Twinmusix got to speak to René Berthiaume from EQUILIRIUM about their new album and more.
TM - Hi this is Amelia and Elizabeth from Twinmusix, and we are here with René Berthiaume from EQUILIRIUM, thank you for having this interview with us today we appreciate it.
RB - Thank you.
TM - What can fans expect from your new album, "Equinox"?
RB - I would say our new album "Equinox" has started a new chapter for the band. I would say this album has influences from the past album, too. This album is more curated, and we have been more aware of the main recipe that we want to use for our music. We continued with the path that we had on the last albums, which was more modern metal influences, but at the same tim,e we went a little bit further back to our roots. We used more of our old and symphonic elements as well.
TM - What made you want to go back to your roots?
RB - Our band has been together for 25 years next year, and we don't try to copy our music or repeat our music. There is something that defines the band and that creates our style. After a while, it is nice to remember where we actually came from and where we started and bring back the roots we started with.
TM - What was your writing and recording process for "Equinox"?
RB - It was different from song to song. There is not a main procedure. I would use a song you don't need to compose and then go to the studio to record it. For me it's like I am writing stuff and then I am recording it. I am writing something else and then re-recording that. It is a very organic process, and I can make changes to the last day, and I like to have the flexibility. I can start with a melody, rhythm, word, phrase or a picture, and it will give me inspiration to write. I like to go with the flow and see how the music goes.
TM - How did you come up with your Album cover for "Equinox" and who designed it?
RB - The album cover was created by Jessica, and she has been behind the scenes for the band four years. She has regularly done our merchandise designs and our art designs, but on "Equinox". She contributed a lot. She helped write some of the lyrics on two of these songs. She helped me with the production so she is an essential part of "EQUILIRIUM". She is an essential part behind the stage. She even helped paint the cover art for the album because we wanted something that was painted with paint and brushes. We didn't want to use A.I. I think the main process of creating the art should come from the Human. It is hanging on the wall of her apartment, and it is nice to see the picture come from a canvas to an album cover.
TM - How did you come up with your video for "Borrowed Waters"?
RB - "Borrowed Waters" is a special song, and it is one of the songs that Jessica wrote. We thought for the song that we wanted to have female vocals, and we thought who could we collaborate with, and we came up with this idea to ask "Roniit". She is an artist from California, and she was up for the idea. She told us that when she started making music in her teenage years, she was into metal bands, and she said for her it was a dream come true to be part of a metal project, so she recorded her vocals by herself in her studio in California. We also asked her to shoot some footage of herself for a music video, and she had beautiful scenery around her, and we were amazed by her footage, it fits so well to our band and the nature inspired theme.
TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs, what band would it be, what song and would it be in your style or their style?
RB - I would like Dream Theatre to play one of our songs because in my early years, I was a big fan of them. I would pick a very long instrumental track on one of our old albums called "Mana", and I will get them to play it in their own style, which would be very awesome.
TM - Who was the first band or Artist you saw live, and can you tell us a story?
RB - I have very Vivid memories, but I think the first artist that I saw live was "Michael Jackson" on his "World HISTORY Tour". He was in Munich in the stadium, and that was the very first tour that I remember. But my first metal experience was Wacken Open Air in 2000.
TM - Is there anything else you want to say to your fan?
RB - We are grateful for everyone who listens to our music, especially since we haven't released an album for almost six years, and now we have our new album, "Equinox". We hope to get to Australia soon.
TM - Thank you for having this interview with us today. We appreciate it.
RB - Thank you, I had a great time.