Text by: Maíra Watanabe
David Sanchez had an exclusive, really cool and open chat with Wikimetal about Havok's new album, V, which will be released on May 1st.
The band, comprised of David Sanchez on vocals and guitar, Reece Scruggs on guitar, Pete Webber on drums, and new member Brandon Bruce on bass, plans to tour the world to showcase their new work. Read the full interview below.
WIKIMETAL: What are the new features of the new album V ?
DAVID SANCHEZ: This album is the most danceable, musically, that we've ever made. I'm very happy with the result of the work and with the themes we addressed in the lyrics. The bass is super melodic, the vocals and harmony work together, the guitar is amazing, and the drums are also fantastic. It's the coolest album, and also the best sound we've ever produced. We experimented with variations of sounds and worked hard to make this project happen.
WM: Besides the new album, you invited a new bassist to join the band. How has the experience been?
DS: We invited Brandon Bruce to play with us last February. In the beginning, it's always an adjustment period for all of us. We're all friends, we just need a little time to adjust and learn how to work and communicate with him.
WM: What was the process like for recording the album?
DS: We recorded one song a day, with different versions for each instrument. We'd leave some parts to listen to the next day with a fresh mind, and that's when we decided which direction each song would take. The lyrics were coming together at the same time, and I confess, some of them are going to be terribly surprising. This album has a lot of freedom of expression against the system, and it also has other more personal things that we've never talked about before.
WM: What are the group's personal experiences in this work?
DS: The album cover art already says a lot, it's pretty obvious! (laughs) You can see the mushroom painting in it – which is my favorite! (laughs) But our relationship with psychedelic drugs and how they influenced our work is something we've never done before, and some songs are related to this experience. These are ideas that were in my head, but I could never put them out there. I'm happy with the result.
WM: You bring a new awareness to your fans through your strong and direct lyrics…
DS: Our lyrics make people wake up to reality and become aware, it's true. If people pay attention to what we sing, they can see the world in a slightly different way. And this psychedelic experience provoked thoughts I had never had before, and I was able to look at the world in a different way. I know that this is extremely illegal in some parts of the world, but I truly believe that if people want to experiment, they could, without being arrested. But of course, not everything is for everyone, and not everyone has to do everything. But those who would like to experiment with mushrooms could have that permission without the danger of going to jail, with legal support, in a safe environment and with good people around them.
WM: Indeed, this experience changed your life.
DS: The mushroom experience was like a great teacher in my life. It helped heighten my senses and also my empathy for life. The best part is that after this trip, you don't have a hangover, but a greater mental clarity. You realize what you need to work on, the beauty in simple things, the colors become more defined, and how lucky we are in life. My senses became much sharper, and we transform into a human telescope and at the same time a microscope, because we see things in very large and very small dimensions and their relationship to each other. Thoughts become clearer without the stress of daily life and reality.
WM: Is that how the lyrics were written?
DS: Yes, some lyrics were created from that experience and inspiration, and others in the studio, where I wrote while the drums and bass were being recorded. I would take out my saved notes, which were a huge pile of phrases and ideas, and conceive the songs. I also had a bunch of words that sounded good together, and I would immerse myself in my notes to choose which ones I wanted to work with. Some songs took an hour to write. Others took several days to get to where I wanted them to be. I think people will be able to understand many of the messages when they stop to listen to the lyrics.
WM: Isn't it a contradiction to have the experience of seeing beauty in life and yet have such harsh lyrics?
DS: It's not a contradiction, but a movement of empathy, of participation, and of awakening. It's an invitation to see the world differently and more positively. Our lyrics discuss very negative subjects like corruption, wars, fears, etc. They are heavy topics, but the lyrics tell you to reject negativity, fight against it, and not be part of that system. I'm trying to put a positive spin on negative themes, and these songs are about waking people up and changing these situations.
WM: Do you have plans to visit Brazil?
DS: We would love to go to Brazil! We were in Brazil for the second time in 2018, the shows were great and the food was wonderful. I love South America. Who knows, maybe even this year.
Listen below to the message David Sanchez left for the fans in Brazil, followed by the cover of the album V.
