Interview for UnRated Magazine:
ISLE OF THE CROSS is a progressive metal band led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Je Schneider, infused with a blend of the avant-garde realms of extreme, symphonic, melodic and technical death-metal.
The debut album ‘Excelsis’ is a concept album based on a tale of two lovers amidst betrayal, murder and their search to reunite in the afterlife. From the immediate and vicious thrust of the opening track, the listener is quickly catapulted into an enigmatic journey of sonic power. From the furious to the melodious, the listener is enveloped in a dynamic exploration until the very end. At the heart of ISLE OF THE CROSS is the conveyance of depth, poignancy and redemption through the endurance of tragedy
Dan Locke: Tell me about yourself?
Je Schneider: I’m from Sonora, California and that is where I currently reside with my family.
How did you start your musician career?
Both of my parents are musicians and songwriters and my Grandmother was a pianist and piano teacher. My Sister is also a pianist and so I was always heavily immersed in music altogether from a very young age. Fortunately, my Dad, has been a San Francisco native and living there through the golden era of music in the ’50s and 60’s, was always introducing me to various artists and genres – mostly in the realms of prog-rock and prog-jazz/fusion. Probably more important than any other genre was his constant promoting of classical music, which I love and find so important to this day. Theatre and plenty of discussions and studies on movie soundtracks also played an important role. So career-wise, I started drumming at the age of 5 and that was my first love. I started to play the piano not long after and began writing in my teenage years. Some years later, I began many years of studying ‘the methodical approach of life and theory and its role in the essence of music’ under the tutelage of my dear friend; the late Phil Stanger from Chicago. I have always continued since my teen years and have enjoyed writing in various genres. Have you always been a solo type artist? Yes for the most part. My Dad introduced me to my first DAW when I was 12 and that was called Master Tracks. It’s absolutely ancient now and I’ve been on ProTools for the past 20 years but I immediately fell in love with it and enjoyed the concept that I could play and layer all the parts by myself and also in that case – any problems in the musicality such as the writing or the timing – or anything else, were my fault and nobody else’s! Ha.I also hear everything usually the exact way I want it – so writing all the parts is actually a bit of an advantage in that case.
Did you perform live?
None of my own projects. I played drums locally for some years and did short stints with a couple of local rock bands.
I am going to ask you about some keyboard players. I would like you to make a statement about each if you can.
To start, I would say just a couple names that have always been influential:
Chick Corea – Not only is Chick one of the greatest gifts to humanity in the world of pianists but he’s a great and loving soul. Of all the artists I’ve met, Chick had to have been the nicest and most humble of all. I’ll always remember that moment.
Jay Oliver – absolutely thunderous and influential. Of course, he’s a natural favorite of mine being Dave Weckl’s (one of my all-time idols) keyboardist.
Erik Satie – It’s hard to put Erik into words. He’s like someone you feel extremely close to and someone who you feel sitting next to you at the piano though he’s been gone for so long. His touch, his choice of notes and his theory in his timeless compositions are unsurpassable.
Arjen Lucassen – Arjen is hugely influential not only in his undeniably beautiful and immense keyboard work but also in his endless volumes of compositions. Arjen is from another planet and he’s also one cool and loving dude.
Pete Bardens – Amazingly influential not only from one of prog-rock’s best of all time; Camel, which is a band that is very close to my heart, but also his solo albums. Rest in Peace, Pete.
Keith Emerson – Keith is obviously legendary although I didn’t listen to ELP too much.
Rick Wakeman – Rick is another legend and I had the pleasure of having breakfast with him some years back before a Yes show. He’s a great guy and extremely kind. In my opinion, Rick along with Keith and many of these pianists listed below are truly the mega pioneers of a lot, if not most of what we hear in today’s rock and metal when it comes to piano/synth incorporation. I think they would attribute what they’ve pioneered to the many greats even long before them, which all hail from the classical realms.
Jon Lord – Another legend and another pioneer. Deep Purple was always a family favorite though I never dove to deep into them.
Jordan Rudess – Jordan, of course, is one of my favorites. Dream Theater has always been extremely close to my heart (thru 2010) and so when Jordan joined and debuted with Scenes from a Memory after the two Liquid Tension Experiment projects – (which I love to this day) – it was magnificent. Jordan’s style is very cool because he’s obviously one of the top and can play anything but I appreciate his taste in incorporating bits and pieces, sometimes from all around the world and still delivering a moving, ultra dynamic emotional and dramatic solo or composition.
Tony Banks – Legendary pioneer. Genesis was and still is one of the true foundations of prog-rock and so much respect goes out to Tony – being a founding member.
Herbie Hancock – Herbie is one of the five 10-fingered piano players to ever live. Hard to say anything more that tops that!
