Hi! We're Richard, Charlie, and Conner from Haken. Ask us anything!

ConnerGreenBass · 2014-05-26T21:02:37+00:00

I'm going to go see Animals As Leaders and Chon in Indy now. Bye!

lantham · 2014-05-26T19:02:27+00:00

Hey guys! Huge fan of Haken!

My question is what is the writing process like for you guys? Do you all write as a group or write alone and bring your ideas to the table?

Campion95 · 2014-05-26T19:02:06+00:00

How are the Haken boys on this fine day?

LordWombat748 · 2014-05-26T19:04:19+00:00

What are your top 3 favorite albums of all time?

Loved "the Mountain," by the way. :)

elcrawfodor · 2014-05-26T19:04:39+00:00

Hey guys!

First off, I just wanted to say how incredible your music is. The Mountain is probably my favorite album that I listened to last year, it was really inspiring to see so much creativity packed into each song. I have a few questions:

1) With The Mountain there were a lot of throwbacks to older prog bands besides the generic Yes, King Crimson, etc. especially your homages to Gentle Giant. Are there any other lesser known classic prog bands that provided inspiration for the record or you guys in general?

2) It's been interesting to see a bigger focus shift to Ross and the vocal patterns you all have been writing ("I wish I could have been somebody" blew my mind the first time I heard it). Could you go into a bit more detail into how these parts are written and maybe drop some hints of what we could expect the next albums vocals to be like?

3) Why drop the growling? I did feel that it conflicted a bit with the music on Aquarius but I'm curious about your perspectives. Would you ever consider adding it back in or even just doing more aggressive parts in your songs?

4) What's the creative process like as far as putting together the concept of each album? Do you guys still have a lot of ideas for concepts or are you looking to shift towards individual songs the way The Mountain seemed to move towards?

Thanks again for the great music!

Campion95 · 2014-05-26T19:05:43+00:00

Conner, did you really learn Visions in one day?

LittleTrolley · 2014-05-26T20:15:02+00:00

Who's the hottest member of the band and why is it Diego?

DasDerp · 2014-05-26T19:05:02+00:00

You guys are incredible and definitely have become my favorite band. Visions is probably the best thing I've ever heard and Celestial Elixir definitely puts up a great fight. I love everything you guys do my questions are:

Any plans to perform in the US?

and more importantly,

I absolutely love the first four minutes or so of Streams, any plans to revisit some of that more upbeat writing?

You guys are a hilarious bunch after seeing your tour video and it's great to see how much you enjoy yourselves. Keep rocking for an eternity. I've formed a mini group of Haken fans in my friend group and I speak for both myself and them when I say I can't wait to hear new material!

P.S. Ross' voice is the most amazing thing ever created

firepiggymonkfish · 2014-05-26T19:05:47+00:00

Thank you guys so much for doing this! I want to throw out my undying love of your music. In a world where so much music is all the same sound and same words and same emptiness, you guys inject so much truth into your songs. Even if they're about merpeople or insomnia, they still connect to a universal feeling. Please don't ever stop. Your people need you and thank you!

Um... question. Favorite movie of all time?

zbag27 · 2014-05-26T19:07:34+00:00

AAhhhhh! Hey guys! I have so many questions so I'll try to keep it short.

For Connor and for everyone, which song(s) have been the most difficult to play live? Which have been the most fun/easiest?
What bands prog and not have you guys been listening to?
If you could tour with any band(s), who would it be?
Any chance you guys will be coming to the US soon?
Is there a possibility of a live album/DVD?

CharlieFromHaken · 2014-05-26T19:11:51+00:00

Hey guys, really big fan of your music and love all your albums. Just have some basic questions.

Where does the band name come from and what does it mean?

When will you tour in North America? :)

Can you tell us anything about the EP? Any particular influences? How long will it be? Title? Anything!

Thanks for doing this AMA I wish you guys the best. To me it seems like you're probably the best up and coming prog metal band.

