CONSORTIUM PROJECT INTERVIEW

Another album by Ian Parry and his CONSORTIUM PROJECT, and another reason for Benjamin to ask Ian some questions about this great progressive power metal project ...

Interview by Benjamin A. Genach

First of all, congratulations on another great album. Let's hear a bit about how it all came together ...

"I started working on C 3 back in May 2002, working at home on Pro-tools writing a few songs, then working together with Joshua Dutrieux (Elegy Keyboard Player). Joshua had written 5 tracks in a more Symfo style and we sat down in his studio and using the basic concept story, search to see which songs suited the atmosphere throughout the different parts of the concept story. Alot of emphasis was put on finding analogue synthesizer sounds. I took the basic guide drums,vocals and keyboard track with guide guitar played by Joshua on a back up hard drive in Dec '02, to Tampa Florida. There together with Casey Grillo and his colleague Robert Finan, we started recording drum and bass tracks at Casey's studio "Above the C". I then spend a number of months working on close harmony parts with different female singers and recorded a duet with the Dutch actrice Ingeborg Wieten. The final stage was to record the main body of guitars with Stephan Lill and mix at the Bazement studios near Frankfurt with Marcus Teske (where Vanden Plas recorded their last 2 albums). Having 88 tracks to mix we used the Digial Performer music programme and moto interfaces. Obviously we had a lot of software plug-ins at our disposal,but i always like to use some analogue equipment such as Summit dual compressor /limitor DCL 200, to give added warm on the vocals. The result this time is a great production, great songs and a believable concept taking us on a mystical journey."

How will you describe your new album compared to your previous album? (I mean musically).

"Terra Incognita (the undiscovered world) is far more symphonic than the other 2 consortium albums and includes more choirs and harmony vocals from great female singers. The prog and metal elements combined with a great production, helps enhanced the concept more."

How will you describe the concept of the new record? And isn't hard to always come up with new ideas for conceptual albums? And where do you get your inspiration from?

"Terra Incognita (the undiscovered world) is the third part of a Trilogy concept story. It's set in the future after the species (as written in the concept story of C 2) is split into 2 seperate entities by women who save the planet from self-destruction. In the new world the new generation uncover ancient writings written in stone and conclude they have to venture on a journey to discover Terra Incognita where it is written lives the monomales (men). My aim was to finish the Trilogy with a happy ending and as with C 2, i started with the title for the album "Terra Incognita" in Latin meaning the undiscovered world and compiled the last part of the trilogy from there."

In the last interview we did you wrote "When I finish the last part of the Trilogy, we will do live shows and perhaps follow up with a live album". Do you stand by your word or have things changed since you wrote that?

"If the fans do us the honour by buying the C 3 album, instead of being tempted to copy or download it, then we will be able to cover the rising costs and take the Consortium trilogy on the road."

Now when you have finished the part III, does this then means the end of Consortium Project or will you carry on? Or will you focus more on Elegy at this stage?

"I'll leave the backdoor open for a C 4 album, and leave this decision up to the fans. My colleagues from Elegy are also doing other things, so there is room to try different projects."

Usually the way to build up a band is to sign with a record label and over the course of 3-4 albums use all the sources of that label before moving on. However, with CP you've now released three different albums on three different labels. I guess that the "rule" I mentioned doesn't apply to a conceptual project like this then, hehe ... ? Or why did you have the need to change labels all the time?

"I was searching for a worldwide license deal this time and after things didn't work out with Elegy and Locomotive Music, i approached CMR and they not only complimented me on a great album and doing a great production, but immediately offered me a worldwide deal, so now i hope to reach more of our fans this time."

The difference between a steady band and a project like CP, is among others that you don't have to feature the same musicians each time, and that there probably ain't no situation where one musician feels he gets less time in the spotlight than the other ... what else makes CP so special and different than a real band?

"It's always lots of fun working on a Consortium album. I only work with my buddies and good people. There's no room for igo trippers. So i guess because everyone is so flexible it's makes Consortium Project work better and as i produce Consortium myself i can coordinate evrything and this seems to work easier."

There have been many project albums in the metal genre over the past couple of years, and many of them are of the so-called "heavy metal opera" style; Ayreon, Star One, Genious, Nostradamus, Avantasia, Once & Future King etc. Do you think the market is getting crowded with this? And, is it still an "original idea" to do something like that?

"It's hard to say if there is a market for Prog/Symfo metal because sales for most bands are not doing that well anymore. For me i have said all i can say in a lyrical concept, so now i wish to move on and try something new."

In addition to our last interview you quoted :"I'm glad that the sales are far better compared to the markets decrease in sales"! My question to you is, what are you thoughts, as a musician, upon the illegal copying and Mp3-swapping that is going on worldwide?

"I have seen sales drop dramatically over the past 2 years. This is mainly due to copying and downloading illegally, so if people start to buy c.d.'s and the prices worldwide are reduced, then things could improve. Otherwise we will see many bands splitting up. It's harder to get a recording deal these days and if you can't cover your recording costs, then bands will find it hard to record in the future."

Any thing you'd like to say?

"Terra Incognita (the undiscovered world) incorporates fact and fiction. This c.d. is full of powerful metal riffs and Symphonic passages, so give C 3 "Terra Incognita" a listen and join us on this mystical journey and hopefully it will take us back to Spain soon. Have a great Christmas and the best of luck to you and your Readers in 2004."