fervency rock band

 

Light Of Our Own is a song I was inspired to write about a tale of two vampire lovers and how deeply and purely they felt about each other, reveling in their passion as they live through the nights. It is a twist on anything horrific, or fangy… with immortality presented not as a burden, but as a gift allowing this hot, sensual romance to simply continue through time in nothing but joy.” @Fervencydk< strong> 

Listen to the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2015/09/17/episode-258-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax

Jacqueline Jax logo photo

GETTING TO KNOW FERVENCY (CALVIN BATLEY)
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio

I got into music…


when I was about five years old. I would roam around the house asking to be taught Latin and learn how to play the violin. I kept saying it had to hurry, or it would be too late! I was dramatic, even at a tender age. I moved onto a toy guitar which I would shred upon and graduated at around the age of eight to a classical guitar, which I would try, and play Iron maiden tunes on.

“Light Of Our Own”…
 I was inspired to write about a tale of two vampire lovers and how deeply and purely they felt about each other, reveling in their passion as they live through the nights. Though they are vampires, my characters have no enmity in them. They feel sorry for the mortals they share a world with, as their love is eternal, their passion is ensured, whilst the people that live in the day cannot conceive of the wonder and deep pleasure of their existence. It is a twist on anything horrific, or fangy… with immortality presented not as a burden, but as a gift allowing this hot, sensual romance to simply continue through time in nothing but joy.

The production of the song happened in different countries…
Thomas was writing parts of “Light Of Our Own” in his studio back in Fredericksburg, Copenhagen, and I was in Luxembourg, where I live, so I received the tracks in wave files. The tracks were beautiful and leant themselves to something heartfelt and sincere. The analogue synths, whilst obviously synths, were organic and emotional in feel. There was emptiness there too, an edge of dark in the progression that inspired the theme. So, I constructed the vampire lover characters, enjoying the idea of a positive, gothic, tale of passion and love. It simply felt right. It was necessary to visualize and sing a tender and romantic male lead to interact with the sensuality of Thomas’ verse and the sudden, almost The Doors-like, change for the chorus and then the complete shift of part into the gradual crescendo to finish. So, the vocals get bigger as they go along, which is always fun. After a few takes and after scripting out the character’s ideas and turning it into poetry, I began recording it into protools. I produced the vocals to my own satisfaction and then, sent dry tracks to Thomas. I knew if I could get a good sound in my little studio then Thomas would be able to produce something much better and that is what he did. I think it sounds beautiful and rich…even my mum could listen to it!

The creation process of this song was full of emotions…
What was sad was my move to Luxembourg. I put us in a vulnerable position after the first album ‘Equilibrium’ by emigrating and we were now in a position, as band mates and friends, where two guys, deeply passionate about a sound and vision, were now separated by distance. Technology and our drive to create together has been our salvation and we are writing the best music of our lives now. So, it has worked out, but there were tears and fears throughout the journey. On a brighter note, it is always funny to produce a song. We do have a laugh in our process. I may have recorded these vocals in Luxembourg, but I flew back to Denmark a couple of times to record the album with Thomas and to do our new video for the song ‘Daddy and the Pole’, which was an amazing and really fun time.

Our new album is called “Fervency”…
The name Fervency, from the Latin ‘fervere’, means to ‘boil’ with passion. The use of the word tends towards the spiritual or religious such as fervent prayer. This is something we intended, as the band is an artistic process that revolves around those kinds of themes and ideas be such as Gods, cults, religions, spirituality or philosophical paths, etc. Thus, “Fervency” lyrically tends towards the metaphysical and esoteric, spiritual and personal relationships to the larger picture and nature of existence. It provides an excellent opportunity to research and to take part in the cutting edge of physics, biology and metaphysics today as well as systems, ideas, mythologies that have been prevalent to one community and peoples or another. It is important to note that we are not preaching anything, we are musicians. The band is a theme and has artistic parameters set by ourselves and we follow the structure and do the best we can. We could very easily have a side project that was death metal and we decided the theme was swimming pools and beer and we would engage whole-heartedly in that.

