Interview with Trébol Dot of Sun Descends Alone by Dave Wolff
I've been listening to Sun Descends Alone's Duran Duran cover "Come Undone" and album "Of Everlasting Cravings". The project is characterized by a melodic, mournful fusion of metal and gothic music. What inspired you to create a sound like this that was uniquely your own? Although my background as a musician is mainly based on metal or extreme sounds, I always liked gothic rock, symphonic metal, dark, ambient and melancholic music in general. I just didn't find the right moment to develop it as a songwriter till now, so to speak.
I'm a music addict, maybe all-consuming, and I love plenty of different styles, which obviously influence me. I think this eclecticism defines the way I write songs.
How did you manage to combine an encompassing wall of sound with striking lead guitars and subtle keyboard nuances? This encompasses an appropriate feel for major indie labels with more of a distinct sense of melancholy than usual.
Melody has always been the cornerstone of my compositions, even in my previous band, Dawn Of Tears, which was more melo-death oriented. The melodic guitar and orchestral arrangements were the main element of the songs, and despite the accentuated twist of the musical direction I'm taking in Sun Descends Alone, this hasn't changed so far.
As an underground artist, I don't really think a lot about labels since my solo career has just started. Obviously the main goal is to reach as many people as possible, but I'm aware my music is maybe not for the masses, commercially speaking.
To what extent did Dawn Of Tears' combination of orchestration and melodic guitars aid in your musical development?
These are the two instrumental elements I use to focus when I'm writing music. It was like this in Dawn Of Tears and remains the same now in Sun Descends Alone. Now I give more importance to the vocal lines, melodies and harmonies.
Since the 1990s, the genres you listen to are gaining a bigger following from the grassroots. Particularly death metal and black metal in the mainstream. Has it been challenging at all to write in a cutting edge style?
In fact, no. All the songs came from out of nowhere very spontaneously. The most difficult part was to define the vocal lines and make the lyrics fit, since the voice in Sun Descends Alone is another melodic element.
In contrast to Dawn of Tears, how would you characterize the emphasized twist you chose to incorporate into Sun Descends Alone?
I just felt it was the right moment to explore other sounds, more intimate, romantic and melancholic. Maybe because of my current personal circumstances, maybe for the experiences lived... or maybe I'm just getting older. Anyway I don't discard coming back to my roots someday. I still love metal music.
Does composing for Sun Descends Alone spontaneously make for better songs? I take it you don’t have the intention of writing anything accessible?
I write for myself mainly, I don't sit down and think to myself "ok, let's write a sad song" or "let's try something more experimental” or whatever. Usually the starting point is a melody that comes to my mind. From there, I just develop it.
How many releases does Sun Descends Alone have to date, and how much has your songwriting evolved?
In fact, this is my very first solo album, though I'm already working on new compositions. I've recorded two songs for my upcoming EP or LP. Time will tell, but still I don't have a clear idea in which direction my sound will evolve.
How long does it typically take you to develop an idea, add additional embellishments, until you have a complete song?
Each song has its own process, but in general, once the main melody (usually the chorus) appears, it doesn’t really take too long, since I'm kinda constantly working (musically speaking). I sing in my head plenty of the time, I might be taking a walk, having a beer in a pub or whatever. Once I have the main idea, maybe it takes one or two days until I picture the whole song, the arrangements and sounds, even the vocal line, sometimes just a couple of hours.
What I struggle with the most is the text, because I also have a clear idea of the syllables which should be stressed, or the sounds, the vowels and consonants that must be used for example, and finding proper lyrics that actually make sense, is not easy.
To what extent did you use a personal flair to convey your lyrics in the songs on your first album?
Actually this is the most personal album I have ever written. In Dawn Of Tears I could get inspiration from books, films... but this is the very first time I used introspection to write lyrics and music. All the songs are based on very deep feelings, experiences, thoughts, and struggles. Somehow I'd say is the way to express myself, maybe even a therapy.
In what ways does Sun Descends Alone's vocal tracks contribute to the songs’ melodic qualities? Are the vocals like another instrument or meant to enhance the songwriting?
In contrast to Dawn Of Tears, and despite the importance that I keep giving to the instruments melody, in Sun Descends Alone I consider the voice as the main element, and I like to try different techniques and ways to express with my voice. In fact, the drama and expressive way of singing would also be an indispensable part of the songs.
What vocal approaches are you trying, and how do you determine which ones suit each song best?
I use plenty of resources, but in general I'd say that for me, expressiveness and the way of transmitting emotions while singing, is just as important as the technique.
You can be the best at technique, have a privileged voice, but if you don't manage to feel the song and add emotions to your interpretation, there's no point in my opinion.
Describe how your chosen vocal tactics enhance your lyrics just as much as your music. What kind of lyrics do your songs contain?
Where I feel more, let’s say comfortable, is using a mid-range warm and mellow voice, and although plenty of times I harmonize by octaves, also it depends of what the text says, I might use distorted voice, falsetto, whispers...
Regarding the lyrics, as I mentioned before, I have looked inside myself for the very first time and used those feelings to develop the texts. Love, unlove, the death of a loved one, mental health, depression and life struggles.
Do you generally see more or fewer bands singing with emotion and passion in addition to skill and professionalism these days?
To be honest, I don't really follow a lot of new bands, but in my opinion, the feelings and passion that singers from the 80's and 90's could display, are not comparable to what we can hear nowadays. Speaking about rock, I haven't heard vocal performances like, for example, Eddie Vedder in "Black", Sebastian Bach in "Wasted Time", or Axl Rose in "Don't Cry" to mention a few.
Did you learn octaves and techniques for creating distorted voice and falsetto mainly on your own, or did you have any kind of professional training in these areas?
I studied vocal technique for a while, when I was studying in music school. It was one of the subjects, breathing, intonation, technique...but I developed my style mainly on my own once the base was stablished.
Could you explain the music videos for "Of Everlasting Cravings," such as "Love You to the Grave" and your rendition of Duran Duran's "Come Undone"? Did you collaborate with someone to make these videos, or were they made independently? I make the videos myself. I mean, I come up with the idea, chose the girl that usually accompanies me, and after the shooting I take care of the cut and edition, effects. I just collaborated in terms of edition with Clara Sánchez in "Cross my Heart and Hope to Die"; she also appears in the video as the mermaid.
Speaking about "Love You to the Grave", I wanted to represent two different stages of love by using female characters. Veronica, the young girl dressed in white, represents the first stage of love, passionate, pure, wild once it blooms, and on the other hand, Katia, the girl dressed in black, represents the mourn, the melancholy and weariness when it withers.
Regarding Duran Duran's cover, I worked hand in hand with my sound engineer Juan Nieva, to develop a more metallized version of this 80's classic, but also incorporate some electronic elements to endow the track of different dynamics.
What was your inspiration for covering Duran as well as A-Ha’s “Take On Me”? What about the original recordings led you to choose them specifically to cover? I absolutely love 80's pop, and I think this is the most iconic of 'em all. In this case, contrary to the "Come Undone" cover, I wanted to give it a 180 degree twist and turn it to a pretty melancholic track.
Not for "Once". I definitely tried to do it in "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die", which speaks about trying to find your place when you think you don't belong nowhere, and especially in "Ardent Hearts" which hides a pretty secret, sweet, but tragic love story behind.
How close did "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" come to putting across the idea of finding your own place?
The lyrics talk about dissociation, especially when you go through depression and keep all those feelings inside. It's like carrying a stigma and no matter what you do, you feel you belong nowhere. You try, but it just doesn’t work.
I think we managed to represent that idea pretty well in the video clip, by using the mermaid as a metaphor. She's isolated, buried in her thoughts and hoping to be "normal", one more. By the middle of the song, her mermaid tail turns into legs, so we can see her walking around the crowd, alone, but surrounded by people. I think the concept we created for this video is lovely and shocking.
How did you come to start working with the model that appears in "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die"? Has she appeared in any other videos you have made?
I got in touch with her through a friend, one of Dawn Of Tears’ guitar players. It grabbed my attention the concept of modelling she displays. In fact she was developing a shooting called "Urban Mermaids". It was funny because it turned out that we knew each other from the period where Dawn Of Tears was active. She was very enthusiastic with the idea and we started working together in the video. She did an amazing job and, despite she we have collaborated just in "Cross My Heart…" I don't discard working together again.
Now that alternative culture is more widely accepted, does isolation and angst still play a part in underground music as you see it, or do you see people discovering themselves and their own paths?
Definitely introspection should be a good way to get to know ourselves. It's not an easy task, and it might hurt, but I really think it's necessary from time to time. I know artists who used that introspection to create lyrics, some of them didn't end up well, sadly.
Did the notions of isolation back then refer to the desire to change for others or to make friends with like-minded individuals? Or was it more about individualism?
I would never change for others, or to satisfy other people, I am who I am, take it or leave it. And I think all of us should behave that way. Don't sell your essence, try to upgrade, but stay yourself, authentic.
Considering you're set on being yourself, has your material appealed to a select group of listeners, or are they easily related to for everyone?
I'd say my main listeners are fans of rock and gothic metal, but I think anyone who's into melancholic music would enjoy it.
With the new pieces you mentioned you were writing, how do you plan to broaden your musical horizons? Which genres, if any, were you considering expanding into?
I really cannot tell at the moment. I have just two or three new songs finished. I would like to move a bit from Gothic rock to more experimental sounds, without losing the essence of Sun Descends Alone, but the songs usually appear spontaneously, so time will tell.
Regarding your newly finished new tracks, is there anything you would like to share with the readers? Do you find them starting to head in different directions?
I really don't know. I have lots of ideas, but just two songs are already finished and recorded. I'd say it's a bit more experimental and mellow, in fact, there's no distortion in any of them, I'd say that I'm gonna try something more atmospheric.
When do you anticipate beginning work on your next release? Will you be doing anything somewhat differently or sticking to your previous recording strategies?
I've already started, but I'm not in a rush at all. Let's see how "Of Everlasting Cravings" keeps going and then, I'll decide what to do. Maybe an EP, maybe a full album.
What is the impact you would like Sun Descends Alone to have had on underground music when you look back? Are you thinking of starting other projects in the near future or are you going to put your energy into this one?
As an artist, I would like my music to be heard as much as possible, obviously, maybe take the project to the stage, find some musicians to play live...who knows?
So far I want to focus on Sun Descends Alone, but I must confess I'd like to do some metal again at some point.
-Dave Wolff
