Onirik Illusion
Interview conducted on February 14, 2021
by Dan Locke
We are Onirik Illusion, gothic, melodic & prog metal music band. We invite our listener to travel in the midst of the darkest hours of the night, a world of legends and fears of human conscience… We are from Paris (France).
Members:
Lull: Vocal
Bone : Guitars
Yves : Keyboards
Gary : Bass
Jérôme : Drums
What is your upbringing?
Obviously, we all have a different upbringing in the band. So, let’s everybody answer to that.
Jérôme: I grew up un in the countryside where there was nothing at all about music. I am self-taught on drums: Internet is my teacher 🙂
Yves: I grew up in the suburbs of Paris.
My childhood was rocked by very classical rock but also very eclectic. I have always listened to rock music, and since the age of 5 my parents have enrolled me in solfeggio and piano.
At the age of 18, I discover, like a real slap, the progressive metal. And from there, without pretending to be able to compose in this style, I got involved in writing and it then became a passion.
And after 22 years of classical music, I decided to compose and think music more broadly in order to play with bands.
And naturally, I started playing with rock bands of the “noirs desirs” type to realize, quickly, that my influences carried me, personally towards writing more complex and sharper music. Metal has always been an inspiration. But there is “metal” and “metal”! My musical journey then took me to the melodic metal. Female voices have always made me vibrate when combined with saturated and powerful riffs. And this has not weakened! When I was contacted in 2006 by our drummer, Onirik became a no-brainer!
Hello, I am Lull Angel, the voice and lyrics of the band. I have grown up in a little French village, between a grey cloudy sky and golden wheat fields, a forest and the crows. I did not have access to music school but I always had a lot of music in my mind. I have always sung, since I was 5-year-old. I improvised parts of voice on instrumentals music’s. My parents were listening to a lot of really good rock bands of the 70’s. When I was 14, my dad gave me a guitar but I haven’t succeeded in learning alone (internet didn’t exist in this time) … So, I sang, drew, wrote and read a lot… I was a very shy kid who was living in his own fantastic, tragic and dark world. For geographical reason I did not have access to studies but I have always learned and worked what and where I wanted (various jobs but mostly on social and I was graphic designer). I have exposed my paintings in a Paris gothic club in summer 2001, and I started thinking about music with the help of a close violinist friend who encouraged me to take this way. I have never considered myself to do that, but she was right, music is probably the love of my life. In 2008-2009 I have followed a full year of music school too, the same as Gary today, and I have made 3 years on a classical conservatory’s in a lyrical, operatic voice class in 2009-2012. Today I just make music and sing and write songs and try to learn several instruments and I’m just (darkly) happy with my Onirik Illusion’s beautiful friends.
Gary: I was raised in the North of France, country side. To give you an idea, closer cinema was at 15km, and important city 45km (remember that this is France, not USA! Distance is smaller). I had to leave the region at 18 to study in University close to Paris: got my engineer degree in IT after 5 years.
There was no accessible music school where I was born, so my exposure to music was only what my parents listened to (very few), and what teenagers exchanged together. So not very interesting stuff 🙂
As I earned my first salary at the end of my studies, I got a bass which is the instrument I was attracted to for a couple of years. I tried a little bit guitar, but was not convinced by it. As a self-taught music player, my level is at best “median”. But this year 2020-2021, I follow a full year of music school, so my knowledge and skills will clearly improve! I’ll begin to bring more and more in the music creation process of the band.
Bone: It might sound a bit cliché, but I have always lived with music in my life. So, it was only a matter of time before I tried it myself. And it’s exactly what happened, one day I just picked-up a guitar and started to play when I was around 16 or 17 while I was in high school.
Right after that, I found myself with quite a bit of time on my hands since I was in university, and it allowed me to practice even more than before (really more, too much maybe).
Even if I am self-taught, I was surrounded with better players than myself and because of that I ‘ve learned so much from them. That and the ton of jam sessions that I was part of really were the keys to my learning the music.
I was lucky enough to meet so many people from so many different musical backgrounds and cherry pick what I loved most from it. This was really a luxury I’m grateful for, even if, in the end, metal and progressive metal are the ones closest to my heart.
How did you discover music?
Music is everywhere around us all the time, through our upbringing.
How did you start to write music?
We are all creative people, so we have always had deep inside some music writing needs. Even before we started to practice music on instruments.
Each of us brings his/her creativity in the band and we reconcile that in our songwriting. We play and adjust together many times each song during its creation until we are sure that it becomes a part of every member.
Describe your music.
It is a mix of what each of us brings in.
Darkness, progressive metal, melancholy, classical music, sadness, fantasy, gothic culture (music, literature, painting, architecture, etc.)
How did you form the band?
Jérôme searched for years the good alchemy for the project he had in mind. First with Yves (keyboard) in 2006, quickly joined in 2008 by Lull (vocals and lyrics). Many members joined through the years, but the current stability was achieved with Gary on bass (2015) and Bone on guitar (2018). Our music would express its potential with additional strings instruments (guitar, violin, cello) but we wish to keep this cohesion and complicity between present members; adding a new member may jeopardize this precious balance.
