Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’ve always been interested in the artistic side of things. I used to draw a lot when I was a kid, and when I was 15, I picked up the guitar, and later the keyboard, and it just went from there. I started writing as soon as I picked up the instrument. Drawing felt more limited. There wasn’t much of a direction with that. Pop music, movie soundtracks, and video game music most likely shaped the sound I create. Movie images help me visualize song concepts. As with the new album, I saw it come together scene by scene.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Azwel in three words?
A: Melodic, shifting, hopeful.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey
A: Mostly through email or even social media. I shape the musical journey and push it slightly in different directions with each release, as it should be.
Q: You have just released your new album, Lives in Motion. Is there a story behind it?
A: It follows the lives of various characters, all living in the same town. There’s a lot of conflict along the way. It’s an open-ended story. It’s up for grabs in case a screenwriter or playwright would ever like to get their hands on it!
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: It’s hard to name one, but I enjoy the songs that offer new things to the table, such as “The Life She Promised,” which features a guest vocalist who did a great job with it. Or something like “Chateau of Hollow Prayers,” which takes an obvious turn from the songs before it.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, Lives in Motion?
A: The songs were written within the past few years, mostly after the last album was complete, and a couple were written in the same era as the last album. I didn’t have any sort of concept in mind. But once the track listing was complete, I was able to sculpt it into a loose story. Just an album of songs can be an uninteresting thing. If you can turn it into something bigger, it’s more rewarding in the end.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Azwel so far?
A: It’s all a blur. The only ones I remember are when things went wrong, haha. At the last album release show at Brooklyn Music Kitchen, my gear and iPad failed me. I’ll speak for the band, though, in that the bigger shows, like the Suffolk Theater and Great South Bay Music Festival, were definitely towards the top. They were nervous shows to play since there are so many people in the audience, though. I’m more suited towards being in the studio personally.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: Songs aren’t directly about me. Though I suppose certain ones can be. There are a few on the new album I can relate to. Also, when I can really nail a vocal performance, that always stands out to me. I often think I choose songs for the album based on the vocal performance, and the ones that aren’t as successful end up as B-sides when it comes time to release the unreleased songs.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Azwel’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: I’m often laying in bed at home, messing around on the guitar. Or once in a while on piano. It turns into a voice memo on my phone. I relisten to the songs months later, and the ones that stand out, I put in my favorites, and then I start the recording process. I don’t even know what I have until months later. If at least 10 of them are good, then it’s like, we have an album here!
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Azwel, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I hope to spread the music online. There are almost 300 songs on Spotify and all the streaming services. It’s a war against all the fake AI-generated music that is on there now. The music industry is going to see a lot of changes in the future. Human performances may become something of the past, which sucks. But we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, the generations of music fans now can keep it alive.
