Naos proved the good quality of their compositions with their 5 track EP Inoctura. By mixing gothic and symphonic atmospheres, the French band offer a sound that is bound to attract metal fans of female vocalist bands. However, Naos does not only stand out because of Sté’s voice, but also thanks to the interesting progressive touches in the songs. As you know, throughout the summer Radio Metal will be setting the spotlight on unknown artists. This week, we are discovering Naos through our interview with Tom (guitar) and Sté (vocals).

Radio Metal : Could you introduce Naos to our Radio Metal readers in a few words?

Tom (guitar) : Naos is a symphonic metal band from Lyon that was formed in 2005 and includes 5 members. The line-up has changed many times during these last 5 years but today the band is made out of Sté on vocals, myself on guitar, Alexis on the keyboard, Arthur on bass and Aurel on drums.

Inoctura is your first 5 track EP. You released 100 copies in October which you are also selling via MySpace. What kind of feedback did you receive according to your approach?

This EP allowed us to be broadcast on Radio Metal in March and it allowed us to put ourselves forward for concerts. We were also able to embellish our MySpace page with some better quality recordings rather than our previous tracks that were recorded in a garage. The EP had some very good reviews and has sold out.

Your gothic metal could be related to a band like Sirenia. Sté’s voice is sometimes similar to Ailyn from that band. Sté, would you agree with this interpretation and in a wider spectrum, how do you feel about the gothic metal scene (Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation…)?

Sté (vocals) : First of all, I would like to thank you for this compliment. I like Ailyn’s voice very much but I am not trying to sound like anyone else because I have my own vocal personality which I have developed through the years. It is possible that there are similarities which, in my opinion, are due to the vocal influences and the emotion that we want to release through our voices and in our music.

In fact, I believe that many gothic metal bands have a strong presence and vocal personality which contributes to the band’s identity. Each voice is different in each varied style, however, we can agree that in the type of metal that you describe as “gothic”, the vocals are put forward and perhaps what people identify first.

You are having singing lessons with Asphodel (Pin-Up Went Down) and Floor Jansen (Revamp). This must be a very good way to progress in the recording studio as well as live… Do you feel as though you have gotten to the top in each of these levels?

Sté : Yes, of course. I worked with Asphodel for over a year which taught me to be confident and give myself to the full in whatever I was doing. No longer being scared of screwing something up is a real step forward psychologically. It is also thanks to her that I now know all of the technical bases for singing and she is the reason for my vocals today. It was Asphodel who helped me find My Voice and, thanks to my unconventional vocal coach, I formed my own vocal and artistic personality. She was my vocal coach during the recording of the EP and her help reaped in the rewards. She will be a part in our continued Naos adventure.

With Floor, we worked on developing these previously learnt technical bases in order to perfect them and put forward a more professional sounding voice, whilst staying true to my own vocal personality. Floor helps me a lot with my live work; the techniques and attitudes to employ when playing in rehearsal and on stage… With her, we are aiming for high level experience. Sometimes it is hard, but you can make it when you persevere.

These two teachers help me each in their own different way, and thanks to them, I have evolved a great deal in a very short space of time. The songs that we recorded in the studio have more personality, more vitality and they are more professional. It allowed everything to be re-enforced and I really feel that I have gotten to the top of each of these levels. In terms of technique and stage presence.

Sté (vocals) : “Floor (Jansen) helps me a lot with my live work; the techniques and attitudes to employ when playing in rehearsal and on stage… With her, we are aiming for high level experience. Sometimes it is hard, but you can make it when you persevere”

You recorded Inocture in the NRS studio. A young band’s first steps in a studio are always quite particular. What memories or anecdotes do you still have in mind?

Tom : All of the memories remain. From the smallest detail to the hugely annoying moments when you’re trying to figure out what is wrong with the music. As for an anecdote; we lost a whole afternoon in the studio because of a storm, which delayed us a bit in our work! Asphodel was in the studio with us at the time. It meant a lot of work for Sté at the time but a load of rubbish for the rest of us. Sometimes it’s better to avoid Aspho and Sté when they are together because they can be completely nuts!!! At NSR, we met Laurent, the owner and he was great. He is a really nice guy who is very patient, calm, composed and really professional, so he doesn’t mind telling you what he honestly thinks. He doesn’t want to have a go at you, he just wants you to move on in the correct way so that it avoids wasting everyone’s time. Laurent takes the time to make sure that every sound is clear and he fully invests himself in what he does by listening again and again. We had a good laugh with him. As for Sté, she had to suffer the consequences of being a pain as a lead singer!

We really enjoyed the week we spent all together in this small medieval village. Despite our huge workload, we are happy with the result and this is why we shall be returning there to record our first album.

As for your line-up, Alexis is your new keyboard player. Has he actively taken part in the compositions for your future album?

Not for the compositions on our album to come, because almost all of the tracks had already been written. However, Alexis arranges his own musical parts to make them correspond with his own style, in the same way as each member of Naos does.

You mentioned « a style that is more direct, fresh and even more symphonic » about your new album. Are you going to abandon the progressive sound which is also part of your style?

Naos can’t really be considered as a progressive band. Although Arthur, Aurel and myself are very influenced by progressive bands like Dream Theater, our songs don’t have any pure progressive parts. We try to play some cool parts, some of which are more technical than others and these are the ones that reflect our progressive influences.

When will this new album be released and what would you like to say to all of the fans who have been following you as well as the new ones who will discover you through this interview?

NWe should be going to the studio half way through next year which would allow us to release the album by the end of 2011. This album will represent the Naos we really want to see come out. We have really found the style that corresponds perfectly with us, as with Inoctura, we were still searching for it so we were hesitant on more levels. We are more confident in this album, we have all evolved and we want to surprise the listener in a positive way

Do you have any gigs coming up?

None for sure at the moment. We are concentrating mainly on our work surrounding the new songs and so we haven’t been looking intensively for gigs. In a little while we will be ready to play live some more concerts, so if you are looking for a band to play wherever it may be, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you to Radio Metal for this interview and thank you to the listeners who will read this. Do not hesitate to contact us via naosofficial@gmail.com and for online, do not hesitate to visit our MySpace, Facebook and YouTube pages!

Interview by email in July 2010
MySpace Naos : www.myspace.com/naos-official

This post is also available in: French