Interview

VEIL OF MAYA

Lundi 5 novembre 2012

You're currently touring with August Burns Red

August Burns Red

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and The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada

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. How's it going ?

Marc Okubo : It's awesome ! This is the biggest tour in Europe we've done so far. All the bands are really nice. So yeah, we're really excited to get to play, to meet new people and have fun.

You were called for this tour when Whitechapel

Whitechapel

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had to cancel. Was it expected, such a big opportunity ?

M.O. : No, it was very unexpected. In fact, we had another tour that we unfortunately cancelled. But we're gonna redo that tour as soon as we can. Hopefully it all works out. It was a very good opportunity for us. We never toured with any of these bands before and we've always wanted to. So yeah, it's awesome !

© John Gallardo

Your fourth album, Eclipse, was released in last February. How's the response for it ?

M.O. : So far it's been really really good. The only complaint is that it's too short but people don't realize that we actually wrote and finished the album last year and it was supposed to come out really quickly. I'm gonna start writing a new album, it will be longer and hopefully everyone will like it.

Can you tell us more about Misha Mansoor's implication in that album ?

M.O. : Me and him have been friends for a long time and we have always wanted to do a project together. This was the first opportunity to work together as a team on something. When I was writing, I would make a rif and just record and make little samples of songs, like fifty little clips of music, and he would help me organize them and put them together to make songs, help me write parts. It was kind of like being together in a band for a second. But we still tried to make it Veil of Maya

Veil of Maya

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and not Periphery

Periphery

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.

Is there anyone else you'd like to work with in the future ?

M.O. : I've gotten to work with Michael Keene and Misha Mansoor and they're two of the most talented people I know. So I'm very lucky at this point. I don't know... I feel pretty good about having those two dudes on my team. I actually kinda want to get a little bit better at recording myself so maybe I could contribute more. For now I'm happy knowing those two guys. If there is something else available, we'll check it out, but I like where we're at.

© John Gallardo

It's the third album you release on Sumerian Records . What difference does it make for you to be part of a big label ?

M.O. : With Sumerian, the thing is that we signed there when we were first starting out. Now it's growing so much, I'm so proud of them to see them start from this little company and become something so big. I want to continue to work with them because I know that we're part of the family and I feel at home with them. They're really good people to know. And they're good to other bands. I like them. It's really awesome actually.

You've been though several line-up changes since 2006 and nowadays there are only two founding members left. What keeps you going as a band ? Have you ever wondered about going on as Veil of Maya

Veil of Maya

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?

M.O. : No. Actually me and Sam, our drummer, have known each other since we were about five years old. We grew up down the street from each other. We went to kindergarten together and everything. I feel like as long as we make music together, we're both happy.
There are previous members who couldn't handle the touring life. It's not that we're not friends. They can't be away from their girlfriends or family or whatever. It didn't work out. But the band we have now is very solid and I think it's gonna stay this way for a while. I think everyone's happy and we're more like a band, not just two guys.

You've done a lot of touring. Are there any specific highlights or best memories you could share ?

M.O. : Oh man, so many ! This is actually my first time in Brussels. I'm enjoying today.
I don't even know where to start... One of my favourite bands growing up was Deftones

Deftones

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and we got to play two shows with them a few months ago and we got to hang out and meet them. And they're exactly how I wanted them to be, they're so cool ! It was a big deal for me.
And then coming up in a month or two, we're playing with Glassjaw

Glassjaw

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which is another band I used to listen to a lot when I was a kid.
So those are pretty life-changing. Just getting a tour with all the bands I listened to growing up is so cool. We just did a tour with Cannibal Corpse

Cannibal Corpse

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, we toured with In Flames

In Flames

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this year which is a really big deal for me. I don't know... It's just awesome to have this kind of opportunities and have this kind of lifestyle.

© John Gallardo

My next question is about your singer who used to be in a Christian metal band, Iscariot, and you sometimes have to share the stage with anti-religious bands. How does that feel ?

M.O. : I don't think Iscariot was actually Christian.

It's the label they have...

M.O. : Well I don't know. He's not Christian. This is a Christian tour that we're on, kind of. We're welcome to everyone's beliefs. Our drummer's Jewish. He's born Jewish, he can't not be Jewish anymore. We don't care about religions. I was raised to accept all beliefs so that's kind of the way I am.

What are your future plans after this tour ?

M.O. : We're doing a headliner in the States immediately after this tour with The Acacia Strain

The Acacia Strain

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, Upon a Burning Body

Upon a Burning Body

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, Volumes

Volumes

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and Twitching Tongues

Twitching Tongues

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. That's pretty exciting. We're on tour for the rest of the year. It's a good year !

Earlier you said something about the future album. Is there anything ready ?

M.O. : No no no ! I'm just writing it on my computer and I have little bits and pieces of songs but nothing yet. Just this year was so much touring, I haven't really had too much time to sit and write. I'm gonna definitely start this as soon as the touring is done for this year.