Brighton-based Azure gained 021’s Highest Unsigned Band in Prog‘s annual readers’ ballot. Initially created as a school mission. That 12 months founders Christopher Sampson and Galen Stapley advised us how fable and artwork assist them consider their epic musical tales…
A mutual love of Dream Theater introduced in combination Azure’s Christopher Sampson and Galen Stapley early on all the way through their track stage path on the College Of Sussex. 8 years later, they’re astonished to search out Azure voted Prog’s Highest Unsigned Band.
“I nonetheless can’t consider it!” exclaims guitarist Stapley. “We post a submit on Fb to look if lets do the rest. Everybody used to be so candy and voted for us! I knew we had
a couple of fanatics in the market however no longer sufficient to assist us win the ballot.”
This accolade rounded off an action-packed 2021, which noticed the discharge in their 2d album, Of Brine And Angel’s Beaks, a tale involving a fantastical sailor-rescuing chicken, and Mistress, the glass-shattering high-voltage unmarried. 3 gigs additionally offered audiences to Azure’s dynamic reside display, highlighting the octave-defying gymnastics of Sampson’s voice and Stapley’s intricate, cultured guitar paintings, augmented by way of 3 new bandmembers in what they hope can be an everlasting line-up.
Prog steel and 80s synthpop are some of the myriad influences informing their artwork fantasy-inspired compositions. Recollects Stapley, “In our first actual track industry magnificence, I noticed Chris had a Dream Theater rucksack and I believed, ‘Wow! Right here’s anyone else who loves Dream Theater,’ so we began speaking. I went over to Chris’ flat – and we began making track.”
Sampson takes up the tale. “After I got here to Brighton, I were given into this bizarre tunnel imaginative and prescient when I used to be enjoying stuff, recording it, that specialize in songs as an entire. I believed the guitar stuff I used to be doing used to be excellent, but if I met Galen, I believed, ‘Oh my God, I will be able to center of attention on different stuff as a result of they may be able to play stuff I will be able to’t!’”
“Sooner than I met Chris, I didn’t in point of fact know the way track used to be recorded,” Stapley admits. “There have been sure sides of my enjoying that I didn’t in point of fact expand so I practised
and practised as that used to be the bar I needed to hit. When I discovered Chris used to be making this track, together with an EP with two 30-minute songs, I believed, ‘Wait, that is how it’s performed.’
“It utterly modified my thought of ways the whole lot works and shifted my center of attention on creating myself creatively. Chris’ enjoying taste is extra carefree and not more meticulous. Seeing how that works encouraged me so we take so much from each and every different in that sense.”
Their debut EP, (Dream Of) Azure, used to be launched in 2015. Then got here their first album, Want For Spring, in 2017 adopted a 12 months later by way of the EP Redtail, which comprises the 20-minute cinematic eponymous observe, a cornerstone in their reside presentations. Then again, the pair confronted a musical predicament all the way through this era of concentrated creativity.
“We’d spent a couple of years enjoying in a rock band referred to as Revel in. As soon as the contracts have been at the desk, it used to be principally a collection of them or Azure. They sought after to possess the whole lot we did and feature a say on what lets and couldn’t unlock,” explains Stapley. “And we have been glad to promote our souls aside from for that phase. They wouldn’t budge on a unmarried clause, so we mentioned, ‘We’re so sorry.’ We launched Redtail, which we had finished by way of then, and attempted to make this band occur, prioritising Azure as we needed to do our personal factor.
“It used to be a large choice to choose from track we have been hooked in to and signing the contract, fast-tracking us in opposition to development a company rock band.”
With Azure again on target, their partnership bolstered thru a mutual way to their multifaceted track. “We slowly converged once we realised our not unusual pursuits and issues we have been maximum hooked in to have been the similar,” says Sampson. “As an example, some folks writing track or lyrics can channel their feelings once they in particular discuss themselves.
“Galen and I’ve realised the very best automobile for speaking our feelings is throughout the medium of news, imagery and fable. It is because you probably have performed a large number of video video games, learn books and fed on many in point of fact cool tales, you get the knack of explaining your emotions thru the ones versus real-life scenarios. This all slowly took shape in our universe.”
In tandem with the track, Sampson finished a fable novel, for which a writer is sought. It comprises the songs from Of Brine And Angel’s Beaks, additionally Sampson’s extraordinary symbols and new vocabulary to additional support the fable theme. Becoming a member of them for the following bankruptcy on this Azurian universe are drummer Sol Sinclair, keyboard participant Shaz Dudhia and bassist Alex Miles. All 3 musicians performed with Azure ultimately 12 months’s Prog For Peart Pageant in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, supporting Solstice in Southampton after which in London for Novena’s (Re) Release Display.
“Sol stuck me throat making a song within the not unusual room again in 2014, confirmed me
a special taste of doing it and we was pals,” says Sampson with amusing because the vocalist remembers their early assembly.
The brand new contributors are an integral a part of the 3rd album, which is now underneath method.
However as Stapley says, theirs is “hard track in two techniques. There’s the technical modern steel side, which you in point of fact need to practise. There’s additionally the pop-rock, extra melodic old-school prog stuff.”
“It’s in point of fact arduous to search out individuals who can do each as they’re generally busy doing different issues,” admits Sampson. “You’ve were given to consider on this mission as the way in which Galen and
I see it’s so vital to us. The fable and aesthetic of the entire thing is exclusive
to us. Fortunately, that’s why now we have this line-up as no longer most effective are those guys outstanding musicians, in addition they in point of fact get it and give a contribution to it.”
No date has been set but for the album’s unlock. “It’s such an concerned factor. We’ve been chipping away and once we get time, we will be able to in point of fact center of attention on and development it,” provides Sampson. “We’re in point of fact desirous about it – however we will be able to’t give an excessive amount of away nowadays.”
