interview with Wolven
Have any of you played in other bands? Yes, I've played in many bands. My very first band was a punk rock outfit called "Les Ordures Ioniques". We played french punk rock music. After that I formed 2 other bands. Spelldown, a thrash metal band. I released an EP with them: Damnation from The Highest Point. The second band was Sequence, a progressive metal band. Pete Leroux and I were in that band. We released 2 albums with them. Plague Solstice part 1 and 2, both conceptual efforts telling the story of the exodus and the quest for freedom of the Israelites and Moses.
How is it that you started playing music? I was a big music fan from an early age. But Metallica really got me into metal and gave me the bug to start playing an instrument.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you? I'm Dominic Nudo, 39 years old. I play guitar, bass, keyboards, I sing both clean and growling vocals. Pete Leroux, 50 years old, is the singer, clean vocals only.
Have you had other previous members? No, it always have been only the two of us. I have guests guitar players on my music to do some solos.
Did you make music even when you were young? Yes, even in my very first band, Les Ordures Ioniques, at age 15, I was writing music.
Where are you from? We're from Montreal, Canada.
What year did the band form? Wolven was formed in 2015.
What's your style of genre? Wolven is quite diverse. We have elements of melodic metal, thrash metal, death metal and even orchestral movements. We don't limit ourselves. If we like it, we record it.
What inspires you? Inspiration can come from a lot of places. A good book, a movie, people, life in general. But I tend to write fantasy, mystical stuff. I love history so I tend to get inspired by that.
How often and where do you rehearse? Since we're a studio act for now, no rehearsals take place. But maybe in the future, Wolven will take that stage, who knows!
How have you developed since you started with the music? Well like everything, practice makes perfect. So the test of time has really helped us bring to the studio what is needed to get those stories and emotions out.
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? Dominic is a sound engineer in the film and television field, as well as a composer. He also loves to cook! Pete is a real motor cycle enthusiast, and he also loves the great outdoors.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? Since we're a studio act, we're not looking for anything as for now. But we're open to any offers that come by!!
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Being signed on a label would be great, that's for sure. Who knows what the future holds…that door is surely open and any offer would be welcomed!
What made you decide to make this music? We're both metal music lovers, so the choice was clear from day 1.
What are your songs about? Our first EP, In The Mist They Wait, was quite diverse. Anything from our outlook on society, to the loneliness of the cosmos or the mighty Kraken from clash of the Titans were explored. On out latest album, Verbis Diabolis, the concept was anything devilish or evil. So it ranges from a demonic possession, to Dracula, ancient babylonian demonology or the evil Cenobites from Hellraiser.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? Dominic Nudo takes care of all composing and lyrics. He also takes care of the producing, recording, mixing and mastering of the albums.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? We usually start with the music. The music inspires the lyrics. We really make the music speak to us. It tells us what it needs for lyrics.
Do you compose in a certain environment? I usually compose at night, in my studio. Alone in dim lighting with a movie playing in the background.
What language do you sing in? We sing in english.
Where have you played live this year? As for Wolven, No concerts as of now. But I'm also a session bass player. I've played in several places around the province of Québec, Canada. Mostly with a singer songwriter from Montreal by the name of Jean-Francois Beaupré. He does some rock, folk type of music.
Where do you plan to gig the comming year? No concerts as of now.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? Wolven has an EP called "In The Mist They Wait" and an album called "Verbis Diabolis". Both can be purchased on iTunes - Google Play etc.. "Verbis Diabolis" is also available on CD format. We will have some t-shirts done shortly.
Where can people buy your merchandise? Our albums can be purchased via the band directly or on digital platforms such as ITunes, Google Play or Amazon Music to name a few.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? Illegal downloading has really fucked things up for up and coming artists. Sure it can be a good way to expose your music to the public, but bands need that money to keep releasing new music. Big band like Metallica don't see any difference in that, but smaller bands really suffer from illegal downloading.
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? Less and less records are being bought from that. And bands really suffer from that, for sure.
What do you think of my work? Very good questions, in depth.
Do you have any role models or idols? Overall, Bruce Dickinson is really my all-time favourite. In my book, he's a complete artist. Being such a great singer and frontman, he's done it all! He's a pilot, writes books, makes movies, he has done tv with his series on airplanes, he's also done radio on the BBC radio. He's a master!
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? Old or new, I think that any bands can inspire. Of course nostalgia/classic bands plays a big part in my composer role, but some newer bands really kick some serious ass.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? If you want it hard enough, somewhere, somehow, you'll get your music that peoples ears! Never give up and act with confidence.
Do you have any new material? We're working on a cover songs EP, should be out this summer. As for original material, ideas are starting to grow, nothing concrete as of now.
What are your web sites?
http://www.dominicnudo.com/home.html
https://www.facebook.com/wolvenband/
How can people reach you? via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wolvenband/ or directly to via email: [email protected]
What are your plans for the future? Continue to write music and maybe take Wolven to the stage in the future.
Do you have something to add? Thanks a lot for this interview, and thanks to everyone interested in our music!!
