EMQ’s With FEARFUL SYMMETRY
EMQ’s With FEARFUL SYMMETRY
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK based prog Rock project, Fearful Symmetry. Huge thanks to multi-instrumentalist and project founder, Suzi James, 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?
Suzi James – multi-instrumentalist: guitars, basses, keyboards, mandolin, oud, violin, flute…
I have a long history of being in bands of various styles – prog, rock, covers – as well as some session work, all the while I was working in IT. I created my own studio environment, with the intention of recording solo work, continuing my passion for composition of ‘music without boundaries’.
My cousin, Jeremy Shotts, used to visit and bring his bass, and we’d work on improving his musical knowledge and ability. I played him one of my compositions which at that point didn’t have lyrics and I asked if he’d like to have a go. He came back with a song ‘Louder Than Words’, based on William Blake, which ultimately became the theme for the first album. Playing the first song to family and musician friends, we were encouraged to produce the album, and had many offers of help to contribute.
After the album’s release and positive reviews, I wanted to continue to develop the songs and music I’d been working on for the previous few years. Jeremy stepped back as he has a lot of other interests, although he did contribute lyrics to part of an epic on album 2.
From the first album I have since retained the use of Sharon Petrover, a professional performance and session drummer from Tel Aviv, and Yael Shotts, Jeremy’s daughter, who’s been singing and playing in bands since she was 14.
We released ‘The Difficult Second’ in 2022, an extended single from that album, ‘Shifting Sands’ (2023). and now releasing the third album, ‘I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish…’
How did you come up with your band name?
The name Fearful Symmetry is taken from one of the lines of a Blake poem, suggested by Jeremy.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Yael and I are from the UK, living just north of London. Sharon is based in Tel Aviv.
While there are many Metal/Rock bands around, they don’t get a lot of air time on mainstream media, but there is a thriving festival scene, and specialised events around smaller venues.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
The latest release, through the label ‘progrock.com Essentials’, is ‘I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish…’, a 10-track album, playing time 53 minutes, including 3 instrumental tracks, and a 10 minute epic to finish.
A track has already been released digitally via Bandcamp, with two more releases for 1st August. CDs are on order and the official release date is 4th September. The album can be pre-ordered via https://progrocksessentials.bandcamp.com/
Who have been your greatest influences?
My early influences, as a guitarist, were many – from Hendrix, Clapton, McLaughlin, Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Vai and Satriani. Album-wise, Return To Forever’s ‘Romantic Warrior’, Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ – but always loved the classic rock albums of Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, etc.
What first got you into music?
Out of the blue in my teens, my parents bought me a guitar one birthday, and I never looked back. It was a time of an explosion of guitar based bands, and I always wanted to be a part of that.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
That’s a difficult choice to make – so many great bands around, who probably don’t need another guitarist!) – I’ve already collaborated on albums by other bands (Drifting Sun, Checking for Echo), as well as a separate project called T.A P with some guys from Canada and the USA – we’re about to start on the next album.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Probably HRH Prog – it would be playing in front of an amazing crowd, as well as alongside some great names in Prog and Rock.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
A ‘bowl’ made out of a slightly melted vinyl album by The Grateful Dead!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
The music I create crosses many genres, as my musical tastes do. Don’t listen to just one track, enjoy the journey, you might discover something new for yourself.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Jimi Hendrix – so much more to give – gone too soon.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Just playing is reward enough, but when it’s appreciated by an audience, it means so much more.
What I hate is going to and from gigs! The journey, the setting up, the sound checks – then the packing away, and the late night drive home.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish it would broaden its focus. There is so much talent in the world that never gets a chance to be heard, because the music industry only looks at what is currently in vogue, and broadcast channels end up just playing the same kind of music. There should be more exposure to the rich diversity of genres.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
As mentioned earlier, Return To Forever’s ‘Romantic Warrior’ is one I return to, for the crossover of genres, the virtuosity of the players, and imaginative compositions.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
They all have their place – I use all of them, but it depends on the environment. For serious listening in the studio, it’ll be CD or vinyl. On the move – streaming and downloads.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Fearful Symmetry is a studio-based project, so no gigs, but one of my favourite bands that I played in was a Thin Lizzy tribute ‘Live and Dangerous’ which got to play at the Shepherds Bush Empire, the London Astoria, and the Temple Theatre in Dublin – the opening act for A Vibe for Philo, celebrating Phil Lynott’s music – that was probably the best.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
It’s hard to decide but probably I’d be doing something in the art world. I used to paint a lot – everything from pet portraits to fantasy! – but had to spend more time on music.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Steve Vai – to talk about guitars and music; Sandy Toksvig – erudite and amusing; Brian Cox (physicist) – I love to discuss life, the universe etc; Sigourney Weaver – love her films, confident, role model; Kevin Bridges – I relate to his Scottish humour.
What’s next for the band?
There will be another Fearful Symmetry album – until no-one’s interested, but I’ll be working on a T.A.P follow-up, and composing 1960’s music for songs written by an author of a 60’s themed book, and any other requests for contributions to other artists’s music.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://progrocksessentials.bandcamp.com
https://fearfulsymmetry.bandcamp.com
https://fearfulsymmetry.rocks
https://www.facebook.com/FearfulSymmetryRocks
https://youtube.com/@fearfulsymmetryrocks
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. And we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!
I don’t care – just hand me the pack!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Nothing to add, except thank you for the interview.
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