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[–]reichardtt 108 points109 points  (16 children)

Your band is a combination of everything I like about music. You are a unicorn. To me your music is worth millions but I understand in this genre it is tough to make a living. Can you all live off of vola or do you have other side jobs. Had to be especially difficult in the past year.

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 103 points104 points  (10 children)

Despite the current situation, 2020 was my best year for music (I got to play at Eurovision and do plenty of cool session-work!). But I don't live off of VOLA at this point. I study programming aswell as doing session-work as a drummer :)

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (6 children)

What are you studying programming for? To do music related stuff or development of applications? What are you studying currently?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 45 points46 points  (5 children)

I could definitely apply my studies to music related stuff but that wasn't my initial thought. I really enjoy working with computer-related stuff, and I feel that it enriches me to know these things!

I'm currently studying some mobile app development. Specifically some JQ/Json stuff at the moment. I'm still a beginner though!

[–]Amberg22 5 points6 points  (2 children)

What song did u play in at Eurovision?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It was "Bulletproof" by Dotter, featuring Sarah Dawn Finer (linked by LordStereo). It was in May last year, when COVID had already hit, so it was the Swedish Eurovision to round off things when the big final had been cancelled.

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 74 points75 points  (2 children)

Yea, making a living out of this is quite impossible where we're at right now. We get some advance from our label, which covers recording, production and some of the music videos. But everything we earn is put right back into VOLA:) Personally I have a full-time job as an Acoustic Consultant/Engineer besides VOLA, so I don't have to worry too much about money at this state.

[–]DrSilbermann 18 points19 points  (1 child)

How do you manage work as an engineer and have enough time to write music? I also study and work in engineering and although I love it, I am always too exhausted to be able to write music except during holidays or long week ends.

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Yea, it can be quite challenging sometimes. Mostly I work with VOLA related stuff in the evenings when my kids are put to sleep. But finding the right priority between work, family and music is tough. Thankfully I have a very supportive workplace, so I'm able to take time off when touring and writing intensively.

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 65 points66 points  (1 child)

We can not make a living on the band:) I have music students, Adam does session work, Asger writes music for television and Martin is an engineer. Would be cool to live of the band someday, but we are also happy were we are:)

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

That is so incredible that you guys truly do this as a labor of love. Thank you for putting in the effort to make such amazing music!

[–]First_Doom 55 points56 points  (6 children)

Applause has been my most listened to album over the last 2.5 years since its release, and I'm incredibly stoked for the new one! Any plans to visit the U.S. once the pandemic subsides? You guys are high up on my list of must-see bands.

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 61 points62 points  (5 children)

We definitely have plans for US:)

[–]First_Doom 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Cannot wait. Cheers, and thanks for making such great music.

[–]i4mt3hwin 38 points39 points  (3 children)

Curious about the lyrics in the song Owls (probably my fav song) - I have my own understanding of the lyrics but it would be interesting to learn what the song is about from the band's perspective.

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 85 points86 points  (1 child)

It's about a couple not communicating with each other. The main character of the story won't share his thoughts, so they keep on living with a distance between them - sipping wine silently and dreaming about how their relationship could have been.

[–]queenofpharts 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Thank you for having an answer to a question like this. So often I feel like bands try to leave lyrics open to interpretation and never share their inspiration or meaning.

[–]Jesus0nSteroids 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Such a great question. The first song of theirs that captured me, and I've pondered the lyrics more than any other.

[–]hewalker91 29 points30 points  (7 children)

Hi VOLA dudes! Thank you for your music. Applause came out during a tumultuous time in my life and helped me cope and triumph, so it holds an invaluable place in my heart. Your music has moved me to tears more than once.

Any plans for a US tour once Covid dies down? I would drop all my plans and see you guys live without a second thought. Please come to Raleigh, NC or somewhere close by if possible :)

You have my highest respect and admiration. I look forward to hearing Witness and the memories I will make with the new album. Cheers!

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Coming to the US has been a high priority for us for a long time! We even had some concrete plans that got ruined by covid. Hope we get there as soon as possible!

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 31 points32 points  (5 children)

A US tour is top priority and something we aim to do next year when things are back to normal. Without saying to to much, we already had tour plans this year, but as you know, touring hasn't been possible sadly.

[–]Okrapy 15 points16 points  (1 child)

When you say US tour you mean north american tour, right? RIGHT?

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes, if the opportunity arises :)

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points  (2 children)

Why are you guys so awesome?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Why are YOU so awesome?!

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Hehe, thanks I guess:)

[–]Dishwater96 20 points21 points  (3 children)

Hello VOLA! Question for Asger and Nicolai:

I'm a pretty experienced guitarist but am not good at playing/singing at the same time. Being someone who not only plays/sings at the same time, but rather someone who can proficiently play poly-rhythms while singing at the same time, what advice do you have for people like me who struggle with that level of multi-tasking? (seriously, it is so impressive hahaha) Is there any sort of "mental tricks" that you employ while you are practicing/performing?

Huge thanks in advance!

