Stella talked to Errikos Bloukos, a talented guitarist from Greece about his debut album, “Wuthering Minds,” and future plans.
Metal-Roos: “Wuthering Minds” is your debut album. How did you approach crafting this album, and what were your key inspirations?
Errikos: My approach to crafting “Wuthering Minds” involved a deeply personal and creative journey. This album was a culmination of my experiences, influences, and emotions translated into music. The key inspirations behind this album were the themes of atmospheric heaviness and melancholy.
I drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including literature, visual art, and personal experiences. The title of the album, “Wuthering Minds,” is a reference to Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights.” The novel’s dark and passionate themes, as well as its sense of isolation and longing, influenced the mood and atmosphere of the music.
I aimed to create a sonic landscape that would evoke a sense of mystery, introspection, and emotional depth. The creative process involved experimenting with various musical elements, such as guitar tones, melodies, and song structures, to capture the essence of the emotions I wanted to convey.
In essence, “Wuthering Minds” is a personal exploration of the human experience, expressed through the medium of atmospheric heavy metal music. It’s a reflection of my own artistic journey and a way to connect with the listeners on a profound and emotional level.
Metal-Roos: “Wuthering Minds” is an instrumental album. What led you to this creative choice?
Errikos: Creating “Wuthering Minds” as an instrumental album was a deliberate artistic choice. I wanted the music to be open to interpretation and to allow listeners to immerse themselves in the atmospheric and emotional aspects of the music without the constraint of lyrics.
Instrumental music can be a powerful means of communication, as it allows the listener to project their own thoughts and emotions onto the music. The absence of lyrics can make the listening experience more personal and flexible, enabling each listener to create their own narrative and emotional connection with the music.
Additionally, I felt that instrumental music could convey the themes and emotions I wanted to explore on “Wuthering Minds” in a more direct and immersive way. It provided a canvas for me to experiment with sonic textures, melodies, and harmonies, allowing the music to speak for itself and evoke a range of feelings and imagery.
Ultimately, the decision to create “Wuthering Minds” as an instrumental album was driven by a desire to offer a unique and evocative musical experience, allowing listeners to find their own meaning and connection with the music.
Metal-Roos: “Wuthering Minds” showcases a rich blend of musical influences. Can you reveal some of the music genres or bands that inspired you during the album’s creation?
Errikos: “Wuthering Minds” is indeed a blend of various musical influences that contributed to its unique sound and atmosphere. Bands like Alcest, Anathema, and Katatonia influenced the atmospheric and melancholic aspects of the album. These bands are known for their ability to create emotional and immersive soundscapes.
Progressive elements can be heard in the album, drawing inspiration from bands like Opeth and Tool. The intricate song structures and dynamic shifts were influenced by the progressive metal genre.
Doom metal bands like My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost inspired the album’s heavy and melancholic aspects. Doom metal’s slow and crushing riffs played a role in shaping the overall mood.
Classical music, especially composers like Gustav Holst and Sergei Rachmaninoff, influenced the orchestral and symphonic elements in the album. I wanted to incorporate classical arrangements to add depth to the sound.
Film soundtracks by artists like Max Richter and Clint Mansell had an impact on the album’s ability to create vivid and evocative imagery through music.
These influences, among others, contributed to the diverse musical tapestry of “Wuthering Minds,” creating a unique blend of heavy and atmospheric elements that aimed to transport listeners to a different emotional and sonic realm.
Metal-Roos: The album title, “Wuthering Minds,” suggests a deep connection to literature. Can you tell us more about this connection?
Errikos: The album title, “Wuthering Minds,” indeed has a deep connection to literature, particularly to Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights.” The title was chosen deliberately to evoke a sense of literary and atmospheric inspiration.
“Wuthering Heights” is a classic novel known for its dark and passionate themes, its exploration of human emotions, and its isolated, windswept setting on the Yorkshire moors. The novel delves into themes of love, revenge, and the complexities of human relationships.
By naming the album “Wuthering Minds,” I aimed to capture the essence of these themes and the emotional depth found in the novel. The title suggests a connection to the inner workings of the human mind, just as the novel explores the intricacies of the human heart and psyche.
In this sense, “Wuthering Minds” is a musical journey that invites listeners to explore their own inner landscapes, emotions, and thoughts. It’s a way to connect with the themes of the novel and to create a sonic experience that is rich in emotional and atmospheric depth, much like the literary work that inspired it.
Metal-Roos: “Wuthering Minds” takes listeners through various moods and atmospheres. What’s the significance of this diversity, and how does it contribute to the album’s overall impact?
Errikos: The diversity of moods and atmospheres in “Wuthering Minds” is significant as it contributes to the album’s overall impact.
The variety of moods allows the music to resonate with a wide range of emotions. Listeners can experience moments of melancholy, introspection, intensity, and even moments of tranquility. This emotional diversity can create a more profound and personal connection with the music.
Like a novel or a film, “Wuthering Minds” tells a musical story. The different moods and atmospheres serve as chapters in this sonic narrative. It takes listeners on a journey, allowing them to become immersed in the music and engage with its evolving narrative.
The diversity in the album’s sound reflects the complexity of human emotions and experiences. It’s a reflection of the depth and breadth of the human psyche. By exploring various moods, the album offers a multifaceted view of the artist’s creative expression and interpretation of the world.
The changes in mood and atmosphere create a sense of depth and texture in the music. It’s like painting with sound, where each mood contributes to the overall sonic landscape. This depth can be particularly engaging and captivating for the listener.
The diversity encourages repeat listens. Listeners can discover new nuances and emotions with each playthrough, making the album a rich and rewarding experience over time.
In summary, the diversity of moods and atmospheres in “Wuthering Minds” is a deliberate artistic choice that adds depth, emotional resonance, and storytelling power to the album. It invites listeners to engage with the music on multiple levels, making it a compelling and immersive musical journey.
Metal-Roos: As we approach the end of our interview, can you provide any exclusive insights into your future plans, such as tours, music videos, or potential follow-up projects?
Errikos: As an artist, I’m dedicated to the continuous exploration of music and creative expression. I plan to keep evolving my sound, experimenting with new ideas, and delving deeper into the realms of atmospheric heavy metal. This may involve the creation of new music, whether it’s another album or smaller releases.
Regarding tours and live performances, that’s always a possibility, and I’d love to connect with audiences in a live setting if the opportunity arises.
I’m also open to exploring music videos as a means to visually complement the music and provide a deeper artistic dimension to my work.
In essence, my future plans revolve around a commitment to creating and sharing music that resonates with listeners on an emotional and atmospheric level. I look forward to the artistic journey that lies ahead and the opportunity to connect with audiences through my music. Thank you for your support, and I hope you’ll continue to follow my musical endeavours in the future.
You can purchase “Wuthering Minds”: https://alcyonerecords.com/
Listen to “Wuthering Minds” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1DDKMHq0UXMczFFnHftzME
Follow Errikos on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008457700082