NIGHTSHADE
PHOTO BY: Emilie Tavaearii  l  WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/nightshadegroupes

Interview answered by Bastien Deleule (Guitar)

CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD “HEAVY” MUSIC AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT HAD SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON YOU THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE MAKING THIS TYPE OF MUSIC NOW?

The first time that I heard heavy music, it was with my father. He made me discover many bands like Queen, trust, Starshooter, or Scorpions when I was a child. I really liked the “crazy” side of this kind of music, compared to other stuff on radio stations. I quickly knew (when I was like ten years old) that I wanted to play an instrument. But, for that, I had to wait till my sixteenth before I could have my first acoustic guitar.

I think that what marked me up was the guitar hero style of the bands of that period, and seeing them giving a show running everywhere on the scene. Hide, from x-Japan has really been the guitarist that made me live for guitar.

NIGHTSHADE INCORPORATES A LOT OF DIFFERENT METAL GENRES INTO ITS SOUND. WOULD YOU SAY THE BAND’S SOUND IS MAINLY ROOTED IN DEATH METAL?

In fact, Nightshade has many influences, though it was mostly Death Metal at the beginning. But, as we moved forward on the compositions of the songs, other influences took their mark like Metalcore, hardcore, unstructured and melodic.

THE BAND RELEASED ITS DEBUT ALBUM ROUND ABOUT A YEAR AFTER IT FORMED. DO YOU CONSIDER THE BAND TO BE A SUCCESS ALREADY OR ARE THERE STILL MANY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

Our most important wish is living for music and to continue in time. That’s why we do everything we can to be present for the next days and to be able to go more and more higher with the second album, and those which will follow next. We really want to be a part of the industry of music and to mark the musical world with our band.

YOU ARE HEADING INTO THE STUDIO FROM APRIL TO MAY TO RECORD YOUR NEXT ALBUM WITH PRODUCER FREDRIK NORDSTRÖM. HOW FAR IS THE WRITING PROCESS FOR THE ALBUM AND IS THE BAND’S SOUND GOING TO CHANGE MUCH WITH THE NEXT ALBUM?

The writing of this album is, at this day finished (even if there is some retouching that is done while waiting for studio). The composition of that one lasted longer than the previous album, because you’ve got to know that this new album required no less than 7/8 months to write the whole thing!

The band keeps the same musical vision but the tracks will be more built up and searched with riffs more unstructured, with mosh parts heavier and some faster, melodic and hovering riffs are now here, as well as an electronics touch on some tracks. For the next album, we wanted to stay ourselves, showing that we have grown up musically. So, no worry about that, Nightshade is still Nightshade ;)

THE BAND HAS HAD A FEW LINE-UP CHANGES. THE LATEST BEING SYLVAIN BUTET WHO JOINED THE BAND IN SEPTEMBER 2009. DO YOU FIND THAT EACH NEW PERSON THAT JOINS THE BAND BRINGS IN A LOT OF NEW IDEAS?

Few line-up changes don’t bring lot of ideas, because all songs are composed by myself (I compose guitar, drums, electro part, lyrics… with the help of a friend and ex session guitarist Fabien Letren for many songs, thanks for him!) The line-up has changed a lot because the second album needed to have a bigger level and needed lot of sacrifices.

All the band want live for the music, so need to be ready for tours all days and leave his city, friends etc… Sylvain Butet who joined the band in September is really motivated and you will hear that his level is bigger than the latest album.

THE BAND HAS A REALLY, AND I MEAN REALLY HEAVY SOUND. WHAT GEAR AND GUITAR TUNINGS ARE YOU GUYS USING AT THE MOMENT?

We are proudly endorsed by Krank Amps, Washburn and NOS Amps. Gérald use a Krank Rev+ head with a 4x12 Krank speaker. I use a N.O.S Amp NightShade signature custom head with a 4x12 N.OS. About guitars, Gerald plays on a Washburn WM24V and me on a Washburn PROFE50 and a Washburn WM526.

ARE YOU GUYS HAPPY WITH YOUR LIVE SOUND OR IS IT ALWAYS A SMALL CHALLENGE DEPENDING ON THE VENUE YOU ARE PERFORMING AT?

We are Happy with our live sound for many of our gigs now. But have shows which are really difficult because we don’t have lot of materials, no one monitoring, play on other instruments etc… But now, we are ready for assure all our shows ;) because we have all our own instruments on tour.

DOES THE BAND SPEND MUCH TIME ON REHEARSALS BEFORE A SHOW OR DO YOU KNOW YOUR CURRENT SET LIST PRETTY WELL?

All members need to know all tracks before shows! During two weeks before tour, all the band play and work tracks all day. Each day we play 7 to 10 hours for work the structure and presence for show!

I GUESS THE BAND WILL DO MOST OF ITS TOURING FOR 2010 AFTER THE ALBUM IS RECORDED IN MAY; ANY PLANS YET TO WHAT REGIONS YOU WILL BE TRAVELLING TO?

At the moment, we book a biggest USA tour (soon announced). Lot of gigs and tours will be put on our myspace soon!! We hope see you on the road ;).

MANY OF THE EUROPEAN BANDS THAT I HAVE INTERVIEWED SEEMED TO BE “OBSESSED” WITH GOING OVER A TOURING IN THE U.S. IS THAT ALSO SOMETHING YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING INTO AT A LATER STAGE?

We are “obsessed” with the USA too :D and will be on tour in United State very soon !! It’s the beginning of a dream for us, because in France, it’s really difficult to live and be on tour lot of time with metal music :s.

With our second album, we have the chance to sign with a big USA Label (soon announced) and going in USA for play on lot of tours with famous bands. We are really HAPPY!!!

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?

We want thanks all our friends, family, fans who support us each days!! Thanks to you to for this interview! If we are already here yet it’s with all your help, so thanks for all of you!!!

INTERVIEW BY NEIL VAN ZYL