Dear readers, we have the opportunity to interview Omer from the Canadian Progressive Rock project Trailight, with their new “MIrrors” album due out March 23, 2023.
Hi, how are you?
Hello Jacopo, I’m doing very well, thanks!
You are a very interesting Prog Rock project, how did your passion for this exonority come about?
Thank you. My journey through the prog realms started at a rather young age. My sister was really into Rush back in the mid 80’s I was 9 years old at the time and that sort of rubbed off on me, thankfully.
Amongst other bands that I listened to at the time I got really into Jazz Fusion in the likes of Allan Holdsworth and other prog acts like King Crimson etc. That opened my ears to a whole new world. And though I stuck primarily to listening to heavier music, Jazz Fusion was always knocking about on my playlists at the time and still to this day.
You have released several albums over the years, how has your musical style evolved?
I’m happy to see that my music evolved quite a bit. Despite having a certain stylistic foundation, the production, composition and overall song writing has changed for the better. At least I’d like to believe so haha!
Looking back at my very first project back in 2013 I tend to cringe quite a bit at the quality of work I produced back then. But it was always necessary and important for me to have a snapshot through a process of musical catharsis of what I was going through at the time mentally and emotionally and see how things have changed throughout the years.
I’m happy that there has been a slow yet somewhat steady progress though paradoxically, one can argue that art is art and it’s good no matter what it is. What one likes another may not so it’s obviously subjective.
I liked my first project when I worked on it back then yet comparatively now, I don’t like it because I relate it to how I hear and see things now. But back then it was good from that standpoint and I still feel the truth and intent behind it and that’s important to me above all else. There was a fundamental sense of musical and general naïveté that I really love about it. And Ironically it’s my most ‘successful’ project this far haha!
Art is an abstract concept in its foundation so good, badd, better…who knows. It is exactly what it’s intended to be for the individual. Comparative mindset is an unnecessary hellish torment that I don’t tend to indulge in. I just do what I feel is right for me at any given time.
We announced on our webzine the release of your new full-length “Mirrors” on March 23, 2023, what can you tell us about this new work?
This is by far my most comprehensive body of work on many levels. Musically, lyrically, production wise etc. I started writing this while my last album, Chasing Daylight was being mixed.
This is the longest I’ve spent of pre-production for a project and I believe that this album is the accumulation of all my musical, lyrical and production experience packaged into roughly 40 minutes of music. I am super proud of this one!
Your music is very elaborate as are your lyrics, what are the themes covered in the songs on the new album?
Thank you! While my last two projects were a bit on the dark side thematically this one airs on the side of being a bit more grey, as the album cover artwork suggests.
The general theme of this album is the individual showing up in the world while observing oneself and the many aspects of the self as well as other people in one’s life who play the part of reflecting ones shortcomings.
It’s about how we observe the micro world and the macro world inside and out. It’s a story of duality, inner and outer conflict, victory, defeat and everything in between.
A walk-about in a world of mirrors where each encounter and situation acts as a counterpoint in oneself which could be used as a catalyst for growth or surrender to desperation. A choice is presented on multiple occasions and one decides what to do and how to show up in each situation.
There are seven different stories told through each song.
Several guests make up the album’s lineup, what did they bring to the sound and composition phase of the tracks?
I am very excited and proud of all the guests on this album and the work they have done.
While looking for drummers, I circled back to Daniel on multiple occasions and I had a feeling that he would be the perfect for for this so I reached out and he was interested in this.
Not only is he a great drummer but he is also an incredibly accomplished overall musician.
I gave Daniel a carte blanche to do his thing on this with some general guidelines as to beats, accents etc. It was an absolute pleasure and breeze to produce him remotely as he tracked his drums in his studio in Portugal. He would send me his takes, I’d make a few suggestions and he would get it done. It was so easy and made this process so enjoyable for me.
Daniel also ended up mixing and mastering the album which I am also incredibly happy about. He did a phenomenal job overall.
Guitar wise, I couldn’t really think of anyone more suited for this than Cory McBain. I’ve worked with him on all of my other projects and he is also an incredibly gifted guitarist and musician. He has a scope of understanding about music that I can’t even pretend to grasp.
Cory also co-produced this project with me and he took this project to a whole other level. I am very happy to have him co-produce this project with me and provide him with a stage where the world hear Cory’s talent shine through.
The first guest to lay down his parts for the song The One You Feed is Devin Townsend. I’ve known Dev for over 20 years now and we’ve become good friends.
I did some vocal parts on his project Puzzle and Snuggles and so I thought it would be cool if he did a lead on my project. I am very happy to have him on board and his lead is absolutely amazing.
Dave Padden, Oswin Wong, Eyal Heller also contributed lead guitars and their parts are stunning. Meris Williams, Conan Freeman and Andrea Rayburn provided some backing vocals and complimented this project beautifully as well.
Your music has a lot of understanding, will there be a chance to be able to hear it live, do you have plans for that?
Oh man, that would be quite the undertaking haha! I live in a tiny town on Vancouver Island with not much of a metal scene. Coordinating a live show would be incredibly difficult seeing as everyone lives pretty far from one another.
I played a handful of live shows with the very first album while I lived in Vancouver and those were great but the logistics were difficult and costly.
There was an opportunity back in 2016 to play a show opening for Amorphis in Vancouver but I had to drop out of that due to logistics. But who knows, I try to never say never.
We released a news about the first excerpt, are there any other singles and videos planned from the new album?
The album release is coming up so there won’t be any more singles released I don’t think.
I might consider making a video for one of the tracks, most likely for the tittle track Mirrors but costs are a definite issue for me as I am the one who has to pay for everything and things get really expensive really fast! Haha!
What advice would you give to young artists entering the music scene with a more elaborate genre like yours?
I’m not sure I am in any position to give anyone any advice haha!
For me, what I do is simply write music for myself. It may not be popular or successful by industry standards but it’s truthful, heartfelt, honest and cathartic for me.
I don’t care if a million people hear my music one a mere handful of people that’s not the point.
Making music is something I just love to do and I just happen to want to share it with the world.
Despite what some people may think, I am not that musically inclined. I only know what I want to hear and I try to transpose what I have in my head to music as it’s the best way that I know how to express myself.
I do it because I love it not because I want to make a career out of it. Anything more than that is just a bonus. I think if any advice is valid that would be it.
The last question, as usual, I leave you free to address any topic not mentioned in the previous questions.
Nothing comes to mind. I hope you enjoy this album and that others will as well!
I thank the Omer and the Trailight project for the pleasant interview, wishing them the best for the continuation of their artistic careers.
Thanks Jacopo and thank you for your amazing support! Always a pleasure!