Worlds Beyond – Belgian band with influences of rock and symphonic metal
Interview conducted on November 10, 2020
by Dan Locke
Fans of e.g. Nightwish, Within Temptation, Evanescence will certainly take the music in their heart. Songwriter Tijmen gets inspired by other symphonic metal bands, but also by rock bands such as X Japan and My Chemical Romance.
Film music and soundtracks also provide a big inspiration for the hybrid rock sound of the band. There is an interplay between the emotional and cinematic on one side, and the rock and metal on the other. The songs are mostly about dreams, escapism, beauty, marvel etc. and find their inspiration regularly in stories and nature walks. The lyrical music and imaginative verses are the wondrous result.
The vocals of singer Valerie provide a more classical undertone. She writes the many vocal harmonies on the album and part of the lyrics. For this, she mainly uses her emotions and life events as an inspiration..
Band members
Drums: Wout Debacker
Bass: Ewoud Dekoninck
Guitars: Tijmen Matthys
Keys: Robbe Adriaens
Violin: Jakob Declercq
Vocals: Valerie De Kempe
What is your upbringing?
It all started when guitarist Tijmen discovered the joy of songwriting back in 2016. Forming a band was the next logical step.
How did you discover music?
I heard about it once…
Ewoud- You studied classical guitar and now you play bass. Do you think that more guitarists should learn classical guitar first?
I think so. It was my plan to transition into electrical guitar after the first three mandatory years of classical guitar. I bought an electrical guitar but kept on learning classical guitar at the music school. Looking back, I know that was the better option. It was my stepping stone to the classical bass and the reason for me joining Worlds Beyond. Also, it enhanced my musical knowledge, my technique and my passion for music. Something I don’t think would have happened if I just played the electrical guitar.
Wout- You are a drummer, but you were the Frontman and guitarist for Lucid Dream. What made you go to the backline of a band?
I just love making and playing music. But as a Frontman, there’s more to it than just music. Every gig you have to be constantly aware of your surroundings, the way you interact with the audience, and the things you say to them. When I’m drumming, I can completely tune out all those thoughts and just concentrate on the music and enjoy just being in the background. Behind the drum, I’m in my comfort zone.
Robbe- You also play sax and clarinet. Would you like to add these instruments to the band?
I would love to bring the saxophone into one of our songs. However, it is not an easy task to integrate the sound of the saxophone with the other instruments. Though I don’t think that a small musical role for the saxophone is out of the question.
Tijmen- How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it? Make, model and year?
As I started out with classical guitar, my first guitar is actually a 1980 Alhambra that my father used to play when he was young. I got my first electric guitar in 2014, a then-new Yamaha Pacifica 112V, which was a great beginner guitar and helped me discover all the joy and technical fundamentals of playing electric guitar. I still have it, but don’t really play it anymore.
Tijmen- What is your guitar of choice now? Make, model and year?
My current and go-to guitar is a 2019 Schecter Apocalypse C-1 FR S, which I choose specifically with my playing style in mind. It has passive pickups made for power-rock sounds, a Floyd-Rose tremolo bridge which I use all the time during solos, and a ‘Sustainiac’. That’s an internal feedback loop that gives the same effect as bringing your guitar close to a really loud amplifier, only more controlled and without the excessive volume. I used it in some solos, especially in the song “Symphony of Dawn”.
Jakob- What is the difference between the violin and a fiddle?
In Dutch, there is just one word for it, I never even wondered about the English words. As far as I know, these terms are synonymous, but I guess fiddle is more associated with Folk music while the violin is used in the context of classical music. Now that I think of it, I like the word fiddle way more, as the verb fiddling means a lot more than just playing the violin. I’ve always been amazed by the silliest small marvels that can be found in the world around us, and I can’t help fiddling around in this wonderful world.
How did you start to write music?
Tijmen- I’ve always loved to play & sing rock song covers on the guitar – campfire style. It’s probably what made me interested in what a song is fundamental. When I discovered the music of Nightwish and Within Temptation in 2016, I was truly amazed by its beauty. The fact that someone was able to create magic like that, made me want to do it as well. What followed was a whole summer and autumn of analyzing my favorite rock songs, coming up with melodies and chord progressions, writing about 10 demo songs, and finding the band members to play those songs. About half of those early demos ended up on the album, though significantly improved during the 4 years of Worlds Beyond that followed my initial discovery of songwriting.