How did your band get its name?
Jérôme had a clear idea of the project, which would be “Onirik”. As the name was already used, he brought in the “Illusion” to reflects a world of fantasy.
What was your first performance at like?
Difficult to answer that question as the band exists for 15 years, and each member joined at different times. We have always been happy to play in front of an audience and make them travel through our universe. Just like most bands, first gigs were in small Parisian clubs, in front of a very little audience.
What makes a good songwriter?
We don’t think that there is a universal answer to that. There are too many elements to consider for a song (melody, rhythm, lyrics, sound, etc.).
In our case, our songwriting process is that each of us brings in a part of them, creating our dark and melodic universe.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, we are registered in French organization SACEM, equivalent of SESAC/BMI/ASCAP, and many others in all countries worldwide.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
No comment- The song is called “No comment” 🙂 It was the first to be finalized with both music & lyrics (Lull). It is on our first album “The 13th hour…”
The first finalized for instrumentation was “Agoraphobia”, but had French lyrics before. Lull Angel rewrote them when she joined the band.
On your album “The 13th hour”, why did you decide to go with a booklet illustrated.
We are attached to the physical recording, and our music has some cinematographic and literature aspects. So, it felt natural to share our visual universe through an illustrated booklet. We bring it with us on stage too.
What is your favorite track on the album?
We all have a different position on that: could be one favorite, or several, or none! And it depends on our current mood, etc.
“Ghost Soulmate” is clearly Jérôme’s favourite.
What we are really interested in, is to know what our audience likes!
How do you stay healthy while performing?
We try to give our best on stage. Even if some members have some health issues, our goal is to have a good time together with the audience.
Jérôme: I deal with it during the shows even if it is not easy. All band members are aware of it, and if I don’t feel well and have to stop, they can still continue without drums.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
It is a consequence of technological evolution that we all have to go with. It has had a great impact on musicians. But the model of streaming music is still evolving: so, wait and see what happens!
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score? Because of social media #sonyrecords vs. F#
This is only a technical element of different fields (music on one side, social media on the other). Social media are everywhere, so everybody knows # in that context. Only musicians know and need # in music.
# may be also known in the context of phone service
(Gary: and I know about programming language C#!)
Digital vs. vinyl?
We are clearly in favor of physical supports for music (vinyl, CD, etc.) .
Regarding the sound, our preference goes to analogic rather than numeric. Maybe because we are old people 🙂
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
We cannot answer as we have several songs in mind at the same time 🙂
Each of us!
Why have you only played one show a year since 2017?
There were rather three shows per year. We are in a musical niche, even in “metal”. So, opportunities for shows are quite rare, and it is tough to organize shows by ourselves.
Even if past “dark” artists from France are known worldwide (poets like Baudelaire, fantastic writer such as Maupassant, etc.), culture nowadays has a tendency to reject this darkness. So, it is not easy to play here!
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
To make things a bit more complex, there is talk that people could either mix the manufactures of the vaccines or in the case of Moderna studies have shown you could take a half doses for the first shot and still be alright for the second vaccine. Do you feel that this is right?
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
As we are musicians, we cannot answer any question about that field, we are no expert. We prefer to let the specialist express themselves on that.
Gary- Do you still feels it will be the same “Still waiting to see the look on the face of a “Street scum” who forget the (s)he wears a mask, and try to spit on the ground as his/her usual habit.”?
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
We have never done any live streams and do not plan to do some in the future. Our visual universe would be difficult to reflect through such media. It would require a lot of work as a band.
Nevertheless, we understand such changes on the Internet to protect the musicians. Facebook can choose their terms. Musicians are on it since several years because there is no other free media opened to everybody.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
There are more and more ways for musicians to get a live broadcast on other platforms. And online shops still exist!
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
We are basically against “pay to play”. It is clearly a “no” for an Internet playlist. It might be considered for an opening slot for a major band on tour, but with a support of a label, and it depends on too many other parameters.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
We are far from it being possible! Let’s ask ourselves when it will be real.
I have talked to industry leaders. And they are telling me that there will be no concerts, festivals, or tours scheduled until 2021 and if they don’t perform next year they are likely to go bankrupt & may never happen again unless the government gets involved with money.
In the US a bill was passed which 4
Government heard the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.”
Will this help save the industry?
This an American issue about music. Protection & help for musician in France is very different. It seems that French system is more social and protective. It works hard nowadays to adapt the system to the digital transition of music.
What is your happy place?
As a band, our happy place is where we can make music together: rehearsal room, or a stage!
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Yes! We are independent but still registered in the French music organization SACEM. Perhaps Spotify deleted only independent and unregistered artists?
Gary- What did you mean “I can’t prevent myself to bring a little bit of Onirik Illusion wherever I go. Suitcase of doom will seal your fate”?
Your question comes from a post on my Facebook wall. I am part of the band, but on the other side, the band is a part of me. So naturally I bring it with me wherever I go (and sometimes across Atlantic with a few CDs in my luggage!).
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Many thanks for the interview.
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