Esicastic is a band from Italy that can be defined as being composed by excellent musicians with extremely original ideas and an open mind. The influences in this band range from metal to jazz and all that is in between. The whole band answered the interview and explained about their new album "Atman".
What does "ATMAN" mean? Is the record ready?
Simon: Yes the record is ready. Actually we are producing it in a few copy for promotion (distribution, labels, 'zines, etc.) and everyone can download the title track and some samples from our site (http://go.to/esicastic), or order it through Vitaminic.com or asking it directly to us.
The meaning of Atman is quite complex, I'll try to explain it in a few words: Atman derives from Bhuddism, where it is used to define the center, and the absolute at the same time, of the human soul, but it could be compared only in part with Christian soul because Atman is individuality only before you reach it through oneself's detachment from sensorial perceptions. Furthermore, in our case, Atman becomes a metaphor and loses its religious connotation. In our intentions, it is also related to perception of reality in a social meaning, the perception of the world distorted by social opinion and convention, a trap in which we are immerged and in which we are all, there's no exception, weak. In this trap of social common sense, we stare at the world as we were watching a tv. It's the same situation as you were in a country ruled by a dictator and you could watch only a tv channel. That channel is your reality, full stop. Many of us think that through individuality you can judge what is right and what is wrong. Indeed we are always thinking also with someone else's mind. These concepts take form through traditions, common places, even in metal culture there are many of them. The right thing to do, for us, is to fight to multiply the channels, and to choose with cognition of cause, comparing you decision with plurality.
How different is "ATMAN" compared to "UNDECEMBER"?
Denis: Very different. We have reached ATMAN through a series of troubles. First of all the line-up. In fact, the guitar player Dario has contribute to ATMAN only in the arrangements, while in UNDECEMBER he did a large part of the composition. His style was more bright and solar, more influenced by rock progressive. We are more influenced, in general, by darker music genres (even if we have some "strange" influences as jazz/fusion, jazz/rock and funk)
I think that, first of all, ATMAN is more mature, and better played. It's less symphonic and darker. It's more similar to Pestilence, Meshuggah, Gordian Knot and Cynic than to Dark Tranquillity, Dissection and At the Gates as was UNDECEMBER.
Do you consider Esicastic an extremely technical band?
Nicola: No, we are not extremely technical. Technique is to play feelings in the right way, as they are flowing in your mind. And technique is a relative concept and depends from the genres. Maybe in metal we can be considered a technical band, but if you consider the major part of jazz musicians, we are nothing. However we are all studying to improve technique, first of all to offer the audience professional performances and studio products. It's very important fore a musician to obtain full expression through the instrument.
How important is knowledge of musical theory in the composition of you songs?
Simon: It's a matter of construction of possibilities, of variety, of plurality of ideas. According to our music likes, technique is important but don't think that we plan everything, or that we write songs on a paper before even playing them.
Indeed, personally, I don't like that method at all. In this way, unless you are a real genius, you'll do what someone has taught you before: how to write, how to set harmonies, how to organize songs, etc. The real technique is something we are yet very far from. It is complete spontaneity, with a large part of improvisation maybe, not too polished. Playing a song should involve a bit of human imperfection to let the listener understand that you are not arrived, that you walking through a path.
Is the composition individual in the band or do you compose together?
Leandro: The composition is made together. When one of us bring an idea, that idea is not judged, but felt, experienced by the other members. It's a dangerous way of working because you need a great cohesion in the band. However, in this way, everyone can work at the top of his possibilities.
Are your song composed from beginning to end or maybe some parts surface later when rehearsing?
Leandro: Some part surface later. We have to play songs a lot to extract the juice from the them, to set whether all the parts and all the rhythmical changes are coherent or not.
How is the band on stage?
Denis: In the past years we have worked a lot to increase the quality of our shows. As the music is quite complex, it's not easy to express it on stage, unless you play the songs in a extremely precise way. In live shows something always is wrong, the volume of bassdrum, the sound of guitars, etc.. In our songs everything is important so we try togive attention to every particular, from the sound to the precision of the performance.
How do you see the Demo 96 now? Have the songs that appeared in there been recorded again or changed?
Nicola: Demo 96 has been a step. There are songs in it that we still play live. We have done some changes, but we prefer not to loose time on old songs, if not necessary. However some of those songs are very groovy and powerful. I like them.
How important are atmospheres and melodies to Esicastic?
Denis: We are trying to find an original way of being melodic and atmospheric. Undecember is really melodic and atmospheric. Atman is less melodic and more atmospheric, I think. It depend on our mood and influences. However, we are not tied at all to melody as it has been interpreted by power or progressive metal. Our kind of melody is not linked to classical music. It's more linked to jazz/fusion and modern harmonies.
How have jazz and fusion influenced Esicastic music?
Simon: the influence of jazz and fusion is very strong. We like these genres very much. I can suggests some names: a part from the "traditional" Allan Holdsworth, I could say Brand X, Weather Report, Kenny Barron, Victor Lewis, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Peter Erskine, Jan Garbarek, Jack De Johnette, John Coltrane, Billy Cobham. These are all great artists which influenced me as a drummer and as a man.
Jazz and fusion influenced our melodies, as we said before, and personally, influenced my way of playing drums, helping me to wash away some Portnoy's style, which is a technical, but mechanical at the same time, way of playing. Jazz and Fusion are fundamental in improvisation. I know many musicians which are very able to compose songs, but who can't even keep the time while playing in a improvisation!
Any final words for people in Argentina?
Leandro: You have a great national football team!
ESICASTIC HOMEPAGE: http://go.to/esicastic
Interviewed by Federico Marongiu
ESICASTIC - DISCOGRAPHY
Demo 1996 - demo (1996)
Undecember - demo (1998)
Atman - demo CD (2001)
ACTUAL LINEUP
Leandro Di Giovanna - vocals
Denis Pinese - guitars
Simon Fedrigo - drums
Nicola Barbon - bass
Alessandro Bertoni - keyboards
Michele Basaldella - guitars