AODON (FRA) – Interview -11/08/2020 🇬🇧
Since I wasn´t able to find much information about this amazing musical project over the Internet, I decided to throw them a few questions. Let me introduce you to AODON and their answers.
Subterráneo Webzine: ¡Bienvenidos! Who’s answering these questions and what are you listening to while you are at it?
AODON: Hola! I’m M-kha and I’m listening to nothing more than silence right now.
Subterráneo Webzine: When I first looked AODON up I thought it was a one man band with M-Kha behind it, but then I found out it is a trio. Is it just that Metallum hasn´t been updated or was it initially meant to be a solo project?
AODON: I have known Alix and Laurent for many years now. They attended the creation of AODON and have indirectly been part of the project from the start. Alix was the lyricist on Sharphood, and they both gave me their sight on music from the very beginning. After the release of the debut album I wanted to bring AODON’s music to life other than on a recording, Alix and Laurent naturally joined this project to play it live.
Subterráneo Webzine: So, I am guessing your first album, Sharphood, was entirely created by M-Kha, right?
AODON: Yes, that’s right, except for lyrics.
Subterráneo Webzine: Were the rest of the members, Laurent C. (guitar, choirs) and Alix R. (bass), involved in the composition of the new album and its recording process?
AODON: I am the music composer of AODON, however as I said previously Alix and Laurent give me their feelings during all the process. Especially on the vocals as we work together in order to make the lyrics fit the music in the best way possible.
Subterráneo Webzine: How do you take this to a live set? I am guessing the “left out” instrument here would be the drums, since M-Kha (also drummer for SILURE) would additionally be handling the lead guitar and the vocal part. Are you planning on remaining as a trio or will you be adding a fourth figure to the line-up?
AODON: Actually I wish to remain the lead guitarist and singer of AODON, that is why we are currently looking for a drummer, research without success for the moment.
Subterráneo Webzine: As stated before, this is your second record and it has been released through the americal label Willowtip Records. I am more used to see death metal related bands on their roster, so I think it is great to have some [post/atmospheric/melodic] black metal in it, but I wonder, how did this collaboration come up?
AODON: Being part of the Willowtip roster is an honor. The collaboration was done fairly quickly. We sent them 11069 and received an answer with a proposal a few days later. It was a real good surprise for us!
Subterráneo Webzine: 11069’s tan with black splatter vinyl edition is just beautiful, it suits the whole design perfectly. Do you think that nowadays, with vinyl back to the stores shelves actually being sold and on people’s social media profiles, it is essential to have your material on that format? Do you believe it is somehow beneficial?
AODON: Fortunately vinyl is not absolutely essential but it’s a chance to get some. Willowtip gave us this opportunity. We are particularly pleased with the result and always happy to see some pics on social media’s. The vinyl’s comeback is probably a consequence of the stream era we’re into, a lot of music lovers need to get it physically and vinyls are most of the time beautifully designed, some of them are really pieces of art.
Subterráneo Webzine: Sharphood, however, only came out digitally and in CD, right? And the physical copies were sold out. Will there be a new “pressing” of your first album in the future?
AODON: Yes that’s right. Unfortunately, this is not planned at the moment.
Subterráneo Webzine: By the way, neither Google, nor my mind, have offered me any useful results when searching for 11069. What do those numbers mean? Is the artwork created by Ludovic Robin Artworks an actual painting? It is an amazing cover, you must be very happy.
AODON: Indeed the cover is an original art by Ludovic Robin. We worked closely together to obtain a pictorial expression of music and lyrics. He knew how to capture all of it. It was a great collaboration, he is such a creative and talented person.
Subterráneo Webzine: Is that being on the cover related to the story behind the lyrics? I have tried to read into them but I think that there is a whole elaborated story behind it…
AODON: I am not very comfortable with words and lyrics are not my part so I won’t launch into explanations. I rather invite people to read them on BandCamp, they are all available. All I can say is that French allowed us to write and scream as deeply and freely as it can be.
Subterráneo Webzine: Changing the subject a little, besides SILURE, are you guys involved in other musical projects?
AODON: No.
Subterráneo Webzine: Getting back to AODON. Were you looking for a particular sound when you chose Vamacara Studio (France) to mix and master 11069? I must say I find that there is a certain American taste to the drums. Did it meet your expectations?
AODON: I already worked with Vamacara Studio on the debut album so I thought I knew what to expect but I must admit that the final sound exceeded my expectations. You’re talking about drums, that’s an instrument which I particularly like to work on, so I wanted them to be clearly heard and not lost behind the guitars as is the case in many albums of post/atmospheric black metal.
Subterráneo Webzine: 11069 was recently born to the world (27th of March). How proud are you so far? Really, from the outside it looks like it has reached a lot of people. Is the public understanding and liking your work?
AODON: Considering our previous situation where we were almost completely unknown, yes we are very happy to reach more people now and to see that 11069 is very appreciated. We didn’t really know what to expect and that is such a great feeling to create and share music with people who enjoy it.
Subterráneo Webzine: I think it is time to start closing up and thanking you very very much for your time. But before we go, please tell us which will AODON’s next steps be. And of course, feel free to add anything else you like.
AODON: Well, thank you for this interview and for your support. It’s a pleasure for us the have returns like yours.
I am unable today to tell you precisely what the next step will be. We would like to be able to honor some concert proposals we have had but it will depend on our drummer recruitment. In any case concerning music composition I can tell you that it did not stop.
