We’re thrilled to welcome zabrahana to Progressive Rock Journal. With their unique blend of Greek Progressive sounds and a fresh approach to the genre, their debut EP “whales dream in purple” and recent video release “snakes” have already sparked interest across the Prog community. To dive deeper into their creative world, we’ve prepared a some questions to explore their genesis, influences, creative process, live ambitions, and future plans.
Could you tell us about the origin of zabrahana? How did the band come together and what was the initial vision?
The band was formed in November 2023. We were formed with the goal of creating original music in the general progressive rock/metal spectrum, that we would then officially release, and of course go on live shows to share it with as many people as possible.
Greece has a rich and diverse musical heritage—how does your cultural background influence your sound and songwriting?
Although indeed Greece has it’s own, rather unique, music heritage, we think that we do not draw any direct influences from there, however there is an indirect connection: Greek music has it’s own blend of western & oriental traditions. There is significant presence of odd meters & usage of scales that are beyond the typical major/minor pattern. Being exposed to this since an early age, we think made us more accustomed to these idiosyncracies, which play a major role in progressive music’s harmony & rhytmhic design.
Your music blends elements of Progressive Rock with Metal nuances. Which artists or genres have been the biggest influences on zabrahana?
There are for sure some major influences that are relatively obvious. Bands like Porcupine Tree, Tool, Pain of Salvation, Karnivool, Opeth, Leprous, Riverside, etc are rather prominent in our listening background and play a major role in our compositions. We also draw influence from some more “classical” progressive sources, like Rush, Camel, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, etc.
The debut EP has been received very positively. What was the creative process behind it, and how did you decide on the tracks included?
We are a new band, but as individuals we carry some past experience. When we formed, we all had a few (or more…) ideas already available that we brought to the table. We started from there, and that gave birth to the first 2 tracks of the EP, ‘water’ & ‘snakes.’ The next 2 tracks on the EP, ‘perfect’ and ‘whales’ took a somewhat different route: For
those, the lyrics were written first, and then the music was written to accompany the lyrics. Once we had 4 songs we decided that an EP is a good “first step” for a new band, all things considered, and so we proceeded with recording & releasing them as our debut, ‘whales dream in purple.’
“snakes” stands out as a single with a compelling visual component. Can you share the story behind the song and the making of its official video?
‘snakes’ is a song about being confined to someone, to the social norms, even to yourself. It’s about the never ending search for the exit and the struggle to unlock the door and get out – bloom, float and breathe again. The official video tells the story of a teenage wedding. Did they make this choice because they are suffocated with their lives as they are and tried to find a way out, or maybe they chose this path because society wants them to act like adults from this young age? It is up for interpretation. We all seek for our happy ending. However, every story can have multiple endings. For “snakes” we want to think that the protagonists escaped whatever that was that kept them binded.
How does your songwriting process work? Is it collaborative, or do you have a primary composer?
There is indeed a primary composer for each song, that’s usually how it starts. A song will be presented at a rather mature level, but from that point on it becomes rather collaborative. Each member will focus on their part, and we all contribute in terms of structure, feedback on ideas, solos, lyrics, etc.
Progressive Rock often involves complex arrangements and conceptual ideas. Do you approach your music with a specific concept or narrative in mind?
We love concept albums for sure, however this EP is not a concept album. Each song however is a very tight knit between music & lyrics. We try to match the emotions expressed in the lyrics with the accompanying music, and vice-versa. As for themes, it’s usually topics that really “occupy” our minds that end up becoming lyrics & songs, and usually they pertain to “darker” situations & events.
How have you approached the production and recording of your debut EP? Did you encounter any challenges during this phase?
We did everything ourselves – Our own DIY studio with our own recording gear was used for tracking everything, and then we mixed, mastered & produced the final result ourselves. We also did the artwork for the single & the EP, the music videos, etc ourselves. This was a decision that was made mainly for 3 reasons. The obvious one is the financial. Additionally, since we all individually have limited amounts of time available, working on our own terms was the most practical solution. Finally, the DIY route can itself be an experience that is worth pursuing – It’s fun to do things on your own! Of course this presented all sorts of challenges, from technical to emotional, but at the same time it was such a fulfilling process, that we never questioned it.
Live performances are a crucial aspect for many prog bands. What can fans expect from zabrahana’s live shows? Are there any upcoming gigs or tours planned?
So far we have played a few shows already, presenting ‘whales dream in purple‘ and they have all been met much more positively than we expected. We are very grateful for this and we hope that we will have more chances to repeat it, to as many different groups of people as possible. Currently there are some planned events yes, so keep track of our socials if you are interested, as soon as we are able to we will announce more details!
Looking ahead, are you already working on new material or other creative projects?
Yes, we couldn’t do otherwise – This is what we love to do afterall! We’re already working on new material, however currently we don’t have a clear picture of the time schedule or the length of the release. We do however plan on playing the new songs live as soon as we feel comfortable enough to take them out of our rehearsal space, so keep an eye out for
that!
How do you see zabrahana evolving musically in the next few years?
We really don’t know – Our general vision is to keep moving forward, both musically & as well as in terms of growth. This, in our minds at least, means that we won’t try to stick to any “proven in use” formulas or trying to repeat things that we know work – There are no stakes right now anyway since we just started, so why not experiment?
Finally, what message or experience do you hope listeners take away from your music?
The only real take away that we aim for is that the listener somehow connects with the emotions, experiences and interpretations that we present musically & lyrically, through their own lens, and find it meaningful to keep coming back to our songs for that connection, either in private or live.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We look forward to following zabrahana’s journey and wish you all the best with your debut EP and future endeavors.
Purchase the EP on Bandcamp: https://zabrahana.bandcamp.com/album/whales-dream-in-purple