INTERVIEW: BLAX
What inspired you to form the band, and how did you come up with your band name?
I formed the band Blax when my idea of what I needed to express was very clear and strong. I was inspired by my imagination of the gothic Blax family. The name Blax was spontaneously born while trying to capture its meaning somewhere between dark and black, intending a “black” soul.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music before?
The best way to describe our music is “Hard Goth,” where gothic influences meet a hard rock-inspired sound.
Which bands or musicians have had the biggest influence on your music and style?
The gothic sound is inspired by artists like Alice Cooper, and then 80s Hard Rock music is a source of inspiration for our sound.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process? How do your ideas come together?
The idea was born from my imagination around a gothic family, so I started writing songs with a central narrative around this, and the sound and concept naturally came together.
What has been the most memorable moment or experience during your tours or live shows?
For us, the most memorable moment during our live shows was seeing people singing our songs; it was an incredible feeling, really.
How do you balance keeping your music fresh while staying true to your original sound?
Our sound is very recognisable and clear to me, so we just continue to create while staying true to our original sound.
What challenges do you face as a band in the modern music industry, especially with streaming services?
We have to keep up with the modern music industry, which places a strong emphasis on image. We’ve noticed that, for many, the band’s image often takes priority over the music.
Is there a particular theme or message you aim to convey through your latest album?
Our first album, "Meravilia," was released in 2022. BLAX represents a family where every musician has a specific role, and "Meravilia" represents the place where this goth family lives, as you can imagine from the album cover. The album is a concept album meant to tell the stories around the BLAX family, with a central narrative throughout.
What’s your favourite song to perform live, and why?
We love to perform "Our Brain Conditions" because it’s our album’s manifesto and the way we invite people listening to us into our world.
How do you see the evolution of rock and metal music, and where do you think it’s headed in the future?
Metal seems to be heading toward increasingly complex genres like symphonic metal, but we prefer a more direct and powerful sound—like metal that meets hard rock.
