An interview with Hybrid Spirits
An interview with Hybrid Spirits
HYBRID
What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences?
It was difficult to find a band name which everybody liked, but between us we came up with the name “Hybrid” Spirits. The word Hybrid describes our music, as we don’t believe that we sound like anybody else. Our music can’t be pigeon-holed, and our releases can vary. We chose to add the name “Spirits” to our band name because we all get along really well, like 3 kindred spirits. To date, our music releases have ranged from alternative to ambient, and from electronic to rock. We can never predict what we will write next, as we have so many ideas and influences!
We all have different music tastes and influences. Paul likes anything from heavy metal to classical music, including Rammstein, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, The Cult, Neil Young.
Nigel loves electronic music, but also Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Gary Numan. He also loves Ska music, Goth, Rock, new wave, synthwave. He particularly relates to songs with strong emotional connections.
Voodoo Jade loves most of the music which Paul and Nigel like, with some folk and new age music thrown in for good measure! Growing up, she was a big fan of Blondie, and now she loves Evanescance, Indigo Girls and Enigma.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
It varies, and depends who has started writing the song. Sometimes the lyrics are written before the music is started, and then music is created around the lyrics. Other times, an instrumental track is created to which lyrics and vocals get added afterwards. It can also depend on who is writing the music or lyrics as Nigel can write music and lyrics from scratch at the same time, whereas Voodoo Jade will write lyrics based on the instrumental version of a song. Nigel can often write lyrics which have an emotional link, whereas Voodoo Jade will work with feelings and images which a piece of music creates for her.
It can depend on the song or project as well. For example, in 2018 we released our debut ambient album “Astral Whispers” which was based around NASA’s recordings of soundwaves of planets in our solar system. This dictated that the music, vocals and lyrics would be relative to the exploration of space.
Our “Fear” EP was a dark and alternative release and to suit the music the vocals and lyrics needed to match. Our charity single “Rain or Shine” was during the first Covid-19 lockdown in England, and we wanted it to be an uplifting song. So the music was upbeat and the lyrics reflected feelings of hope and solidarity during the pandemic.
Our latest EP “Mirage” has music written by Paul and Nigel, with lyrics by Voodoo Jade who will write with whatever seems to fit with the music. This EP includes the charity single, as well as songs based on horror movies, a song about a vampire, and a song set in Paris, France. As you can see, subjects and styles vary depending on who is writing the music and who is writing lyrics at any given time.
By the way, may we please mention that we are still raising funds for our charity single “Rain or Shine” until the end of April 2021? It is raising money for the International Committee of the Red Cross for those affected by Covid-19 across the world. https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/covid-19-emergency-appeal and can be purchased for £1.50 (or more if anyone would like to donate extra) from www.hybridspirits.bandcamp.com
Thank you very much!
VARIETY
VARIETY
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
It varies, and depends who has started writing the song. Sometimes the lyrics are written before the music is started, and then music is created around the lyrics. Other times, an instrumental track is created to which lyrics and vocals get added afterwards. It can also depend on who is writing the music or lyrics as Nigel can write music and lyrics from scratch at the same time, whereas Voodoo Jade will write lyrics based on the instrumental version of a song. Nigel can often write lyrics which have an emotional link, whereas Voodoo Jade will work with feelings and images which a piece of music creates for her.
It can depend on the song or project as well. For example, in 2018 we released our debut ambient album “Astral Whispers” which was based around NASA’s recordings of soundwaves of planets in our solar system. This dictated that the music, vocals and lyrics would be relative to the exploration of space.
Our “Fear” EP was a dark and alternative release and to suit the music the vocals and lyrics needed to match. Our charity single “Rain or Shine” was during the first Covid-19 lockdown in England, and we wanted it to be an uplifting song. So the music was upbeat and the lyrics reflected feelings of hope and solidarity during the pandemic.
Our latest EP “Mirage” has music written by Paul and Nigel, with lyrics by Voodoo Jade who will write with whatever seems to fit with the music. This EP includes the charity single, as well as songs based on horror movies, a song about a vampire, and a song set in Paris, France. As you can see, subjects and styles vary depending on who is writing the music and who is writing lyrics at any given time.
By the way, may we please mention that we are still raising funds for our charity single “Rain or Shine” until the end of April 2021? It is raising money for the International Committee of the Red Cross for those affected by Covid-19 across the world. https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/covid-19-emergency-appeal and can be purchased for £1.50 (or more if anyone would like to donate extra) from www.hybridspirits.bandcamp.com
Thank you very much!
FLOW
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
Our music does vary in style, so we just go with what sounds good to us at the time of writing. Apart from “Astral Whispers”, we don’t have a set theme or sound, and we don’t have any particular messages or issues which we are trying to convey. We just go with what comes out! Of course, our individual music tastes and experiences have an influence on what music we create as well.
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
Unfortunately, Hybrid Spirits don’t play live or tour but we wouldn’t rule it out. We are spread across the country and it is difficult for Voodoo Jade to travel as she is in a wheelchair following Meningitis in 2012. We work on our songs electronically and remotely. Each song is passed to each and member to add what they wish, before a song is completed. Lockdown was a positive experience for music writing for us, as we had more free time to work on music individually. We don’t meet up in person very often, but we have regular band meetings on video chat.
MENININGITIS
MENININGITIS
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
Unfortunately, Hybrid Spirits don’t play live or tour but we wouldn’t rule it out. We are spread across the country and it is difficult for Voodoo Jade to travel as she is in a wheelchair following Meningitis in 2012. We work on our songs electronically and remotely. Each song is passed to each and member to add what they wish, before a song is completed. Lockdown was a positive experience for music writing for us, as we had more free time to work on music individually. We don’t meet up in person very often, but we have regular band meetings on video chat.
MUSIC
What plans do you have for the future?
We have already started recording some new songs which will be on a future release. Again, it is a different feel to the music which we’ve already released, and would be classed as darkwave/electronic. We are still writing more music for the next EP/album so everything could change yet! We do alternate vocals between Nigel and Voodoo Jade, and the next EP will predominately be Nigel on main vocals. His voice is perfect for darker songs!
The band is also recording relaxation music for a series of meditation tracks which Voodoo Jade is currently working on. There are some tracks for general meditations, and some for the development of psychic awareness/abilities.
Of course, anything could happen in the future : world domination, playing Glastonbury or other big music festivals……who knows?!
Other info :
You can find our music at : https://hybridspirits.bandcamp.com/
Also on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Deezer and Pandora amongst other streaming sites. Just search for us and our song “Fear” and you’ll find us!
Website: www.HybridSpirits.co.uk
Latest Music Release: www.hybridspirits.bandcamp.com
Twitter: @SpiritsHybrid
Instagram @Hybridspiritsband
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hybridspirits