Interview: NAD SYLVAN (October 2015)
Nad Slyvan is the vocalist with Steve Hackett and Agents of Mercy. He has also just released his latest solo album ‘Courting The Widow’ on Inside Out. Guests include Nick Beggs, Steve Hackett, the Flower Kings’ Roine Stolt and former Jethro Tull drummer Doane Perry. Do have a listen to the album, a thought provoking one featuring the must hear songs ‘Carry Me Home’ and ‘The Killing Of The Clam’. Over to Nad…
What have you got planned for the next few months music wise? e.g. tour plans, recording etc.
I am touring with Steve Hackett until mid December this year. Then time for a little holiday in the sun before I start writing on a follow up album. Will go back on tour with Steve in April.
Could you take us through the songs on ‘Courting The Widow’ e.g. stories behind the songs, songwriting process etc.
About 75% of the songs were written and recorded between 2012-2015. Three songs (Courting The Widow 2009, Carry Me Home 2011 and Killing Of The Calm 2011) were meant for Agents Of Mercy, but didn’t seem to fit the direction where the band was going at the time.
The latter is actually a sequal to a song we recorded for Dramarama (2010) called “Cinnamon Tree”. So I re-wrote some of the lyrics to fit the storyboard for “Widow”, just like I did with “Carry Me Home”, which was actually called ” Carry You Home” when we recorded it with AOM.
The story of the journey on a ship came from the caracter I am onstage, the ” Vampirate”. I have always been fashinated by the sea and all that comes with it. Funnily enough, most of the songs deal with death, or the after life…what happens next, or what happened before…so the widow herself, becomes a death symbol for the whole album. Having said that, it is by no means a sad album. It is very bright with lots of love and emotion.
This album was recorded at a very emotional time for you. Do you find that music helps a lot coping with and facing life’s situations?
Not entirely true. The title track was written back in 2009 during the passing of my mother. The rest came a lot later. Yes I feel my writing becomes more intense when I’m not overly happy.
You have a fair few name guest musicians on the album including Nick D’Virgilio and Doane Perry. How did they become involved?
I knew Nick from touring the US with Agents Of Mercy back in 2009. He had recently been working with my bandmate Jonas Reingold in Sweetwater Studios, Indiana – when Jonas highly reckommended me to use him as the sound he delivers is top notch. Nick was very keen to do it, so there it is.
Doane contacted me through my website after we (Hackett) had played the Orpheum theater in LA in December last year. He was ever so kind and commended me for my work. As Doane has been playing drums on Jethro Tull for many years, I just knew he was right for one of my folkier tunes on the album. He ended up playing on the last three tracks!
Do you have any plans to play some solo shows to support the album?
Not at the moment, but I would love to tour “the widow”.
Which three albums that you love would you recommend your fans listen to and why?
Prefab Sprout – “Steve McQueen” (1985) Bachelor Girl – “Waiting For The Day” (1999) and Tears For Fears – “The Seeds Of Love” (1989). Just three brilliant albums with very well written songs. Desert island materials.
You are currently touring with Steve Hackett and I read on your website you are now doing music full time. How did you hook-up with Steve and what as a singer, do you particularly like about singing his and the Genesis music?
I was recommended by Win Voelklein who is the mastermind and promoter for the Night Of The Prog festival in Germany. I like singing these songs because they are since long ago cemented into the core of my soul.
If you could join any band as the singer, who would it be and why?
Nope, I have no desire in doing so.
Message for your fans…
I would like to say hi and thanks to all of my supporters out there. You mean everything to me, even though I cannot commit to everyone on a personal level. Finally I have found my audience after working more than 40 years to get somewhere, and they have indeed found me too. Much love from your vampirate! Grrrrrrrrrin!
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