ION INDIE MAGAZINE June 2015, Volume 13 | Page 104

Dan: I would say just to hear us probably YouTube because everything is grouped together on our website, which I’m working
on revamping. It’s just crazy, because all these sites require so much upkeep and financial commitment to upload a CD onto
CD Baby--which is the distributor to iTunes and Spotify-–that’s a hundred dollars per album and they take their fair share of
the proceeds.
MM: On Facebook, you describe your genre is described as “Modern Symphonic Metal”. Is that correct, and who are your
influences in this genre?
Chad: Yes, though for me, just take the word “Metal”. I’m the Metal Head of the group.
MM: With the new album, are you moving in a different direction?
Kevin: Somewhat.
Jessica: It’s not drastically different.
Dan: It’s new. People can relate to all the different influences on it. It’s like being accessible but wildly conceptual at the same
time.
MM: When you look up Anaria on iTunes, under the section “Listeners Also Bought”, listed is LEAVES EYES and EPICA…good
comparison?
Jessica: Well, it’s definitely like where our band came from I guess. We sort of came from like, that big European Symphonic
Metal tree, I guess I would say. We’ve worked really hard to put a lot of American Rock influences into it.
Dan: Like EVANESCENCE did, we’ve infiltrated. We have fans from there, but it’s like we have fans from everywhere else also.
Jessica: We’re kind of like in the middle of a bunch of different genres.
MM: What is the concept of the new album “Seasons of the Mind Volume 1-Inception”?
Dan: It’s a four part series, kind of a reinvention of ourselves.
MM: Will each album tell a part of a whole story?
Jessica: The original concept was the four stages of life; where you have your beginning, two stages in the middle and the end.
Then it morphed into the four stages of life and romance and just everything you go through. The first is called “Inception”-it’s sort of like that longing feeling--and then the next one is going to be sort of like, the good times that happen. The third one
will be about the problems that happen and the fourth one will be about the end of life.
MM: Do you all share in the writing process?
Jessica: I write the lyrics and the band does the melodies.
MM: “Covet” is the first single--can I hear that while I’m here tonight?
Chad: Absolutely.
MM to Zac: What’s your drumming background? Do I see a “marching drummer” background? When did you first pick up your
sticks? Influences?
Zac: No “marching” background. I’m actually self-taught. I’ve played since I was a little, little kid (it’s worth noting that Zac is
the youngest member of Anaria at a mere 20 years old, with the talent of someone who’s been playing for 30+ years). I was
never in the school band. My dad used to be a drummer and I just always admired the drum set being in my house and I would
just sit on it and bang around. I got my first little drum set when I was 5, and then I got my first real full drum set when I was 7
and I’ve always played. I haven’t been in a lot of bands. I would always just listen to songs--that’s how I learned. I listened to
all different genres. I can play rudiments but it’s all self-taught.