Interview with LONE ASSEMBLY (1/2)

Automatic translation. Improvements are constantly being worked on.

With “Knots & Chains”, Lone Assembly present a debut that moves between darkness and awakening. The Swiss band brings wave and synthpop elements from the 1980s into the present and weaves them into a unique sound. We spoke to singer Raphaël Bressler about control, inner tensions and the search for balance.

Music as a framework

The album deals with the subject of control. Where does the inspiration come from to translate this feeling into songs? “I think that what the songs express always comes from something that I have worked through deeply over a long period of time,” Raphaël looks back. “It’s then simply a question of bringing that back out into the open – on the piano, through the words I choose for our songs. So it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where things come from, but I think it’s important to recognize that we all have our own capsule in which we process emotions in very individual ways. Personally, I use my ‘tools’ – my voice, my music – to tell stories, to try to understand what I’m going through and to figure out why I act the way I do. Music often becomes the framework that helps me put it all into context.”

Even higher

“Personally, I think ‘In the Open’ is the song that surprised me the most,” Raphaël recalls about surprises during the production of “Knots & Chains”. “We had created a foundation that we all liked, and I remember the guys being with me while I presented different vocal ideas, especially for the chorus. Eventually I came up with something that was pretty close to what we ended up keeping. I remember Glenn really pushing me and saying things like, ‘You could go higher.’ I followed his suggestion, but honestly wasn’t sure of the direction the song was going in at first. Glenn and Romain, on the other hand, were totally convinced by what they heard and eventually convinced Jim and I to go that way.”

Katrin Hemmerling

Line-up:
Vocals – Raphaël Bressler
Guitar – Glenn Le Meur
Bass – Jim Bodeman
Drums – Romain Segu

We will be continuing our interview with Lone Assembly shortly. You can also find out more in our May/June issue.