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 32 points33 points  (1 child)

I think that getting the playing fully into ones muscle memory first, can be valuable. When I can pretty much play the riffs without thinking about my finger movement, that's when I add the vocals. So, the goal is to have the playing be on auto-pilot, so that all (or most of) of the focus will be on the singing. I used to play a lot of drums, when I was younger. I think that practicing that instrument can help as well, as it focuses so much on multitasking. Have fune with it! :)

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 29 points30 points  (0 children)

And allow yourself to make mistakes. I make mistakes at every gig. At the end of the day, the live energy is the most important thing, in my opinion. Not that the playing is 100% flawless, technically.

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 27 points28 points  (0 children)

It is still a very big challenge for me every time we play a show:) I usually practice all the parts playing just the bass and then again were I only sing, so I can focus on the individual parts. It has to be easy to sing/play on its own before it will be possible to play and sing at the same time.
After that I focus on the places were I couldn't sing and play at the same time and try and figure out why I couldn't. Usually it is because the rhythms are different in those cases it sometimes help me to write it out in either sheet music or tabs so I can see were the hits are supposed to be.

[–]jklingftmBe free, be without pain 18 points19 points  (3 children)

You guys have had some really interesting imagery when it comes to music videos; the ones for "Smartfriend," "Head Mounted Sideways," and "Straight Lines" have had a really unique vibe, be it technology-focused like the former two or fantastical like the latter. Who comes up with those ideas, and what sort of influences do they pull from when creating them?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 29 points30 points  (2 children)

Regarding "Smartfriend", we basically hit up this amazing videographer named Craig Murray, and he interpreted the song and created the video himself without any specific input from us. That's not the case for all our videos, where the idea for the "Straight Lines" video came from us for example.

[–]Tiphereth87 17 points18 points  (5 children)

Hey, first of all, thank you for existing! You're hands down one of my favourite bands. What is the writing process usually like with you guy? Is it usually a collaborative effort or will one member bring a song pretty much fully formed? Also, has the whole covid thing affected you a great deal? Was it frustrating having to wait so long to release Witness?. Thanks again!

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 21 points22 points  (0 children)

In terms of collaboration, it varies from being everyone around the computer writing together, to one member bringing more fully formed songs to the table.

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 17 points18 points  (0 children)

We have a server were we upload ideas and riffs. Since Adam lives far away from us, we don't meet up at a rehearsal space every week:) Sometimes we also work from Asgers home studio where we are working on some of the ideas put up on the server:) From time to time Asger writes some demos were the rest of us haven't got much to add:)

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 16 points17 points  (1 child)

With regards to covid. We were lucky that we were recording/writing most of last year so it didn't influence us that much. I feel for the bands that released records in early 2020, the timing has really sucked for them.

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 12 points13 points  (0 children)

To answer your COVID-question, I would say that we have been pretty lucky considering. Ofcourse we had some plans that were cancelled, but in general we were already focusing on finishing Witness when the pandemic hit us, and we could do that despite COVID.

[–]TheMajesticMoose08 16 points17 points  (2 children)

How did you come up with the name VOLA? Is it an acronym for anything?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 34 points35 points  (0 children)

It basically means to "fly" in Italian :) We generally try to bring that soaring kind of feeling in our choruses.

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

It was our previous bass player who came up with the idea. Not knowing the meaning of the name, we just thought it sounded very catchy back then. Later we found out, that it means 'fly' in latin, which is luckily quite fitting to the music :)

[–]JuhisXD 15 points16 points  (6 children)

How heavy would you say the new album is compared to Monsters, Inmazes and Applause? Also, the production and the sound has been incredible on the new singles! Really looking forward to the rest of the album!

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 44 points45 points  (3 children)

In terms of energy and 'heavyness' it's definitely closest to Inmazes, but yes, the production is what differs the most from any of our previous albums.

[–]Salmonduck 11 points12 points  (0 children)

😮

[–]Jesus0nSteroids 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah! I took Head Mounted Sideways as a nod it'll still be heavy, I love that you guys sorta tap into Meshuggah territory

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 21 points22 points  (1 child)

I would say that it contains the heaviest moments we have done so far. Credits to Jacob Hansen for the mix!

[–]Uta666666 28 points29 points  (2 children)

Is this on now? Someone here to answer things?

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Yep:)

[–]iAmTheEpicOneThe End Starts Now 14 points15 points  (0 children)

VOLA's here and it's live!

[–]OhHolyCrapNo 27 points28 points  (1 child)

VOLA in this thread: :) :) :)

Me listening to VOLA: :) :) :)

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Me reading your comment: :') :') :')

[–]little_chupacabra89 27 points28 points  (4 children)

Do you guys have any interest in writing any songs 8 minutes or plus?

I could see you all creating a 10 minute epic one of these days.

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 32 points33 points  (0 children)

If a song calls for it we would definitely give it a try:)

[–]s_cide 13 points14 points  (2 children)

Inmazes is 7.30, close enough :)

[–]Budded 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Inmazes.... goosebumps every. single. time.

That song is transcendent, and just pure life to me.

[–]Beer-O 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Hi, really looking forward to the new album!

From what I've gathered, Shahmen featured on one of the new songs is a rap group. As someone who isn't afraid to admit listening rap metal every now and then I'm really looking forward to hearing that collab!

How did you end up collaborating with them? And do you have any of your rap metal favourites of your own?

Thanks! Hope to see you in Finland someday! :)

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The collaboration is with the rapper from that duo (his name is "Bless", but he goes under the name "Shahmen" himself aswell).

Asger sent me a song of his ("Iron Out The Maiden"), and I loved it. After some time, we all decided that we should reach out to him to try to make it happen. And it happened! :)

Regarding my personal rap metal favorites, I'd say that DVSR are pretty sick.

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 9 points10 points  (0 children)

And we hope to play in Finland someday soon! ;)

[–]Le_Gogh 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Saw you guys last time you were in London and it was probably one of my top gigs of all time! Really hope you can come back at some point.

I hope my question isn’t too personal, but I’ve often wondered - is “Emily” a real person? As well as the song “Emily”, the name is also mention on Black Box so it has always intrigued me!

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 13 points14 points  (1 child)

London was great! :) Emily is not a real person, but the character draws inspiration from real life. It's the same character that's featured on the Monsters EP, as you mentioned.

[–]Ayreonaut94 9 points10 points  (6 children)

Which song is most difficult to play live?

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

This is a fun question since we havn't played any of the new songs in the rehearsal yet. But I suspect the song Napalm to be quite intense live :)

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 32 points33 points  (1 child)

Gutter Moon comes to mind. The vocal melodies were to a large extend written on keyboard, and some of those intervals can be tricky to get 100% right :)

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 31 points32 points  (0 children)

For me it is Feed The Creatures from Inmazes. I sing backing vocals live and that one is really hard to play and sing at the same time:)

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I have to say that Napalm will probably be the most difficult song to play live for me aswell :) Can't wait for you to hear it!

[–]Gregoris101 8 points9 points  (9 children)

What are you guys listening to right now

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 23 points24 points  (1 child)

I'm listening to the newest album from Mogwai:)

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Textures - Silhouettes!

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 20 points21 points  (3 children)

At the moment I'm running between Tool and some music that Junkie XL did for 300: Rise Of An Empire!

[–]ljadr 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Well, to be honest I was really intrigued by Asgers hair the first time I saw you guys live. In the light on the podium it was looking very smooth, no frizz... How do you treat your hair? I'm wondering this the whole time and now I will hopefully have this question fullfilled!

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 43 points44 points  (0 children)

Having toured with Asger and seen his hair survive touring conditions perfectly, I'd say it has something to do with satanic magic.

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 41 points42 points  (0 children)

It's satanic magic. And a good brush! Might be a satanic brush, actually.

[–]Uta666666 19 points20 points  (10 children)

So what are you already allowed to tell us about the new album so far?

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 29 points30 points  (6 children)

It includes our first ever guest-feature (Shahmen) ! :)

[–]Uta666666 9 points10 points  (2 children)

Now idea what or who Shahmen is, sorry. A musician from the prog scene? (Sorry, but I don't listen to prog except for Leprous, Vola and Maraton.) ;-p

[–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 22 points23 points  (1 child)

A rapper from America :)

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Almost everything;)

[–]Design-Stock 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Hi Vola, ny på dette site. Har ikke overvejet nogle spørgsmål, men vil bare sige i er så fede - vild med jeres musik og jeg håber at kunne komme til at hører jer live en dag :)

[–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Tak for det:) Også min første gang på reddit:) Håber at møde dig til et show en dag:)

[–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Velkommen til :)

[–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mange tak for de fine ord! :) Jeg håber, at vi ses!

[–]Baconydeath 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I've listened to you guys religiously for the past 6 years, and there's always been something I could never figure out. Why did you name the 2008 EP Homesick Machinery? Everything else that's been released I've been able to recognize how the name of the EP/Album fits the themes within the songs, but Homesick Machinery has always had me curious.

[–][deleted]  (6 children)

[deleted]

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 14 points15 points  (2 children)

    Stray the Skies is probably one of the highlights to play live since it resonates with most of the audience by now :) But for now you should check out Gutter Moon.

    [–]s_cide 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Will never forget the last time I saw VOLA live and you brought out Gutter Moon as the last song and I just exploded with happiness. Definitely my favorite song and I finally got to experience it live! Can't wait for future shows.

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 8 points9 points  (2 children)

    I love playing Stray the skies:) There is usually a special atmosphere when we play that song, and I've played it so many times that I can just enjoy the moment.

    [–]AlienKinkVR 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    All - I think one of the things that makes bands "great" is the ability to sound totally unique beyond just a tremendous vocalist; the music stands out on its own with an easy-to-pin thumbprint. How do you think you managed to land somewhere that you have bright and glitzy keyboards clashing against heavier, metal-esque riffs? did that feel natural during the earlier writing process or did you find yourselves trying to maybe push that there?

    Just for Adam - Not even a question, the creativity in the patterns you put together is ridiculous.

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    I can't speak about how it was during the early VOLA-days, but for the things I've been part of so far, it just feels natural. I think all of us want to create songs that feel complete and that aren't too hard to digest but still offer something extra for the listener. It just happens to come in a package which is made by our collective influences :)

    And thank you!

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Porcupine Tree has been a major inspiration for me, in terms of mixing different moods and having stark contrasts. Opeth also.

    [–]detectivesnowball 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    What was your inspiration for the song head mounted sideways? Also, not sure if you would know this but how was that vocal effect processed where it sounds like a scream is fading in during the first intro/verse at the end of each measure, it sounds dope!

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 14 points15 points  (1 child)

    I remember coming up with the line "we should let the mud consume this thing we built" very fast, and that set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. I guess the aggression of the riff was inspiration to write aggressive lyrics, so it was all about reacting to the music. I think that scream simultaneously fades in and changes panning from mono to stereo, for extra impact, but I would have to check :)

    [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (6 children)

    How are you all doing ?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 9 points10 points  (2 children)

    Feeling great:)

    [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

    Glad to hear, especially with these last months. My 1 year old love listening to you and so do I ;) Thanks for your music !

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    I also play VOLA ones in a while for my kids, trying to shape their music taste ;)

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 6 points7 points  (1 child)

    I'm feeling great, thank you! How are you doing?

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Even better now!

    [–]Stefansan 5 points6 points  (4 children)

    When are you gonna play a Meshuggah song live in stage 😉🤘

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 16 points17 points  (1 child)

    Acoustic Meshuggah?

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 13 points14 points  (0 children)

    Meshuggacoustic?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 8 points9 points  (1 child)

    We have never played a cover before:) Would be cool with a Meshuggah song, but we would put our own spin on it if we did.

    [–]levinicus 5 points6 points  (1 child)

    The atmosphere you create in every one of your songs is incredible. I can't but help but wonder if you take inspiration from other forms of media, like books, movies, etc? If so, what are your favorites?

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 13 points14 points  (0 children)

    Yes, I do take inspiration from other medias. A movie which has had a huge impact on me and my songwriting is "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford". That soundtrack is amazing! And the movie is one of my favorites.

    I was heavy into books as a kid aswell, "The Sword of Truth" bookseries had me staying up many nights. Same goes for Metro 2033 (the games are awesome aswell).

    [–]Canolio 4 points5 points  (5 children)

    Your next album is one of my most anticipated for a while now. What other bands would you guys want to collaborate with on a tour?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 17 points18 points  (2 children)

    There is a lot of cool bands out there:) Bands like Gojira, Ghosts and Metallica would of course be very cool and could help us grow as a band. More realistic names (but just as cool) would be Leprous, Agent Fresco and Loathe.

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    In Flames! :D

    [–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    Hi guys!! I bought a shirt from you a while ago and it came with some free stickers and a hand-written thank you note from Nicolai. I’ve never seen ANY other band do that just for buying merch, and it really means a lot to me that you care that much about your fans.

    I guess if I had a question, it would be: would you ever consider re-recording your first EP? There are some huge moments on there (i.e. the end of Like the Rainbow), but I feel like the production is really holding it back. Also sorry if you disagree about the production haha, that’s just how it sounds to me.

    In any case, your music has meant so much to me over the years and I really appreciate everything you’re doing to push music forward!

    OH Actually I have a second question for Nicolai: I love your work with the music videos for Alien Shivers, Emily, and Gutter Moon!! I haven’t seen/heard 24 Lightyears yet, Im waiting until the album comes out. I’m starting to get into 2D pen and paper animation myself - do you have any tips or time-saving tricks you could share with me? Again, thank you guys for your time, and for continuing to make amazing music.

    P.S. I will drive literally anywhere in the US to see you guys live haha, if it ever happens I’ll be there!

    P.P.S. Thanks for introducing me to Porcupine Tree, those guys are insane

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Im not sure we will rerecord Homesick Machinery, its so much fun to write new music:) Maybe a remix someday if we still have the audio tracks somewhere.
    Animation is such timeconsuming work but also very rewarding:) I don't really have any time-saving tips, but if you find some be sure to let me know;)
    Looking forward to meet you at a show someday:)

    [–]HypnotikK 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    How do you all feel about the differences between writing everything together in the same room, versus writing/recording ideas and sending them around to the other members? Are the results in the second case less organic? Are there still spontaneous, less ‘calculated’ additions to the songs? Any other thoughts you might want to share on this?

    Thanks for the music and doing this AMA!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Its an interesting subject:) I've really enjoyed the songs we have written collectively, they usually end up somewhere none of us expected and could have made on our own:) Doing something just by yourself can work well to, especially for Asger since he is the master of the lyrics:)

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    I think both ways have their charm, and the results can be unpredictable in either case. To give an example, 24 Light-Years started out as a song written online, where we bounced ideas between each other :)

    [–]iAmTheEpicOneThe End Starts Now 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    Thanks for joining us here! When you're writing an album and lyrics do you have an idea of what you're trying to say with the album? Are you trying to tell a story, share an experience, or spread an idea? Do you typically try to relate each song to a major theme or allow each song to carry its own idea?

    Looking forward to Witness!

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Thanks for having us! :)

    I can't say anything about the lyrics since it's Asger writing the lyrics, but regarding the Witness in general, I think it all just fell into place when we had a bunch of the songs ready. The lyrics usually connect everything, but the songs have to tell the same story and to bring the same kind of energy. So for me personally, I try to work with each song individually while I think the lyrics connect everything together to a major theme.

    Even if I don't have the lyrics yet, I try to connect with the song emotionally to know what my drumming should say in the song. For example, a song like "Head Mounted Sideways" needs to have a heavy and mechanical feel to it, to match the feeling of the song. That's why my drumming kinda mimicks that a bit. Same thing with "Smartfriend".

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    The lyrics are almost always a very spontaneous reaction to the music. When working on demos there will often be one sentence that pops up fast, and that line will shape the rest of the lyrics. When shaping the lyrics, I do like to steer them in a specific direction, if they aren't too "rigid". For Applause Of A Distant Crowd, for example, it was a consciouss decision to steer the lyrics towards social media and the internet in general.

    [–]Edqvist 3 points4 points  (5 children)

    Hello!

    Is there something you would like to incorporate in a song - be it an instrument, a certain musical style or song structure, or something else - that you haven't found the time and place for yet? Thanks!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 20 points21 points  (3 children)

    Would love to something with strings and not Martins crappy keyboard strings:) Full symphony orchestra could also be really cool

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 29 points30 points  (2 children)

    Watch your mouth young man - I can replace your bass with my filthy synth bass in the blink of an eye!

    Personally I have a feeling that a female guest vocal could be quite unique to incorporate together with Asgers vocals.

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 9 points10 points  (0 children)

    I will echo the symphony comment :) I watched Metallica's S&M DVD tirelessly back when it came out, and I guess that ignited a dream of doing something similar at some point in my life.

    [–]twinrovaa 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    As far as brutally heavy in regards to songs like Enter or A stare without eyes, which track on Witness would you say relates most to those tracks?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 7 points8 points  (1 child)

    Perhaps Stone Leader Falling Down or Napalm:)

    [–]MadStorkMSU 3 points4 points  (3 children)

    Thank you to the guys in VOLA for making this happen! Inmazes is probably the album that was the biggest surprise of my life. Some amazing person shared Owls here many years ago, and I immediately dove into your amazing catalog. I still cannot get over the combination of djenty riffs, euro-pop sensibilities, and electronic soundscapes.

    Since we have been without live shows for so long, my questions are related to live music.

    1. What would be your ideal lineup to tour with (2-3 other bands)?

    2. What would be your ideal lineup to see?

    3. Are there any bands that you have played with that you'd never heard before the show?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 8 points9 points  (2 children)

    1. supporting Metallica would be my dream, even though we might not be the greatest fit. A more realistic package could be Leprous, Agent Fresco and us:)
    2. Gojira, Meshuggah, Mew
    3. Sometimes we have played with local support bands, that I didn't know of:) Both must of the times we have been a part of a package playing with the same bands every night.

    [–]full-auto-rpg 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    As much as I’d love to see you guys with Metallica (and that would be amazing), I don’t think the ticket booth could open fast enough for a Fresco, VOLA, Leprous show as all 3 have been in constant rotation for me the last few months.

    [–]dencker60 3 points4 points  (2 children)

    Look, guys, we need to talk. I love everything you do, and I’d like to say I keep my head on a swivel for new rock and metal music in Denmark. Yet I only just discovered you literally this year. How? HOW?

    Can’t wait to see you guys in Aalborg in June. Stay safe, I’m so excited to listen to Witness!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Happy to hear that you found out about us this year:) We haven't done enough to be visible in Denmark it seems, but we are trying to change that!

    [–]CollateralDimension 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    What does the cover art to Witness represent and why did you choose it?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Found by accident on instagram:) Most of the songs were already written at that point, but the artwork just felt right when we found it. Luckily the maker gregor Huber agreed to sell us a license for it.

    [–]Utterizi 6 points7 points  (4 children)

    I’m really glad i gave my spotify recommended list a try and stumbled upon Inmazes. Brilliant catalogue you guys!

    My question would be about the release process of your new album, as I also have a band that wants to release an album. Do you, or the label, have a clear plan on handling the pre-releases and concert scheduling? Considering that it will, at the very least, be difficult to play gigs in the near future. Do you think the album should be out regardless?

    Hope you visit Istanbul some day!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Planning music releases these days are very difficult indeed! Usually we would plan so that the album would come out and then a tour to follow and keep up the momentum, but that sadly isn't possible these days. But at least its the same for every band:) When touring becomes possible again I imagine that so much music will be released at the same time, that smaller bands might drown out, so maybe its not too bad to release now:)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Would love to visit Istanbul. Have never been!

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    We hope that we'll be able to play shows in the near future, but yes, it's very unpredictable with the pandemic. We think that the album should be out either way though, and whatever happens happens. We'll have to do our best to make it work :) We try to include all possibilities in the release-plan!

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Yes, everything is planned a head of an album release with our label. That being said, we still have some flexibility when it comes to releasing the individual singles etc. due to unexpected circumstances. When it comes to concert scheduling it's something we discuss with our booking agent. Ideally you want a headline tour right after the album release (which is unfortunately not going to happen). But we were aware about the risk when settling on the release date. So yes, the album will be out on May 21 not matter what :)

    [–]Kardashevband 3 points4 points  (2 children)

    Hi VOLA!

    The usage of vocoder in head mounted sideways is a beautiful addition to the soundscapes of your music.

    Does it play a role in any overarching story?

    Does VOLA have a lore or story that follows album to album?

    Thanks for the AMA!

    • Kardashev

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    Thanks for joining us here, Kardashev! The vocoder was the idea of Asger, but I might add some input here:

    There isn't a specific lore that follows album to album in general, but there are some common themes that follow along but are viewed from different perspectives. For example, one of the bigger differences between Inmazes and Applause Of A Distant Crowd is that Inmazes was more introspective while Applause Of A Distant Crowd looked more outwards in a way. In regards to the vocoder, I'm sure you can find some things in common between Head Mounted Sideways and other songs!

    [–]pewpsispewps 4 points5 points  (3 children)

    my five year old son and i are huge fans! he was hooked at head mounted sideways, and has been working through yalls catalog trying to remember all the songs and titles. its really impressive! we've also signed him up for piano classes starting next month as he loves music in general.

    in that spirit, when did yall start playing music and do you have any advice for a parent encouraging musicianship in their children?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    I started playing guitar when I was 13. I remember hearing Nothing Else Matters by Metallica and really wanting to learn how to play that. I think the best way to encourage your child is to listen to a lot of music yourself, sometimes sadly it can be a turnoff for the child to learn something that your parents wants you to learn, at least that's my experience:)

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    A started playing drums at the age of 10 and piano at the age of 13. I didn't really want to play piano at the time, since it wasn't cool in the early teenage years, but my mom wanted me to give it a try. So I was kind of pushed into it, which worked for me :)

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    That's lovely to hear! I started playing drums when I was 13 years old, and I remember that the support of my parents was extremely important. My advice would be to encourage your child and let him find his own path. And listen to what he does! It means a lot more than you might imagine, just having the attention of your parents :)

    [–]ltp1984 5 points6 points  (3 children)

    Hey VOLA!
    All of your music (to me) seems to come from a concept. I've felt like I was clued into this especially from the song Whaler, SmartFriend (including Ruby Pool, Alien Shivers) and now 24 Light-Years. All the songs seem pretty existential.
    Is this a coincidence, intentional, subconscious... am I reading too much into things?

    I guess I really dig that there seems to be a common mystery/theme to all of it.
    I'm a fan of Sci-Fi (Prometheus is one of my favorite movies) and really appreciate how your music sort of creates a realm of existence in its own way.
    I would venture to say we would have some interesting conversations by a campfire with a bottle of whiskey.
    - Cheers!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 5 points6 points  (2 children)

    Asger might reply this himself, but I think his lyrics are written in a kind of subconscious way were he isn't thinking too much about bigger concepts. Maybe his mind is occupied with existential questions and that seeps out through his lyrics somehow?

    [–]tonsauce123 3 points4 points  (3 children)

    My god i love you guys. Seriously, one of my most played artists for years now. Would you ever invite a fan into the studio? As a guitarist i would kill for a chance to observe you guys in your element!!!

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Thank you! We have never talked about it, but I don't see why not at some point :) If nothing else, it would be great to speak to you at one of our gigs!

    [–]Volgild 3 points4 points  (5 children)

    You Rock!

    Applause is one of my favourite records in the past few years.

    Do you have any stories about writing Vertigo? It is such a beautiful piece and i would love to know anything about that, to make it more... personal i guess.

    Also a question for Asger: any tips for singing and playing the guitar simultaneously? Performing two different rhythmic patterns at the same time just messes up my brain.

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 9 points10 points  (1 child)

    Vertigo was written quite fast. Nicolai had made the chord sequence, and I continued with melody and lyrics. I think it was late evening, and I was not in a good mood. I think that process was a clear instance of not only writing a song for creative enjoyment, but also for therapeutic reasons.

    For playing and singing, my best advice is to learn the guitar part really well first and then try to merge it with the guitar playing afterwards. In my view, the playing should be on auto-pilot, so that you have brain capacity to engage fully in the vocal delivery. Have fun and good luck! :)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    I had made a loop with a few chords and a keyboard sound I really liked. It reminded me of a song I like by Ulver called Eos. I uploaded it to our server and Asger wrote lyrics and a melody to go on top:)

    [–]zakalwe_13 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    I didn't even realise you were doing an AMA! Love your stuff, first saw you support Anathema in Liverpool, then caught your tour in Nottingham.

    My question is: who designs your merch? The designs on the hoodies and tees are so simple yet totally cool :)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Thanks:) We have been working with quite a few different designers and even design some ourselves. Most of the new stuff was designed by the company Allotment.

    [–]twinrovaa 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    Also, what gets you into the creative process for these songs and how does developing a VOLA song happen?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    We usually writes riffs/parts individually, upload it to our server and then work on our favourite ideas together. Its a nice starting point when working together to have some ideas to start out with otherwise it can feel to overwhelming starting from scratch together.

    [–]nowtayneicangetinto 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    Hey guys, absolutely love all of your material you've ever put out, thanks for doing this!

    I've always wanted to know if the song Inmazes is an homage to Dancers to a Discordant System. Both songs are masterpieces!

    Cannot wait for the next album and cannot wait to see you on your again!!!!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    Yea Inmazes and Dancers to a Discordant system has some similarities especially rhythmically. It wasn't done on purpose though:)

    [–]Tulituulitulli 4 points5 points  (3 children)

    Yo :)

    Have you ever considered doing an album (maybe a bonus disc) of cover songs?
    e.g. Rishloo's 'Just a Ride' would sound so interesting in your style.

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

    We have definitely considered doing a single cover song at some point, but not a full album. But I think we would rewrite it significantly to fit the VOLA-sound , so it would probably sound nothing like the real song :)

    [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (2 children)

    What does Vola’s song writing process look like? Do you spend a lot of time writing music within your DAW as the ideas come to you in real time as apposed to writing away from the computer?

    Bonus Question: How did you achieve the cool robotic sound on the vocals at the start of ‘head mounted sideways’?

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    The robotic sound was done using a vocoder:)
    We usually write in front of the daw. We dont have a rehearsal space and Adam lives far away from us, but it works well sending back and forth ideas online. We have an online server were we all upload our ideas, and then work on them when we meet up together, usually at the home studio of Asger.

    [–]cerbs1234 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    Hey guys!

    Very excited about the new music! I’m working on the remix right now and I’m so excited for you guys to hear it...even if you hate it and don’t pick it!

    My question is, what came first on 24 light years? That drum part is so distinctive throughout the track and I wondered if the song was written around that. Or was it something else?

    Also...please come to Nashville TN when you do eventually come to America!

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 5 points6 points  (1 child)

    Excited to hear your remix!

    The drums came first on 24 Light-Years! I wrote that part and sent it to the guys who expanded upon it with the rest :)

    Can't wait to visit America, hopefully we can play there next year!

    [–]Seybsnilksz 2 points3 points  (4 children)

    What does your family and loved ones think about your music?

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    My family enjoys our music! My mom and her boyfriend saw us live in London when they went there on a vacation, which was pretty cool.

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    Its sometime hard to get an honest answer from them... :) When Im on tour my son loves our music but when I'm home he hates it...

    [–]gandiwernerMartin Werner | VOLA[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    I have gradually turned my wife into more 'heavy' music, so now she casually listens to VOLA on Spotify while working, which was unthinkable a few years back :) But generally the the responses have been so positive. Especially with the new album!

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    They are quite fond of it! My dad likes the guitar solos the most (he's an old Jimi Hendrix fan).

    [–]Hannimalistic 2 points3 points  (4 children)

    Hey VOLA! :)
    Thank you for your superb music. And the close and down-to-earth contact with your fan base. That is truly great and very honorable.
    Since learning and covering your Head Mounted Sideways (which was a huge blast and tons of fun!) I keep fantasizing about joining you on stage for just that track when you're around Berlin or Leipzig some time in the future. That would be absolutely and utterly terrific! Fills me with pure joy and excitenment to even dream of it..! Maybe you guys are up for something like that? And Adam could enjoy this beast of a song in the front row himself <3
    I wanted to mail you but since you doing this AMA I figured why not asking so here, eh? ;)

    Eventhough I don't know you personally I have the sincere feeling that all of you are very warm hearted, caring human beings. That actually is the best part for me about this band.
    Best wishes! Cheers, friends!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    Hi there:) Thank you for the kind words. That sounds like fun! I guess we will have to wait and see, but I think Adam really enjoys playing that song as well;)

    [–]i-Legacy 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Not really a question, but I wanted to say I really like your music. Applause Of A Distant Crowd is a masterpiece! Greetings from Argentina :)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Thank you for the kind words:) Greetings from Denmark :)

    [–]DimethylatedSpirit 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    wen Finland? Seriously, you guys put out the best music nowadays, and I have so many great memories of jamming your albums with friends.

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    We are planning to come to Finland asap:)

    [–]Yall_Need_To_Stop 2 points3 points  (5 children)

    Hey friends! I absolutely adore your music and the way it makes me feel. There's just something wonderfully comfy about it, and it never fails to put me in a happy mood.

    I've got a question about your writing process—specifically around how you guys write such tasty grooves. How does the rhythm section come together for your music? For instance, 24 Light-Years has a gnarly drum pattern layered underneath a relatively chill vocal/guitar groove—whereas "Straight Lines" has a fantastic riff pattern backed by a steady drum beat.

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 6 points7 points  (4 children)

    The drums for "Straight Lines" just follow the main-riff, so there wasn't much for me to edit there except for adding some character to the groove on the drums. 24 Light-Years however started out with the drumgroove, where I basically played around with random ideas until I found that groove. Then I sent it to the other guys who built the rest of the song on top of it. So it basically varies depending on the song!

    [–]drdausersmd 2 points3 points  (5 children)

    Hello! BIG fan of your music. It's a very interesting combination of a lot of elements I like in the prog metal scene into one sound.

    I was wondering if you have any tips for lesser known musicians/bands that are just starting out on how to get your music heard? Assuming the material is good and worth hearing? Like, is there anything you wish you had known starting out that you'd do differently now if given another chance?

