Interviews: INTERVIEW: Tommy Hash interviews Hugo Flores from Sonic Pulsar/Project Creation
Posted on Thursday, February 09 @ 09:28:13 EST
Topic: Interviews
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Interview: Hugo Flores from Sonic Pulsar/Project Creation
By Tommy "Hashman" Hash
Providing his axework and musicianship to Sonic Pulsar, Hugo Flores took his musical stance many levels higher on his latest endeavor, titled Project Creation, for which this release is called “Floating World.” In the world of concept albums, Ayreon, Consortium Project, Aina, Avantasia, and so on have been at the forefront of the whole new breed of symphonic or art-rock projects that have set a the current standard for contemporary rock operas (or whatever you would like to refer to them as).
You could literally spend all day reading (press releases or reviews) about what the concept is about, and to be honest, experiencing the record itself is the right way to delve into the storyline. However, when it comes to completely understanding the album, creator Hugo Flores gives an interesting insight on what this record is about, and how it came about.
“I always wanted to do a bigger project capable of representing some of my dreams on a music album, and the idea of making a small World actually traveling in the Unknown, was really pushing its way on my mind. I also wanted to involve a great set of musicians for this,” begins Flores, “When I finished “Out of Place,” Sonic Pulsar’s 2nd album, I already had a few compositions that I’d been working on. Most were synthesizer based with a lot of atmospheric moods, and some were really asking for a sound boost and I needed to incorporate powerful distorted electric guitars. These first ideas were the basic foundations for “Floating World.” Some of the compositions were actually older songs that I wanted to re-arrange for quite sometime, and so I decided to combine these old and new ideas with my visions of a future civilization. Take Track 13 – “Cheops,” for example; it was written back in 1998! You guys may find that old version somewhere on the net (or ask me for it!). As the composition process progressed, the songs were gaining an epic scale, too big to handle only by myself! So, I though that it was a really good chance to do what I had in mind, that is, gather many talented musicians especially from the Portuguese progressive scene and do the first project of the kind in this country. This is why I created “Project Creation”, with 9 musicians playing in the album, so that I could apply my new ideas and styles on a different project with a distinct approach from Sonic Pulsar. Regarding the concept, I’m a sci-fi film and book lover. Sonic Pulsar’s essence is really Space and the Universe, blending these themes with more down-to-earth subjects. As you can see and hear, both Sonic Pulsar’s albums and Creation’s Floating World, do touch some sensitive issues, like society’s hypocrisy, politicians and greed, etc… The difference, regarding the concept, is that Project Creation follows a story line, and each song was composed to match each part in the story. So, it’s quite elaborate like you mentioned, not only in terms of concept and song structures, but also regarding the amount of time that I spent crafting the mixes. There are many details that maybe only heard after 5 listenings or so. I love the story, and the idea of having a World traveling in space, is part of my own dreams and hopes as a human being! Imagination is a wonderful thing.”
Nothing like this is created overnight, “Floating World” took two years to create. There was a lot of support from fellow musicians and his label (ProgRock) that helped the process move along, “I spent one year composing most songs and then, the second year, was to contact the musicians, make choices, and introduce the project to the guys, explains Flores, “After the recordings were complete, by the Summer of 2005, I spent my time mixing this thing! Really hard work, and ProgRock records also gave me some tips by the end to improve the final mixes. I think it came out very well, with a powerful sound. I remember the “pounding” sound showing the Floating World’s engines moving, on the first track. That was a combination of synth elements. Then the distorted choir was also a combination of my own voice, guitars and some synths. The idea was to have something no one ever heard, or near that! After the mixing was done, mastering followed by ProgRock Records, and Mr. Henning Pauly did a great master!”
