Svengali Interview

 1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

 

We're a Dubai based metal band, the project came to life around April 2013 and was the result of different people coming together from different musical backgrounds.

 

 

2.So far you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical  sound that is presented on the recording?

 

It is really hard to define our style or categorise it into one musical genre, "Unscathed" is a mix of few different genres, hardcore and industrial being some of those sounds.

 

 

3.What are some of the lyrical topics  and subjects the band explores with the music?

 

The EP had a lyrical theme that revolved around a positive outlook on life and generally an uplifting message.

That's not necessarily the theme of the band but rather the state of mind that we were in at the time of the writing process of "Unscathed"

 

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Svengali'?

 

Svengali by definition means someone who hypnotises people for evil intent. it was something we picked up from a novel and a stage show that got us really interested in the name, however seeing the state that the world is currently in, we'd say it's pretty much hypnotised.

 

 

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

 

"Metal Eastern Night" in Dubai, UAE was by far our favourite show. Very well organised with an insane crowd who sang every single word to our lyrics!

Our performance has been described as energetic and very interactive. we try to connect with the audience as much as possible, make them part of our show as much as we are, it's like having one huge band in the venue.

 

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

 

we have few one off's around the Middle East till the end of the year and will start looking into touring and performing outside the region starting early next year.

 

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

 

yes, we are looking for the right label, however we haven't yet received interest that we believe could be the best fit for us.

 

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal and hardcore?

 

it has been great so far, we're receiving messages from all over the place, the reaction has been nothing but overwhelming and as far as reviews go , we've been getting really good reviews from all over the world through magazines and webzines.

 

9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

 

This is the first time we mention this but we are actually in the middle of the writing process of a full length !

it's a lot more technical and musically diverse than the EP and lyrically exploring a plethora of subjects that somewhat darker than the positive theme in "Unscathed"

 

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

 

Everyone of us comes from a completely different musical background which we think is adding more diversity into our sound. the common ground we're settling with is incorporating a lot of different mixtures.

 

Right now we're listening to some Middle Eastern based bands like Benevolent, Aramaic and Coat of Arms.

 

11.How would you describe the metal scene in your home country of United Arab Emirates?

 

it is a small scene but on the rise. The scene here had its ups and downs but it's picking itself back up.

more jam spaces are being available, new studios and venues hosting metal, so hopefully it'll keep rising.

 

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

 

We each have foot in different segments of the industry, from production to graphics to sound engineering and lighting... other than that it is mainly our love for food !

 

13.Before we wrap up this interview do you have any final words or thoughts?

 

we would like to thank you for taking the time and interest in us, there's a lot of people supporting Svengali behind the curtains working as hard as we are  and are big part of this band, we truly thank them and appreciate all the effort they're putting in and last but not least we would like to thank the fans and their dedication to this band, we have seen some crazy stuff so far and hopefully more to come.