has Quadrus chosen a concept album as their debut release?
Alexandra: Each track individually expresses a different aspect of the principal idea, every song integrates the other leading us to fill a puzzle. Well that is a challenge.
SoT: It is also remarkable how the group has utilized male and female voices while also allowing thrash metal, progressive metal, and unusual instrumental arrangements to form a fantastic hybrid blend.
Was this diverse artistic lineup a musical accident or design?
Alexandra: A little bit of both actually, you see the main idea was already composed and orchestrated by John and then every member started to give its own touch to this canvas.
SoT: You ponder numerous questions on this album that ancient philosophers, Vatican Popes, Holy Books, and various pharmaceuticals continue to wrestle with.
Why are you interested in the destiny of humanity?
Alexandra: Every spiritual being on this planet wrestles with its inner self, tries to slip through its own subconscious, but beyond the surface, everyone has questions, unanswered for thousands of years! So, we address to anyone who at least for one time in his life ,felt like making this quest!
SoT: The country of Greece, where the group's members reside, has undergone some serious historical and financial issues in the past few years.
How does this uncertainly effect the outlook of its artistic community?
Alexandra: Well that is a very good question, because the stress we experience is huge, especially in Greece. When your attempts for producing ,recording and promoting your music ,need a financial support, the only thing you can do is say "I 'll work harder, I'll make double shifts" , in consequence of being exhausted, physically and mentally and your only ally is the love for your music, strong enough to compete this mental disarray!
SoT: Unlike years past, technology has allowed many writers, filmmakers and musicians to self-release important projects. Many have gone to great heights of legitimate success. There doesn't seem to be a stigma anymore.
What advantages does self-releasing an album give a band like Quadrus in 2017?
Alexandra: Well that is something actually you can't know about. Everything has it's risk, don't you think? Those advantages will be truly calculated at the march of time!
SoT: In my Review, I mentioned a few of the influences I thought I heard in the album like Dream Theater and Pink Floyd and many more. But perhaps I missed some or maybe I'm reaching for the stars.
What are the influences that helped shape this group's original sound?
Alexandra: You certainly were right about Dream Theater, some other great bands that we were influenced by, were Epica, Wintersun, Symphony-X , Ensiferum, Two Steps From Hell and Hans Zimmer!
SoT: The artwork, the photography, the liner notes and lyric sheets included in the CD jewel are perfect examples of a band really doing everything to make their fan's experience an exciting one.
How important do you believe fan communication is in a day of social media?
Alexandra: The importance of communication doesn't change, in my opinion ,despite the circumstances we are dealing nowadays with social media .Interaction with people that are helped by your music,enjoy your melodies has a huge significance.
SoT: The average length of a Quadrus song on the Entropia album is seven minutes.
Do you have plans to get on European and American radio?
Alexandra: Plans? No, we cannot plan something like this. It depends on how an artist resonates with an audience.
SoT: Group efforts are team efforts. It's enough of a task finding players whom are on the same page.
How the band stay fresh, friendly and reading for the future?
Alexandra: Well in this band ,we are functioning as family members, we take care each others problems, make jokes on each other, we even consume together tones of pizza! I believe that,this is how you accomplish to maintain fresh a relationship of 5 different individuals! So in that case ,I hope the future is ready for us!
SoT: These days musicians earn their primary living from touring. Records are more like commercials for a tour coming to your town one day.
SoT: Has the band figured out how to keep its dynamic sound on a future tour?
Alexandra: This is a matter of utmost importance, because we really have a fiddly sound and at the moment we are discussing the solution with some skilled sound engineers.
Mark Antony Rossi
(Click here to read our reviews of Entropia)
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