Whispers In The Shadow have a new album: i put it as their third best album ever! Yes it's their 12th album and yes Ashley made some time for me to answer a few questions and kept it very interesting! I hope it's also a nice interview for the fans, so read it all underneath!
You just had a blast at WGT, capturing the hearts of hardcore fans of our beloved underground genre. Can you describe a bit what happened?
It was indeed quite the thing. It was our 9th time at WGT and I dare say, this time was our best show. What brought a big smile to our faces was the applause after the new songs. You’ll never know if the new tracks will be liked and nobody really knew the songs, because the album wasn’t out back then. So that’s always a gamble. But it went great. I’m very happy how it all turned out.
How come you ended up signing with Icy Cold records?
After 13 years with Solar Lodge it was time for a change for both of us. No bad blood between us though. Icy Cold was actually my first choice and it only took 2 weeks to secure a new deal, which was very surprising. We then pushed the record to be out as soon as possible because we wanted to have it at the WGT show. Which totally worked thanks to everyone involved working overtime so to speak.
It’s your 12th studio album and came pretty fast after the previous one. Can I say the inspiration came fast?
Well it’s been two years since the last one, that is pretty much the standard for me and albums. I mean yeah there were periods when it took longer than that, but most of the time it’s around two years. However with this album it was pure joy from start to finish. It was so much fun to write that record. It all came very easy and naturally. Very different from GHOSTS, the one before RAPTURE, which was a real pain in the arse to write. Pardon my French. But with RAPTURE it was pure bliss. It must have been one of my favourite records to work on. Most of the songs just wrote themselves. That happens from time to time, but not too often if I’m honest.
This one also makes number 13th possible, do you believe it is an unlucky number?
On the contrary, It’s a lucky number for me. RAPTURE came out on Friday the 13th. And before you ask: yes, I already started to work on the next one, but there is still a lot of water under the bridge until that one’s finished. It’s very early stages. Nevertheless, there are ideas. We are not splitting up yet.
The album mixes according to me 2 of your best albums: The Rites of passage & The Urgency Of Now. Is that well captivated?
Well. We easily could have called this album WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW because it has elements of all our albums. I think RAPTURE captures the essence of the last 29 years. So, if you think it is a mixture of these two particular albums, you are right and wrong at the same time. You could have named pretty much every other album as well, because there are elements of all our albums if you look for it. Even so, it’s far from an nostalgic album, we took all these elements and developed them even further.
If I can look back: your sound has nicely evaluated but also kept some influences: The Cure and Dead Can Dance for example. Now I even noticed some (modern) Neil Young influences and you got rid over time of The Muse influences. How do you look back at it?
Muse influences? There were never any MUSE influences. I would like to know which song reminds you of that band. I mean yes, I did like their first couple of albums when they came out, when was it? Early 00’s ? But I never considered them an influence. Whereas Neil Young, yeah it’s there. Thing is, I just recently discovered his back catalogue and his guitar playing reminded me a bit of what I do. I mean I’m not saying I’m even close. His style is absolutely iconic, but there is a tendency to that wall of noise and the way he uses feedback etc., so I thought, why not embrace that and take it a step further. So yes, there is a certain influence of Neil Young on RAPTURE in the way I approached my Guitar playing. You got that right!
Also looking back at hair-cuts and colour: it goes from very colourful to simply black. What period would you erase and what are you proud off (looking at hair-cuts and colour)?
I would not erase anything. I mean not everything we released was actually good. But it all made sense at the time and still does. For the haircuts and colours, they were all fabulous!
Have you never thought about doing the sleeve yourself? I noticed it’s really important for you to have it set right and get the right mood.
I’m not a graphic designer. I have an eye for it and I know what I want, and what I don’t want, but I totally lack the skills. To pull off something as grand as the RAPTURE cover art you have to be really good. Our Graphic designer BillyPhobia really created a masterpiece. I’m so happy with that sleeve. It’s absolutely amazing and I’m forever in his depth for coming up with it. It’s my favorite artwork.
Resume The Pose has a special phrase: The Floor is Lava. In my review I was pointing out 2 possible referrals: The Netflix series and the Implant song (that also refers to the series, btw) or is it something completely different that made you get this phrase into this song?
Both are wrong. The Floor Is Lava is actually a game children play. That is where the Netflix thing has it from. RESUME THE POSE is meant as a caricature of a Rock song. It’s about the madness and idiocy of being in a Rock band. I included some scenes I remember from being on the road for the last 30 years and decoded them a bit. Theme wise it’s a bit like the Queen song SHOW MUST GO ON, but a totally demented version of it. I mean doing what I do for such a long time regardless of everything, you must be a bit deranged actually. The phrase "the floor is lava" is meant in the way of “never touch the floor”, never coming down or getting burned. Rather you have to “Resume The Pose” to survive the whole game. That was the idea. Maybe it only makes sense to me though. From time to time I write songs like this. BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS from THE ETERNAL ARCANE had a similar theme for example.
Looking at your clips: has nobody ever asked you for a cameo in a movie or in series?
No, because I’m pretty much a one trick pony when it comes to “acting”, if one can call that acting anyway. And I’m very bad at remembering lines. As everyone knows who saw more than one Whispers In The Shadow show. But thank you very much. I take that as a compliment if you think I would be good enough to star in a movie.
If you could choose a warming up band for a show you would headline, who would you pick out and why?
There is this newer band from Hamburg called GRUNDEIS. I really like them. They would fit very well to what we do actually. I very much recommend their latest album.
Sometimes you remix tracks from other artists. For as far as I follow you the best one is – and I say it without any doubt – the one you did for a Belgian band. Do you know which one I’m pointing out?
A SLICE OF LIFE, the remix I did of their song WHAT DOESN’T KILL ME. Yes, it was great working on that. I also like the result. Glad you like it. Thank you.
I feel that if Whispering Sons would ask you, you would be very happy (I know you are a fan and saw them on stage in Belgium), am I right? Is there a connection between the both of you?
I saw them before they even released their first album. They played a show with us and I was totally in awe. And look at them now, they are doing very well. Good for them. Great band. Great music. I’d love to do a remix for them one day.
What are the plans for the rest of 2025?
Regarding WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW we are currently in a gap, because we thought the whole process of finding a new label and releasing the new album would take at least until the end of the year. That’s why we didn’t book any gigs in autumn. There are shows coming up next year, Amphi Festival for example and a couple of others. There will be another record release though. In early December, we’ll finally release a Christmas Song. No kidding. It’s good, you’ll see.
There’s also a new album coming up in Octobre with my other band THE DEVIL & THE UNIVERSE and we are touring a bit. So for me it’s pretty much back to “Goat business” for the rest of the year.
To close this interview: we know each other for years (I will never forget your gig in Ghent and then the afterparty where we had a short encounter), so do you have a question for me? Let’s inverse it for once …
I totally remember that show.. It must have been in 2003 I think. Thanks for sticking with us all these years ! My question would be what kept you interested in this band? And thanks again !
It's a great pleasure! Well, what keeps me interested? The live gigs (when I can attend one), the evolution (it's easy to keep doing the same thing over and over, that's what you don't do and keeps it very interesting), great vocals and dito guitar play. The darkness and the melancholia. Sometimes changes are bad, but you keep it going in a great way. So keep the evolution going and hope to see you back on stage whenever I can! And on top: you are a great person (kind and warm) and If I can give you one more positive note: when I talk to you in person, omg: you could be from the UK when I talk to you.
Check this clip: From The Mouth Of Babes - YouTube Music
Read the album review here: SNOOZECONTROL - Whispers In The Shadow – Rapture (Icy Cold Records)
