Dana Roskvist - Sydonia (10/04/2011)
Sydonia vocalist and guitarist Dana Roskvist gave us an insight into the band and what it's like to be praised by metal icons Lamb of God.
Sydonia started off in 1997 and have since released several EP's and an album entitled Given to Destroyers in 2006. How has the Sydonia sound evolved since the early days?
I'd say we've learned a lot more about song writing, really learned how to get to the crux of what the song is and should be. We've also gotten both heavier and softer.
2006 saw the release of your debut album Given to Destroyers. Despite being offered distribution deals you chose to release the album independently, what was the reasoning behind this?
Oh we just couldn't see any reason, as a fully independent band at that time, to give somebody half of everything to do something we could do ourselves.
Randy Blytheof Lamb of God praised Sydonia and has said that Sydonia is “one of [his] favourite bands of all time”, how does it feel to have one of the most influential individuals in heavy metal say this about Sydonia and to have been personally invited to tour with Lamb of God?
It’s great! He's a lovely man, really genuine.
How have the international audiences received Sydonia?
On the Stone-Sour tour in America? Very well, we had an amazing time there, aside from transport nightmares; they really treated us like we were already an established band.
What has Sydonia learned from touring with acts such as Stone Sour, Dead Letter Circus, Machine Head, Slipknot?
How to be professional, humble and punctual... and of course how to smash it. :)
Memorable moments on tour?
Sam and Martins tandem dick tricks backstage in Poughkeepsie, everyone was in stitches.Watching a smelly guy drive away with our tour truck and about $4000 of our money. Being gifted with guitars by James Root.
The first single from the new album Ocean of Storms was released in 2010; this has been a feature of Sydonia’s set-lists for a while now including another song, Here (yet to be released), when can fans expect to start hearing more new tracks and possibly a full-length album?
Next bunch of shows!
Which musician or musical style has influenced/inspired you the most? Why?
Me personally? Three major influences on me as young, aspiring guitarist/songwriter were: Smashing Pumpkins, Sepultura and Nine Inch Nails.
Sydonia’s eclectic live show is one that blows fans away. There are moments of ferociousness and heaviness in songs such as 3 Tongues, Rubber Bullet, I Will Not Serve and Incoming to more calm and tranquil moments in songs like No Woman’s Land andLife in A Cup. How would you define the Sydonia live show to anyone that hasn’t experienced Sydonia live?
Well you just did a good job there I think. It’s like a good mix tape yeah? :) And we go pretty hard and try and connect.
Favourite song to play live?
At the moment I'm really enjoying Ocean of Storms live.
Over the past few years there has been a resurgence of rock/hard rock/heavy metal in Australia. Where do you see this heading?
No idea, be great if the scene became internationally recognized?
Any plans for a tour once the new album is out?
There will be of course, but no concrete dates for album yet.
Bateria (translates to ‘drum kit’ in Spanish) features multiple percussionists playing a driving tribal drum beat. How did Bateria evolve?
It was a piece Sean wrote predominantly, then whilst in the states we tacked on the last section as a big jam.
Sydonia have a loyal local following, is it good to see familiar faces regularly at your shows?
It’s beautiful, people are really supportive.
Sydonia have been described as a band that creates a soundscape for the listener’s imagination. Describe Sydonia in five words.
Poetry from a foxy sociopath.
Dugald McLachlan
Sydonia started off in 1997 and have since released several EP's and an album entitled Given to Destroyers in 2006. How has the Sydonia sound evolved since the early days?
I'd say we've learned a lot more about song writing, really learned how to get to the crux of what the song is and should be. We've also gotten both heavier and softer.
2006 saw the release of your debut album Given to Destroyers. Despite being offered distribution deals you chose to release the album independently, what was the reasoning behind this?
Oh we just couldn't see any reason, as a fully independent band at that time, to give somebody half of everything to do something we could do ourselves.
Randy Blytheof Lamb of God praised Sydonia and has said that Sydonia is “one of [his] favourite bands of all time”, how does it feel to have one of the most influential individuals in heavy metal say this about Sydonia and to have been personally invited to tour with Lamb of God?
It’s great! He's a lovely man, really genuine.
How have the international audiences received Sydonia?
On the Stone-Sour tour in America? Very well, we had an amazing time there, aside from transport nightmares; they really treated us like we were already an established band.
What has Sydonia learned from touring with acts such as Stone Sour, Dead Letter Circus, Machine Head, Slipknot?
How to be professional, humble and punctual... and of course how to smash it. :)
Memorable moments on tour?
Sam and Martins tandem dick tricks backstage in Poughkeepsie, everyone was in stitches.Watching a smelly guy drive away with our tour truck and about $4000 of our money. Being gifted with guitars by James Root.
The first single from the new album Ocean of Storms was released in 2010; this has been a feature of Sydonia’s set-lists for a while now including another song, Here (yet to be released), when can fans expect to start hearing more new tracks and possibly a full-length album?
Next bunch of shows!
Which musician or musical style has influenced/inspired you the most? Why?
Me personally? Three major influences on me as young, aspiring guitarist/songwriter were: Smashing Pumpkins, Sepultura and Nine Inch Nails.
Sydonia’s eclectic live show is one that blows fans away. There are moments of ferociousness and heaviness in songs such as 3 Tongues, Rubber Bullet, I Will Not Serve and Incoming to more calm and tranquil moments in songs like No Woman’s Land andLife in A Cup. How would you define the Sydonia live show to anyone that hasn’t experienced Sydonia live?
Well you just did a good job there I think. It’s like a good mix tape yeah? :) And we go pretty hard and try and connect.
Favourite song to play live?
At the moment I'm really enjoying Ocean of Storms live.
Over the past few years there has been a resurgence of rock/hard rock/heavy metal in Australia. Where do you see this heading?
No idea, be great if the scene became internationally recognized?
Any plans for a tour once the new album is out?
There will be of course, but no concrete dates for album yet.
Bateria (translates to ‘drum kit’ in Spanish) features multiple percussionists playing a driving tribal drum beat. How did Bateria evolve?
It was a piece Sean wrote predominantly, then whilst in the states we tacked on the last section as a big jam.
Sydonia have a loyal local following, is it good to see familiar faces regularly at your shows?
It’s beautiful, people are really supportive.
Sydonia have been described as a band that creates a soundscape for the listener’s imagination. Describe Sydonia in five words.
Poetry from a foxy sociopath.
Dugald McLachlan