Dear readers, it is our pleasure to offer you in this article an interview with a Californian band that fuses Progressive Rock and Fusion, with a new album that has just been released. Please welcome from Isobar: Jim Anderson, Malcolm Smith and Marc Spooner.
Hi, how are you?
Jim: “Hi!“
Marc: “Doing great – busy!“
Malcolm: “”Thanks for having us!“
Why the choice and what is the meaning of the name of your band Isobar?
Marc: “No deep meaning. We needed a name, and the name of the last song on the first album was Isobars – and I just said to the other guys “Why not Isobar?“
Jim: “It worked!“
The band was born in 2020 how did the project come about?
Malcolm: “Marc and Jim and I were in Metaphor which released four CDs, the last of which was The Pearl in 2019. After that album, it felt like Metaphor had run its course, and I was interested in moving in a somewhat different direction, to try new things. Jim and Marc agreed, and we became Isobar.“
Marc: “After Metaphor, Malcolm had a lot of raw material and we’ve gotten better and better over the years at turning his stuff into songs so decided to keep working together. Early on, we did look for someone to do vocals and I actually tracked a few things with a very good singer, but we ultimately decided to go all instrumental.“
Your sound is a mixture of Progressive Rock and Fusion, where did your passion for these sounds come from?
Jim: “I think we all grew up intrigued by the usual prog bands (Yes, Camel, KC, etc.) so it was hard not to be influenced by them. Fusion was still relatively new at the time, and a lot of those of bands made up of virtuosos that made a lasting impression on our young minds.“
Malcolm: “It’s definitely more progressive rock than fusion, but I’ve loved jazz/rock for many years, I listen to it a lot. It wasn’t really a conscious decision, but eventually some of that style started to infiltrate into the compositions – just in certain parts and with certain feels, but it’s there.“
The new album “IV” was released on August 09, 2024 how would you describe this work?
Marc: “More of the same! There was a big batch of pieces that we had after Isobar II – the first ten we worked on became Isobar III and the rest became Isobar IV.“
Malcolm: “Yeah, it’s a continuation of what Isobar has been doing. If you listen to all four of Isobar’s releases, you’ll hear many parallels, but each one offers something a bit different than the others.“
10 long tracks, elaborate and full of ideas, how does the creative process of your music take place?
Malcolm: “I typically come up with the raw material, which could be bits and pieces and ideas, sometimes longer sections, or maybe an entire song. Once it’s in the computer, we all get together and work out the parts, do the arrangements, tweak sections, and that sort of thing, until everything evolves into completed songs.“
Marc: “It’s hours and hours sitting in front of a computer, aided by lots of red wine!. The songs’ arrangements get basically finalized and then we start the long recording process, both separately and together.“
The new album features some guest artists, what did they bring to the sound?
Malcolm: “Even going back to the days of Metaphor, our music has had elements of some classical instruments, like violin, oboe, some brass, but digitally generated. For Isobar we decided to bring in guest musicians on some of those instruments to play the parts, to more fully realize the intent of the recordings.“
Jim: “Being able to produce a song with a different instrument is kind of like adding spices to your cooking —it just changes it up enough that you might not overtly notice it, yet it can intrigue the senses.”
Marc: “They bring the things that the three of us can’t play!“
Malcolm: “Mattias Olsson has played drums and percussion on all four Isobar albums, and also on my 2012 solo album (We Were Here). He brings his unique style, and his personality and individuality have become part of Isobar’s sound.“
You offer a style that is very suitable for live performances, do you have plans for this?
Malcolm: “It’s unlikely that we’ll play live, we really just enjoy the process of creating the music, recording it, and releasing the CD – then doing it again!“
You have released four albums since 2020, how has your sound evolved over time?
Marc: “I don’t think there’s been a huge evolution. We’ve done four albums in about five years. Maybe we’re getting braver with our choices, and I think we’re communicating better than ever and keeping open minds.“
Malcolm: “We’ve developed and – I’d like to think! – grown as composers, and the music on each CD reflects that. We always try to add new ideas and tones and atmospheres.“
Music is constantly evolving, how do you see the modern Progressive Rock scene?
Marc: “Weirdly healthy, in terms of working recording artists and bands, but it’s increasingly impossible to keep up with them all. Or even some.“
Jim: “There’s a lot of really good new music out there these days which is a bit ironic because musicians are making less money, due to streaming. It’s been great to see more and more prog festivals all over the world!“
What advice would you give to young artists approaching music in a genre like yours?
Jim: “Try to find and develop your own inner voice and not just mimic the artists you idolize. It takes time, so don’t think it will just happen overnight!“
Marc: “Do it for the love of the music, as always. Listen to everything you can. Say yes to more than you think you maybe initially should.“
Malcolm: “My advice is to trust your instincts and your heart when you’re composing, don’t give in to trying to make it more accessible or to “fit in” with any genre; just write what satisfies you, make it your personal artistic statement.“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside of music?
Jim: “Funny you would ask because I’ve always liked art and will be taking a painting class which starts next week!“
Marc: “I’m a big literature and film buff. Plus I play in two cover bands and am working on my third all-synth album. And other ideas lurking in the background are there to be chased in the near future!“
Malcolm: “Is cooking an artistic passion? I think so!“
I thank Isobar for the interview, wishing them all the best for the release of the new album and the continuation of their artistic career.
Read our Review of their new album “IV” here: [Review] Isobar – IV