with
Song River
The
Theatrical Legend Behind the Mask: Zardonic
This Is Today's Metal Music Revolution
Since
2004 one of Venezuela's top DJ acts in the world- Federico Augusto
Ágreda Álvarez, best known as Zardonic- is a creative heavy
electronic dance music force. As a composer, producer and remixer
Zardonic creates his own unique style under a trademark mask.
Having
recently taken part in the Loud Park Festival at the Saitama Super
Arena (Saitama, Japan October 8-9, 2016) Zardonic talks about one of
his favorite thrash metal heads from Exodus he appreciates. Along
with his extensive knowledge about EDM, its genres, sub-genres, and
the meaning behind possibly of how it is a part or not of the
'underground.'
For
Zardonic, the legend, the metal electronic master has given his all
to be and live his dream.
 |
Get ready to melt your metal power! |
Song
River: Zardonic as a symbol. Can you define it?
Zardonic:
The symbol of Zardonic represents the four vigils of life - Vigilia
(Awareness), Potentia (Strength), Constantia (Perseverance), Fortuna
(Prosperity). It is an unstoppable force capable of anything that can
be imagined in the human mind. It has been written in history several
times, watching after us for millennia, in old prehistoric
engravings, and even in mother nature (do a Google search for the
*Haploa Clymene and you'll see what I'm talking about). It is a
Guardian of Light in times of Darkness.
Song
River: Listening to your creation, the summation came to mind of
electronic metal opera. How close does that fit?
Zardonic:
As interesting as that would be, I have to admit I was never a fan of
Opera. It is a beautiful art form on its own, just not for me. I
wouldn't be opposed to it if someone did it right, though. There is a
bit of a theatrical element in the character so maybe you're onto something here!
Song
River: EDM is so hard it seems for people in the states to wrap their
brains around. With multiple genres, sub-genres, and subatomic
genres... well let's just say it... EDM is ever expansive. Wouldn't
you agree?
Zardonic:
EDM as in Electronic Dance Music will always be expanding, but the
current mainstream perception of the term EDM refers to a very
specific style that I don't think will be around much longer. It's
been done to death. And I think that will add to the driving force of
innovators to create new tendencies. The truth is that there are as
many Electronic Dance Music genres as there are substances on the
planet. If you keep digging, you'll find a new one.
Song
River: With countless combinations within composing what skills set
advice would you give to those just beginning to experiment?
Zardonic:
Start with something that sounds normal. It's easy to make weird from
normal, but it's not easy to make normal from weird. Too much
experimentation can also lead to chaos and you'll end up making some
sort of pointless creation that nobody really wants to listen to. As
much as experimentation is needed, familiarity is also needed in art.
If you splatter black paint on a white canvas, it looks cool but it
means nothing (although probably some art purist is being scammed
right now with something of the sort because he's being told it is
some piece by a famous painter whatsoever).
If
you add two eyes and a grin to the stain, it becomes a cartoon, which
people are familiar with. Or maybe a very sad face, or an animal
head, or a hand. In this case, you're going from weird to normal, but
if you do things the other way around, and start with a face, and
then revolve it in a blob, you'll end up shaping the blob like the
face you had in mind, and it will make more sense. There is always a
form principle, an aesthetic principle, that is natural and must be
followed. Then you can basically take that and make whatever the hell
you want with it.
Song
River: In truth, does there have to be more than just an 'ear' when
it comes to structuring EDM in any of its genres?
Zardonic:
Music is music, no matter what. Even for good DJing, you need to know
music. There's something called 'Harmonic Mixing' which is KEY to
every DJ set.
These
days we have software that helps us with that, but it's not perfect.
And if you don't know the keynotes and the compatibility you might as
well be screwing up.
Different
transitions work very well as well so it's not about keeping things
on the same note all the time either.
As
far as producing the tracks go, well, depends on how cheap you want
things to be. You can just mash things up and follow a formula and go
out there, or you can sit down for once in your life and actually
make music. There's just too much bubblegum music out there and all
the DJ's get the blame, you know? We live in times where a kid like
Borgore with such an impact in social media is making tracks about
girls taking drugs up their asshole and has the gonads to say Carl
Cox isn't big. I think you get the picture.
Song
River: Why is it you think EDM began as an underground motion and is
it ready to become mainstream? (In some countries it is, but in many
places, it still remains within the confines of a dark dance club
vibe).
Zardonic:
I don't think the genre defines your level of success. I know more
kids making commercial music who can't make a dime than broke artists
who make dark music. The underground market is a captive market,
waiting to fulfill the needs of those who crave something better than
the crap you hear on the radio. The only problem it has is precisely
the 'underground' mindset. People are convinced that underground is
underground, and it makes no money, and it doesn't sell, and they
repeat this message over and over again until it becomes true for
everyone.
I
said I was going to own the entire world doing what I love whether
it's dark or heavy or mellow or metal or underground EDM or whatever
I feel like making in the next few hours or next year. So far I've
headlined shows in over 35 countries including packed Stadium sized
arenas in Japan. That actually sounds pretty mainstream to me, and a
lot of my fans complain that I am becoming mainstream somehow. You
just don't see me spending my money in mansions and cars and credit
like the new rich kids do only to file for bankruptcy years later
because my purpose is different. I am not here to make money. I'm
here to make history. My fortune is measured in experiences. I can
guarantee you I've seen more places than a lot of people with 100
times the money I have in my bank account right now. Money just
follows hard work, and there is not one single day I am not working.
I've spent four Christmas holidays playing shows, left my home
country, my girlfriend who I will always love no matter what because
she was an amazing partner, but you have to decide what you really
want to do with your life.
It's
easy to be a motivational speaker and tell everyone to go pursue
their dreams. But have you asked the people, have you asked
yourself... are you READY to pursue your dreams? Do you REALLY want
it? Let me tell you, I will die before I fail. And if I died trying,
the mask is immortal, so I'll be sure to find a successor to continue
the legacy after my death. My lifespan is not a limit for me anymore.
We are all eternal and our bodies are but a vessel.
Song
River: If you were to describe the source of your power to create
Zardonic how would you?
Zardonic:
I remember every single soul out there that has gone through horrible
experiences and are walking the wrong paths because they were not
surrounded by the right people. I remember those who told me I
couldn't do this. I remember my current situation, how I feel and
why. What surrounds me directly and where do I want to go next.
I
also enjoy films and I am an avid gamer, although sadly for some of
my fans, not an online multiplayer kind of gamer. I'm more of a
Single Player kind of guy who enjoys immersive stories like Mass
Effect, Fallout or Skyrim. It's a different animal because it feels
like you're going to a movie and you have the power to make changes
to the plot as you please. Amazing soundtracks.
A
side of me is a little inspired by certain kind of villains. The guy
that hit me the hardest last time to the point I cried my face out
was Apocalypse in the latest X-Men movie. It's a shame how they made
him go down so easily, and that's my only complaint about the movie
and also the reason why I believe everyone bashed it so much. But the
character left a mark on me that could make me write an entire record
about him. Beautiful work by Oscar Isaac!
Song
River: In October you took part in the Loud Park Festival. How was
the experience? Anything, in particular, you yourself took away from
it?
Zardonic:
I don't think I've had a more mind blowing experience than this in
the past. Seeing all those metal heads enjoying a DJ set is
absolutely something new to me. The place was packed, the stage
setups were epic and I had the pleasure of sharing some quality time
with Marcos Rodríguez, my Venezuelan-born friend and guitarist of
the legendary German metal band Rage. I was also surprised when
Steven Souza of Exodus gave me props for my set. We're talking about
EXODUS! These guys pretty much invented thrash metal.
Creativeman
Productions put together one of the best shows I've ever seen and
with the help of JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment and Tower Records
we continued to promote the solo show I had on Monday after Loud
Park, and there I was running around with the mask, Joe Simmons of
Rocktagon Worldwide and David Ciemny of Live Talent who has served as
a tour manager for anything and everything from Lauren Hill to Lady
Gaga. The result was stellar. We put together a crew that did an
amazing job with the sound system and the visuals. I'll be posting
some videos as soon as I get a minute to open my computer and do it!
Song
River: Music in its complexity is meant to convey itself in a
universal language. When you perform, write, or even in studio
alone... how do you see yourself, your music and the world you are
sharing it with?
Zardonic:
I am here to prove everyone that at the end of the day, whether I'm
creating a certain mystique around the Zardonic character, the guy
wearing the mask is just a dude like you or me. And that's not meant
to kill the mystery. It's meant to tell everyone that you can do
whatever the hell you want and there is no one to stop you from it.
If you have the right energy, the right intentions, and the right
project, all you need is to put in the hard work and never stop.
Things eventually come to you.
You
see, sometimes in my shows, I am approached by people with lots of
problems. They come to the shows to forget them for a while. Why do
you think people so desperately seek drugs? These are kids with
everyday issues and I want to work as a catharsis for them. You can't
save everyone, but it fills me with joy when someone messages me and
tells me my music helped them through their hard times. That is what
Zardonic is here for. To give you POWER!
*Also,
Haploa
Clymene: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Clymene_Moth_(Haploa_clymene).jpg
"Pure Power"
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