Interview with Florian Gray

Music should not be free

Wikipedia rather dryly describes the musical project Florian Grey as a dark rock-pop band from Hamburg with melodic vocals and dark energetic songs. Florian Grey started in 2013 as a solo artist with a changing live lineup. Since 2016 the line-up has remained the same, so Florian Grey can be described as a hybrid of solo performer and band. Over the years, the band has gained national notoriety and has performed in Germany and internationally with Tarja Turunen, Doro Pesch, Saltatio Mortis, Lacrimas Profundere, Poison Black and others. On the occasion of the release of the new record, the frontman of the project kindly agreed to answer a couple of our questions.

What provided the emotional and creative foundation for your new album?

Destroying Kingdoms is very personal one which focuses on the inner struggle finding back to yourself after you fell. Its close to daily life where anybody can struggle with mental health and heartache. You rebuild something which was taken from you or was destroyed. Its also our hardest album yet most melodic one. My perusal road to redemption, so to say.

What has been your biggest influence as a musician?

Life and love have always been my biggest when it comes to write music. But also stories in general. These where you find yourself in or be the witness in daily life. All the stories that happen around you which won’t always have me and myself in the center of the attention. I think it is important to keep yourself open to the little ships that may pass or float through your personal cosmos.

Many musicians got into music because they had dark times, misunderstandings with loved ones, and other problems. What can you say about yourself?

When I was young I mainly got into music because I wanted to rock, play shows and have great time with my band mates. At one point I had the desire to create something musically and started to write whatever rocked my boat. Back in the day my mum used to act in a TV Series, she is a very talented painter and my Dad had a concert agency, so i grew up with that which definitely somehow soaked in, so to say. But of course, heartache in every aspect can be catalyst for artistic freedom.

We live in a time where all musical styles and trends have blended together. How would you characterize your style of music?

The guys and me call our style alternative dark rock. We like to combine all sorts of musical styles including catchy melodies and heavy guitar riffs. It’s influenced by all kind of genres like alternative, rock, metal, pop, synth or even sometimes musicals. I for myself have always been a fan of great melodies paired with a catchy hook line and a heavy heart. Its dark and gloomy but there is always a glimmer of hope and warmth peaking through the curtain.

What would you say are the most catchy things in your music?

It depends on the song, it can be a nice guitar riff, a great synth or piano melody or a touching voice line. It could also be the fact that I am fearless to be influenced by whatever kind of musical genre. When you stop thinking in the ways that „its not rock or goth or metal, I don’t sing or write it“ - then you have the freedom to create something which is 100% you. So I just hum along to melodies that come to mind and I try to bring them down on paper or track them on my music software.

What song would you recommend music fans start exploring your work with?

Oh that is a tough one, its like choosing one kid over the other. Haha

I’ll give you three songs of our new album Destroying Kingdoms: Starless Skies, Lie To Me and Our Undefined Loneliness. These are in my opinion representative for our music.

What is the main difference between your new works and your previous albums in terms of sound?

When the work on a new album starts we always want to improve ourselves in exploring new sound(s), new melodies or experimenting for example with the voice. When you have a good producer, which we are very happy to have and had in the past, then he can give you new input and open your mind for thing you maybe did not consider possible. Like crafting something together makes you improve yourself with every album production. On our first album gone has this musical and mystic sound to it while "Ritus" has this more organic and band sound, which we wanted to it. On the new one, "Destroying Kingdoms" we combine the sound from its predecessors. It’s always a challenge wanting to create something timeless and modern at the same time. I might say in our humble opinion we have achieved our goal in terms of the sound on this record.

I noticed that you also work as a music journalist. Which interview was the most challenging for you?

Yeah, its a lot of fun and I really love this kind of work. I wouldn’t say that I am a music journalist, I rather call it for myself working in music journalism, since I did not study that. A strong 99% percent of the interviews which I had the pleasure to do with fellow artists and musicians, were only positively challenging. I always try to have a great and nice time with my interview partners. So its all been great so far and I had only nice and warm experiences here. Because the interview is not about me or all that, its about my opposite and how I can tease out some facts about them in an informative and a nice entertaining way while they have a good time promoting their art.

Who is responsible for the main concept in your band? I mean, the main themes of your art, cover art, new music videos…

Well that would be me.Haha. After brainstorming with the the guys in the band to get their ideas or point of view, I am the one who sits next to the cover artist, the producer in the studio or writing concepts for music videos. Building something together after the ideas and images in my head is what really like working on including having a creative exchange with everybody involved on the way to the final design or piece. I am very thankful that we are able to work with great minds and talented people around the band who get my vision.

When it comes to music videos I like to have an additional creative input from the director, since he knows his art and best. There has to be trust in your director, since the is the one who makes you and the clip look good in the end.

Is there any song you listen to that and you think “damn, I wish I owned that song!“?

Every artist has had this where you say: Wow, I wish I wrote that“- kind of thoughts but I am not a jealous person since I know how much of hard work and effort is behind any song. When I love a specific song I listen to it over and over and I am feeling sympathy for the artist who wrote it. Sometimes as a musician you need to remind yourself just listening to music and not analyzing every aspect and melody of the song. On the other hand a song can be inspiring too. A tracky Yin & Yang situation - the struggle is real, haha.

Your press release says that your logo consists of two crosses that symbolize the good part and the evil part. Were you able to get along with your dark/evil part?

Yes they mainly stand for the balance. Without good, there is no evil and the other way around. An interpretation of the Yin & Yang Symbol which I created 15 years back. It also stands for an F and an G if you add a line on each cross.

I think I can speak for all of us that there are bright and dark sides in us. But in my opinion what matters most is how vigorously you feed inner demons. I for myself know my „dark sides“ and manage somehow to get along with them in a way which is not affecting my daily life or the people around me. I can imagine that it is not as easy as it sounds for some but its a part of who you are and the earlier you accept them you can turn them into something good or creative. Maybe to be a little help for people who are struggling.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a musician for you?

In general its a lot of fun since I take myself not too serious. For me its about writing music and going on tour, having a great time with the people on a show. Challenging is the fact that in times of making music a fair compensation for artists becomes more and more less relevant. Music as art hasn’t been and never should be all for free because its actually a lot of work, money and effort to write and produce a new album. Fortunately there is a humble awakening of listeners and people out there again who are supporting their favorite artists or music. I want to say it not only for our band, I mean all of us. I hope they know how thankful we are for them and how much they are needed to do what we love.

In your opinion, what are you missing to become a world famous super-big-rock-star?

Oh. What an interesting question. I am undecided between A) hard work and never give up the hope or B) a duet with Pink or Miley Cyrus, a Disney deal and 10 million dollars, haha

You are also preparing a tour next year. Will it be a tour only in Germany or are other European countries also included? Should we expect any unusual guests with you on stage?

Yes. We are excited to support our label mates Manntra on their War of the heathens tour in spring through Germany, Poland and Switzerland. If you want to join us you can find the dates and ticket links on our socials and web page, also on Manntra`s channels. I am really looking forward to this since there are songs on our new album which we haven’t played live yet. In terms of guests I can say that our buddies from Soulbound will join a couple of the tour dates, which is exciting and I am sure we’ll have a great time.

After that we are working on some strong ideas for 2024 which is too early to talk about yet, so I'll keep keep it mystical and surprising instead.

And a word or two for our readers and music fans…

1. Thank 2. You hahaha

The guys and me hope you enjoy(ed) this interview and our music even more. Sending lots of hugs and love to all of you!

Jenet Bonishi