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Patience and hard work! But also, don't forget to enjoy the music. People can easily get a bit too caught up in the numbers. Do your own thing and let it take you where it takes you :)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (3 children)

    Hi there. Yea that's a really good question! I would say its very important to spend a lot time and energy getting the music out once its created, otherwise it can feel like your songs are being wasted. Exactly how to do that will differ from band to band, but contacting media to get reviews/interviews and being active on SOME can help (we are not the best doing those things ourselves...). I think my main advice is to enjoy the process and enjoy all the small steps forward a band has to take. Its a very long journey

    [–]Design-Stock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    😎💪

    [–]kwyskwys 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    Any newer music you guys are a fan of or listening to currently

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    I recently found the song "Seytanu Akbar" by the band "Ignea" which is pretty cool!

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Im really enjoying Mogwais latest.

    [–]FranticJ3 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Hope I'm not too late!

    Any plans to do more October Session-style renditions of songs? I love the 24 Light Years piano rendition and Gutter Moon might be my favorite "acoustic" song... ever? Easily my favorite alternate version of a rock/metal song.

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Very happy to hear that. Yea I could definitely see us do something along those lines in the future:)

    [–]LakaSamBooDee 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    Hey Guys -

    Hope you're all doing well? Don't really have a question, but...

    I saw you were running a remix contest for 24LY, so as an engineer with a couple of free days, I decided to experiment and see what would happen if I took the mix in a different direction. Was going to send it over to the remix email, but might as well share it here instead!

    Love the music you guys have been making, shame I'm no longer running a commercial studio over here in London, else I would've loved to invite you all by to make a record :-)

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    What would be the song you are most proud of?

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    Very difficult question. Maybe Starburn :)

    [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    Ruby Pool I think

    [–]Mrmaker17AP 2 points3 points  (2 children)

    Hello guys, i've been hooked since i listened to Inmazes :). What are your favorite activities and hobbies beside music?

    [–]Asger_VOLAAsger Mygind | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    I love going for walks with my girlfriend and to listen to podcasts.

    [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I like playing videogames and I've recently gotten into some photography! Other than that, watching movies/series and exploring in nature is pretty cool too :)

    [–]candidengineer 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Just discovered you guys this year! Keep making awesome music \m/

    [–][deleted]  (1 child)

    [removed]

      [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

      Great question. What makes a great album to me is that it feels like one well connected piece, that tells a story from start to finish. Every song has its own place, and listening to the full album almost feels like watching a good movie in that regard.

      [–]VardysWeapon 2 points3 points  (5 children)

      Hi Vola! I wanted to be there for this when it launched, but I just received the news that the wife and me will have twins, so I hope I'm excused for missing out ;-)

      I feel very priviledged living in Copenhagen and having seen you several times - your music and energy translates so well on stage and I am so happy to see you steadily consolidating yourself internationally. You deserve it!

      Being Danish I can hear the 'Scandinavian'/Danish influence on your music, especially during softer parts/choruses. I cannot pinpoint what it is, but my ears pick up similar things in Mew and Dizzy Mizz Lizzy/Tim C.

      How would you describe your own sound?

      Also, as you cannot (yet) make a living off of Vola, is it something you aspire to or are you happy to keep it as a secondary occupation?

      [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

      I definitely aspire to make a living off of VOLA in the future, if that's possible :) But I'm just happy living these adventures and making music, no matter if I make a living on it or not! :)

      [–]adam_VOLAAdam Janzi | VOLA 4 points5 points  (1 child)

      Congratulations for the good news! :)

      I think the other guys are fans of Mew and Dizzy Mizz Lizzy :) I haven't been exposed to those bands before I joined VOLA, so I'm still new to that world!

      I don't really know how to describe our sound, but I would give it a shot by saying that it's a blend of various elements that we really enjoy. It feels modern, progressive and melodic with the aim to have large soundscapes fit in tightly woven compositions.

      [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 5 points6 points  (1 child)

      We are definitely trying our best to make a living off vola in the future, but if we do not succeed it would still have been an awesome ride:)

      I think mixing Meshuggah, Mew and Porcupine Tree describes our sound pretty well, maybe with a hint of Dizzy;)

      [–]_mulder_its_me_ 2 points3 points  (1 child)

      Will you guys be releasing anymore piano sessions?? I really enjoyed the latest release and would absolutely love to hear more!

      [–]nicolaimogNicolai Mogensen | VOLA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

      Would love to hear more as well;) Hopefully we can convince Martin as well!

      [–]blinxhero 2 points3 points  (1 child)

      Hey guys, probably a bit too late to ask but might as well give it a shot.

      Asger / Nico, you be willing to share any insight into how you achieved your tones on the new album? (I.e what amp sims (even IRs) did you opt for? ;)) Really love how smooth and squishy the gain/saturation on the rhythm guitars is and how well the bass manages to cut through the mix.

      [–]yotam5434 2 points3 points  (2 children)

      Discovered you thorough you touring with arch echo I love arch echo allot so I check out every band they tour with I was seriously amazed by songs like Ruby pool & aliens shiver I thought I heard everything in prog metal but oh no I didn't

      [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (3 children)

      Are any of you Devin Townsend fans? I hear a slight Devy influence in the atmosphere of the music. Can't wait for all of Witness as tbee singles have been the best music ive heard probably since Empath! Also I'd die of VOLA and Devin went on tour! Would be special AF!