Interviews – Media
1. Hello, your new single, ‘Slowly,’ is a stand-out! Can you share with us the inspiration behind the song?
‘It Takes A Muscle To Fall In Love’ was more like a reggae song, this time we explored the ‘reggaeton’ genre. The rhythm and sensuality of that style fits very well with the atmosphere of the lyrics.
2. Your distinctive sound has evolved over the years. How did the collaboration between Michel Mulders and Henri Overduin contribute to the creation of ‘Slowly’?
I came up with a musical idea. Then Henri wrote some lyrics to match the song and we made a first demo. From then on we worked on it, endlessly polishing the music and lyrics and rearranging the different elements until it had the shape we wanted. Then we brought in Prince Lachapelle and Lachi to perform the song and add warmth and fire with their voices.
3. With the fusion of pop and Latin influences, ‘Slowly’ brings a unique sound. Can you tell us about the creative process behind combining these diverse elements and how it reflects the band’s exploration of new musical territories?
We tried to combine electronic music elements such as analog synth’s sounds, chopped vocal effects, vocoder rhythms, electric guitar (Bert Meulendijk), bass guitar (Michel van Schie) together with a reggaeton rhythm. The two soloists on top of that base tell both their own story, which blend in together at the end of the song.
4. The lyrics of ‘Slowly’ emphasize the importance of non-verbal communication and understanding emotions beyond words. How did the songwriting process unfold, and what messages or emotions were you aiming to convey through the lyrics and the collaboration with vocal talents Prince Chapelle and Lachi?
The song is about de power of expressing your feelings in a non-verbal way: not a word is spoken but a lot is being said. The message is love and it is by definition non-rational. And pretty overwhelming. Yet everybody can recognize and understand the feeling. We tried to convey that idea by using poetic images like the wave that sings in the shell, or the stone that speaks in your dreams. The text describes a conversation without words between two lovers, and so the tone is passionate. But it is also a feelgood song: being in love can be quite confusing but it is also a great feeling. And you can hear that in the rhythm of the music and the singing of Prince Chapelle and Lachi. They sing it with gusto and passion. Love is an awesome mystery: terrifying and wonderful at the same time.
5. Spectral Display has previously achieved international success, notably with the hit ‘It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love.’ How does the band navigate the challenges of staying relevant in the contemporary music scene while staying true to its roots?
Our electronic roots have always been crucial to our music and always will be. Nothing will beat the analog synth’s, but we embrace all the new possibility’s and sounds of today. For us being relevant means being true to yourself. Like we used to from the beginning, exploring new styles and sounds without trying to repeat ourselves. There’s a going on in the today’s music scene and it’s only natural for us to respond to that. And we love working with new voice talents and musicians around the world.
