Alvaf teamed up with The Dabs to drop an insanely lush album that lays out descriptive and warm toned acoustic set of tones that complement each other and give off a seriously classic rock undertone to go along with the folk rock it delivers.
The Feeding the Owl album is absolutely loaded with robust and rustic textures with acoustic guitars, violins, acoustic bass and lively percussion that all have some very smooth vocal harmonies sitting atop it.
These songs give a genuine Celtic vibe at times, and they can feel like songs that have been around for a century. Like songs that tell fables and tales and all the authentic instrumentation and melodies that go along with songs of that nature.
This record is gorgeous on a musical level. It's all so well thought out and its intricacies are attentive and precise, but the songs all have this breath of life to them that make them just swirl around you.
You really can just get engulfed by an album like this. So much natural tonality for you to get whisked away with.
All the instrumentation is performed with a passion and a theatrical feel that becomes incredibly addictive to say the least.
This album has many layers, and it all comes together with a beautifully woven songwriting approach.
You'll feel amazing listening to this record and with that, we wanted to have a chat with Alvaf to talk shop for a bit.
Here's what happened.
RAG: Okay so let's start with Feeding the Owl album. This record has a great southern rock undertone along with other feels! Where did this album come from?
I wouldn't say that the southern rock is the main influence on the album, but you are right, it is there along with alot of different styles that we are influenced from. After the release of the first album ''Would you believe me?'' which was mainly acoustic, I wanted to make an album that would be more of a band project and that is why we formed the Dabs and ,mind you, it took 3 years because of the pandemic and everything happening for the album to be released.
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I don't even know where to start. The music journey has been long for me, I started out from hard rock then went on to discover the blues, which even now is my biggest influence, then I was fascinated by african and caribbean music and their use of rhythmic elements which in turn led me to Cuban and Latin American music. Of course - being Greek- everything returns to my roots in Traditional Folk Greek music.
As for names, I could mention a few of my influences, Ali Farka Toure, Fela Kuti, Lord Invader and Lord Executor, Thanasis Skordalos, The Band, The Beatles, Jethro Tull, Faustino Oramas and Eliades Ochoa, Led Zeppelein, Robert Johnson, Tom Waits, BB King, Johnny Cash - but there are so many I could go on forever.
RAG: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
To be honest I have no clue, I just know that when I first got hold of a guitar at the age of 14 I found out the E minor and A major chord which were the easiest to play and I wrote a song, can't remember it now but that's how it started.
RAG: What's next for you as an artist?
Well right now we are in the process of recording the next album which is called ''Deeply Blue'' and we are hoping to release it at the 10th of September if all goes well. I just want to keep writing music because these last few years I am overflowing with ideas and it's really all that matters to me. If I also manage to communicate these ideas to people then that's all the better.
RAG: What inspires you to write a song?
What doesn't? Ironically we have created such a shity world and everything around us is so problematic that it is enough to just take a look around you and there's so many things to talk about! Greed, Corruption, Individualism, Extremism, Indifference, Social Media Judges , so many things to say! It should be a golden age for artists who don't just want to talk about love and happiness.
RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Actually, everything I do revolves around music, I am a studio engineer and partner, I like to experiment with different instruments, I like to repair and bring old wooden instruments back to life, pre war guitars , mandolins and such. And in the summer I go swimming.
RAG: Who are you listening to right now?
Right now I am still learning from the great master Ali Farka Toure, that's why I mentioned him first in my influences in a previous question. Yes, that is who, Ali Farka Toure and Boubacar Traore.
RAG: Are you doing live performances?
That is a good question but the answer is tricky. I want to. I have been in the past but with the pandemic and all the weirdness going on in the music scene we haven't been gigging. I hope from September we can start again.
RAG: This album seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming artists out there?
I wouldn't consider myself the right person to give advice but if I had to I would say '' Be original'' . The world needs originality. Too many squares around us.
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
I would like to say the same as in the previous question. Avoid the squares, look for originality and creativity. And if you want, listen to our music, you might find it interesting. Thanks.
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