Interview with the Band The Last Element
By Mick Michaels
The Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us!
CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
The Last Element: Ok, well…that’s pretty hard to say, if I’d say we sound like The Last Element that wouldn’t be a good indication for all you readers out there, would it? But it is the plain and simple truth, though. We sound like we do because we compose like we do and that has some resemblances with other bands of course, but not enough to say that it sounds alike. It’s modern metal with the use of soundscapes and synths. Place us somewhere between BMTH, Breaking Benjamin and newer bands like Normandie and Solence…that should be an indication of where to place our music.
CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?
The Last Element: I see what you mean, it seems like the wonder formula everyone is talking about these days, yet I think it is something that simply is there or it’s not. You can’t construct a thing like feeling connected to a band or an artist. Some songs really hit base and some don’t. It is your own personal recognition of a theme a band is talking about that says something to you, you really feel what’s been talked about and then you might feel connected to a band. Taking it a step further by letting a band know a certain song really means a lot to you, is another ballgame I think. Not everyone takes that step or ‘likes’ the band on streaming platforms and social media sites to show their appreciation. And that’s good. Things should be authentic and organic in that perspective.
CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?
The Last Element: Oh, we really make an effort answering those who leave reactions or mail us simply because that is the decent thing to do to start with, they took the trouble of writing a message to you to let you know how they feel about a song and it’s good to be appreciated for your music. Interaction live is essential, you’re on stage to give the people who attend a concert a real good time, that’s the deal and you’d better take it serious, we think.
CV:
Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal
privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your
opinion?
The Last Element: Good question! Of course there are limits to what you share with an audience when you do not share it enough already in the lyrics of a song, some stuff you like to keep to yourself or is irrelevant to know for an audience, perhaps even boring. It also depends on your own personality, I mean…some people are an open book and feel no shame to share it all with an audience. I think there should be a space; a margin….some of the mystery should be kept to yourself. Riddles and mysteries that are solved are no longer a trigger to anyone.
CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion? If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
The Last Element: Very good question! While touring in former bands I got to see that there can be big differences in culture between even regions of a country you play in, let alone between one country and the next. Sociological aspects that paint a picture of what a certain population is like can vary a lot…cultural habits that are either normal for a certain group or a ‘no go’ in the next group. Be informed, talk to people, find out their habits. Interesting! The cultural differences between Northern European countries and the South can be worlds apart. Climate has a lot to do with it as well. The difference between the audiences in the USA and European countries is big. Live music, going to concerts seems part of the DNA of Americans. In Europe, going to parties with DJ’s and electronical music has been real popular for a time. It’s has been slowly changing though.
The Last Element: Good question! Of course there are limits to what you share with an audience when you do not share it enough already in the lyrics of a song, some stuff you like to keep to yourself or is irrelevant to know for an audience, perhaps even boring. It also depends on your own personality, I mean…some people are an open book and feel no shame to share it all with an audience. I think there should be a space; a margin….some of the mystery should be kept to yourself. Riddles and mysteries that are solved are no longer a trigger to anyone.
CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion? If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
The Last Element: Very good question! While touring in former bands I got to see that there can be big differences in culture between even regions of a country you play in, let alone between one country and the next. Sociological aspects that paint a picture of what a certain population is like can vary a lot…cultural habits that are either normal for a certain group or a ‘no go’ in the next group. Be informed, talk to people, find out their habits. Interesting! The cultural differences between Northern European countries and the South can be worlds apart. Climate has a lot to do with it as well. The difference between the audiences in the USA and European countries is big. Live music, going to concerts seems part of the DNA of Americans. In Europe, going to parties with DJ’s and electronical music has been real popular for a time. It’s has been slowly changing though.
CV:
Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to connect
more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or intrigued to see
the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?
The Last Element: I think that song wise and song topic wise, you have to speak the language of an audience you try to address. The culture for metal/modern rock in the US is probably the best around the globe so it would be foolish for any band in the genre not to look at what’s going on in the States. For Americans, the slight different twist of flavor that European bands have over domestic bands, is appealing because it’s different from all that they are used to. In the abundance of new music that’s been offered via streaming platforms on a daily base, these differences surface pretty fast for anyone scrolling through new music releases. The main audience for The Last Element is in the States, followed by the UK, Germany, Brazil, Australia and then the Scandinavian countries.
CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?
The Last Element: Ah, I see what you mean. I think that song writing remains a craftsmanship and an art that can’t be faked or manipulated, not even by AI. If you look at artists like Britney Spears and Madonna, who greatly depend on Autotune for any live performance and even modern day hip hop-acts that are doing so extremely well these days but can’t sing a straight note, it’s mainly a very young audience that go for it. It makes them think (and hope) that they are able to pursue a similar career as their idols. I do think that artists who have a clear talent, a strong opinion and a clear message (in their music) like Kurt Cobain, Freddy Mercury, Dave Grohl, David Draiman, Oliver Sykes, etc. will be recognized and heard by big audiences and because they do not have to fake anything, they’re authentic, they will have a lifetime career in music.