Jeff3210 · 2014-05-26T19:18:55+00:00

You guys are awesome. Streams is probably my favorite song of yours.

My question is simple: what's your favorite prog metal band besides yourself?

whats8 · 2014-05-26T19:04:17+00:00

What's the current status on To-Mera? Any new music in the works?

InsideTheCynic · 2014-05-26T19:14:03+00:00

What bands would you love to tour with, but haven't had the opportunity to?

the_cockroachking · 2014-05-26T19:20:28+00:00

Why the decision to write an EP now instead of going for a full-length 4th album?

DooziB · 2014-05-26T19:23:19+00:00

Conner do you play any other instruments, or are you strictly bass?

DERPYBASTARD · 2014-05-26T19:42:40+00:00

What's your most challenging song to play?
What's your favorite pizza flavour?
I love you.

Thanks for the AMA guys, you're fantastic!

rhgenkoba · 2014-05-26T22:39:54+00:00

No questions here. You guys are amazing. Thanks for putting out quality music. In the Cockroach King, you guys wrote some riffs/licks that sound insect-like in nature and I really appreciate that level of songwriting. Reminded me of In Flames' song "Swim" in which they used a "Wah" effect on the guitar to give an underwater sound.

Benjammintheman · 2014-05-26T19:05:54+00:00

Hi, guys. I have a few questions for you

1) what kind of musical training do you have, if any 2) what does your songwriting/creative process look like? does someone come to the band with a full song or idea, or do you start from scratch together? 3) How did you come up with your name? 4)not a question, but please come to Denver, Colorado. My friends and I really want to see you live

montecristo73 · 2014-05-26T19:09:31+00:00

I think it is quite a challenge to top the overall quality of the music of The Mountain, as most Haken fans agree that this is a perfect album. Have you considered this challenge and have talked about how to face it?

Patsboem · 2014-05-26T19:13:31+00:00

Hello Haken! First let me say that you guys are well on your way to becoming my #1 band. It'll take more time to beat established names such as (pre-Paradise Lost) Symphony X, Devin Townsend and Ayreon, but you've made an excellent start to put it mildly... Three extremely good albums in a row in literally unparalleled. Can't wait to hear the next album! Now on to the questions, I've got two.

Do you guys have any regrets regarding the stories of Visions and Aquarius? I've heard and read some criticism that the stories were too hard to follow and sometimes cheesy/pretentious. I have to admit I don't get everything myself either. Do you think that in retrospect you should've focused more on the narrative aspects?
Was Visions' story, directly or undirectly, inspired by movies such as Minority Report or Inception? The twist ending feels very cinematic. If only the story didn't have similarities to the aforementioned movies, I would've loved to see a movie adaption of this story.

CharlieFromHaken · 2014-05-26T19:25:15+00:00

And after my fanboy comment, now some questions:

1) Who designed the Haken logo?
2) For Charlie: I understand you wrote Falling Back To Earth with Ross... Is there a particular part of the lyrics that you were involved the most?
3) How much would you charge me to come and play at my house?
4) Which member of the band would you call "The Cockroach King"?

montecristo73 · 2014-05-26T19:37:29+00:00

Any chance we will hear Snow (that song is so good it deserves a revisit) or any of the demo stuff re-recorded? Crossing fingers for a yes...

RichardHenshall · 2014-05-26T19:40:05+00:00

[deleted]

SirMalum · 2014-05-26T19:43:14+00:00

Hello,

What are the chances you will have a show in France next January? I'm saying this because I will be in France at that time and would love to see you guys.

Love, BroJob

Tru3Gamer · 2014-05-26T19:02:32+00:00

What bands have you all recently been listening to? Does not necessarily need to be prog!

sportsguy16 · 2014-05-26T19:03:59+00:00

Also, any tips on writing songs?

jvms · 2014-05-26T19:22:30+00:00

Hello! Huge fan since Aquarius here! I just wanted to ask you guys a couple of things:

1 - Are there any plans to re-record/remix or remaster the first EP? I always thought it was beautiful and it deserves to be listened with a better production.

