What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences and are they the same as when you started out?
The name of the band Zadkiel is from a book on Reiki healing, it’s named after an Archangel, of which there are 7 in new age beliefs. My mum was a Reiki healer. I saw it and it suited the music we make which is otherworldly and ethereal. Our music is influenced by Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Porcupine Tree as well as the Grunge bands. More recently Nine Inch Nails and Tool. It’s a mix of Alternative Rock and Modern Prog. We are a four piece with 2 guitars, drums and bass. I sing and write most of the songs & some of the songs are co-written with our Guitarist George Beedle.
How do you approach songwriting?
I write poetry everyday that is stream of consciousness. Then when it comes to the song writing I pick the best bits for the lyrics that fit that particular song. It’s like cut up technique except it’s not random, it’s a conscious decision to splice certain bits together. The themes are on going and tap into aspects of Dystopian society, Mythology, Biblical references. Futurism / Surrealism as well as more direct lines about love and personal experience. I am inspired by Science Fiction, Horror, Philosophy. I tend to read those kind of works and then write my own songs songs inspired by that. Some songs have multiple themes. When it comes to writing the music on an instrument, the modes are particularly inspiring and useful as a starting point. I am not afraid of dissonance and using darker chords, there is tension and resolution in our music with that. Generally speaking although we have influences we are looking to write original music and be authentic in our approach. This leads us to explore the road less travelled musically and we are into unusual progressions, odd timings and weird tunings. Different guitar tunings give our songs a unique feel. My favourite one is DADGAD.
How do you approach songwriting?
I write poetry everyday that is stream of consciousness. Then when it comes to the song writing I pick the best bits for the lyrics that fit that particular song. It’s like cut up technique except it’s not random, it’s a conscious decision to splice certain bits together. The themes are on going and tap into aspects of Dystopian society, Mythology, Biblical references. Futurism / Surrealism as well as more direct lines about love and personal experience. I am inspired by Science Fiction, Horror, Philosophy. I tend to read those kind of works and then write my own songs songs inspired by that. Some songs have multiple themes. When it comes to writing the music on an instrument, the modes are particularly inspiring and useful as a starting point. I am not afraid of dissonance and using darker chords, there is tension and resolution in our music with that. Generally speaking although we have influences we are looking to write original music and be authentic in our approach. This leads us to explore the road less travelled musically and we are into unusual progressions, odd timings and weird tunings. Different guitar tunings give our songs a unique feel. My favourite one is DADGAD.
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
I go to music for emotion and catharsis. It has to reflect how complex and strange life can be. Sometimes simple and life affirming as well. I think there is a thin line between euphoria and despair. Music has always been a way of processing what’s happened or could happen. Dreams are intertwined within it and nightmares too. In our music I want to explore the full range of emotions. There is something spiritual about music and it is rewarding to express how you feel through this medium. I’m not talking about financial reward or validation. It’s like being on the path when your in the zone with playing music. It’s a calling. There’s nothing quite like writing and performing your own music. The creative buzz, the self discovery. Music is the sort of thing that nobody can master in one life time because it is so vast and endless. There is always more you can learn and something different you can do.
How do you decide what songs to perform live?
Deciding on which songs to perform is a group decision based on current favourites and consensus between all of us. Also we tend to try and play at least 1 or 2 songs from each record we have completed. We have recorded 4 Eps and an album so far (About 31 songs finished and self released). Some newish songs figure also. It’s always important to allow new material into the set. We tend to play the songs as they are on the record, sometimes there is variation and different emphasis. One of our songs Mindslayer is a lot faster now than on record. We tend not to improvise too much live. We generally like how the songs sound as written.
How do you decide what songs to perform live?
Deciding on which songs to perform is a group decision based on current favourites and consensus between all of us. Also we tend to try and play at least 1 or 2 songs from each record we have completed. We have recorded 4 Eps and an album so far (About 31 songs finished and self released). Some newish songs figure also. It’s always important to allow new material into the set. We tend to play the songs as they are on the record, sometimes there is variation and different emphasis. One of our songs Mindslayer is a lot faster now than on record. We tend not to improvise too much live. We generally like how the songs sound as written.
What plans do you have for the future?
We are looking to play more in the U.K. this year, possibly in Manchester for the first time, as well as our home city Nottingham and our 2nd home Sheffield where our bassist Josh Marsh lives. We also have some new songs yet to be recorded, which could make the basis of a 2nd album, which we are hoping to start working on soon. Our drummer Michael Bawldry has some friends in New York and we are exploring the possibility of playing in America in either Autumn 2023 or Spring 2024.