Kevin Lawry started his
musical activity with doom metal outfit Crowned in Earth in 2008. His
debut album “Visions of the Haunted” was an example of
traditional doom metal with guest appearance of drummer Darin
McCloskey (Pale Divine and more). The record was released by Shadow
Kingdom in 2010, and was not bad for a debut effort.
Those who already knew
Crowned in Earth were surprised with the sophomore album “A Vortex
of Earthly Chimes” – this time Kevin had combined his visions of
doom metal with progressive rock influences that made band’s sound
lighter and more complex in the same time. So it was natural that
after third record “Metempsychosis” Kevin got rid of the doom
elements in his songs and went to explore progressive territories
alone.
I got chance to speak
with him about past and present of his artistic life.
Hi Kevin! How are
you? What’s going on in Crowned in Earth camp?
Hi Aleksey. I’m well
thanks and hope that you are too! Crowned In Earth hasn’t existed
since around the summer 2015.
Indeed
i was thinking that you decided to rename band due to the switch on
another musical direction...
I
decided to call it quits with CIE, after the not being able to put
together a full UK line up to play shows. I became very disenchanted
with the whole business for a while and took a step back. I began
writing new music at the beginning of 2016 and the songs had a feel
all of their own. Although there were elements of CIE in the songs,
the newer compositions had a much different feel. As I was playing
all the instruments on the album, I decided why not just release the
album as a solo album! These new songs would eventually make up my
‘The Shadows Stole The Dawn’ album which was released at the end
of last year.
Will you play all
parts alone again or do you have any guest musicians in mind?
As
on ‘The Shadows Stole The Dawn’, I’ll be playing all the
instruments myself. I’m happier and more confident now as a
songwriter and musician to play everything. It means I have greater
control over getting the sounds I hear in my head recorded.
We spoke with you
really long ago, it was soon after release of Crowned in Earth debut
“Visions of the Haunted”. Back then you played maximally
traditional doom, but then… what did happen when the time has come
to record the second album?
I was becoming more
musically confident which is why there was such a massive leap in
quality from the traditional doom sound of ‘Visions…’and to the
more progressive sounds on ‘A Vortex of Earthly Chimes’.
There weren’t much
keyboards on “Visions of the Haunted”, but their role grown a lot
with the second album, how did you learn to use it progressive
manner?
This
all comes back to becoming more musically confident and striving to
keep my music moving forward. I don’t like to make the same album
twice! Naturally, as the sounds I wanted to hear were becoming more
cinematic my keyboard playing came into the mix more.
There are strong
progressive rock influences in “A Vortex of Earthly Chimes”
album, was it easy to attract the attention of Black Widow Records?
I
can’t remember the exact series of events now as we’re talking
about something that happened nearly five years ago! I remember I
spoke to Massimo (BWR owner) before he’d even heard the album and
he was very keen to work with CIE. Once he’d heard the album, he
was very excited and enthusiastic towards my music. At the time, it
seemed the best way forward to sign with BWR.
Crowned In Earth –
Ride the Storm
You recorded “A
Vortex” with Darin McCloskey, he lives in the States, how did you
get in touch with him?
We were put in touch
with one another by Tim who runs the Shadow Kingdom Records label
before we record the ‘Visions album’. Darin and I worked
perfectly on that album so I was very keen for us to work together on
the follow up ‘A Vortex’ album. Bar the first demo, Darin played
drums on all the CIE recordings. He’s awesome!
How was it natural
for you to switch from riff-oriented slow music to more complex
compositions with richer arrangements and harmonies?
It all happened very
organically, it wasn’t as if I decided I’m not going to play doom
anymore. I think I’d become bored with playing the same style for
so long and my love of 60’s and 70’s music started to influence
my writing more.
How
was it to work over "A Vortex" in the studio? Was it
really different when you recorded “Visions
of the Haunted”? Complex music demands complex approach, right?
It’s
difficult for me to remember all the details now. I actually remember
it being quite easy to record because I was having such a fantastic
time arranging all the different sections. It certainly took longer
than ‘Visions…’ to record and mix because it had a lot more
going on in the songs.
