EMQ’s With Taliesin
EMQ’s With Taliesin
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Australian Progressive Metal band, Taliesin. Huge thanks to their guitarist, Richard Moseley, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Richard Moseley and I play guitar in Taliesin. We first started jamming in late 1995 and played our first gig as a band in 1997. We put out an EP in 2007 called ‘The Tally of Lies and Sin’. There was a period sometime after that where we were inactive due to band members moving overseas and I had some issues with my hand. Fast forward a few years and we started playing again and recorded an album called ‘Faceless’ that we released in 2022 and now we have just released our latest album on October 6th.
How did you come up with your band name?
We found it in a Welsh mythology book… we couldn’t come up for a name for ages. Saw Taliesin and we all decided we could live with that one.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
We are from Canberra, Australia. We have a really good scene here with a number of great bands and great people in those bands.
What is your latest release?
Our latest album is called ‘Disciple’. The initial reaction to it has been really positive.
Who have been your greatest influences?
There are too many to list really. For guitar I would say EVH, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani had the most influence in my younger years. Bands would be Van Halen, Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, Devin Townsend, Rush…. again… way too many to list.
What first got you into music?
I listened to top 40 stuff as a kid… but remember watching an all-night Heavy Metal show with all these awesome bands when I was 12 or 13 and I was hooked since then. Saved up and bought a guitar soon after.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I have a hard drive full of songs that don’t quite fit with what Taliesin do…. I reckon Mike Patton could do a good job on them 😊
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Any of those Big European festivals would be awesome…big crowds and lots of cool places to visit before / after.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
My first ever Taliesin fan (better not call her a groupie lol) ended up giving me 2 children. But I don’t think I’ve ever got anything weird…. people buy you shots or beers after a show sometimes.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We love you…but you need to start bringing us gifts…weird gifts!!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
For me – EVH
For our Singer (Dave) – Dio
For the world – GG Allin.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
My favourite thing is the journey from taking a song from its initial seed and trying to get it as close to what you hear in your head in the recording process. Sometimes you get it sort of close and sometimes it can end up somewhere entirely different… but its all good. I hate the cost of guitars… I have a problem… I know I am not alone.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
That’s hard… there are so many things that need changing. Let’s start by getting rid of the influence of the bigger corporations like Sony that still have too much influence over the general public of ‘casual listeners’ through radio, streaming platform playlists and TV ‘karaoke talent shows’.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Ayreon – “The Human Equation”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
CD’s still for me… you get the art work… and you don’t have to get up half way through and change sides.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I’m sure there have been gigs where the band played the best in front of 50 people… but I would say doing a support slot for Marty Friedman in 2019 was a highlight.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
We all work day jobs… and I really don’t know what life would be like without music in it. I’d probably swap out my guitar addiction for another one.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I’d invite all 5 members of Symphony X… I’d make them play for their dinner.
What’s next for the band?
Do some more gigs and record the next album.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://taliesin3.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Taliesin/100039831827414/
https://www.instagram.com/taliesinband/
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Not sure… in Australia Jaffa’s are a round red confectionery with chocolate in the middle…like an M&M on steroids.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks… go to gigs people and support your local scene and bands.
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