A Dirty Dozen with KEVIN CODFERT from MYRATH – March 2024

According to a recent press release: “Myrath reveal their new single “Candles Cry,” the final peek into their upcoming new studio album Karma, which will be released on March 8. The song, a very special and personal one for the band, comes with a cinematic music video directed by Raf Reyntjens which was shot in May, 2023 in Belgrade (Serbia). As the sands of time continued to shape their journey, Myrath’s relentless dedication led to the creation of their forthcoming album Karma, slated for release on March 8 via earMUSIC as limited transparent red LP, black LP, and Digipak. The forthcoming opus promises to be a testament to their evolution, delivering a sonic tapestry woven from passion and innovation.” We get keyboardist Kevin 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?

I believe that diehard fans will discover, after several listens, all the subtleties we generally incorporate into our albums in terms of arrangement. Fans may also notice that the album is different from the others. During the border closures due to COVID, three band members couldn’t return home, and I had to host them at my house for six months. We seized this opportunity to work together as a real band. What I’m saying may sound strange, but for Myrath, it was the first time we had the opportunity to be in the same room for six months to compose. And that changes everything. When you wake up, grab your piano, and in front of you, you have a singer and musicians to work with (instead of sending emails and doing everything digitally), magic happens. You can try more things, and you get real-time feedback, with all the emotion conveyed by working together in real-time. This process allowed us to refine certain aspects, try new things, and it’s really this authenticity that makes the album different from the others.

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

I started playing piano at the age of 4. My parents introduced me to music. At that time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do; just listening to my parents and doing what was asked. I was 13 when I discovered metal and realized it was possible to express myself with a piano in a universe that is completely different from classical but also very close, thanks to the harmonic and melodic structures of the songs. It was at that moment that I decided I wanted to make it my profession. I began my professional career as a pianist at the age of 17, and to make a living, I had to play with many cover bands, exploring various genres like pop, jazz, and others. These experiences allowed me to broaden my musical education and become a better musician.

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

I started in metal with bands like Angra, Dream Theater, Symphony X, but looking back, I would say that the artists who have influenced me the most are French artists from the 80’s. I particularly think of Véronique Sanson, who is a singer-songwriter genius. I drew a lot of inspiration from her when I started writing my first songs.

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

I would consider people like Sia or Muse as unattainable figures who have revolutionized the way to craft harmonies in a modern music context. There are very few artists who manage to bring about change, but these two are among them.

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

I love coding and developing IT solutions. I studied mathematics and computer science. I have always been unable to choose between music and IT, which is why I pursue both.

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?

Myrath is a band that constantly strives to innovate by blending elements of folklore with metal, classical, Afro rhythms, progressive, and anything that may seem contradictory. Generally, what makes me cringe is reading couple of individuals (fans or not) who reinvent the wheel by explaining that, for example, one of our tracks is inspired by a band (that I usually don’t know) or who will say: ‘Guys, for the next album, do exactly what you did on the previous one.’ As a musician, not a chef, I don’t like to follow the same recipes. Myrath’s music will continue to evolve as it always has.

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?

I will answer directly: Zaher takes care of the cooking. It’s his second passion. On tour, he cooks for everyone, and he does it every day. If he could, I think he would spend his days in a kitchen. I can say that he cooks extremely well. He blends flavors from Tunisia with Western food. It’s only with him that you can eat things like that. Regarding who brings out the guitars first for a band singing session => No one. All the members are antisocial. The less they are in contact, the better they feel.

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

I think I am amazed every time I listen to a Rachmaninoff concerto or hear a new song from Sia. There are times when, despite multiple listens, you can’t grasp the logic that led to composing in that way. Here, I’m not talking about technical analysis; I’m talking about the feeling. You just think that these people are from another world.

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?

I already have two jobs since my life is divided between music and software development. I’ve never been able to choose one over the other. I found a balance by having a career in both music and technology. This allows me to engage different parts of the brain, and I believe I would be sad to lose either. It’s in the complementarity that I thrive.

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?

Journalists play a very important role in the life of bands because it’s thanks to them that new fans can discover us, so I’m not really tired of answering questions. Some questions may be repetitive, but I don’t think bands should complain about that. It’s normal to have the same questions sometimes because they are legitimate, and people want answers. As for the questions I would love to be asked, they would be related to the technical process of recording (I love sound design and audio work), but I’m afraid we might lose a lot of readers if we go into that.

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?

Yes, definitely. The release of the “Believer’ music video allowed the band to start gaining international recognition. The production of the video was very complicated. We spent dozens of hours writing the script, and we had to run a crowdfunding campaign to finance the video. It was a significant risk because, initially, on paper, creating a 7-minute video on the theme of Prince of Persia, not many people believed in the project. The video has been viewed millions of times and has allowed us to be discovered in countries where we had no notoriety.

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?

Yes, it would be for the recording of our album Tales of the Sands. It is the last album before Malek’s father passed away suddenly. His father was the band’s manager, and he is the one who instilled faith and motivation in the band to make music and work to introduce Myrath to the international stage. We miss him a lot.

MYRATH LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews