Photo: Jem Ferguson
Aedra are a progressive Metal band from Cardiff from the UK.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Eleanor Prescott - Vocalist
James Perkins (Perks) - Guitarist
Ali Kirk - Guitarist
Chris Evans - Bassist
Laptop - Drummer
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Aedra? How long has the band been around?
Perks played in a band called Silent Hand for about 3 years. We played early Iron Maiden and Metallica era music and was the first band I had ever been in. Also he played in a band called Debut who were a little heavier for a year or two, before moving away for University work. Silent Hand had one last gig after he left for uni where Ali played rhythm guitar as our guitarist couldn't make the show. Eleanor was part of an unnamed cover band where she was the vocalist, apart from that she has sang in various choirs. Chris has been the guitarist for multiple bands before switching over to bass for Aedra. A thrashy band called Verge of Destruction, Ashes of Serenity who were Children of Bodom esk and a Metalcore band called The Bitter End. As well as Aedra Chris is part of a band called Inferno a Groovy, Prog, Thrash, Death hybrid.
Aedra has been Perks' personal project for a few years now, but only has been considered a serious band project since about September 2014 when the other members joined.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The name 'Aedra' is actually from the game series 'The Elder Scrolls', it translates to mean the ancients. The Aedra are the 8 deities who helped create the game world Nirn and in doing so lost their immortality. Talos is sometimes considered as the ninth Aedra, but as he did not take part in the actual creation of the world technically he is not, though he is one of the nine divine. All the names have really come from the same sort of background, previously it has been called Geostigma and Cetra both from Final Fantasy 7 and then Mara which is one of the Aedra of the Elder scrolls series. Basically the name 'Aedra' was chosen because Perks has an Elder Scrolls problem and likes the lore a bit too much.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Perks writes all the songs for the band, the main theme within the music is the large stories. In having long songs (20+ minutes) each song acts as its own story in which topics are covered through the acts that happen with the character. The first song/EP that will be released is called Auditory Illusions and follows the story of a Woman. The story isn't going to be spoiled as we believe it can be perceived differently by different people, but the topics it touches upon are about personal strife and overcoming problems. With the way the music is created the topics will change depending on the story, but looking at the next story after Auditory Illusions ('Binary Emotion'), it looks like the topics will stay with issues of the self.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Modern Progressive Metal bands. Bands like Tesseract, Animals as Leaders, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Opeth. Though we are nearer to the Tesseract vibe, the general mind concentrating on song-writing and working on the song resonates well with the song writing process of the band. Also the mindset of doing what you want with music because you can sort of relates to us as well.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
I think Tesseract and Dream Theater were the main catalysts in starting this project. Periphery and Misha Mansoor in just starting it as a recording/writing project before getting people to join. And any concert we go to, tends to leave us with the "let's get the band really going" conversation.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc…
We actually still haven't played a show! We are still just about wrapping up the process of recording the first EP and then we have a live recording happening in studio in March, a problem with the nature of this band is that because it's started in the studio, taking it out of this situation has proved to be quite a challenge!
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Hearing the album come together. Something quite simple, but we're getting through the vocal tracks now and really hearing what the songs sound like has been amazing. There has been some great studio moments (an incredible vocal performance over an interlude on the EP is a band favourite) and it's just great to really hear the music, rather then listening to the Guitar Pro file.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
The perfect tour would be us supporting, followed by Animals as Leaders then Tesseract. Perks, Chris and Eleanor all went to the tour with the same bands when they played at Bristol and it was just incredible. If not them bands like Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan or Periphery are all on the list of bands we'd love to tour with. Oh, and Yes.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just to check out our Facebook page for more! Auditory Illusions is coming out in the next few months for an insanely cheap price (possibly even free!) and we already have music ready for the following EP! Also thanks for the interview!