r/progmetal • u/Native_Construct Native Construct • Apr 28 '15
AMA We are Native Construct, the prog metal band from Boston, MA. Ask us anything!
We just released our debut LP, Quiet World, via Metal Blade Records. Myles, Rob, and Max will be around for a few hours this evening to A your Q's!
Proof: http://i.imgur.com/9biaxRw.jpg
Edit: Thanks guys, this was fun! We've gotta go now, but if you still have questions, drop us a line on our ask.fm page and we'll get to them soon.
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u/H3terotr0n Apr 28 '15
Im listening to you for the first time right now and im halfway through Mute. I already hear BTBAM, David Maxim Micic, & The Contortionist vibes. Youre already amazing. This is gonna be a trip.
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u/scottofsc Apr 28 '15 edited Apr 28 '15
Do you guys have plans to play live? Haven't stopped jamming the album since the first listen, masterful stuff!
EDIT: Since you already answered this...Robert! Who are some of your biggest vocal influences?
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
All from various stages of my life, in no particular order: Mikael Åkerfeldt, Tommy Rogers, Freddie Mercury, Gerard Way, Michael Crawford, Michael Ball, and Mike Patton. Very much Mike Patton in recent years; his vocals have really opened me up to weirdness I never would have imagined.
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u/CJrox Apr 28 '15
I've listened to this album pretty much constantly for the last week, and it is one of my favorite albums of all time. That being said I've noticed a lot of depth in the song writing, structure, themes, and so on. So, my question is, what was the most challenging part of the writing process, and what was the most satisfying?
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
Thanks so much, CJ!! I'd have to say that balancing the writing/production process for Quiet World with our full-time schedules at Berklee was the toughest part. There's only so much music in you, and writing for a big project for school tends to take a lot from that pool of inspiration. The most satisfying was definitely getting to witness Quiet World take shape firsthand as each layer of instrumentation and harmony was laid in. That was rad. :D
-Rob
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u/eiridan Apr 28 '15
I'm thinking of what I could have for dinner. I could either go with teriyaki tofu with rice and peppers, mushrooms, and onions or chicken sausage with potatoes and asparagus. Which is the more "prog metal" of the two?
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u/TombGrinder Apr 28 '15
1.What league are all of you in Starcraft?
2.What is your Opinion on Agile Guitars?
3.What type of sound do you expect to have in the future? In what ways have you all grown musically since you finished writing Quiet World?
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
We haven't been laddering much recently, but I was Diamond and Rob was Plat (NA). Max doesn't really play.
In my experience, Agile guitars seem to be hit or miss. Some of them are good for the price, but I've never played one that was truly great.
Even though Quiet World came out just last week, the material was all written years ago. And as young people transitioning into adulthood, a lot of maturing has taken place over these past few years. I think this will be reflected in our music. Personally, I feel my artistic capacity has grown in recent times. I've often been guilty of having tunnel vision with my work and getting too caught up with technical details. Recently I've been able to zoom out a little and take a more holistic view of things. As for the specific type of sound, it's too soon to say for sure, but it will definitely be very different!
-Myles
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u/DevinFuckingTownsend Apr 28 '15
HEY GUYS!!!! New record is incredible. I didn't know what I was getting myself into hearing it, and when I did I was blown away by not only the sheer technicality but the catchiness. Anyways, I was wondering about the following things.
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What programs did you guys use to record the drums and orchestral parts on Quiet World? Or did you use session musicians?
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What are each of your top five favorite albums ever made?
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Where does the name "Native Construct" come from?
BONUS QUESTION:
4. If the three of you were trapped on an island together for a year and you could only eat one food for every meal and only have one celebrities nudes of your choice to jerk off to (they don't have to have actually leaked nudes), what food would you agree on, what celeb would you agree on, and why.
<3 <3 <3
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15 edited Apr 28 '15
Hey Dev, Rob here.
Drums were Superior Drummer (yeah yeah I know), and orchestral parts were simply too many to list--but LA Scoring Strings were used a lot.
Some favorites in no order, for me
Colors - BTBAM (because of course)
California - Mr. Bungle
Alphabet. Alphabets. - Trophy Scars
Watershed - Opeth
Alopecia - WHY?
3. What do you think?
BONUS:
Probably rice, Myles loves that shit. Also, "Actually, fucking, Ewan McGregor." -MylesEDIT: lol i can't reddit formatting, sorry
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Apr 28 '15
I'll start with an obvious one. What is it that makes you desire to make progressive music? I've wondered for a while why I love progressive metal so much and I just can't quite put my finger on it, maybe you can.
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
It's all about freedom. When I write a piece of music without worrying about limiting or constraining its content, two things usually happen: 1) I have a lot of fun. 2) It comes out sounding "progressive" in some way(s). -Myles
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u/joshaweez Apr 28 '15
Any news on a possible tour?
Also, who would you guys most like to tour with?
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
We're in the process of setting up some dates now. Nothing set in stone yet but we'll definitely be out playing shows soon -Max
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u/Matt576 Apr 28 '15
Hello guys, first of all I'd just like to say that your album is probably my favorite debut LP of all time. With that being said, I've been wanting to ask a considerably personal question, so if you don't feel the need to answer then it's fine with me. I was wondering if any of the members of the band have dealt with the intense emotions that the character deemed "Sinister Silence" expresses throughout the album, specifically those which led him to create his "Quiet World" (Isolation, rejection, ostracized, etc.) Every time I listen through the album I just can't help but think such detailed instrumental and lyrical compositions couldn't possibly be created without prior experience handling the emotions so convincingly portrayed. Again, you're all amazing and I will continue to listen to and spread word about your music as much as I possibly can because you guys truly deserve to be recognized and credited for your dedication and talent.
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u/Native_Construct Apr 28 '15
We didn't set out to write a story that specifically mirrored any one of our lives, but we wanted it to be relatable to anyone who listened to it. While it wasn't born out of any specific situations, its definitely still influenced in ways by our lives -Max
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u/tonybaroneee Apr 28 '15
Hey guys, thanks for doing this! Hooked on the new album, quite the masterpiece that keeps on giving.
What are you guys currently listening to?
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u/TombGrinder Apr 28 '15
In one sentence, what is the best thing to keep in mind for anyone who wants to write great music
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u/ThatDangGinger Apr 28 '15
Hey guys, I've just gotta say that Quiet World is completely perfect. What a goddamn masterpiece, you should all be proud of yourselves! I would really like to know what your compositional process is, and how you come up with so much diverse yet cohesive material. How much do you take classical theory into consideration when writing / is it mostly by ear or based on theoretical concepts?