Getting down to the actual writing of the record, it is interesting to see how Flores’ ideas all came together to make this record, and to see what actualy influenced the concept in general; and regardless of how much thought was put into this, the writing process went smoothly. “. I had some ideas for the story, and I also wanted to incorporate some other interesting elements as well, like the artificial sun and the meka dragonflies,” elaborates Flores, “Most of all, what is really the point of the concept is to show respect among species. This is especially mentioned in the last track, “Returning Home”. The track says that we must get along with each other, no one is better than the other, Creators and “Creaties” should respect mutually. The album really speaks of life. I even wanted to show that the Mechanical Dragonflies have a mind of their own, and dream about the day they’ll be able to live in a natural garden, instead of the artificial garden on the Floating World. I had 3 leading ideas: the Floating World, which really was like a small planet, with its own resources and a civilization living there, breeding, with several generations and controlling this world; I wanted the Satellite to feed a dead rock found by the scouting Dragonflies, and finally I had an image of the last part/song. Having these key points, I now started form track 1 which describes the World-Like ship, track 2 is a flashback to tell what is happening to their home world (analogy to earth), track 3 is the desert planet about to be reborn and finally, track 4 describes the Floating World’s civilization. These 4 tracks work as an introduction to the theme, and from this point on the story evolves, like a sci-fi movie or novel. Speaking of movies, I’m producing a video clip, having track 1 “The Floating World” as the single. This will be a great 3d/CGI film! So, the writing process went very well, although sometimes I had to correct a few things, so that I could have the possibility to continue the Creation’s saga. It’s imperative to take a few days to organize all the ideas (too many!), re-arrange them if required and established a master plan for a Project like this.”
And when it comes down to recording the record, it is almost if the writing process continued and took on a whole new life of its own. Again it was ideas that were written with precision, precisely for certain instruments. He does build his music upon songs and certain instrumental ideas, basically adhering to an evolutionary process. “I always enjoy that part when you’re discovering something new. I usually begin a composition on my synthesizer,” explains Flores, “It inspires me more than if it was made on the guitar or vocals (most times). I put my headphones, and I’m out of this world. Then I begin building and sculpting new parts and the feeling of having a new melody capable of moving you, and playing with your thoughts and sensations, is a truly fantastic feeling. What I really appreciate is when I have a melody, and then I see it gaining life, evolving into a song, and boosting this song with new parts to fit the lyrics/story. Sometimes, it works the other way round, and the song dictates the lyrics…”
“So, let’s see. The basis on synthesizers was made for each song. This is how I usually work. Then, I started adding the electric guitars thus pumping and reinforcing the overall sound. Then followed the acoustic guitars. Here I already had a second version of the album, and I was now able to show the “draft” songs to the musicians. Then we recorded the vocals on my studio. Myself, Linx and Alda worked on this for a while, although Linx recorded everything in less than 2 days! He’s extremely talented, has a great voice with a nice timbre, and he understood immediately the ideas for this album. It was done almost in real-time with much improvisation! He heard the songs and for 10 minutes we rehearsed. Then, we simply recorded all of it. I like spontaneity, since it captures the moment. Drums were recorded at Fxestudio, used by Forgotten Suns, Linx’s main band. Sax and woodwinds were recorded by Paulo Chagas at his own studio, and the same for the rest of the musicians, including the frenetic guitar solos by PtRocker.
I also made a plan, or a working schedule if you will, where I wrote where and when I thought Sax, Flutes, Cello and guitar solos would fit on each track. Same regarding the vocals. This was emailed to my fellow musician friends, and they worked on this before the recordings. We discussed new ideas, and improved my first ideas as well. They contributed in the best possible way to this CD.”
Like many musicians who contribute to or lead multiple projects, he makes it clear that his other band, Sonic Pulsar is a separate musical entity from Project Creation. Flores gives his opinions on how he feels his music, particularly Sonic Pulsar Vs. Project Creation is different from each other, “I like to keep different concepts and main ideas separate,” says Flores, “I really don’t want a big salad of concepts and sound approaches. From the beginning, I knew that the compositions I had on synthesizer were destined for a second project, since they were leading me to a different genre or sound approach. By that time, when I finished Out of Place, I had many of the Floating World songs, and I also had track 2 (from Floating World) which sounded a bit different than the rest of the tracks. The idea, by then, was to make 2 projects apart from Sonic Pulsar. One more concentrated on Rock/Jazz/Fusion and the other more Electronic Rock and Metal. However, these started to make more sense blended together. And so it was! Project Creation’s genres match the story, and, although focused on Prog Rock, they do wander through Jazz, Neo-prog, pop and sometimes touch Metal. Sonic Pulsar’s music may be a bit more “difficult” to hear, in my opinion. But this really is relative, because it depends on the listener’s mood, tastes, etc.. But as far as I'm concerned, has a listener myself, I find Sonic's music more aggressive, and it touches the edge of prog metal with a lot of odd parts and complex structures. I recall Schizophrenic’s Playground, which is considered by some as one of the best on “Out of Place”. Also, in Sonic Pulsar, you have songs that go up to 11 minutes, and with Project Creation, you have at the most, 7 minutes; but Floating World has got a full story flow. So, each song is easier to get into and is also well defined in terms of style…. Let’s take “I Heard of a Place called Earth” from Sonic’s Out of Place. This is a 10-minute song, with lots and lots of changes due to the theme and lyrics. You have many metal parts, and then abrupt changes to ambient parts. This happens often in our music… In Project Creation you will also find this, but with much softer passages and only in about 3 or 4 songs. The rest of the tracks are well defined from the beginning.”
There are quite a bit of musicians on the record, several guitarists, vocalists, a woodwind/sax player, keyboardists, string players, etc.. The basis for the use of these musicians was the fact that he wanted to use musicians from his home country Portugal. But it wasn’t so much that, it is the fact that commercial music that dominates the charts in Portugal overshadows any progressive rock scene there. “Prog rock is now a bit neglected here,” says Flores, “I thought that they should have a chance to emerge, and deserved this. Secondly, because I knew all of them, and knew their work. Every one of them is just a great musician, so it was quite easy to choose. Regarding the vocals, I was looking for a great voice, and Linx was immediately though of. Then, I needed a lyrical voice, quite high, and Alda was also chosen after some simple “auditions” of a few other female vocalists. For the Cello, there aren’t many available musicians to play the instrument, and Nuno was great because it has a music Degree, teaches the Cello and plays extremely well. I just showed him the musical notes on the synth, and he followed them instantly. He also played the bass guitar on a few tracks. It was a pleasure to count with these wonderful musicians that have a common goal, which is to make music above all.”
You often wonder with a project like this, what would influence such a work? Whether it’s movies, literature and of course, bands, the influences he mentions are obviously no surprise that he has the whole scope of different progressive rock related bands, seeing how Floating World’s musical styles change throughout the album. “The reason for having so many genres in my music is due to my constant need to seek for something new, and I look for this mostly in Space and the unknown. Remember 2001 – A Space Odyssey?” hints Flores about the Sci-Fi part of the record, “60% is music and sound, some of it is happy, some is mysterious, some frightening and upsetting, all emotions in Space, with a Monolith probably sent by a higher society as the maestro! Ok Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke are the true maestros there!! But it is amazing, as long as you’re in the mood and willing to understand it. This is why I also listen to diverse kinds of music, and do not stick with a genre or two. Universe has got many faces and melodies, so does music… I started to listen to David Arkenstone, when he was with Narada, making New age music mostly. I discovered some of the most beautiful melodies I ever heard, and they are still with me and move me. He’s into new age, world-music but also symphonic rock. At the same time, I enjoyed Steve Vai, Iron Maiden, among others. Now I listen to Rush, Dream Theater, Threshold, Within Temptation, Echolyn, Ayreon, etc..…. that is, most of this new breed of prog music. We are a sum of what we believe in, read, sea, hear and think. Anyway, when I imagine a song and a project, I record what passes through my mind without thinking of it commercially and if it would appeal more or less. I only do this when I have the possibility to arrange the song’s order, if that doesn’t mess the story line... I’m kind of out of line here regarding the question… eheh”
So having created such as work as Project Creation as well as continuing his musical prowess on the other end of things with Sonic Pulsar, he explains that his current state as a musician keeps going upward with every release; making “Floating World” and album of high feats for him; it is something for him to be proud of. “(“Floating World”) is a higher step, definitely. For three reasons I guess: I managed to do what I intended for quite sometime; I joined one of the best prog rock labels around, in my opinion (a big Hello you to Shawn!); and last but not least this is the album I’m most proud of, and this is so gratifying for me. I really don’t care about anything else, as long as I made what I wanted. If reviews are good, and the album sells well, that’s even better of course because it was simply a huge load of work, and I hope you guys out there will enjoy and feel this work! You can see the extreme care on each song, and all had to be as we wanted before a final release. Also, Floating World opens the door for 2 more Creation albums and a whole new perspective in sound for me.
