A Dirty Dozen with THE GREAT ALONE – January 2024

According to the band’s bio: “The universe of The Great Alone, at the crossroads of alternative rock, skillfully evokes the paradox between grounding in reality and tipping into the realm of imagination. Formed around the founding members Murielle and Vincent, the band stands out with a harmonious fusion of powerful and delicate melodies, unveiling a profound exploration of emotions and self-perception through its music and lyrics. Carried by a classic rock instrumental base, including guitar, bass, and drums, The Great Alone ventures into different sonic landscapes by incorporating electronic soundscapes and choruses, thus creating rich atmospheres.” We get the founding members to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

When we discover a new band or new album, we never stick to the first listen because we’ve often changed our mind about whether we like a song or not after a few listens. The ear can sometimes be surprised by certain sounds, etc. So we believe that discovering new music always requires two to three listens to grasp the mood and the construction of the songs. What might surprise some listeners on the first listen to our album are songs like “Prism” and “Horizon,” whose “danceable” rhythm is different from the other songs. We also have two different tunings on the album.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Murielle: Even though I always listened to a lot of music and gave it a significant place in my life, there was this idea that you had to come out of a conservatory or have started playing music at a young age to be a musician. This is obviously a completely false idea. So, I started practicing late. It was when I attended makeup school that I reconnected with my artistic side. Singing came naturally afterward and quickly became a significant passion. Then, I started composing vocal melodies for Vincent’s music, and everything happened organically. Seeing other bands live and singing our music and practicing led to an irresistible desire to move forward.

Vincent: I started playing the guitar at the age of 9 and quickly formed a band with friends. Later, I founded and composed for various metal projects before wanting to explore other genres. I began dreaming of being a musician when I heard Metallica’s Black Album and Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion. These are two albums that greatly influenced my adolescence.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Murielle: I listen and like many different genres. I think it’s important for an artist to remain open-minded but I can surely mention that a cornerstone of my musical universe is Muse’s ‘Origin of Symmetry,’ the first album to which I felt a deep connection. This band continues to be a tremendous inspiration for me—they are incredible performers and composers. I should also mention Queen, whom I discovered through my mom, forming the initial pillars of my musical influences. Subsequently, I delved into artists like Guano Apes, Swedish metal, Nordic musicians such as Eivør, and bands like Kings of Leon, Pink Floyd, Paramore, Tool etc.

Vincent: I remember being marked and amazed by a live performance of Metallica in 1996 in Zurich; I was a teenager with stars in my eyes. Iconic bands like Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Iron Maiden drew me towards metal music, and later, Northern European bands like In Flames, Opeth, Dark Tranquility reinforced my interest. Later on, I became interested in Pink Floyd, Muse, Kings of Leon, etc., and realized that these bands, so different from what I usually listened to, resonated with me just as much.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Murielle: I would, of course, love to collaborate with artists that I admire in general, but I would probably choose someone who does not play the exact same music genre as we do, as mixing genres is always a good thing. The ultimate dream collaboration would be with Matthew Bellamy for his unique approach to composition and vocals.

Vincent: The first person that comes to mind is a producer, Rick Rubin. Working with someone who has such an eclectic catalog must be an incredible experience. I would also be happy to collaborate with artists I admire, but a producer who listens, highlights your music, and knows how to make it shine is amazing.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Apart from making and listening to music, cinema is a good way for us to entertain ourselves. We love going to the movies or watching films at home, immersing ourselves in a story, observing how it was filmed, the actors’ performances, the visuals, and so on. We find it fascinating to watch a movie as a whole and not just follow the storyline. We also like to meet friends and have a good time with them. Those moments are precious.

Murielle: Beside that, I listen to podcasts and I read every day, detective novels, and other genres of books as well. In fact, I tend to be so captivated in the story that I can’t seem to stop!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Our music is greatly influenced by metal but leans towards a more accessible and rock-oriented version. We create powerful yet delicate alternative rock. We believe we’ve found a good balance between these two concepts in our album ‘Perception.’ Since this is our first album, it’s hard to point out a specific review or observation that has surprised us, but we look forward to reading the comments and discovering the listeners’ perspective on our music.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We mainly see our musicians for work since we don’t live in the same region, but we enjoy partying, laughing, and listening to music until the early morning hours. We all have a bit of a party spirit in us. As Perception is our first album and we are embarking on our first tour together in the USA in March, we will probably have more stories to tell upon our return.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Murielle: After several listens and immersing myself in their universe, I was very surprised and impressed by Sleep Token. A band that delivers such eclectic music is truly a great discovery.

Vincent: In 2019, the Swedish band Soen released the album Lotus. It had been a long time since I had been so impressed by an album as a whole. From A to Z, the quality of the music, vocals, and production in general is amazing. I can listen to this album without skipping a single song.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Murielle: I thrive in each step, but being able to combine music with something else, whether it’s designing an image or a music video, with all the creative work it involves, is for me a way to present a complete work combining visuals and music. The same goes for live performances; I enjoy working on every aspect, exploring concepts, etc., and being able to present them to the audience afterward is the highlight for a band. It’s a process that I love immensely. If I were to pursue another career, I would dream of being an artistic director.

Vincent: I love composition, being in my own world and creating, searching for sounds, exploring new horizons. Making mistakes is also constructive and inevitably leads to better options. Of course, the energy of a live performance is incredible, and the adrenaline before going on stage is so positive. Being a musician is my dream job, it’s hard to find something else that can be so exciting.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Interesting questions are those that show a genuine interest in the band and its music, etc. Part of our job is to respond to the questions posed to us, and even if some may be repetitive, it’s important to address them with the same attention. We welcome questions with kindness because the person asking them is not supposed to know everything about us, and that’s totally fine.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

We had to wait for 2 and a half years to finally release Perception. It took time to navigate through the COVID crisis and find reliable people to work with. As we always knew what we wanted, it’s not a regret, but it can be a bit frustrating at times to have to exercise so much patience.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Murielle: Queen’s A Night at the Opera. Witnessing “Bohemian Rhapsody” being composed and recorded would have been an incredible experience. I used to hear this song a lot at home when I was little; it left a lasting impression on me.

Vincent: Metallica’s Black Album. This album is legendary; I would have loved to be able to see the band working and composing. It’s one of those albums that marks a generation.

THE GREAT ALONE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews