Interviews: Sublimerent

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the  Progressive Metal band Sublimerent from Germany. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Alvaro: It was just there! We were maybe listening to the last Dillinger Escape Plan Album and then we thought, about Limerence and what it is. This brought us to Sub and limerent. Making the meaning of the name an extreme inexplicable and subliminal obsession for something or someone. And that’s what it is. You should be completely obsessed with it without being able to explain it.

Martin: I can't remember which one of us came up with the idea, but we agreed right away. The name grabs attention and arouses interest. Once someone understands the portmanteau in it, the desire to know more what’s behind it grows even more. 

Jerome: Sublimerent is actually a neologism. It combines sublime (in a philosophical and chemical sense) and limerent/limerence. And so is also the meaning a combination. It means something like an unintentional, manical obsession to something, that leads you to a new state of mind or even state of being. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Alvaro: It’s not really that we said “we are going now prog metal” it was just the development and mixtures of our own very-varied tastes. It just evolved to it.

Martin: For me, it's the freedom to compose without limitations and barriers. Songs with a standard Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus structure will never be able to tell a compellent story. If a song needs to be 12 Minutes long - so be it! 

Jerome: Prog Metal simply gives us the opportunity to play and work with everything we want to. We want as less limitations as possible and that is what lead to the point, that “prog” is the only label we thought could fit. 

Luce: Progressive metal owns the biggest horizon of spreading creativity, combining music genres and putting everything to a whole piece of art 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Alvaro: See Jerome

Martin: Alvaro and Jerome played for years together already. Luce and I joined them for this new promising project. 

Jerome: Just the drummer Álvaro and and the guitarist/composer Jerome played in several bands together. And after their last project came to an end, they were searching for other musicians to form something new. 

4. Each band member favorite band?

Alvaro: It’s always something different. At the moment Leprous, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Sevdaliza. But also some well-produced electronic music like Jon Hopkins or Rival Consoles. 

Martin: It changes with my mood, basically. In Winter i rather tend to like darker Stuff more. As of now, my favourite band most probably is Tool. Tool time and time again.

Jerome:  Hard to choose. At the moment the last 3 Katatonia-LPs are on loop, but overall it would be Opeth, Gojira or Leprous. 

Luce: For me personally feelings are the main influences in writing lyrics. The feelings can be triggered by music, sounds, places, people and happenings in all its beauty or ugliness.

Luce: I’m switching a lot between genres actually. At the moment I’m very into the latest album of While She Sleeps (metalcore), Ben Howard and especially Daughter (Indie-Folk) and my all-time-favourite Album “star showers on the euphrates” by *Ancients (post-rock)

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Alvaro: Not really sure, almost all of the songs were written by Jerome. But when I do it, I just want to take my time with it and build it depending on my own mood and life situation at the moment.

Martin: Mostly i only write the basslines for the already existing song structures that were composed by Jerome. But when I write something from scratch, it's when I have a great groove or bassline stuck in my head and i want to have it written down.

Jerome:  This could be everything. I often gain inspiration from other bands and other genres. Sometimes an idea flies by on my way to work. But most of the time I’m just playing guitar and see what comes and sticks to my mind. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

Martin: We are hitting the stage very soon with The Interbeing! More gigs are underway also. 

Jerome:  The first gig in this constellation is actually yet to come. But a support show for a well-known danish prog-band (The Interbeing) in october is already confirmed. 

7. Where would you like to act?

Martin: Basically everywhere where open-minded listeners care. 

Jerome: At any place where we find some open-minded audience! 

Luce: Every places where we can find farsighted people to share great times with

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Alvaro: Just a place and bands full of energy. There’s nothing better than an exchange of it, as a band playing to see the immense reaction of the fans and as a fan to get almost possessed by the music of the band playing.

Martin: Someone not usually represented in our genre. I love mixtures of different styles that go surprisingly well together. But basically everyone who loves creative music as much as we do.

Jerome: Everyone and every band with an open mind once again. We love shows with diverse genres represented.

Luce: We are open for everyone who lives the music like we do

9. Whom not?

Alvaro: Any kind of radical bands (the ones involved too much into politics and never with any right-wing shitholes)

Martin: No politically, or religiously driven Bands. Music should bring people together not separate them and put them in groups. 

Jerome: Probably with people/bands, who take themselves too serious.

Luce: People or bands who only think in one direction

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Alvaro: Everytime! Even after a lot of many different concerts. And maybe a tip: On my second concert ever, the singer - also a really good friend of mine - told me that whenever he was really nervous, he walked a bit outside of the venue and moved his one arm making the symbol of infinity in the air, while he walked. Not really sure if that helps though ^^

Martin: I think everyone "suffers" from that, but it's also necessary to keep things exciting. For me the feeling of joy and happiness is always bigger afterwards. It gets better with time, but the best thing to counter it is to practice as hard and as often as possible. There shouldn't be any hesitation when performing.

Jerome: Being a little bit nervous with a show ahead is totally fine and normal and keeps you from being overconfident. Just be well prepared, so nothing bad can happen from this side. Everything else is not on you. And maybe some rituals for calming down right before a show could be helpful too.

Luce: Stage fright is the most normal thing before a gig and it belongs to this situation. It helps you to stay focused and shows yourself that your perception is alive, so you can live the moment. Take it and and transfer the feelings into euphoria. This is your time!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Alvaro: One of them should be maybe Death, they had everything you needed (at least what I did). Then Meshuggah, Tesseract, Leprous, DEP.

Martin: Tool, Mudvayne, Tesseract and other bands where the bass place a bigger role than just the accompaniment of the guitar. Oh, and also Rage Against The Machine - Tim Commerfords sound is a huge inspiration for my own bass sound.

Jerome: Once again I would go for Opeth, because they are masters in melting a huge variety of genres and moods into something whole and new. And secondly this would be Animals as leaders for establishing “new” playing techniques and a new aesthetic into the metal genre. And last but not least it was After the burial that gave me the desire to play an 8-string guitar.

Luce: Periphery, Northlane, *Ancients

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Alvaro: If they could have a signed stick with my number on it.

Martin: That one is yet to come.

Jerome: Probably if they can play my guitar. I’m very peculiar in this point, no offense.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Alvaro: I love and appreciate all people who actually give them the time to properly hear what we do since we love it, so I love our fans.

Martin: Fan support is what brings us forward. The interaction with people is very important to us. After all, fan support is what brings a band forward and lets them grow.

Jerome: So far they are the best and try to spread our music as far as they can!

Luce: Fans are supporters. No fans means no existence

14. What do you think of our site?

Alvaro: I like it mostly because of the time you put into newcomers from any corner of the world!

Martin: You offer great opportunities for smaller bands to show themselves. It is incredibly hard to get noticed in this oversaturated market. Keep up the good work!

Jerome: We really appreciate the work and passion you put into your site. That is fantastic and gives relatively (yet) small bands a great platform to spread their music.

Luce: Sites like yours helps bands and other artists to get to the surface to be seen

15. Something add?

Alvaro: Just a big thank you to everyone out there mentioning our band to the person on his side and spreading the word! 

Martin: Once again a big thanks to everyone who shared, liked or just spread the word so far. We are just starting, prepare yourself!

Jerome: We just want to thank everyone, who has interest in our music. Playing this kind of music is what we love, and every support means the world to us (we know it sounds stereotyped, but it’s true).

Luce: Thanks to everyone who supports us now and in the future