Til Fauna, an ambient/progressive metal band from Birmingham, Alabama, just dropped their latest single, “Whisper,” on May 31st. The track offers insight into the lore surrounding Til Fauna and the antlered being, Whisper, that is a recurring theme in their imagery.
The three musicians – Vesper (guitar/vocals), Blight (bass/harsh vocals), and Phasmid (drums) – have a connection to the land around them. “Whisper” draws upon the many tales and superstitions linked to the Forests of Appalachia. It is said that you may hear the woods whispering your name, and you are strongly warned against answering.
Til Fauna has a slightly different viewpoint on this. “I wanna know what do they see…” What if the whispers are simply you calling yourself back home to the woods? Rather than being frightened, the band begs the question “Why do you scream my name?/Do I answer?”
Til Fauna utilizes the softer side of themselves to set the atmosphere. Soothing intonations and a melodic rhythm paint the image of a nighttime walk into the forest, though there is a certain eerie edge, the primal sensation of not being alone. “Their eyes watching me closely.” And at the chorus, the track erupts. Our narrator has heard the tantalizing voice. “I hear a whisper!/Louder, why do you scream my name?”
As the song descends back into the calm, there is no sense of fear, only the approach of acceptance. It is clear that there is no reason to heed the warnings, to turn back. The traveler is becoming further ensconced in the forest and with the spirits, but it is welcome. “The silence is gripping me/The forest is slowly digging deep.” With the hit of the second chorus, the band has given us the back-and-forth that echoes the narrator’s struggle: on the verge of seeking the source of those whispers, though still wondering “Do I answer?”
Then, the build of anticipation, the balance on the very edge, before the truth is revealed. “I am the whisper!” Nature plays tricks on us, but those who can truly see are led to something like self-discovery. The blistering breakdown culminates in the total surrender to who our journeyer is. “As I walk, as I fear, I become/I am the whisper.”
“Whisper” is a standout track, showcasing Til Fauna’s ability to be melodic and almost ethereal, as well as hard-hitting and heavy. The song is an adventure to the ears and the mind, a case of lyrics and music woven into a story that climbs to and explodes with its catharsis. I have listened to it several dozen times since its release, and I find something new to focus on with each play-through. Check it out below, or look it up on your favorite streaming service. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Follow Til Fauna on their socials and your chosen streaming platform!
Empire Springs is a progressive rock band hailing from Birmingham, Alabama. I discovered them thanks to a friend, and when I researched the band for my most recent 3 Bands/Artists You Should Be Following, I was impressed. It was very exciting to have the opportunity to speak with vocalist/bassist Brett Bellomy.
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First and foremost, thank you so much for doing this! And congratulations on the release of your debut album[The Luminescence, April 2022]
BB: Thank you so much, we really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
Let’s start with some basics. How/When did Empire Springs form?
BB: Empire Springs, in its original form, started in 2016 when I was in college. I was playing bass in a different band and the singer quit somewhat unexpectedly. He had been the primary songwriter in that band, so even though the rest of the band wanted to keep playing music we didn’t feel comfortable playing his songs without him. I happened to have a few songs written that we hadn’t worked on yet, so we decided to play my songs and have me take over vocals. We changed the name to Empire Springs and started writing/recording songs under that name. The band was just a studio project for several years, but after several member changes we started playing live shows around 2018.
Where did the band name come from?
BB: There’s a road sign between my hometown and my current city that reads “Empire” and “Blount Springs” for two separate counties. Because of the way the sign is formatted, it looks like Empire Springs is together. A few months after starting the new band I was driving between the cities with a friend of mine. They pointed out that “Empire Springs” would be a good band name and I liked the idea so the name stuck.
It really does work well. Your friend was right. So, what made you want to pursue a music career?
BB: I don’t remember a specific moment where I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally, but my parents really wanted me to go to college after high school. Music had been my primary elective/activity in high school (marching band, choir, etc) so when the time came to choose a major music was really the only thing I was interested in.
Who are your biggest influences?
BB: For me personally I would say bands like Coheed and Cambria and Saosin influences my vocals the most. For the band as a whole it’s a little harder– we all draw influence from different places. But if I had to pick one, I think our most agreed upon band is definitely The Contortionist.
Where do you draw your inspiration for your songs?
BB: That’s a really tough question– I think it largely depends on the songs. With our album The Luminescence, the songs came from a place of storytelling. We were really trying to make a cohesive collection of songs that work together to paint a bigger picture. Because of that, it’s not really rooted in personal experience as much. However we have some new songs (that I can’t talk too much about yet) that are all much more grounded in personal experience and my own perspective.
Ah, okay. I’m excited to hear new music from y’all! While on the subject of The Luminescence, can you tell me a little bit about the songwriting and recording process?
BB: For sure! I am the primary songwriter for the band, so most of the time I have a demo recorded that I’ll send to the band. Everyone tweaks their own parts separately, kinda building off of the skeleton of the demo. We’ll usually bounce ideas for the demo around via email and everyone kinda works on it remotely. Since we don’t all live in the same state, when the time comes to record there are some songs we’ve never actually played together in a room. At first I found that intimidating, but now I really enjoy the long distance collaboration– the process may seem a little disjointed, but it really works for us. There’s an element of trust that we have with each other that is really unique because of our circumstances.
