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| MSJ:
It's been quite a while since we've done an Oceans of Night interview. Can you catch the readers up on what's been going on in your world? |
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| Hi Gary, sure. I’ll give you the CliffNotes version. It’s been ten years since the album, Midnight Rising, in 2014. I haven’t been resting on my laurels. I’m always working on new music, or refining old music. It’s just that time seems to move much faster than we like, especially as creatives – and somehow ten years just breezed on by. During this time I was looking to expand the Oceans of Night talent pool so that took some time, finding new vocalists and getting them up to speed and sending songs back and forth, working on vocal melodies, lyrics, getting to know each other and establish new working relationships, and that takes more time than I thought it would. Then, of course, there were other unknown and unappreciated circumstances: global pandemics, technological malfunctions, creative delays, financial roadblocks, and such things than I’m sure anyone in any creative field can understand and relate to. But here we are – Mindstorm, 2024, and that’s what counts. I just hope it’s not another ten years until the next release, whatever shape or form that takes. |
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| MSJ: What's the best thing that's ever been said about your music? |
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| I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that question before, but I suppose that “it doesn’t suck." (laughter) Seriously, I’d go with the time someone complimented me by saying “Your music employs some characteristics that really shouldn’t work together, but somehow do” and I probably wouldn’t disagree with that. |
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| MSJ: You have a new album out. What can you tell us about that? |
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| Sure. Mindstorm – the new record. 12 songs, which continues on the musical path we’ve previously established on our earlier releases, that which merges progressive rock and heavy metal with ambient and atmospheric music, even trance in some places. I’ve been working in that musical space for decades now (since Virtuality in 2001), but while the blueprint has been established, the execution is getting better and the songwriting (and songs) are continuing to evolve. So while I’m not re-inventing the wheel here, at least compared to previous albums, I’m definitely trying to employ different soundscapes or song structures and even some unconventional approaches to our music without really going "off the reservation." There’s also a pretty even breakdown here between instrumental songs and vocal songs, and this is where listening to a full album from start to finish, is interesting. The sequencing of songs really brings out the cinematic qualities and turns the listening experience into something almost resembling a film – with different movements and moods carrying you along without it having to be conceptual. |
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| MSJ: What's ahead for you? |
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| Kicking the PR machine into gear is the immediate plan, and handling all the marketing end of things as well. That takes up more time, energy and brainpower than I can afford. (laughter) I have quite a few songs in the archive and some newer ones too, so at some point – hopefully sooner than later, we’ll probably work on some new songs. What happens beyond that is up in the air. Hopefully it won’t take another decade, but who knows where I, or the music industry will be at that juncture. |
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| MSJ: What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately? |
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| I still do buy CDs at least a few times a year. The last CD I actually purchased was the new Lalu CD, The Fish Who Wanted to Be King. As far as what’s current on my playlist, It’s a wide variety of stuff – I usually have my iTunes playlist on random, so it could be anything from any genre at any time – excepting opera, Bulgarian folk music or drill rap. |
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| MSJ: Have you read any good books lately? |
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| I just finished Pat Benatar’s autobiography. I spend more time reading news magazines and websites, as well as entertainment publications, than books these days, but usually when I do read books they’re musician biographies – as I can relate, or science books of some sort. |
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| MSJ: What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment? |
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| I don’t go to shows these days that often, no thanks to exorbitant ticket prices but the last show I do remember attending was The Time at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles for Valentines Day a few years ago. They really smoked. Big Morris Day fan here. |
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| MSJ: Do you remember the first concert you attended? |
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| Absolutely, not including Shaun Cassidy (I was pretty young, and had no choice, [laughter]) it was a classic show – Queensrÿche and Iron Maiden at Radio City during a five-night set. Amazing show, from two of my favorite bands, touring in support of some of my favorite records (The Warning and Powerslave, respectively.) |
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| MSJ: Have you come across any new gear recently that you love? |
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| (laughter) No, I haven’t. I’m not a gear hound, I’m pretty practical bordering on pathological when it comes to making use of what I have. People are generally pretty surprised I have accomplished what I have so far (eight CDs) with the limited amount of studio gear I employ. My secret? Motivation and determination. |
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| MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there? |
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| If you are looking for some new music to add to your collection, bored with what you have or are hearing on the radio or over the fence at your neighbors house, or feel like you aren’t getting enough ambient progressive metal in your diet, check us out!
Oceans of Night | http://www.oceansofnight.com
Music available online at:
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B002HRUZU4/oceans-of-night
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/oceans-of-night/327523980
Bandcamp: https://oceansofnight.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jKDhdUz1GSWoDDWFEcGaF
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoNka97lXbFXxaEP-Sx4L0g |
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| MSJ: This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024 Volume 3 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024. |
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