Fervency is the way that it is because the sounds and instruments lend themselves to deep philosophical and spiritual wanderings in my ears and so the name of the band and the general subject matter in the songs holds a red line. This being said, sometimes, a song just says ‘I am a Fervency song but I am fun and frisky, or sensual and erotic, or in the case of ‘Light Of Our Own’, a romantic story with elements of darkness that inspire a different style of storytelling and I feel no resistance at all to take the lyrics in any direction. Those lyrical decisions are dictated solely by the way I relate to the music that Thomas first composes and, after the initial vetting process of whether or not the music fits our present sound, we let it rip from there, layer by layer. I may be needed to play bass, rhythm, or lead guitar, or the song may suit Thomas’ style of guitar playing more. We work together and take Thomas’ original composition and hone and arrange until a degree of satisfaction is attained. Then, we hone it some more.

You can expect from us…
deep layers and thoughtful arrangements. We tend to take musical risks but retain an accessibility and consistency of tone, sound and direction, be it through a vocal style or chorus. We are certainly not afraid to have a crazy grind section in a song, like ‘Your Anthropomorphic Positivity’ from ‘In a Grain of Sand’. The whole thing goes mental at the end and I love it! We dip into jazz with ‘Dissolving Belief’ and have fusions like in ‘Light Of Our Own’ where synth sounds of loss and longing suddenly turn into The Doors-like parts in the chorus. For our third album, we are writing in the numerical sequences pi and phi, which is fascinating and musically very rewarding.

fervency indie artists

Our newest album is very special to us…
First, our production is better than on the first album ‘Equilibrium’ and we are sounding ‘like us’, which is very important and whilst ‘Equilibrium’, the first album, is amazing as an album and many of my favorite songs are there, I think it needed a little more top end sheen to bring it to life to be heard as we hear the songs ourselves. Though, I have to admit I heard it recently and just loved it, so maybe even that comparison is not fair and it is mood dependent. Still, whilst production is important, that is not what makes this album special, per say. It has to do with Thomas’ vision and musical risk taking and how he manages to hold it all together and make it make sense. As a guitar player and singer, it is a privilege to work with him because everything feels so easy, so organic and fun. He would be too modest to talk about his caliber as a composer and musical creator, but he is a perfectionist and I admire his compositions and mad professor attitude with all these old analogue modules and pieces of kit that he abuses!

Beyond that, the band is truly about what it says and Fervency is a learning and growing experience where I research biology, metaphysics, poets, ancient Gods, philosophical positions and I absolutely love it. This album is special because it contains true wisdom within it if you are able to see it for what it is. Recognitions on the nature of reality and existence that broaden the mind and extend consciousness. That is not because of any inherent gift of mine but because I get to pretend I am working hard whilst enjoying the endeavors and often genius of incredible men and women as diverse as William Blake, Esther Hicks, Dr. Tom Campbell, Bruce Lipton, etc. and use those understandings while I increase my own.

Marketing wise, we are using the web…
and social media almost exclusively. We have released the album through Gateway Music in Denmark, but beyond the distribution aspect we are very much D.I.Y and it must be admitted, we are always looking for a new audience, for fans, for ways to interact and technologies to use to help our mission! Interviews like this are a great help and so this is my chance to say thanks to you. We appreciate it and to all you readers: We hope you love it!

I live in Luxembourg…
A small country that shares borders with Belgium, France and Germany. A population just shy of 500,000 people and a Grand Duchy, perhaps the last remaining, though I may be mistaken. There is a thriving music scene here for all its small size. I saw Motorhead the other day in Rockhal, for example…still rocking! There are bars, halls and groups here that put on bands and d.i.y stuff. For example, I have been doing one man shows with a loop pedal and effects processor using a classical guitar in a restaurant my friend owns called Brasserie Du Strasbourg Orient Express. So, stuff is happening. Liquid Bar does jazz and blues, Maniac Caf does rock, blues and garage rock, Prabelli Wiltz arranges all kinds of stuff and there are culture houses and many classical concert halls all around the city. A lot of big international bands are doing shows in Luxembourg these days as a part of their tours so the scene is actually looking great and getting bigger. Though the community is small, with the systems in place and our geographical position, the whole of Europe is open to us with three very large countries all within an hour away of us here in the capitol.

When I am not playing music…
I love Magic the Gathering, the card game. I love it. I dream of it, I play against myself when I am not playing with others and I dream up decks and strategies… The geek is strong with this one.