How would one follow up to this project? Would Flores write another concept that would be entirely different, or would he write “Part Two” of “Floating World?” The new record is the first part of a trilogy that he is writing at this point; whereas the next album under the Project Creation moniker will be a continuation of the story, “The second album will follow the Floating World on its continuing journey. After the return to their home, to pick up the rest of the population, the civilization on the Floating World will continue a journey of discoveries.” Hints Flores about the follow up, “It will also show the evolution of Pyther, the recently created planet. In this album, you’ll encounter many new interesting things. However, it’s still in the first process of writing and composition. Remember that part where I had the foundations for Floating World? Well, that’s exactly where it is, so, we’ll still have to wait for a year or more to have a finished product. But it’ll most probably be entitled Project Creation - “Pyther.”
But what about Sonic Pulsar? That band is still alive and well and there plans to expand the band with more musicians, making it more of a band, rather than, say a studio project. “We were 3 musicians, and 2 more musicians will probably join the project now. My idea is to have a more “band-like” sounding album with the new musicians,” explains Flores, who now talks about what to expect from the next Sonic Pulsar release, “Concept wise, the album will differ from our 1st and 2nd. It’ll be more down-to-earth, more socially critic, obscure and city based. It will follow a day in the life of a normal citizen, and see that there’s more to one dull day than meets the eye… In terms of sound, I want to keep Sonic’s 2nd album’s sound, but giving it a more natural or free sound, if you will.”
As a producer, songwriter/composer, and musician, Flores has plans to contribute to the forthcoming Fred Lessing album (who played on “Floating World), however, he says that at this time, he does not have any plans to produce any other artists. Revealing what he has in store for us, he does have a lot going on; the third Sonic Pulsar Record, the next installment of “Floating World,” and even working on a metal driven project called “Dimensions” where he describes as “ (being) quite Bi-polar, that is, one song is depressive and the next could be the total opposite, frantic, out of control. It will travel through most human emotions and mind-states, but applying these to things other than humans as well.”
With the support of his record label, the progressive rock community, and all the musicians he continues to work with; Hugo Flores will no doubt to continue to align himself with musicians such as Arjen Anthony Lucassesn and Neal Morse among others, providing multi-dimensional music for the art-rock masses. He closes out with these remarks about the future, “to sum things up, I’ll continue my work, trying to improve from album to album,” concludes Flores, “I’m very, very demanding of myself, and I’m never 100% satisfied with my work. This is good in away, and bad in another, ‘cause I’m too perfectionist, to the point of spending days over a specific sound. But as long as I keep on making music, I’m happy. And I hope you guys continue to enjoy what I do!”
-Tommy “Hashman” Hash
www.sonicpulser.com
Teaser trailer and samples: www.prockrockrecords.com
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