Jan Hammer – Apologies that I only know the name. Of course, he’s a hall of famer with his endless credits and playing with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Geddy Lee – Rush is, of course, one the top of all time although I never considered myself too much of a Rush fan at all – though of course much respect for Geddy!
George Duke – Legendary. John Evan – Again another where Jethro Tull was always a family favorite – though I never did dive too deep into them. Of course, he is another hall of fame pioneer.
Ludwig Van Beethoven: The best ever.
I see you have many different albums out. Could you call each album an individual project? Independent from previous work?
Yes, I would label them differently than previous work and mainly because I do like to focus on different genres from time to time. Sometimes it’s a mood factor or just simply me wanting to explore one of the many genres that I enjoy.
Tell me about Dante’s Divine Comedy Soundtrack and Dore’s Inferno?
Well, Dante’s Divine Comedy is renowned as one of the ultimate and significant literary works of all time. Many years ago I not only wanted to read through the book as I was nearing that ‘mid-point of my journey’ that Dante speaks of and doing some soul searching, but I wanted to also write an orchestral score based on the individual realms Dante wrote of and solely use the exquisite illustrations of Gustave Doré as inspiration. So I decided to call it Dore’s Inferno as it’s based on his renditions of Dante’s work.
Who does the artwork for your music?
Well, Gustave Doré gets some credit, haha and otherwise I seek out many different excellent artists online. Daniel Bérard is an amazing artist and he did the artwork for Isle of the Cross. Your 1 Minute Worlds- Alas was very touching.
How did you get the idea of doing 1 Minute Worlds?
Thank you! The idea came from my lifelong love and support for all of our servicemen and women who have laid down their lives to serve and protect our country. Being a Father of two girls also made those surprise visits in the video even more meaningful and emotional for me.
How did you get the rights to use the video you did for the song?
So far they haven’t minded! Haha.
What made you to decide to start Isle of the Cross?
That goes back to the roots of rock in the family and I’ve written various metal’ ish and rock tracks but knew it was time to do a full solid metal album as it’s been on my mental itinerary for a long time.
How did the project get its name?
A couple of years ago my Dad was reading me a passage from Moby Dick and there was a line that included ‘Isle of the Cross’ and I fancied it right away.
Tell me about your new release coming out next month?
Excelsis is a prog-metal album with various blends of extreme/death/tech/symphonic/melodic metal. It’s a little more of a concept album that interweaves a storyline amongst a couple of detour tracks such as the 9th Circle and the Wolf Part I and II. The 9th Circle was a nice way to conclude Dante’s Inferno as my orchestral project last left off with the 8th Circle. It features Eric Gillette from the Neal Morse/Mike Portnoy band and also members Eric Castiglia and Diane Lee.
How did you go about getting your band together and where are the members from (members background)?
Just literally by email. I had heard Eric on one of Neal Morse’s albums and we got into contact. Eric Gillette is the guitarist of the Neal Morse Band with Mike Portnoy. Eric Castiglia is a musician out of Italy and Diane Lee is a singer from Switzerland.
So you break down your music into parts. Which is something an orchestrated masterpiece would do?
Yes, I write and break down each individual part for the songs/instruments.
If someone was listening to you for the first time what videos should they watch?
If one enjoys dark orchestral/symphonic – then definitely the Dante’s Inferno series. If one enjoys the truly bizarre, wacky and fun – then I would say the ‘Epic Showdown Ministry’ series of 4 videos! If one enjoys tribute songs/videos, I have numerous in that arena as I’ve always tried to honor those that I love who are still alive, along with remembering those who we’ve lost – such as the Chris Kyle ‘The Legend’ video/track. There’s also plenty of others in the horror vein and a few live solo piano videos. It seems that your videos on Vimeo (Believe Lyrics) and YouTube are very different. I forgot about Vimeo long ago and that video is very old!
It seems to me that you were influenced heavily by the Alan Parsons Project.
Why thank you! I really like a couple of the Alan Parsons album’s that I own and one obscure album in particular which is Vulture Culture from 1984. Also, I’m fortunate to have aided in a pivotal role in someone’s life when I was the middle man in introducing them to Alan Parson’s track ‘Turn it Up’ from his 1993 album; Try Anything Once.
Vinyl or digital and why?
I have no preference here.
Any plans to do any touring with this latest project?
There aren’t any plans as of now but it’s a possibility.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself hopefully 5 years closer to attaining truth and balance as I’m but one fraction of a speck of dust on this minuscule island called Earth; traveling in this eternally vast ocean of our universe. Hopefully closer to serenity and peace. Hopefully closer to mastering love and forgiveness. Musically I forever intend to continue writing tirelessly so I imagine many more volumes of work in the next 5 years.
Anything in closing?
Thank you very much for your time!
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