With dramatic black make-up and dark outfits, the musicians of Since April on stage, their long hair hanging loose in their faces. Already in the first bars of the new song they start headbanging in sync with the intense guitar, bass and drum sounds. But then singer Umut comes in with a clear, emotional voice. The theme of the song: mental health. The black make-up stripes on her face and arms symbolize her own scars.
Mental Health and Metal – isn’t that a contradiction in terms? On the contrary, says singer Umut: “Heavy rock actually reflects the emotions best. I can’t imagine a pop singer singing about depression.” Since April have been playing together in this line-up since 2018. Their first album “Escape” was released in 2019 and was a great success for the band. The songs were even played on the radio in Great Britain and Australia, more than 20 concerts were planned, they played as the opening act for the well-known metal band Mister Misery. But then, like so many other artists, she was hit by the corona pandemic.
This time was very challenging for the band members, both professionally and privately. Nevertheless, they used them directly for new songs in which they process the experiences of the pandemic. The result is the new album “Bury the Mask”, the first half of which was released on August 11th. With their album they want to create a “safe space for lost souls”, as they write on their website. “We think that you can pack a lot more with music than with lyrics alone,” explains guitarist Manu. Especially in a world that is becoming more and more complex, and in which one sometimes lacks the words for one’s own problems, they want to be a place of refuge and a voice.
They want to send a positive message with their music, like in the new song “Light”: “Don’t loose hope, remain in the light”, sings frontman Umut in the refrain. This message also fits perfectly with the hard sound of the band, because sometimes in a bad phase you “just want to hit something and scream everything out,” says singer Umut. That works better with heavy rock than with Ed Sheeran, for example.
Although a concert by Sheeran was actually Umut’s inspiration to start making music himself. He wanted to be able to trigger the same in his fans. And that’s exactly what they want to do at the concerts and on the tour, which should finally work out: “We want to be the hand that we give to the fans and that they can grab if they don’t feel seen or understood,” says guitarist Manu.
Since April
Style: heavy rock
Occupation: Umut Uysaler (vocals) / Manu Satzger (guitar/vocals) / Marin Kostek (guitar) / Gonzo Urgel Tendero (bass) / Robert Merkl (drums)
Since: 2018
Internet: https://sinceapril.com/