Interview with Jackie Parry, Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Dianthus

November 04, 2020

Interview with Jackie Parry, Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Dianthus

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Jackie! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Often wearing their hearts on their sleeve as well as being in the public eye, do you feel artists are often more susceptible to self-doubt and negative thoughts due to the nature of their creative personalities?
Jackie Parry: We believe that self-doubt can happen to anyone at any time…it’s just a part of being human. We strive to better ourselves, and in that process, negative thoughts may arise in order to throw us off course. We do think that artists and other public figures may be more susceptible to these feelings because they are in the public eye. They might feel more of a pressure to not fail because they have an audience counting on them. However, no matter what negative thoughts come in the way, it is always best to train our minds to think with positive affirmations. When you have a nice outlook on everything, your life will eventually reflect that.

CV: For an artist, can self-doubt and that “war within” ultimately be a source of inspiration and creativity with regards to songwriting, in your opinion? Can it be harnessed as a valuable resource?
JP: Of course! These thoughts can definitely be harnessed as a valuable resource for creativity, especially in the song-writing process. When an artist is vulnerable and expresses their struggles, it can be an amazing thing. Through this, they have an outlet to release their feelings, while also showing their audience that they are not alone in whatever problem they are facing. When an audience can relate with this, their trust and dedication will be established.

CV: Dianthus's latest single, "Creeping In," addresses the self-doubt train of thought. Is the song autobiographical in anyway?
JP: Yes, our song “Creeping In” definitely draws attention to that subject. We have said this a few times before regarding the reasons behind our songs, but we would like each one to mean something unique for each person listening. If our audience perceives our songs to mean something different to each of them, then that is what keeps the song alive. For us personally though, the song “Creeping In” is somewhat autobiographical. We did not write it purely based on a certain event in our lives, but rather about obstructive thoughts that may sometimes arise in times of victory.

CV: The new album, "Realms," is slated for release in 2021. A series of singles are scheduled to also release over the next several months to lead up to the record's debut. Traditionally, one single would precursor a new album. Things have surely changed. Is pre-promotion of this kind the key nowadays to ensure an album's success before it officially drops?
JP: Great question! There is no firm promise that this method of releasing songs will contribute to the success of an album. However, it can definitely ensure that each song will get the attention it deserves. Ultimately though, we believe that if each song (or single) sounds the best it can be, then that will determine the album’s true success. Any artist can try this method for themselves. However, it all comes down to each song’s ability to tell a story that can really resonate with the listener. That is what makes an album believable.

CV: What do you believe has been the greatest life lesson learned from the events of 2020?
JP: After all of the events that have occurred in 2020, we think the greatest takeaway is that life is too short to stress or worry over things that you cannot control. There will always be hardships in life and days that are more difficult to handle than others. Our lives are each a blessing and we have to live them to the fullest. If we worry about every little thing that goes wrong, we will be doing an injustice to ourselves. We should always be willing to learn and grow so we can inspire generations to come.

CV: If you could go back in time and start 2020 all over again, what would you do differently, especially knowing what's to come?
JP: To be honest, we wouldn’t do anything different. Looking back, we were continuing to write and create new material and were playing shows sporadically in order to balance out those two different mindsets. Even though we really miss seeing our fans at shows, we have been doing our best to make the most out of our time spent in quarantine. We’ve been working hard at improving the songs we wrote earlier in the year, reworking their potential. We want to create the best possible product for our fans to look forward to hearing live once everything opens again.

CV: Do you think people in general, may be too emotionally charged? Does too much emotion prevent us from actually being rational? Where do you think the balance point is?
JP: There should always be a balance between one’s emotions and their decisions. Acting on emotions…especially those that are violent or untrue, is always a detrimental thing. One can end up hurting his or herself, even others. This can become a vicious cycle if we don’t put a stop to it. In the past decade with social media, we believe there has been a significant increase in everyone’s emotions (ourselves included). It is important to remember that these platforms aren’t reality. We all have a unique path to do great things. When we focus on that, we will begin to see the opportunities in front of us. Nonetheless, the balance point can be as simple as thinking of how the outcome will be for ourselves and others if we act on our emotions. Is it going to help or hurt the situation?

CV: Do you feel music needs to have an emotional chord to strike with its audience for it to be successful? What are you hoping fans come away with emotionally after listening to your music?
JP: Yes, we whole-heartedly agree with that. A lot of the bands and artists that we have listened to over the years all have that emotional quality, that is why we love them so much. ‘Rush’, ‘Metallica’, ‘Bullet For My Valentine’, the list goes on! Every piece of their music is very emotional, from the instrumentation and vocals down to the lyrics. We hope to accomplish this same thing with our own listeners with the debut of our second record “Realms”. We want to create songs that are genuine and reflect us. We want our listeners to feel uplifted and empowered after hearing our music.

CV: What's next? In addition to the release of the new album, what can fans expect to see coming from Dianthus post 2020?
JP: Yes, the completion of our second album “Realms” will be something to look forward to from us post 2020. We are also hoping to release additional music videos supporting the songs on the record. Ultimately if things go well, we are also hoping to tour and support the record in 2021.

CV: Thank you again Jackie for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
JP: Likewise! Thank you so much for the opportunity, Mick! It was awesome talking with you on The Cosmick View. All the best!

Check out Dianthis at:
Website: http://www.dianthuslive.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dianthuslive
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dianthuslive

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.