Your lyrics changed
as well, what kind of feelings did you express on “A Vortex”?
I
was unhappy with a lot of ‘Visions…’, when I listen back to it
I find it a very difficult listen. I was an unhappy person when I
wrote those songs and my mood shone through on those recordings! Ha
ha! I think I was feeling more inspired when I wrote ‘A Vortex’
and lyrically the lyrics were a snap shot of my thoughts at the time.
And your mood became
even better on Metempsychosis! Do you have an author who inspires
you as a poet?
I was very cheerful,
for me, on ‘Metempsychosis’! I was in a very good headspace and
the bright and colourful new sounds on that album most certainly
inspired the happier lyrics. ‘Although, on ‘The Shadows…’ I
was back to my melancholic grumpy best! The lyrics for
‘Metempsychosis’ came to me when I was out walking the
countryside with my dog. This is where I write most of my lyrics and
hear ideas for new music in my head. I then end up rushing back to my
studio to try and remember what my ideas were!! I don’t have any
authors or poets that I can say I look to for inspiration. The rural
landscapes of where I live have always provided me with the most
inspiration.
Crowned In Earth –
Morning Light
As I understand you
released Crowned In Earth third album “Metempsychosis” on your
own. Didn’t you search for a label this time? Did this way of
publishing the album justify itself?
‘Metempsychosis’
was an ambitious project and I couldn’t find a label that wanted to
release the album in a way which I liked. I am very strong minded
when it comes to my music and if something doesn’t fit right with
me, then it doesn’t happen. My biggest issue with record labels
these days is the lack of promotion. I can’t understand why
promotion seems to be completely left up to the bands these days.
It’s laziness really. At the time, I thought ‘Metempsychosis’
was the best music I’d ever written and I wasn’t prepared to let
a label waste it.
Two
friends of mine which I knew through the underground music scene in
the UK had set up their own PR company called Imperative PR. I knew I
could trust their judgement with regards to the albums press etc and
decided to put the album out myself and then let them take care of
the PR side. It worked perfectly, as I sold more copies of
‘Metempsychosis’ than the previous albums because they put
together a fantastic press campaign to support the album. Both of my
previous Record labels did little to no press whatsoever for the
other albums and I think they suffered because of it. The labels
didn’t make the money they wanted (as we all know this is a money
business now, it’s not about putting a record out just because you
love it!) and the albums didn’t get as much coverage so never
reached the potential audiences they could have.
How do you value
Crowned In Earth development on this album? It looks like if you
finally get rid of all doom metal elements and start moving forward
right to progressive rock realms.
I don’t consider
myself a doom musician anymore. However, I see it as a very important
part of my musical past. When I was working on ‘A Vortex’ my
favourite parts to play and write were the progressive sections of
the songs. I decided to keep that excitement of new sounds developing
and so the doom was gone on ‘Metempsychosis’. I believe you can
literally hear the development of my music from ‘A Vision…’, ‘A
Vortex…’ and then ‘Metempsychosis’
Kevin Lawry –
Fracture
Did people get the
changes in Crowned In Earth music? Or did you rather find new
listeners with “Metempsychosis”?
I think people who
liked my music enjoyed what I did with ‘Metempsychosis’. The
feedback I received was generally all very positive. I gained a lot
of new listeners too who were more put off by the heavier side to
some of my older music. I just wish I could have had the chance to
play those songs live!
What are your plans
for 2017? Do you already have new record in your mind?
I’m
actually in the early stages of putting a new album together. This
will be my second solo recording. It’s going to be somewhere in
between what I did with ‘The Shadows Stole The Dawn’ and the
bigger more epic sounds of ‘Metempsychosis’. It’s aspiring to
be an extremely energetic album with lots of interesting twists and
turns. It’s definitely going to be a record for lovers of the
golden era of 70’s progressive rock.
You’ll
be able to keep up to date with everything at
Words
by Aleks Evdokimov and Kevin Lawry