INTERVIEW: ANGELO PERLEPES’ MYSTERY

 

Genre: Neoclassical metal

Country: Greece

Questions by: Nick Parastatidis

Answers by: Angelo Perlepes (Guitars)

Site: Facebook

1. Angelo, it's great to have you back. It's been 21 years since Destiny. What's it feel like to finally be releasing new music with Spelled By Fire after all this time?

Thank you. It’s liberating I must say...

 

2. Twenty-one years is a significant amount of time. What was happening in your life during that period? Were there moments when you considered stepping away from music for good, and what ultimately brought you back to the point of creating Spelled By Fire?

A lot of things happened in my life but I’ll never said to myself “I had enough”! That album had to be released about 20 years ago,but even after all these years I felt time was right and decided to record “Spelled by fire”.

3. Considering the 21-year gap, I imagine some of these songs have a long history. Can you tell us about the oldest composition on Spelled By Fire—a song you might have written many years ago—and then, what about the most recent one? Which track was the very last one to be finished for the album?

The oldest track is “Spelled by fire, pt.3” which was recorded on a 4-track -cassete-recorder back in 1988! I gave it to my sister for a choreography but decades after I saw the possibility to create a three piece part instrumental like a baroque suite. The last composition was “For the love of God”.

  

4. As a long-time listener, Spelled By Fire feels like a powerful new chapter, but also like it's part of the same story. From your perspective, what are the key differences between this album and your previous work? What did you do to make it feel both familiar and completely new?

There no big differences from the older outputs but a constant progress  towards my vision!

5. I heard a story about a major obstacle you faced during the recording process—specifically, that a hard drive failed and you lost some of the initial takes. That must have been incredibly frustrating. Can you tell us about that experience? And in hindsight, do you agree that being forced to re-record everything ultimately benefited the album and in which way?

The only problem was that during recordings the previous singer couldn’t sing anymore ! So I had to make a quick and to the point decision.

6.  The project is called 'Angelo Perlepes' Mystery,' and you are clearly the central figure, but you’ve also worked with many different musicians over the years. Do you consider yourself a solo artist with a backing band, or do you view 'Angelo Perlepes' Mystery' as a band in the true sense, with a shared creative identity?

I’ve always concidered A.P.Mystery a band but also a chamber orchestra and myself as a composer and conductor! I pick the right musicians to do the right work. That’s all.

7. Your collaboration with singer Billy Vass on Spelled By Fire has already garnered some very positive comments. Could you tell us about how that collaboration came about? What made him the right choice for this album, and what unique qualities or contributions do you feel he brought to the compositions as a vocalist?

I know Billy for over 20 years now and I knew it from his audition that he was the right man for that particular work! I was right because he sang the whole material in 2 days which is something!

8. The album is titled Spelled By Fire, which suggests a powerful, almost mystical theme. Who handled the lyric writing for the album, and can you tell us about some of the main lyrical themes or concepts explored in these songs? Is there an overarching story or message that connects the tracks?

All I can say is that’s a concept album based on a universal theme about the conflict of two CosmoTheories in an allegorical manner! But if somebody accepts the lyric part as a fantasy story it’s O.K. by me.

9. You've been described as a master of neoclassical metal, and that sound is often traced back to two giants: Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. As a guitarist and a composer, how did these two musicians affect your playing? Do you find yourself leaning more toward one's style over the other, and if so, why?

I used to listen to guitar players from the 60’s and the 70’s and music from the past centuries. That’s me!

10. Angelo, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us about Spelled By Fire and your remarkable return to music. It’s been a pleasure. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans, or any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with?

Thank you for having me…

Keep listening to the album and Music with capital M!!!