interview with Empiric
The international group Empiric from Spain and Brazil presents their second album, which they conceived a little differently than the previous album.
A very well grasped album that should absorb you not only in the art of music, but in the lyrics of self-absorption.
Alan – Hello to Spain and Brazil.
JP - Hi Alan, greetings from Spain. Thanks for having me.
Alan – I wouldn't say that Empiric is known in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. So could you write since when you exist, where you operate and a little about yourself?
JP - Sure. Empiric was born many years ago as my personal project and we released our first album in 2018, which was sung in Spanish. We never did any promo outside of Spain so it’s only now, with the release of “The Seven Laws”, that we are starting to be known abroad.
Alan – Spain/Brazil aren't that close after all. How did you meet? And is this lineup is constant from 2018?
JP - No, as I said before, Empiric is not a regular band but a personal project and I surround myself with the best possible musicians at any given time, both to record and to play live. The first album was recorded by other musicians and for this one I contacted Chus Gancedo, who is a world-class drummer who lives close to me and Luis Mariutti, who is a legendary bassist from Brazil, founding member of the bands Shaman and Angra and someone I’ve always admired and followed. They both liked the songs and agreed to record the album and I couldn’t be happier with the final result. I’m very, very proud.
Alan – Your last (second) album called The Seven Laws, how long did you work on it? And what is your relationship (the whole band) to Deepak Chopra? In the compositions, in the texts, you rely on his work, his books.
JP - The album is based on a book titled “The Seven Spiritual Laws” by Deepak Chopra. It’s a book that had a big impact on me and my life and that’s why I decided to base this new album on it. I admire him and I follow his work but I’m not a fanatic. It’s just this one book which really marked me. It took me around three years to complete the album, since I started writing the songs until it was ready.
Alan – Who did you invite to help you record the album? After all, they are famous names. And how was their collaboration? Did they come to your place, or did they work remotely?
JP - It was all done remotely. Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Heaven's Gate, Masters Of Ceremony), Doug Scarratt (Saxon), Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Metalium) and Tonio Ruiz (Coda), recorded guitar solos and Marcelo Véliz and Gustavo Escobar (Ricky Martin) played the brass instruments. It’s an international production, with people from Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Germany, The USA, England and Sweden. It’s something that would have been impossible some years ago so it came at the right time and I’m very grateful for it. It’s something very special.
Alan - When everything was recorded. The mix etc., the album was not made in Spain but in Sweden. Did you want to do it straight away, or did you not?
JP - The mixing and mastering was done by legendary producer Fredrik Nordström (Dream Evil, Hammerfall, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir, Powerwolf, Opeth, Spiritual Beggars...) at his renowned Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. I wanted a top-notch producer to finish the album and to get the best possible sound so the songs could shine the way they deserved and I think we have achieved that. Fredrik did an amazing job proving, once again, why he is a legendary and one of the best producers in the world.
Alan – The Seven Laws album has only been out for a while. What are your plans for it? Will you tour only in Spain, or are you headed to other countries as well? USA?
JP - I’m currently trying to promote the album as much as I can, to make it reach as many people as possible. At the same time, I’m already talking to agents and promoters to book some live shows. Nothing is confirmed yet so we will see what the future brings.
Alan – As I wrote in the previous question, it has only been out for a short time. How satisfied are you with it?
JP - Extremely satisfied. The final result exceeded my expectations and the feedback I’m getting is unbelievable. We had over 300,000 streams from all over the world in just the first month, something incredible for an unknown band.
Alan - Feedback on this piece? Do you have any? If I may say so, I like it a lot more than the Empiric album. There is more sophistication here, both musically, and the sound is completely different from your first album.
JP - Thank you very much. I agree, it’s a natural evolution and that’s something basic in life, to try to do anything you do the best you can and to keep improving and getting better every time and I think I have achieved just that.
Alan - Let's talk a little bit about you, your band. How is playing in Spain?
JP - We haven’t played live since 2020. I’ve been focused entirely on creating this album and it’s just now, after releasing it, that I’m going to start working on getting some live shows.
Alan – And outside of Spain, in other countries, have you already had the opportunity to perform more?
JP - Not yet but I’m working on it. I would certainly love to, of course.
Alan – For you as an Empiric group, the biggest success at the moment is what? And I don't mean the album release. Where did you play as an example? Or where did you push your creation?
JP - As I mentioned before, the album has been heard all over the world, even in countries I never thought it would like Irak or even some African countries. The purpose of this album was to take this message to as many people as possible so, in that respect, I think we have succeeded. As for live shows, our biggest show so far was sharing stage with legendary Spanish group Obús, which was our last show just before the pandemic.
Alan – For relief, rest. Have you had any very funny touring experiences in your short time playing?
JP - Well, the day of that concert I just talked about I was late for soundcheck so I had to drive very fast. I overtook a car who turned out to be an undercover police agent. I had to pull over and explain to him that I was playing and I was running late. He let me go after a while but it was really stressful. It’s funny now but it wasn’t at all back then, for sure :)
Alan – Thanks for the interview. I hope that with your work you will reach at least somewhere in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland - so that we can enjoy you live.
JP - Thank you for the support. I’ve visited the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the past and I really liked it so it would be awesome to go back and play there, as well as in Poland. Promoters, contact us! Haha. See you soon!
Links:
https://empiricband.com/
https://empiric.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5tLtlpjKTDP6GU68ONwm6S
https://www.youtube.com/@empiricband
https://www.facebook.com/empiricband
https://www.instagram.com/empiricjp/
https://twitter.com/empiricband