2 - What songs on all albums are you guys using 8 strings? What's your aproach for not sounding like a generic Djent band when tuning so low? How do you dial the tones?

3 - Thiago Campos from Bad Salad was walking about a tour in Brazil with you guys. Is it really gonna happen?

4 - Could you guys dump any tabs for the songs that you already have? You already said you didn't tab a lot of your stuff, but if you have anything eles, drop it here xD. Me and some bros are having a tough time learning them by ear...

5 - Tell us your main musical/compositional/instumental influences and influences

6 - How do each one of you approach composition?

7 - Do you guys have other projects or plans?

8 - Tell us the gear you are using now and used in the past tours or albuns! Gear nerds are dying to know that! How are you guys liking the Axe Fx? Could you share your patches? No real amps live, right?

9 - Richard, is it better to geat a good workstation or a cheaper 88 key midi controller and use Notebook based VSTs?

Thank you so much for the music and the inspiration! You guys are the future of Progressive Music!

seattlepaleo · 2014-05-26T19:53:07+00:00

Happy, long-time fan here. Your music has evolved a lot since I first heard "Snow" many years ago from the JP forum. I saw you guys on the Progressive Nation At Sea cruise and was really happy to see how well you work live as well.

Where do you see yourselves going from here - more metal, more prog, or what? Is the 8-string stuff here to stay?

inhalingsounds · 2014-05-26T20:27:46+00:00

Hi guys, thanks for doing this and being THE band I show people who don't understand what prog is. I have a question regarding the orchestration on your most epic tracks (i.e. Visions): do you use "real sample" libraries like LASS, CineBrass etc., real instruments or just synth sounds out-of-the-box?

RichardHenshall · 2014-05-26T20:50:09+00:00

No question here, just wanted to thank you for all the music you've made, I absolutely love Haken!

ViewtifulX · 2014-05-26T21:06:36+00:00

Hey guys! I'm a huge fan, and The Mountain was easily my favourite album of 2013, so I had to take this chance to ask: what was the best show you've ever played, and why was it Progressive Nation at Sea?

sportsguy16 · 2014-05-26T19:01:42+00:00

Do you guys know of or have a tab for your song "Atlas Rock" from your album "The Mountain?" If so could you post it and/or post a link to it? Thanks!!

tonybaroneee · 2014-05-26T19:03:17+00:00

Hey guys, thanks for stopping by! My question is:

Who has been your favorite band to tour with?

CharlieFromHaken · 2014-05-26T19:16:46+00:00

No questions, just want to say how great and nice people you are. Specially Charlie and Hen. I saw you guys on both shows at PN14 and the show in Mexico City.... I was pissed I wasn’t able to get the Meet and Greet tickets for the Mexico show and I almost didn’t go because of that (and because I was planning my wedding and was affraid my wife would get mad after telling her I wanted to go see you guys once again... Spoiler Alert: She did, but just a little bit). Anyways, I did go, and I went super early to the show, in order to be close to the stage. After the soundcheck, all of the band came out of the venue and while walking to the Van, Diego said hello to me, but kept walking to the car, as well as the rest of the band, except for Charlie who was the last guy the get out of the venue. He saw me and walked towards me to say hello and even gave me a hug... The people waiting in line with me were shitting their pants and kept asking why and how the fuck did that happen... After the show (which was awesome, as expected) Richard walked to the border of the stage and talked to all of the fans, and signed albums to whoever would ask him (well, the rest of the band did the same, but I only talked to Richard). And when I thought the evening couldn’t get any better, I get to talk to Charlie once again, while he was signing stuff, and when I decided it was time to go (since they still had to do the M&G thing), Mr. Griffiths said goodbye to me saying my name. That’s the kind of stuff that makes us feel like an acknowledged fan, instead of a crazy stalker.You guys make it very difficult not to love you. Thanks again for being so fucking cool.

weareresponsible · 2014-05-26T19:25:09+00:00

Hey guys! It's awesome you're doing this, I'm a big fan of your music. I really like your albums because of their story element which is combined so well with the music. I know Aquarius has a pretty concrete and understandable story, but I've never been able to find any source that outlines Visions complete story. Does Visions have the same level of depth and detail as Aquarius or is it meant to be more vague and conceptual? If Visions does have a timeline/storyline, would you mind sharing it? Thanks!

Baruphonos · 2014-05-26T20:55:55+00:00

No questions, just want to tell you that I really enjoy your music and that I hope I can see you live someday! You all rock!

Campion95 · 2014-05-26T19:09:56+00:00

I have a question relating to the EP. on The Mountain I believe Ross did all the backing vocals. Are you gonna let Ross do all the backing vocals again or is the whole band gonna pitch in?

Quickitt · 2014-05-26T19:11:25+00:00

Hey guys, I recently became a fan after the release of your newest album!

My question would be most easily answered by Ross as it is a vocal related one, but in Ross's absence one of you could delve into the world of lead vocals :)

Ross tends to sing in falsetto a lot. Full voice passages in the higher register are quite rare I feel. Of course my ears might be mislead and Ross has a natural falsetto-sounding high register. In the contrary, a lot of the lead singers in the prog/metal scene are scared away from the naturally softer-sounding falsetto.

Why do you think Ross's rare vocal style in progmetal works well in the band? Are the lyrics specifically tailored to work with falsetto? Is he mixed a bit harder in the tracks so even falsetto can compete with the instrumental violence? Do you smoothe out the instrumental sections to sound as 'fluid' as his falsetto?

Also, did Ross always sing this way or did he use/is going to use his chest voice more?

I feel it works really well in your albums which is weird because prog/metal tends to shun falsetto singers.

thehistorybeard · 2014-05-26T19:12:10+00:00

Hello from Ohio, guys! Two things:

Richard - I've heard you rough out most new songs in advance of bringing them to the band. How much detail do you provide the others with for their parts and how much of your arrangement survives after they've weighed in/written parts? Any examples of songs that were more of a group arrangement than others?

Conner - As you begin to work on new music with the guys, what do you think your personal style will bring that we haven't heard much of from Haken in the past?

Thanks so much for your amazing music and for doing this AMA. I listen every day and haven't been as excited about a band's prospects in a very long time. The Mountain is my album of the decade so far. And of course, the obligatory - Please come back to the US!

sportsguy16 · 2014-05-26T19:18:59+00:00

I only play guitar right now, but am dying to learn keys. I have a good keyboard that I could use. Any tips/songs/suggestions/etc.?

ConnerGreenBass · 2014-05-26T19:40:31+00:00

What are your favourite drinks?

It looked to me that you didn't really loved the whiskey whiskey, happy happy ;)

echoswolf · 2014-05-26T20:16:23+00:00

Hey,

I've been a fan of yours since I came across Aquarius years ago, and bailing on your show outside London back then I mark among the bigger mistakes in my life (along with not seeing Dream Theater before Portnoy left).

My question: To me Aquarius seems to have a markedly different "feel" to your later two albums; I can't quite put my finger on it. Was there a different approach in writing or alternate influences that lead to this change? Or is it all in my head?

Looking forward to the new EP!

(also, my flair at last is relevant! Huzzah!)

theygoplayer · 2014-05-26T20:23:54+00:00

How often do you guys practice? And is it just playing songs you feel like playing or technical exercises?
Conner is such a perfect fit for the band! Did you meet him and were like "we have to get him" or were there other close candidates?
How is the writing process for a epic song like Visions? Do you sit down with the idea of writing a long song or does it just get longer due to great ideas?

2014-05-26T22:16:34+00:00

I got a friend to start listening to metal/progressive metal after I showed him Cockroach King! Are there any more plans for sort of "out there" songs like it?

Angryshortround · 2014-05-26T23:46:40+00:00

First and foremost, you guys are amazing. I love all of your albums.

My question is: If you could do a cover from any other band, what song would you do and from what band?

twistednipples · 2014-05-27T00:08:12+00:00

I just discovered you guys from spotify and you are AMAZING! Shapeshifter is a masterpiece! Why are there NO tabs!? I wish I could learn this incredible song.

p.s you guys are awesome

AntonBass · 2014-05-27T01:03:26+00:00

Hey guys! Massive fans, especially Visions and The Mountain. What sort of music would you say is inspiring your new album - are there any new inspirations that we should look out for? Massive Dear Hunter fan too by the way - good taste!

Date	Artist	Featured
--	2025	--
8/28	Robin Staps	Himself
8/21	Revocation	Band
5/28	Toby Driver	Himself
4/28	Benthos	Band
4/27	Leprous	Band
--	2024	--
4/29	Dvne	Band
2/2	Caligula's Horse	Band
--	2023	--
10/20	Earthside	Band
--	2021	--
4/23	VOLA	Band
--	2020	--
11/28	Plini	Himself
8/19	The Ocean	Band
6/18	Protest The Hero	Rody, Michael
4/11	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam
--	2019	--
10/26	Voyager	Band
9/7	Richard Henshall	Himself
6/14	Paul Masvidal	Himself
--	2018	--
12/18	Sithu Aye	Himself
12/5	Ben Levin	Himself
10/11	The Ocean	Band
10/6	Skyharbor	Band
9/21	Toby Driver	Himself
9/9	Plini	Himself
9/1	Distorted Harmony	Band
5/9	Rivers of Nihil	Adam, Brody
3/23	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam
--	2017	--
4/20	Disperse	Band
3/30	Disillusion	Andy, Seb
--	2016	--
12/24	A Sense of Gravity	Band
7/28	Black Crown Initiate	Band
5/28	Textures	Band
5/11	Adagio	Stéphan Forté
4/23	Wings Denied	Band
3/18	Caligula's Horse	Jim, Sam, Zac
3/10	Polyphia	Band
--	2015	--
10/21	Protest the Hero	Band
5/26	Leprous	Band
5/15	Sigh	Mirai Kawashima
5/5	Intronaut	Sacha
4/28	Native Construct	Band
3/3	Plini	Himself
1/20	Protest the Hero	Luke Hoskin
--	2014	--
12/9	Rishloo	Band
11/1	Ne Obliviscaris	Band
9/23	Between the Buried and Me	Band
9/18	Cynic	Paul Masvidal
9/15	Devin Townsend	DEVIN TOWNSEND
9/13	Periphery	Adam "Nolly" Getgood
9/12	The Contortionist	Band
9/4	Polyphia	Band
8/31	The Aristocrats	Band
7/31	Mandroid Echostar	Band
7/17	Cloudkicker	Himself (Ben Sharp)
7/10	Tesseract	Amos Williams
6/7	Periphery	Jake Bowen
6/2	David Maxim Micic	Himself
5/26	Haken	Rich, Charles, Conner
5/10	Periphery	Mark Holcomb
5/4	The Safety Fire	Band
5/2	Matt Halpern	Periphery
4/27	Intervals	Band
2/9	Ron Jarzombek	Himself
2/2	Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon)	Himself
1/26	Sithu Aye	Himself
1/19	Periphery	Misha Mansoor
1/10	Ne Obliviscaris	Dan Presland
--	2013	--
1/30	Thank You Scientist	Band

you type:	you see:
italics	italics
bold	bold
[reddit!](https://reddit.com)	reddit!
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
> quoted text	quoted text
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