Describe your music?
The core of our music is the combination of emotional themes (rock/pop ballads, soundtracks) and powerful themes (hard rock, metal). This is also why we have both a rock guitar and an acoustic violin in the band, and why the vocals are slightly opera-styled, as opera is both beautiful and powerful.
How did you get your name?
Choosing a name is not as easy as it sounds. There also isn’t a big story about our name. We found one after way too many brainstorm sessions and about three full pages of trials. We’re very happy with it though 🙂.
Have you seen the television series on AMC Worlds Beyond (part of the Walking Dead)?
No, never heard of it.
What was your first performance together like?
Clumsy. In one of our first concerts we played an intermezzo of Frère Jacques completely out of the blue. A guitar string broke during the show and we kept the attention by playing a few lullabies everyone knows, while Tijmen was changing the string. Pretty awkward
More than half your band had birthdays during the lockdown. What did they do for it?
Chilling at home with a fancy meal, a good movie, and the “today my housemates have to do all the chores”-attitude
What makes a good songwriter?
Tijmen- There are a few things I can think of that all my favourite songwriters have in common. For one, the ability to create memorable and singable melodies. That’s why you can remember and hum your favourite songs, and also why the best instrumental solos are singable. A second point is a simplicity: the best songs contain everything they need to contain to be a great song and nothing more that could clutter it up. Great songs have a lot of content but never feel messy or full. Finally, the ability to make everything inside the song support a fundamental emotional idea. That’s what makes you connect to the song on a deeper and more meaningful level.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“Am I Lost” was the first song we rehearsed, back in early 2017 when we had just formed the band. We recorded a demo with the band and then re-recorded it two years later for our debut album. It’s probably the song that we tweaked and improved the most over the years (because first songs are often not very good). Tijmen also wrote two other songs before this, but those were never played in the band (again, early songs are not so great).
Tell me about the video “Moonlight”?
It’s a story about finding your passion and pursuing it. The video shows a little girl who dreams of wandering through a forest and is excited yet scared by all the possible future life paths. The metaphor for her calling is a mystical bridge, and the turning point of the song is when she actually dares to walk on the bridge (during the bridge of the song, pun intended). That’s when she meets herself and persuades herself to follow her passion and act on it.
Your album comes out on December 12. Tell me about it?
We’ve been together for four years as a band, constantly improving. This debut album is the result of it. It’s a showcase of our musical identity, containing both heavy and emotional songs (most songs are both). It features the six of us, with extra harmonies in the vocals and guitar, as well as a sampled symphonic orchestra in the background. We’re very proud of it, and invite you to take a listen.
Wout: Sidenote: It has 12 tracks on it and costs €12.
Jakob (Captain obvious): So that’s €1 per track.
Robbe: or like 0.25 Big Macs per track so that you Americans can understand it 😉
What is your favorite track on the album?
Valerie: Ice king
Tijmen: One <3
Wout: One
Ewoud: Moonlight
Jakob: Child in the light
Robbe: Ice King for the win
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Jakob: Daily yoga routine. Low-carb diet.
Valerie: Meditation.
Robbe: Pamela Reif workouts
Wout: Listening to sleep stories of Cillian Murphy (purely hypothetical though, since we haven’t toured yet)
What are your feelings about streaming music?
Only good feelings: It makes music from all around the world accessible to everyone.
How can people forget about the original hashtag # Sharp in a musical score?
It is a testament to the inherent dumbness of the social networking world we live in today. #realtalk
Digital vs. vinyl?
Valerie: Digital for the superior sound, vinyl for the ritual and collecting.
Jakob: With two computer science engineers among us, the only possible answer to this question is digital.
Wout: If the artist made the album all analog, and listened to the album on vinyl himself, I would probably buy the vinyl. But if the album was made digital, I don’t see a reason to buy the vinyl..
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Equality seems like such an easy concept but in practice, it fails way too much. It is not that hard to treat each person equally. The problem is that freedom of speech is often misused to mask racist or discriminant positions and if it is not possible to root out those opinions, the culture of racism so rooted in our society will not efface. It is a good sign that people stand up for their rights
Your first rehearsal was months after the lockdown. Was it really corona proof?
