Interviews: Hybrid Spirits

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock/Industrial/Goth band, Hybrid Spirits, from the UK. 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?

It was difficult to find a band name which everybody liked, but between us we eventually came up with the name “Hybrid Spirits”. The word Hybrid describes our music, as we don’t believe that we sound like anybody else. Our music can’t be pigeon-holed, and our releases can vary. We chose to add the name “Spirits” to our band name because we all get along really well, like 3 kindred spirits. We don’t have (or aim for) a particular sound and each song can differ in style. To date, our releases have ranged from rock to electronic, from alternative to ambient, with other elements thrown in for good measure!

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

It all has to do with our own individual music tastes and other bands which inspire us, as well as wonderful bands who we’ve seen play live. We all have different music tastes and influences. Paul likes anything from heavy metal to classical music, including Rammstein, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, The Cult, Neil Young. Nigel loves electronic music, but also Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Gary Numan. He also loves Ska music, Goth, Rock, new wave, synthwave. He particularly relates to songs with strong emotional connections. Voodoo Jade loves most of the music which Paul and Nigel like, with some folk and new age music thrown in for good measure! Growing up, she was a big fan of Blondie, and now she loves Evanescence, Indigo Girls and Enigma. Heavier and darker music seems to draw us in and we enjoy creating it!

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

Not all of us, although we are similar ages and went to the same rock/goth venues when we were younger! We formed in 2017 after Paul Kirk met Voodoo Jade via a collaborative project with a mutual friend. Before that, Paul and Nigel were in a band for many years called “Aus der Asche” which became known as “From the Ashes UK”. After the collaborative project, Paul and Nigel invited Voodoo Jade to join them in their music venture, and Hybrid Spirits were born! 

Hybrid Spirits are:

Nigel Rooke – Vocals, lyrics, keyboards and drum programming.

Paul Kirk – Vocals, lyrics, keyboards, guitars and drum programming.

Voodoo Jade – Vocals and lyrics

4. Each band member favourite band?

Paul : Rammstein, Nigel : Marilyn Manson, Voodoo Jade : Evanescence

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We all have different hobbies, interests and personalities, so many things can inspire us to write. It can be world issues such as war or Covid-19. It could be emotions. It could be interests, for example, Paul is interested in Astronomy and we based our first album “Astral Whispers” on NASA’s recording of soundwaves from planets in our solar system. We don’t particularly have a set theme or sound, we like to see what happens! Voodoo Jade is into horror films and psychic / otherworldly things, and has written songs about horror films and vampires. Nigel tends to write dark and emotional music. Our releases can vary from dark to light themes and music. Between us, we have many things to inspire us which has led us to write songs on many different subjects! Of course, our individual music tastes and experiences have an influence on what music we create as well.

You can hear some of Paul’s rock influences by his guitar playing in some songs such as “Fear”, “Mirage”, “Mysteria-Hysteria”, “Substance” and some of his other influences (e.g. The Prodigy) in songs such as “Rain or Shine”, “Dancing in the Midnight Sky” and “Mars”. Nigel’s many influences, especially electronic (and sometimes rather dark!) can be heard in the synths, vocals and lyrics in the songs “Fear”, “I Want the Darkness to Come”, “Baptism of Ice”, “The King Eternal”, “War Machine” and “Substance”, and on synth work in many of our songs. Voodoo Jade’s influences come in with the harmonies and styles which she creates, whether she is singing backing or lead vocals. She likes dark, heavy music as well as light, and she records her vocals to suit the song which she is working on.

6. Where was your last gig?

Unfortunately, Hybrid Spirits as a band haven’t toured or played live, although we’d never rule it out if we were asked to. We are spread across the country and it is difficult for Voodoo Jade to travel as she is in a wheelchair following Meningitis in 2012. We work on our songs electronically and remotely. Each song is passed to each and member to add what they wish, before a song is completed. Lockdown was a positive experience for music writing for us, as we had more free time to work on music individually. We don’t meet up in person very often, but we have regular band meetings on video chat.

In the past, we have all performed live at various venues in the UK and abroad as part of other bands.

7. Where would you like to perform?

We’d love to play at any major music festivals, bike rallies, you name it! The buzz of such venues and events is awesome!

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

Rammstein, Black Sabbath, The Cult

9. Whom not?

This is a difficult question to answer as there is a great camaraderie with any performing musicians. We are just aware that there are some styles of music which wouldn’t get with ours if we were on the same line up. For example, funk, soul, rap.....but that’s not to say that we don’t like these styles of music either. Between us, there isn’t much which we don’t like!

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

We have all experienced stage fright at some stage, sometimes worse than others. But the adrenaline kicks in and experience helps. No real tips sorry, but it does get easier, and well worth the buzz afterwards!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Again, as we all have different music tastes then it can be a long list! We have all found bands like Rammstein and The Cult inspiring and are both amazing to see live. We all grew up in and around Birmingham UK, and there were several iconic bands in the area which were influential to us, such as Black Sabbath and ELO. We are friends with quite a few other unsigned bands, and these in themselves are very inspiring as they’re great people and very supportive to the songwriting/performing community.

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

Nothing weird so far but that could all change!!!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love our fans, they make it all worthwhile, so than you!

14. What do you think of our site?

Your site is great! Loads to look at and lots of different categories – something for any rock or metal fan and more. Free music, what’s not to like?! Great sub-genres too!

15. Something to add?

Thank you for asking! We have just released a 4 track EP called “Mirage” which has 2 songs in the style of rock and metal (“Mirage” is about a vampire and “Mysteria-Hysteria” is based on horror films). All rock/metal fans should definitely check out these two songs, as well as our song “Fear” from the “Fear EP”. We have had a lot of great feedback from metal fans for these songs. The other two songs on the Mirage EP are more of an electronic style with guitars, including the songs “La Vie en Rose et Noire” and the song “Rain or Shine”. We released “Rain or Shine” as a charity single in the summer of 2020 and are still fundraising until the end of April 2021. It is a song which we wrote during lockdown in England to reflect feelings of hope and solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic, and sales from it are raising money for the International Committee of the Red Cross for those affected by Covid-19 across the world. https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/covid-19-emergency-appeal

It’s not too late to buy a copy of the charity single (£1.50 or more) to support the cause at our Bandcamp page : www.hybridspirits.bandcamp.com 

Also, we have already started recording some new songs which will be on a future release. Again, it is a different feel to the music which we’ve already released, and would be classed as darkwave/electronic. We are still writing more music for the next EP/album so everything could change yet! We do alternate vocals between Nigel and Voodoo Jade, and the next EP will predominately be Nigel on main vocals. His voice is perfect for darker songs! The band is also recording relaxation music for a series of meditation tracks which Voodoo Jade is currently working on. There are some tracks for general meditations, and some for the development of psychic awareness/abilities. And finally, don’t forget to check out our cover versions on YouTube of “Rain” by The Cult, and “Vision Thing” by The Sisters of Mercy! Thank you to everyone! 

Other info:

You can find our music at: https://hybridspirits.bandcamp.com/ 

Also on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Deezer and Pandora amongst other streaming sites. Just search for us and our song “Fear” and you’ll find us!

Website: www.HybridSpirits.co.uk

Latest Music Release: www.hybridspirits.bandcamp.com

Twitter: @SpiritsHybrid

Instagram @Hybridspiritsband

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hybridspirits

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us! All the best, Hybrid Spirits.