Get in the big car, step on the gas and off you go through the neon-lit world of a megacity at night – that sounds like a dream of freedom, which DAGOBA live out on their eighth album „By Night“, both thematically and musically. The French are not afraid to openly show and celebrate their love of retro and synth. Singer, songwriter and band founder Shawter tells us about this freedom, dreams come true and today’s view of the old works.
It’s been a whole five years since your last album “Black Nova”. Why did it take so long to release “By Night”?
First of all because we were supposed to tour four years to promote our previous album „Black Nova“, then because we delayed the release of our new record „By Night“ for a few months, waiting for the pandemic to slow down a bit, in order to tour straight after the release.
On February 16 your tour with Infected Rain is supposed to start in Munich – but due to the ongoing Corona situation with various restrictions I can hardly imagine that in Europe. How are you looking forward to the tour at the moment?
Well, we’re preparing the tour just like if it would happen, and wait for our agents to let us know if this is doable for both bands or not… It’s a dark era for touring bands, but we have to stay positive. (Shortly after the interview was conducted, the tour was cancelled or postponed, editor’s note).
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Since “Black Nova” the whole band line-up has changed. How has this affected your work with the band and the sound of the new album? Where they involved in the writing of the album?
Actually our guitarist Ritch did the whole “Black Nova” tour, and Theo replaced our ex-drummer for the half of it. So, they are part of the band for years now. I compose music and lyrics for the band since the beginning of our career, so it didn’t affect the songwriting very much. But they were super optimistic about how the „By Night“ pre-productions sounded, and pushed me to continue that way.
After one album on Century Media you have now switched to Napalm Records. Why is Napalm the right label for you right now?
Actually we were at Sony and Century Media licences. We were working with Napalm Events and it was pretty cool to sign with Napalm Records. The communication is easy between the agency and the label, and Napalm offered us a three album deal, with the main idea of making us grow outside France, which is exactly what we were looking for.
„By Night“ is done in a neon/retro look including the videos. What do you like so much about this style, what inspired you to use it that way?
We’re listening to a lot of electro for forever, just like we listen to other kind of music. But we already developed our other influences through our previous record. It was time to focus on this one. Our main goal is to not repeat the same recipe over and over again, so with “By Night” we show up our love for synth.
Would you consider „By Night“ a concept album? From „The Hunt“ to „The Last Crossing“ the album seems to tell the story of a wild night from sunset to a possibly fatal last ride.
It is, let’s ride on the muscle car through a futuristic mega city by night, and see what kind of thoughts will come to our mind!
The video for “The Hunt” is really great with its cyberpunk setting. What are your favorite cyberpunkt movies or games?
I like “Blade Runner”, “Akira”… didn’t played much to Cyberpunk video games to be honest.
If you had the choice: Which augmentation / technical implant would you choose to improve your body?
Titanium vocal chords.
„On The Run“ is a great song with strong melodies and a great singer. Who is she and how did the collaboration come about?
Thank you! She’s a friend of us from UK, not from the metal scene. Working of the vocal line of the verses, I find out that my tune was too low, I didn’t want this song to turn to a Depeche Mode mood songs, and I didn’t want to sound like a crooner. So the idea of a female singer singing those part came pretty naturally.
“On The Run” seems to divide minds a bit, as it’s poppier and softer than the usual DAGOBA stuff. I also have the impression that you use more clear vocals on „By Night“ than before and that the album is also more melodic and softer overall. “City Lights” for example has a really cool Hard Rock vibe but is far less heavy than previous songs. What’s your opinion on that?
We just love melody, and we simply compose and play the music we want to listen to and that we don’t hear from other bands.
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You take care of the recordings and production yourself. Do you simply know best how you want it for DAGOBA and therefore give as little as possible out of your hand?
I know how to deal with the recording process but prefer to give the mixing and mastering part to someone else. First because there are tons of better producers than I am out there, and then because after spending months onto recording, the band needs some fresh ears to work on the production.
Your
debut album „DAGOBA“ celebrates its 20th anniversary next year. How do you look back on the album today? Ever thought of rerecording it?
I still like it. When we release an album, it represents 100% of who we are and who we were, and 100% of our capacities at that time. So we don’t have any regrets. I really don’t like the idea of rerecording an album. Old albums, also from other bands, please me because of their old production. Vintage is cool, yeah!
Next year is the birthday of the debut album and the formation of DAGOBA is now a whole 25 years ago. How do you see the beginnings today, how did you imagine your musical career back then?
Well I always wanted to make music for a living, but I wasn’t sure I could do it. Now that the band lives but also employs people, it’s like a dream came true. I wish everyone around who has a dream that it could turn to truth! Be happy!
How have you developed as a singer, songwriter and human being since then and through the pandemic?
I probably became a worse singer because of the lack of gigs. I need to work on my skill before we’ll get back on the road. As a human being I don’t know… I maybe have turned into someone more solitary. I’m used to live on a tour bus 200 days per year… It would take a short time before I’ll get back to enjoying sleeping in a bus with 17 others metalheads around!
Streaming and digital distribution is taking on an increasingly important position, especially in modern metal genres. In your opinion, is digital marketing the most important sales channel now and what do you think about physical media like CD and LP?
Artists need fans to buy their cd’s. I’m not an internet guy.
Let’s conclude with our traditional brainstorming. What comes to your mind first when you read the following words?
Current favorite album: Arcane Roots – Melancholia Hymns.
Vaccination: Had too to tour, when I did, shows were cancelled.
Presidential election in France: It’s in April, right ?
Videogames: Skyrim and Skyrim.
Best Movie-/Series-/Book-Universe: “There will Be Blood” / “After Life” / Biographies
Something that makes every bad day better: My sons.
DAGOBA in ten years: 10th album.
Thank you once again for your time! The last words are all yours.
Thank you, take care!
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15. Februar 2022 Stefan Popp
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