Yes! Social distancing, mouth masks and putting Ewoud far away in the attic.
Valerie- You are also a Kindergarten teacher. How do you make your classroom safe?
Coronawise: by washing our hands a lot and disinfecting the classroom after play. Otherwise: putting the matches out of reach after use ;).
Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decided to hold off because many schools are doing virtual school and charging the same amount for school as they would for on campus classes. Do you think the colleges should give some type of discount to these students?
Robbe: I honestly think that most of the schools – especially in the US – are charging way too much anyway. And yes, I believe they should charge less if the classes are all virtual even though they probably are still more than expensive enough.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Tijmen: Mika – Any Other World: This song gives me instant nostalgia. It’s from the first album I got as a child.
Jakob: Actually, that’s exactly the same for me 😮
Wout: If I had to pick a song from the past it would be “Near Wild Heaven” from R.E.M.’s album “Out Of Time”. My sister and I each got our own R.E.M. album when we were a baby. This album was mine and a helpful tool for my parents to keep me quiet at night. It’s still a song I love very much and always brings back a lot of nostalgia.
Ewoud: Roxanne. It was the first song I played for the public in some makeshift band. It failed horribly. How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future? Valerie: I have a feeling people will appreciate live music more when this all will be over.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Valerie: having a good time crafting and enjoying the cat’s companionship
Jakob: I had a great time-wasting time, nothing new.
Tijmen: Writing songs, soundtracks, learning music production, mixing, photo/video editing, drawing, etc. There are so many things I still want to do, and luckily quarantine has given me slightly more free time.
Wout: I love spending time at home. I started learning digital painting, playing music, writing songs and spending time with my girlfriend. Also, Netflix.
Robbe: Netflix, basketball, trying to learn how to dunk (spoiler alert: I still can’t) Ewoud: graduating! Jakob: ah yes, that too 🙂
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Valerie: gardening
Robbe: playing the ukulele
Ewoud: sleeping, but I also have an ukulele.
Tijmen: walking, but I also have an ukulele.
Wout: digital painting, but I have a real guitar
Jakob: I bought 2 new chickens, no ukulele sadly, nor a real guitar
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and use their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Valerie: Netflix since it is my only streaming channel.
Robbe: Netflix
Jakob: The internet offers cheaper solutions than Netflix, but actually I waste all my time on YouTube
Tijmen: YouTube
Wout: Netflix
Ewoud: Streamz, like a real patriot!
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses. The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Tijmen: It only makes sense for Facebook to ban these livestreams, as they take up a considerable amount of data traffic, and generate no income for the platform. They could of course add ads during videos, but nobody wants that and the music livestream market is probably just not their thing. There are other very good solutions such as Twitch or YouTube, so for artists, this is not really a problem. It’s a pity though for Facebook, because they have given up on a currently booming market.
Jakob: Who cares about Facebook anyway?
Wout: We don’t give a damn about Facebook! Robbe: F*ck Facebook! Y’all peeps ever heard of reddit?
Ewoud: Facebook is so 2018! Valerie: Yeah, screw them.
Tijmen: But hey, follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldsbeyondofficial In addition.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
By keeping good contact on social media. It’s definitely a lot harder, but I think it is clear for everybody that the cultural sector and the event industry are among the hardest hit by this crisis. Is pay to play still a thing? Unfortunately, it is still a thing, though it shouldn’t. You don’t ask a cook to pay you so he/she can cook for you, that would be ridiculous. Yet it sometimes happens with musicians. Artists have a natural urge to create, and there are more artists than playing opportunities. Unfortunately, some people monetize this.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Ewoud: cool
Valerie: An introvert’s dream
Jakob: Also, a nerd’s dream…
Wout: *Rant about a way of big tech companies filming your living room as a way to gather extra data and exploit you. Also, a lot of inappropriate things will certainly happen to famous musicians without their knowledge. Just saying. *
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Valerie: Sewing
Ewoud: Sleeping
Tijmen: Doing music anyway
Wout: I honestly don’t know
Robbe: Sports, nothing is more important than a healthy body!
Jakob: #showmethoseabsrobbe!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Ewoud: A bass player using a pick is a wuss.
Jakob: The pick doesn’t change much…
All: Bye, thanks for the interview and keep on buying our album, listening to music!
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