EMQs with Dwarrowdelf
EMQs with Dwarrowdelf
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Epic Black Metal band Dwarrowdelf. Huge thanks to Tom O’Dell (Dwarrowdelf) 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?
I’m Tom O’Dell, I do everything in Dwarrowdelf! It’s a solo project I started back in 2017, and the project’s fourth full length album “The Fallen Leaves” just released a couple of weeks ago.
How did you come up with your band name?
The first Dwarrowdelf releases were all Tolkien themed, so it seemed appropriate to use a Tolkien reference as the project name. Dwarrowdelf is one of the names for Moria, the big Dwarven city everyone remembers from Fellowship of the Ring!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
I’m from the south of England. There’s loads of metal all over the place if you know where to look, from tiny pub gigs up to the big venues. I’ve played all over the country with my other band, Battle Born, and have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with loads of great local bands all across the land.
What is your latest release?
“The Fallen Leaves” is the latest Dwarrowdelf album and released on 2nd February this year. The reception has been great and it’s a little surreal to see it getting so much love.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I’d say Insomnium and Caladan Brood have been consistent influences across the Dwarrowdelf discography. This new record has a real range of influences going on though, from deathcore bands like Lorna Shore to doom bands like Draconian.
What first got you into music?
My dad is a big rock fan so would play his favourite albums all the time growing up. I still know all the words to every track on Queen’s Greatest Hits! Both my parents were very encouraging of me learning musical instruments growing up, so music has always been a big part of my life.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I’d love to have Jake Rogers from Visigoth on a track. His voice has been such a huge inspiration to me as a fellow baritone – there aren’t many of us in metal!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Wacken Open Air would be a dream come true; it’s one of my favourite events in the world, and the crowd is always huge. Truly a home of heavy metal!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Hmm, not sure I’ve had a weird one to be honest! Anything I’ve been given has been appropriate and gratefully received!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
“The Fallen Leaves” is a tale of sorrow and struggle written from personal experience, but it’s also a tale of coming to terms with and moving on from such struggles. Whatever you might be going through, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Freddie Mercury, for one last mega concert!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Being out on tour is definitely a highlight, it’s amazing to just play shows and meet fellow metalheads across the country.
Recording is a pain. It can get very frustrating when a part you’ve played a hundred times suddenly becomes impossible in the studio!
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
It’d be great to not be at the mercy of social media algorithms. It’s hard enough getting your music out there without having posts hidden from followers unless you pay money!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Caladan Brood’s “Echoes of Battle” is a timeless, perfect release. It has pretty much everything I want in an album, and I never get tired of it.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
If I could, I’d own every album I’ve saved on Spotify on CD. I love having a physical product to look through, and CDs work in my car!
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
My main band Battle Born played a hometown show at the Joiners in Southampton last year at the end of a tour. It was packed, sweaty, and absolutely amazing!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I wish I could draw – I’d love to be an album artist and create epic artwork for albums I love. Sadly my drawing talent pretty much extends to stick figures and nothing else…
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis – and then just have them tell stories of making movies in Middle Earth.
What’s next for the band?
At some point I’ll start work on the follow up to “The Fallen Leaves”. It’s going to be a big undertaking, as I’m so happy with how the album turned out and wouldn’t want any future release to be a step backwards. There’s no rush though – I’ll take the time to get it right.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
My Linktree (https://linktr.ee/tom.dwarrowdelf) has all the links everyone could need!
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
As a Proud Englishman, I’d call it a Roll. Unless it has bits of fruit in it, then it’s probably a Tea Cake.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for having me – hope everyone enjoys “The Fallen Leaves”!
