Defying Expectations With LUCAS, NAV And MERRY From TO OCTAVIA

Melbourne rock/metal outfit To Octavia have shown their hand early
in their career, resisting the temptation to follow in the path of
easier acceptance in preference for staying true to their
art.
With the breakout success of their EP Somewhere In A World, Not Of
The Dream, it would have been tempting and sensible to rehash the
same winning formula for their debut album Melodrama. Their sound
had obviously struck a chord with the music-loving public, and more
of the same would have likely instantly propelled them into the
next level of aspiring artists. But more of the same wasn't on the
minds of To Octavia, who instead followed a darker, heavier path
more in keeping line with their own musical progression, leaving
behind the safety net they had worked so hard for and once again
throwing their choices and music at the mercy of the public.
It was a decision that has already shown dividends with four
singles already making a splash, and with Melodrama coming out this
Friday, October 31, it seems like the band's bold decision to defy
expectations is not going to backfire on them.
HEAVY caught up with guitarist Nav Jay, vocalist Merry Kirk-Holmes
and drummer Lucas Keurntjes to chat more and start by asking how
they are feeling on the cusp of the album's release.
"Very excited," enthused Merry. "This album has been in the works
for a very long time, so it's really exciting to finally get it
out."
We ask the boys to dive deeper into Melodrama musically.
"We were all on the same page when we were writing it and taking it
to whatever it was going to be," Merry replied. "We didn't know it
was going to be an album at the time. But I guess there's more of a
darker tone than the previous EP, Wonderland, which is a bit more
upbeat, a bit more poppy and rocky. We decided naturally that we'd
go back to our more metal influences, like our roots, really. And
that led to experimenting more and more with different kinds of
sounds and things."
In the full interview, To Octavia tell us more about the musical
side of Melodrama and how it is heavier than previous offerings.
They detail their thoughts on taking the music in a darker
direction and discuss the need to further expand their sound rather
than play it safe.
They discussed how their music has grown and will continue to grow,
how Nav is fitting in to the band, the risk of alienating existing
fans with the new direction and more.


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