Interviews About Albums: MOSARA - Only The Dead Know Our Secrets (2022)

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

It’s definitely a change from the first album, sonically. While retaining the feel from the first album, we explored other things and ideas as far as branching out technically.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

That is actually a Nikos question since he came up with the title. For me, especially in the times, we are living in, it’s this mentality of everything that festers in our minds and shapes our ideologies. While there are plenty of people not afraid to speak their minds, there are a few that hold back. Only they know those reasons. It also speaks to our truths. In a spiritual sense, whether you lie to yourself or speak the truth, only the dead know those secrets.

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

Mosara is a collective. When I write, I come in with a riff and I let the guys pick it apart, add to it, or deconstruct it. I keep my riffs fairly simple. I love when the guys add their own twists and turns. There’s this satisfaction that comes from watching something turn into something else. With the group of guys in this band currently, a basic riff can turn into a monster by the end of the songwriting process.

4. If you have to pick one song, which one would you pick?

Zion’s Eyes. The song title is actually from a previous version of that song. It was written in 2005. It’s essentially the same main riff and lyrics. I thought it fit perfectly within the context of the song and album. It also showcases our penchant to go off on tangents. Midway the song stops and then goes into this free jazz thing. I rarely fight for anything in a song, but I had to pull John in and tell him to do some jazzy type drums in it. Then for whatever reason, it crescendos into this heavy outro while maintaining that feel. Doom jazz! I’m extremely pleased with how that one turned out.

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is what it is?

Not really. I mean, there is but it’s not really that I considered. I guess it’s just taking what you want from it. From a lyrical point of view, I try to keep things vague and if you really dig into it, non-sensical. BUT, when writing some of these lyrics, I basically tapped into a nihilistic “fuck everything and everyone” frame of mind. Honestly, the album was started with a concept in mind. Whereas the first album was inspired by the Aztecs, this one was trying to capture a Greek theme. There’s even a bouzouki in one of our songs. Nikos is Greek, so I thought it was a cool nod to his ancestry.

6. Are there some lyrics that you´d love to share?

My lyrics are pretty simple. Usually repeated. I get that from my punk/hardcore upbringing. But while trying to say something relevant, I realize that most people don’t give a shit what you’re saying so anything relevant becomes irrelevant. I usually just come up with lyrics that are “syllabic.” Meaning, I match the beat/riff with the syllables of words. There’s meaning there, you just gotta look for them from whatever perspective you hear them.

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank especially?

There’s inspiration all around. Whether it’s good or bad, there’s something out there that drives us all. Like I said, this is the fuck everything and everyone album in whatever context is derived from listening to it. With that being said, you could also say it’s a “you are not alone” kinda album. It’s been a rough past few years in the industry, the country, and the world as a whole. I think at this time it’s perfectly ok to step back and say, “fuck all that!” Going back to the title of the album, you can’t hold all that shit in. It’s going to break you down. Hopefully, there’s something on this album that people will relate to.

8. Something to add?

If you listened to the first album, you will definitely be pleased with this one. We’re almost where I feel we need to be as far as what I want to hear or expect from a band. Personally, being in a band is about playing the music you want to hear or playing the music you hear in your head. It’s exactly like guitarists who are constantly chasing the “tone.” I think we’re almost there!