The Last Element: I think that song wise and song topic wise, you have to speak the language of an audience you try to address. The culture for metal/modern rock in the US is probably the best around the globe so it would be foolish for any band in the genre not to look at what’s going on in the States. For Americans, the slight different twist of flavor that European bands have over domestic bands, is appealing because it’s different from all that they are used to. In the abundance of new music that’s been offered via streaming platforms on a daily base, these differences surface pretty fast for anyone scrolling through new music releases. The main audience for The Last Element is in the States, followed by the UK, Germany, Brazil, Australia and then the Scandinavian countries.
CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?
The Last Element: Ah, I see what you mean. I think that song writing remains a craftsmanship and an art that can’t be faked or manipulated, not even by AI. If you look at artists like Britney Spears and Madonna, who greatly depend on Autotune for any live performance and even modern day hip hop-acts that are doing so extremely well these days but can’t sing a straight note, it’s mainly a very young audience that go for it. It makes them think (and hope) that they are able to pursue a similar career as their idols. I do think that artists who have a clear talent, a strong opinion and a clear message (in their music) like Kurt Cobain, Freddy Mercury, Dave Grohl, David Draiman, Oliver Sykes, etc. will be recognized and heard by big audiences and because they do not have to fake anything, they’re authentic, they will have a lifetime career in music.
CV:
How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and
one who sets them?
The Last Element: I think setting trends by any artist is never the intention. Just because the sound is different, the message is different, the appearance of who they are and what they stand for comes from an inner drive to do things in their own and unique way, stands out. It’s genuine and authentic and maybe, just maybe it gets picked up by a bigger audience because it resonates a similar feeling that a certain audience has and recognizes. Then you have copycats who look at these examples and imitate what they do…but never alike.
CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?
The Last Element: If you look at the past decade you see that young people who are desperately looking for their own identity while growing up, have had the tendency to look at communities and societies in a very individualistic way. The urge to be different from anyone and anything has brought along that there has been a splintering into a variety of sub-genres because these young people were also into forming bands and making music. Throughout history you see that all movements are sinuses going up and coming down again. The strong urge for individualism may very likely be followed by a movement where coming together and celebrating music together may become important. In the light of what’s been happening with COVID-19 and the lock-up that followed in most countries, that movement for togetherness may arrive quicker that anyone could hold for possible.
CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
The Last Element: More releases, hahaha! We didn’t let the grass grow under our feet during the past year and took the opportunity to write a lot of new material, simple because we couldn’t do anything else with the band. Shows have been impossible for any band. So we took that valuable time to do something good with it and wrote a lot of new songs. Be warned ;)
CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.
The Last Element: Thank you for these excellent questions and the pleasure was all ours! We really enjoyed this interview a lot!
The Last Element: I think setting trends by any artist is never the intention. Just because the sound is different, the message is different, the appearance of who they are and what they stand for comes from an inner drive to do things in their own and unique way, stands out. It’s genuine and authentic and maybe, just maybe it gets picked up by a bigger audience because it resonates a similar feeling that a certain audience has and recognizes. Then you have copycats who look at these examples and imitate what they do…but never alike.
CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?
The Last Element: If you look at the past decade you see that young people who are desperately looking for their own identity while growing up, have had the tendency to look at communities and societies in a very individualistic way. The urge to be different from anyone and anything has brought along that there has been a splintering into a variety of sub-genres because these young people were also into forming bands and making music. Throughout history you see that all movements are sinuses going up and coming down again. The strong urge for individualism may very likely be followed by a movement where coming together and celebrating music together may become important. In the light of what’s been happening with COVID-19 and the lock-up that followed in most countries, that movement for togetherness may arrive quicker that anyone could hold for possible.
CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
The Last Element: More releases, hahaha! We didn’t let the grass grow under our feet during the past year and took the opportunity to write a lot of new material, simple because we couldn’t do anything else with the band. Shows have been impossible for any band. So we took that valuable time to do something good with it and wrote a lot of new songs. Be warned ;)
CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.
The Last Element: Thank you for these excellent questions and the pleasure was all ours! We really enjoyed this interview a lot!
Check out The Last Element at:
Official: https://thelastelement.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelastelement.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelastelement_net
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TheLastElement_
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L9ieGr5a3eLcVo9fvVipB
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/nl/artist/1231493
Apple: https://music.apple.com/nl/artist/the-last-element/371403190
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/the-last-element/ARJm9whVp6qgv49
Official: https://thelastelement.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelastelement.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelastelement_net
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TheLastElement_
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L9ieGr5a3eLcVo9fvVipB
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/nl/artist/1231493
Apple: https://music.apple.com/nl/artist/the-last-element/371403190
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/the-last-element/ARJm9whVp6qgv49
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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.
Spiritual Counseling and Sessions Available
www.pamelaaloia.com
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