The13th AÑO: 4
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NÚMERO 36
UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA
THE AWAKENING THE ESSENCE WAS CAPTURED
THE ESSENCE WAS CAPTURED
[ Interview With Ashton Nyte from The Awakening by Diego Centuriรณn ]
In April, twenty years of the debut album of the South African band "The Awakening" are commemorated. "Risen" was published in April 1997. It seems that time flies and the memory of a boiling era of gothic rock in the nineties we are left only for articles or some books. That is why we always seek to rescue and think as in those years and have the words of their protagonists, so that they tell us that moment. Hello Ashton, thank you for granting us this interview in which we will try to remember that 1997, where the debut album of The Awakening was released. Hi Diego, it is my pleasure, thank you for asking. To begin with, what do you think when you read 20 years of the album "Risen"? A surreal blend of nostalgia and joy, whilst marveling at the bizarre passage of time. In some instances, I don’t feel old enough to have released an album 20 years ago; in other instances it seems like many lifetimes ago. Today, twenty years later, how do you listen to the album? With a sense of curiosity and a smile. I enjoy the naivety, passion and single-mindedness of debut albums like this one. I am still proud of it.
What mistakes do you think you made in recording or mixing, that today you could have done it differently? Well, I did what I could with what I had. The album was self-financed and recorded over a the space of about a year, as I could afford the studio time. I think there are always things I’d do differently when looking back at any album but the essence was captured and that is something beautiful. How does The Awakening get to record the debut album? How do they get to sign with Tic Tic Bang? I was working at the time and living for the weekends, when I could go and record or work on the album at a studio in Johannesburg. As I said, I paid for it myself, so it took a while :-). One of the first shows we played was at a venue owned by Helgard De Barros, one of the reps for a small independent label called Tic Tic Bang. Helgard was the first label representative to show interest in The Awakening and was a lovely person, so I went with them. Once the album has been released, what satisfaction has it brought them? I think like so many artists, I started off simply wanting to create and wanting to release what was inside of me; to put something out into the world and see a dream realized. I am still amazed that the album reached so many people and that it still
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means so much to so many.
Of The Moon” is a personal favourite of mine.
What songs are still playing live, and which ones you would like to play in 2017 that have not played much? Sadly, because I’ve released so many albums over the years, there are many concerts where only one or two songs from “Risen” make it onto the setlist. “The Sound Of Silence” and “Standing” are probably the ones that get played most often. Back in 1997, we naturally played the entire album, as that is all we had! Moving forward, I would like to revisit some of those songs in a live environment again. “Sacrificial” was always a live favourite and “Child
Today with the reach of the Internet it is easier to be aware of the new, but in 1997, it was still difficult to obtain (especially in Latin America) an album of a new band, but so and so here his album was obtained. How was it for you to get into such a complicated market? Honestly, we just kept doing what we were doing. I’ve played many many shows and written and recorded many, many songs. Fortunately, there are people out there who seem to enjoy what I do, for whom I am sincerely grateful. I think in the earlier days, music was shared, much like it is today, just using different formats and avenues.
We would like you to tell us something about each album track. A track by track.
Questioning whether we, as a distracted society in present day, would be aware of the Messiah’s return.
Nightfall Really an intro chant, which is also the vocal bed for “Child Of The Moon”. I liked the idea of completing the cycle in the album.
Intervention Relationships, God and the many choices and paths before us all.
Past Idol A song about a “rock star” turning his back on his beliefs and convictions for the pursuit of what he thinks to be a better way forward. It does not ultimately go well for him. Change Philosophy, weakness and salvation. Focus My frustrations with divisions within churches or systems of belief. Getting lost in the details, rather than focussing on the beauty of the bigger picture. The Sounds Of Silence You’d have to ask Paul Simon - I just sang it as well as I could. Difference
Holocaust Disgust at Neo Nazis and Fascism. Standing Standing for what you believe in, even when you feel broken. Turn Away Trying to stay on the path. Jezzebel Temptation and confusion. Sacrificial The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Child Of The Moon The love for someone or something not quite of this world. More likely the love of a transcendental love.
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Today the band is active and for releasing a new album. Do you plan to do something special with "Risen"? Yes, The Awakening will be releasing a special 20 year anniversary deluxe edition of “Risen”. It will released later this year and will include a wealth of previously unreleased material and other treats, in various physical formats. In short, twenty years from the debut album, what do you think you should have done differently with The Awakening over the years? My biggest regret is probably not touring more extensively a lot sooner in my career. There are many parts of the world I’ve never played, including South America, where we’ve always had a lot of support. I hope to remedy that over this year and next year.
The new is coming. Tell us about what is coming. In addition to the deluxe re-issue of “Risen”, The Awakening will be releasing a new album this year. I also have a solo release scheduled for this year, as well as a collaboration with MGT (aka Mark Gemini Thwaite, previously of Peter Murphy & The Mission) which will be released as “MGT + Ashton Nyte”. I am also involved in some exciting film projects and as a guest vocalist and lyricist on a new project by Michael Ciravolo (Human Drama, Gene Loves Jezebel) called “Beauty in Chaos”. Thanks Ashton for this interview and we will contact you for the release of the new album. Thank you Diego! Please visit www.theawakening.com www.ashtonnyte.com for news updates and tour details.
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The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA