Interview with Stephane vocals and all instruments of In Shadows And Dust done by Patrick
1.Hello Stephane how is life in France these days?Please introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi Patrick, nice to meet you. Life is as sweet as bitter, I bet this is the same for almost everyone in life everywhere in the world. In France ? Life is alright for me, nothing to complain about really. So here I am, Stephane from In Shadows and Dust, a band where I am the only permanent member in. I had some friend who helped me in the band for the previous album but for the last one, “A Fleur de Peau” I did everything all by myself. I’m a Metalhead, I love music and I love to write it as it flows along the days. In the end of the 90’ I was playing in a band called The Evil One (Drums and Bass / Vocals) for few years then I stopped playing music until 2014. I me a friend who show me that we could record everything at home in exchange of learning how to use all the stuff that are needed to do so. Since then I play and I record, un mix and master everything by myself.
2.When did you first start listening to metal music and who were the first bands you listened to?Who are some of your current favorite bands?
My first Metal contact with a Black Crowes, a friend told me to buy that to begin with but I got bored very quickly with that tape and I went for Slayer Decade of Aggression double tape live in 1991 when it came out.
3. Stephane you started In Shadows And Dust in 2014 when did you first get the idea to start this band?
As I mentioned a bit earlier, a friend (Sangli from Witches https://www.facebook.com/witches.fr/ ) put me back into it and I took my old BCRick Warlock Widow again to record some ideas. After having stop almost 15 years playing I had a lot of idea but the execution was not there yet. So I played, again and again almost everyday since then. The name of the band comes from on of my favorite band , Kataklysm from Canada like you !
4.Have you always been the sole member of the band or have you searched for more members to join the band or do you prefer to work alone?
When it’s about creation, I need to be alone. By doing so I can afford to get an album every year (21st of December) and that wouldn’t be possible if someone else was involve. Some friend comes to make a solo, play some drum fills or sing a bit but I’m mainly all by myself. I haven’t try to find anyone yet, time will tell but that’s how it is for now.
5.What do you feel is the easiest and hardest part about being the sole member of the band?
The easiest is I don’t have any conflict about music creation and direction the music should take, this is also the hardest because having moire people involved would allow maybe a brader influence and evolution but that’s not what I’m looking for now. The other hard part is that I can’t play live shows, I have refuse several local gigs because I’m always missing musician to play live with.
6.If you had the opportunity to work with any musicians who would you like to work to work with?
I would love to work with Kataklysm dudes because I’m a fan of this band. I would like to work with Jesper Stromblad because this guy is one of the reason I love music, he wrote some of the finest Melodic Death Metal album of all time with In Flames and despite all his issue, he remains a genius to me and I would be more than honoured to have him somehow.
7.A Fleur De Peau is the bands third full length how long did it take to write the music for the new release?Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?And what are some topics you wrote about on the new cd?
That’s a good question ! I never stop writing music, in fact “A Fleur de Peau” was ready since the end of September 2017 and I already have some stuff written for the next album. Music always come first and this is a process that last until the end of June each year. Once I have all the song recorded in demo I record everything again during July - August. Then I put ambiances, keyboard and other fx to the songs, then I write all the lyrics. I record vocals during September and master everything in October to have everything ready for the 21st of December.
Lyrical topics are about solitude, relationship, humanity, and some event that occurred during the recording and inspired me along the way.
8..A Fleur De Peau is being released by yourself would you like to find a label to work with or do you prefer to release your own music?
For now, I don’t think I need a label, I mean I do all by myself and I think it’s better this way on the music side. I know the Label would bring help on the promotion / public relation side of the music but today with internet and few good contact you can easily find the right person company for promotion only. I don’t say no for a label proposal, but as far as I saw until now, I refused some offer, that’s not in my plans.
9.Besides the upcoming release are the previous two full-lengths still available to buy?Besides physical releases do you have any other merchandise currently available for the readers to buy?If yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?
Few “Soul Crusher” digipack are remaining, a bit less of “Messe Noire” digipack are still there. We do have new t-shirt available now, with few symbol of what In Shadows and Dust is : France, HM-2 and Metal :) you can see for yourself here : https://www.inshadowsanddust.com/product/notre-dame-hm-2-t-shirt-man/ or on Bandcamp.
10.Besides In Shadows And Dust do you currently have any other projects or bands you work with?
There are some ongoing project one Black Metal and another one Thrash Metal, I also do have collaboration that are being discussed on some friend’s project.
11.When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?
I don’t take a break, In Shadows and Dust is just part of my every day’s life. I can’t create every day because some day nothing good gets out from the guitar… So I just play a bit less, some other day, I can write a full song in few hours. I’m always recording ideas, in the train, the bus, walking in the streets, my phone is full of recorded Humhum, whistle etc.. Then I work so it takes a lot of my time during a day, then family life takes the rest. I have find a good balance between all of this and it allow me to create music almost every night. Beside all of that, I go to shows a lot in Paris and in countries where my work bring me several time per year.
12.Thank you Stephane for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thank you having me here, my last words will go to all the Metalhead that supported me along this journey :Thank you ! Underground Metal is very grateful and feedback have always been valuable, good and bad, I take everything.
Band Contacts
https://inshadowsanddust.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/isad666
https://www.facebook.com/InShadowsandDust