I found there to be a lot of complexity throughout the album, and I love the balance of mellow and heavy, clean vs. harsh vocals. Has anyone in the band studied composition? That may be a badly worded question, but I am amazed at how a mind must work to putmusic together like that.
BB: I really appreciate that! That’s definitely one thing I think we excel at, and we’ve definitely worked hard to be able to balance those things. Three of the four members have music degrees, and our keyboardist Chadwick actually has two– one in piano performance and one in composition. Even though my degree wasn’t specifically in composition, being the songwriter for our band has forced me to study the songs and bands I like very seriously so I can better understand my role.
Well, that answers my next question. I wanted to say that the interlude was beautiful and ask who the pianist was.
BB: Chadwick wrote that piece. He also wrote the back half of our song “Khan” (when the piano and orchestra takes over). He’s very talented at knowing how to write and arrange for piano and orchestra, so we try to take advantage of that when we can.
For my own personal curiosity, what is the story behind “Drawing Lines”? (That was one of my favorite tracks.)
BB: “Drawing Lines” was actually the first song I ever wrote for Empire Springs. When I decided to take over being the singer, it was the first demo I presented to the band. Because the song is unusually personal for me, I usually try to stay somewhat vague when explaining its meaning. But to speak broadly, I was at an impasse in my life. The direction I felt like I should move would put me outside my comfort zone, and carried a lot of uncertainty with it. I struggled with it a lot, but ultimately it ended up being a really good thing for my life and mental health. “Drawing Lines” for me is a personal testament to that point in my life, but I think it could be interpreted differently for others. Either way I’m thankful that you and others connect with it.
I love when songs are personal to the artist, yet presented in a manner in which everyone listening can find some part they connect with.
You’ve teased a little during this interview, so I’ll ask outright – What’s next for Empire Springs?
BB: I hinted at it earlier, but we are working on some new music that I am really excited about. Hopefully some tours soon too? We are really trying to hit the ground running next year, so hopefully we’ll be busy!
Anything else you want your fans to know?
BB: I would just like to say thank you to anyone who has ever supported us. Whether that’s listening to our music or coming out to a show– It’s honestly still crazy to me that anyone would care about the songs I write, so I truly don’t take it for granted.
And lastly, where can my readers find out more about Empire Springs and get their hands on the music?
BB: We’re on all of the typical social media platforms so feel free to follow us there. As far as music goes, we’re on all the big streaming platforms as well as Bandcamp!
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As you can see, Empire Springs is gearing up for an exciting 2023! I highly suggest checking them out (if you haven’t already), snagging yourself a copy of The Luminescence, and getting ready for what’s next!
All three of these bands were at the recommendation of a friend of mine, and they all hail from my home state of Alabama!
1. Stay Lost: Post-hardcore. For fans of Underoath, Alexisonfire, Every Time I Die, etc. Stay Lost will be playing Nuclear Winter Fest in Columbus, Georgia, on January 21, 2023. For more news and show announcements, be sure to follow their socials! First, though, check out their latest single, “Fraudulent.”
2. Empire Springs: Progressive rock. For fans of Muse, The Mars Volta, Queensryche, etc. Empire Springs released their debut album The Luminescence in April, and they will be supporting Covet at Zydeco in Birmingham on December 9. Here is “Ascend,” one of my favorites from The Luminescence.
3. Reclaim the Empyre: Metal. For fans of Darkest Hour, Dying Wish, Lamb of God, etc. Reclaim the Empyre is going to be in Tallahassee, Florida, on December 10, as well as Nuclear Winter Fest along with Stay Lost and others in January. They released a new track entitled “Wake” back in July.
The Mötley Crüe classic has been in All or Nothing’s arsenal at live shows for a while, but now the quartet from Alabama has shared their official take on the familiar track! Check it out below, or search for it on any of your favorite streaming platforms!
Rock from Vienna, Austria. For fans of Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Rival Sons, etc. The Weight is currently on tour and they released a live version of “Hammer, Cross, & Nail” in March (which you can view below).
Alternative rock from California. For fans of Bring Me The Horizon, Thrice, Nothing More, etc. Danger Escape recently played Emo Night at Strummer’s in Fresno, and they will be at Whiskey A Go-Go with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in May. The band released its latest single, “Dead To Me,” at the end of 2018.
Rock/Metal from Trinidad. For fans of Guns N Roses, Slash/Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, Megadeth, etc. Hail the Hatter will be playing Grunge 3 in May, and they were a part of Dead Sea Records’ “Metal Six Pack” back in February. You can download their full album free on their website! Check out “Bone Grin” and a live version of “A.o.a.U.”
Melodic metalcore from Spain. For fans of early Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, All That Remains, etc. Against the Waves is about to hit the road on the “Fight or Flee” Spanish Tour. You can visit any of their socials for dates!
Rock/metal from Alabama. For fans of Deftones, In Flames, Sevendust, etc. House of Curses has released their self-titled EP and are currently getting a lot of positive feedback on their song, “Lucky Stars.” They will be playing with Sons of Texas in Huntsville, AL., on May 19th.
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