The music business is dynamic and it evolves…
Being relevant has as much to do with letting go of previous notions as embracing new techniques and technologies. I have no negative feelings about the opportunity for artists of all sorts to make a living, though due to the nature of our trade, it feels unnatural for someone who practices and writes and researches and studies their instrument and craft to magically be dedicating time to becoming a business guru. It is non-intuitive and yet the exchange of money and currency is the way most of the world operates, so design involves other people, by need and then all the trouble starts! No, not necessarily. The reason the question seems important is probably the dichotomy between heartfelt passion and creating on the highest level you can achieve and then being bound by something as mundane as pieces of paper. So, it seems likely that passionate people of all types and sorts would have plenty to say about the music business. I would predict that the worse are the experiences they have had, the less they like it. It is an easy prediction to make.

There are lots of pros and cons from working in this business…
Quality gear and kit and the ability to record, though whilst more accessible now, is a challenge in its own right. The sheer investment into music is massive and that is long before you are out playing gigs or getting recognition. Even strings and picks require cash, and a lot of it, let alone getting into a studio or paying session guys so the test of a musician in the financial sense begins at the very beginning. It is tough; after all, what you need to be doing is practicing, learning, rehearsing, etc. But let’s not be negative. All of that does not really matter because you have to do it; it is not a hobby. You are a musician, so you will work it out. You will align with stuff and opportunity. You will believe and you will persevere.

I am overcoming poorly the hurdles and pitfalls…
I just crack on and train everyday and feel privileged when someone listens and enjoys it and believe in the validity of the project, of its musical and intellectual worth. I am a fool in love and I hope I die a fool in love.

Social media is amazing…
There has been no time in recorded history where we could share information so well. There is increasing union and the self makes benefit and all choices. You are not obliged to read or endure the latest happenings at the VMA’s for example, but you can search and go straight to whatever you are really into. Technology is increasing choices and opportunity exponentially. Social media especially is multi-faceted; in essence, we are discussing communication networks so everything from warnings to celebrations, finding people from the past or being introduced to something new is not only possible but also common and constant. It is a great gift for our species and a sign of how remarkable and creative we are.

One of the biggest challenges I have had to overcome is…
being a poor musician whilst being a husband and a father and being too stubborn to do something realistic like to be a ninja or an astronaut. You know, something grounded and regular springs to mind…

 

There are no differences in my marketing strategies…
Again, I suspect I am ignorant. I do web marketing via sites that I am a part of, such as reverberation, and I try to get people talking about it. I also use Facebook and try to interact with people through publications and radio as much as possible. I also give away promo cd’s. I am pretty sure that is the common method for marketing.  Of course, concerts are the best way to really get fans since concerts showcase who you truly are, your music, alive and pure, and that is the best marketing strategy I think. However, if no one comes, then you are left with what I said at the beginning of this over written paragraph…round and round you loop.

I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
The Emperor Ashoka. The idea in mind of all that hidden knowledge and technology, the ancient wisdom is too delicious for me not to want to have a peek at. The Emperor would say ‘no’ and we could spend the remaining 4 minutes 50 drinking a beer and chilling to the music that would twist his mind… ‘Boy! They didn’t have that in 270 bc!’

We do not care about the emphasis on being current and trendy…
We are so uncool we are oblivious. I have long hair! Enough said. None of that matters, really, since they are pretentious and of no value whatsoever. We just do the best we can from the heart and enjoy it. In the end, that is all anyone can do..

I am most afraid of…
the breakdown of fear is fundamental of personal growth so… I am still afraid of everything! Muhuhhahaahaaaa!

My personal definition of success is…
is to be happy. If you are happy, you are successful. Emotions are the feedback loop that we use to measure ourselves and our success based on choices and outcomes. That is how we are designed and it does not deviate. So, it answers itself: Whenever I am happy, joyous or even sated, I am getting ‘it’ right. I am proud of the times I remain happy, motivated, productive and in-growth through difficult and challenging times.

My overall personal and professional goal is…
Nothing big. I would settle for world domination and a small kingdom. Perhaps the Orion nebula… Or, it would be to be recognized and appreciated since it is amazing in its own right. I would like that to be a regular thing. I would like also if people enjoyed and were inspired by our work, that we got bigger and bigger as a band and known and loved for our own unique brand of music.

3 Ways I challenge myself to move forward towards my goal…

1) Personal growth in mind, body, spirit and emotions. The decrease of entropy in these areas is the movement towards love. Improves everything in life.

2) Practice, practice, practice. Improves everything in life.

3) Passionate love: parental, plutonic and romantic. Improves everything in life.

 

Fervency Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fervencydk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fervencydk?fref=ts
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/fervencydk
Instagram: https://instagram.com/calvinios
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ravensongdk/feature