         
|
|||
|
|||
DREAMTONE & IRIS MAVRAKI'S NEVERLANDWORLDS BEYOND THE MIRROR
Neverland is a band which came as a total surpise to the unprepared metal scene in the first part of this year. The band consists of members of Dreamtone (Turkey) and Iris Marvaki – a Greek female singer with a blistering vision. If we add to this the fact that the Symphonic Orchestra of Istanbul took part in the recording of this album and that many famous singers from the current metal scene participated in it as well, things really become serious. We did an interview with the singer, Iris, so that you can get to meet this extraordinary band yourselves.
Hello Iris! How are you feeling these days? Are you satisfied with the reactions of both media and fans when it comes to your debut Reversing Time?Hello Marko and Metal Sound Magazine, hello to everyone in Serbia…. Actually I ‘m extremely happy as I cant believe the reactions of the media about our debut album ‘Reversing Time’ which is unexpected, I must say. Most of the reviews until now are excellent As a matter of fact many famous people took part on your debut full-length such as Hansi Kursch, Tom (Evergrey) and two members of Shadow Gallery. How did you get in contact with each person? Well Hansi was in Athens and Orpheus knows him quite well, so one day we asked him if he would accept to participate as a guest and he agreed willingly. Dreamtone already knew Gary Wehrkampf and then contacted Mike Baker and Tom Englund. And as I was singing with different Symphony Orchestras of Turkey at the time I helped contact the Philarmony Istanbul Orchestra. Also, you recorded the whole work with full orchestra, Philharmonic Istanbul Orchestra. Well, was it hard to record and write music with such big and sometimes complicated orchestrations? Dreamtone did most of the orchestrations. Yes Its not so easy to write and arrange for a full orchestra. And its quite difficult to record, we had to record their parts separately at the MIAM Studios. What about other members that have contributed in the writing, composing and recording of music? What’s actually hiding behind name of Dreamtone & Iris Mavraki's Neverland? Could you shortly explain what Dreamtone is and what is actually Neverland, a full band or just a musical project? Orpheus Spiliotopoulos wrote the lyrics for 3 songs (Shooting Star, Everlasting Tranquility, Mountain of Judgment) . All these people helped either by singing or playing keyboards, piano, guitar solos, adding additional vocal parts , sound engineering mixing and mastering, Hansi Kürsch , Hakan Sensoy and Philarmonia Istanbul Orchestra, Ozan Alparslan, Ipek Kahraman, Erim Arkman, Stefanos Efthimiou, Loggos Iorgos, Evren Yazgan, Efe Alpay, Erim Arkman, Alp Turac (ATM), Mars Studios (ethnical instruments), MIAM (orchestra recordings), Division One Studios (Tom Englund's Recordings), Gary Wehrkamp (Gary Wehrkamp's recordings), Paul Wasser & Mike Baker (Gargoyle Recording Studios - Mike Baker's Recordings), Charlie Bauerfeind (Hansi Kürsch's recordings) and Leon Zervos Sterling Sound NY. Hoping I didn’t forget anyone, but as you see there have been many many people who helped in the realization of this album . The story behind Dreamtone&Iris Mavraki is that one day two different entities from Turkey and Greece got together and decided to create a new force, that became Dreamtone&Iris Mavraki’s NEVERLAND. Dreamtone is a prog-metal band from Turkey very well known having given concerts and supporting famous bands like Blind Guardian and Dream Theatre for example. We wanted also to prove that maybe music is stronger than any politics…. We created a wonderful musical bridge between Greece and Turkey, Its not a just a musical project, we are a band and we plan to stay together and to continue writing music and performing. Well, to be honest, I have noticed that many tracks on your album are more or less, balladic. Ok, few songs like To Lose the Sun and Black Waters are a little faster, but others are slower. This is really interesting because everyone was expecting fast and bombastic opera metal like Avantasia. We didn’t plan to do it on purpose, and its good that our songs are unexpectedly different maybe. The rhythm varies in many of the songs. I have just touched this topic. Many bands today try to make something like a metal opera calling many famous vocalists to help them. The same goes for using full orchestra in metal music. What is your opinion about it? Do you think that these orchestra using is becoming a trend? I think its lovely to use all these elements in metal music , I mean metal opera and symphonic metal…why not, it blends in classical elements and powerful influences. I don’t think it will become like trend…. 
Btw, I must give you compliments for the music for the track To Lose the Sun where Hansi is featured. Music for this song is even far better then on latest Guardian opus A Twist in the Myth. It is so specialized for Hansi’s vocals. How do you feel about it? When Dreamtone sent it to me I loved the song immediately but when I heard Hansi singing it I was moved tremendously by the way he interpreted the song. Its a lovely song and really fits his voice. Cover artwork is very typical, but also a very effective one. You know, it reminds me of classical power metal concepts that is already present in ‘’ideology’’ of many bands form this sort of metal music. Who has done it? How about the connections between music, lyrics and cover? The cover artwork was done by a well known French Artist Jean Pascal Fournier. Its amazing how he got into the whole story of Neverland , reversing time and loosing a son.. You can see in all the details how he fits in everything starting from the right side and going to the left side…of course there is a link between our name, the albums title and the lyrics…just look at the details on the cover… In your lyrics one can see that you are more focused on human destiny (as a spice) and in never-ending search for tranquility. What is your sort of inspiration? Any book or movie, maybe even cartoon? Yes there is a strong focus on the struggle of man to find the everlasting tranquility, to find the place where you remain a child forever away from wars and pain, a more bright , enlightened and happy planet somehow for everyone. All of us have been inspired at many times by books and films, maybe I have been influenced by different philosophies also and personal experiences from life and yes indeed by cartoons….. Neverland is a word with a special fantasy meaning, but what does it mean to you? Do you see it as some sort of utopia or as a key to the progressions as Hansi has already noticed in one interview concerning his appearance in your project? It is a place where you can escape, your soul can find a refuge, you can remain a child forever …….it is truly as Hansi Kursch says a key of progressions. Your entity and being is always searching for a place of transformation and evolution.. Your brain and your whole existence searches and longs for that inspiration and ways of transforming the essence of life. There are two different editions of Reversing Time with two different bonus tracks on them. Could you tell us more about both editions? On the limited 1st edition there is there is a bonus track “Once Again This Life’ and a multimedia track which contains interview & making of and video clip The Japanese edition that has 12 tracks (Who Asked You To Fight), and the normal cd that has 10 tracks And as the final question - you have asked your guest musicians-vocals about it: Could you describe the beauty of music? What does it bring to you? Music is a universal language that has the key of entering souls and bringing peace creating so many feelings where sometimes, (many times) other means usually fail…..it unites and unifies, it has magic elements and vibrations, its powerful and creates revolutions and conquers hearts,,,,,,,it’s a way of living and loving, it’s the most beautiful way of expression and communicating……..many times its healing… Finally, I would like to thank you for this interview and your great music. It was a pleasure. Thank you also Marko, it was a pleasure, and we deeply would love to come and perform there…..Best regards to Serbia… Iris Mavraki.
Marko Miranović |
PUBLISHED ISSUESMETAL SOUND #mpu vorbereitung |
||
