Interview and Co-branding Akiavel X Hyraw
We're going to have to strengthen our neck muscles!
You know, doing "neck push-ups" or "neck crunches"—basically anything to get your neck ready for listening to Akiavel's upcoming album, simply titled *IV*, and to avoid ending up in a neck brace. Because yes, it’s going to give your cervical spine a serious workout! After all, they’ve taken the time to really fine-tune everything, obsessing over the sound and the structure of every track... all to deliver a fully polished album they’ll be proud to showcase on stages across France—and indeed the whole world—very soon!
Butch and Auré were kind enough to spare some of their precious time for this interview, focusing on the release of their upcoming "baby," scheduled for the second half of 2024! A huge thank you to them!
First off, a bit of a silly question to kick off this interview (one you’ve surely been asked before): is the upcoming album called "IV" because it’s the fourth one, or does it have another meaning?
Auré (vocalist): That’s an interesting theory, but it’s going to stay a secret for a few more months... Patience! (laughs)
Is there a specific theme covered on this album—and if so, what led you to choose it—or are you exploring various topics without overthinking it?
Auré: As with every album, the topics are chosen carefully, following a logical and chronological thread connecting the albums. So, these aren't just random choices; once again, it’s a "concept album," and the specific theme can only be revealed in... a few months! (laughs)
Regarding the recording of this new album, which studio did you choose, and why?
Butch (drummer): Ever since Akiavel started, we’ve always trusted Sébastien Camhi at Studio Artmusic, and we’ve always been thrilled with the results. Sébastien has always contributed constructive ideas during our recording sessions, but above all, we work in a super positive atmosphere—among friends, with a real sense of trust.
Auré: So, for this upcoming fourth album, we decided to work with him again. We know that our established working methods and our deep understanding of one another—both personally and technically—will really allow us to push our boundaries!
Can you tell us a bit more about the creative process for this album? How did it differ from—or resemble—your previous experiences?
Butch: Our creative process is well-oiled and hasn’t changed: Jay (bass) and Chris (guitar) write the initial riffs and structure the tracks, laying down a rhythmic skeleton. The tracks are then sent to me so I can add my own technical and human touch.
Auré: I come in last, once the demo has been assembled and finalized. I select the topic I’ve been working on that best fits each song, then I map out the vocal placement and finish with a pre-production phase to finalize the demo, which serves as the foundation for the studio work.
When recording the tracks, do you limit yourselves technically to what can be replicated live, or do you place no restrictions on yourselves?
Auré: We don’t set any limits on principle, but we remain "old-school" musicians for whom live performance is essential. The idea of recording parts that we couldn't reproduce on stage simply wouldn't cross our minds.
Butch: Auré is right; regarding the drums, for instance, when we work on a composition that pushes the limits of my abilities—whether in terms of speed or particularly complex fills—I make it a point to nail them in the studio. That means working on them beforehand, but above all, practicing them intensely in the months that follow so that when we hit the stage, I can execute them smoothly and effortlessly! But, as you can imagine, that isn’t always easy! (laughs)
What were your main sources of inspiration for this album? Were there any specific events or personal experiences that influenced the project's artistic direction?
Auré: Again, it’s too early to reveal that, but the chosen theme follows directly in the footsteps of our first three albums; it should appeal to anyone who enjoyed the themes we explored there!
A band’s fourth album usually reflects a certain level of maturity compared to the previous three—do you think you’ve bucked that trend or not?
Butch: We’re still in the songwriting phase (we head into the studio in June), so it’s a bit early to say.
Auré: I don’t know if musicians are the best people to judge the maturity of their own compositions, but one thing is certain: we’re pouring our whole souls into this!
Butch: The fourth album will definitely sound like Akiavel, though our music inevitably evolves from one album to the next. But as for calling it our "mature" album... Let’s touch base at the end of the year and you can give us your verdict! (laughs)
Let’s talk gear: we’d love to know a bit more about your sound. What equipment do you use on stage (guitars, amps, effects, drums...), and was that gear chosen specifically to achieve your signature sound?
Butch: We’re lucky enough to be endorsed by some fantastic international brands (ESP Ltd for guitars, Ernie Ball for strings, DW for drums, Paiste for cymbals...) and French ones (SP Custom for guitar pickups, Proorca for drumsticks, Kaptor Triggers for triggers)—most of which were brands we’d already been playing for years. So, these endorsements came about very naturally. And yes, by definition, this gear has a direct impact on our sound, and that suits us perfectly!
Auré: And we can’t forget two internationally renowned French brands that don’t directly affect our sound, but do impact our look (laughs): Hyraw and Flibustier. Again, we were customers and fans before becoming partners. So, thanks guys!
Technically, the band’s instrumental and vocal proficiency is impressive; reaching that level takes a huge amount of practice. What does it take to at least maintain—and improve—that standard? Do you rehearse often? Can you tell us a bit about your working process?
Auré: First off, thanks for the kind words—we really appreciate it! We each have decades of musical experience, so naturally, we’ve had plenty of time to hone our skills on our instruments—both individually and in the various bands where we cut our teeth.
As for Akiavel specifically, we have our own unique way of working: we rarely rehearse as a full band—mostly just to get new tracks ready before playing them live.
Butch: Otherwise, we work on our instruments every day, all year round, on our own—whether we’re in the songwriting phase creating new tracks, or preparing for live shows once the album is out.
Auré: We’re each at home, but we’re in daily—if not constant—contact! Akiavel is one big family!
Regarding the tour and the promotion for this album, what are your upcoming plans? Do you have any concerts or special events lined up to celebrate the release?
Auré: We have the support of Rage Tour; they’ve believed in us for nearly two years now. In that time, they’ve booked us all over France—from great venues to major festivals like Hellfest, Motocultor Festival, Plane R’ Fest, and Mennecy Fest.
So, we’re going to keep that momentum going; there are still plenty of cities and festivals left to visit. Plus, we’re starting to generate interest internationally, so... who knows where this fourth album might take us... (laughs).
We’re taking this opportunity to introduce the clothing line developed in partnership with Akiavel this year: things are about to get sporty (which is perfect—after all, you need to strengthen your neck muscles!).
To learn more about our co-branded products:
Co-branding Hyraw
To find out more about Akiavel: