"7 Billion And A Nameless Somebody", the second full-length album released by Fire On Dawson, followed the German progressive rock band's breakthrough in Asia in early 2012. Additionally, a videoclip for the song "The Code" was shooted in India during their tour there. Rock Overdose had a little chat with Indian singer Ankur Batra concerning details of the new album and the band itself.
Rockoverdose.gr: Hi Ankur, welcome to Rock Overdose!
Ankur: Thanks for having me, it’s a pleasure.
Rockoverdose.gr: Would you like to tell us what Fire On Dawson is all about, for our readers to get to know you a little bit better?
Ankur: Well, Fire on Dawson started out as an experimental music project in 2006 that has evolved into an entity that represents musical freedom in every essence of the word. We make music because we love music, without boundaries and I guess that has really helped us over the years in creating our own little niche in this highly saturated, modern day music market.
Rockoverdose.gr: So “7 Billion and A Nameless Somebody” is a concept album? How did you come up with the title?
Ankur: The idea of “7 Billion and a Nameless Somebody” has been a notion 2 years in the making. It all started out on our first tour to India, where we played shows in front of massive audiences, for thousands of people. We came across so many different individuals, so many different stories drawn out on multi-layered canvases. We were surrounded by all these people at an arm hair’s length away, yet for us they were just plain faces. While we started recording our second album, we wanted to make it about something more than just a collection of songs. Around that time, the media all over the world was drunk on the inevitable statistic of the human race reaching a count of 7 billion. There was kind of a paradox at work, since we cared so much about a mere number while ignoring the majority of individuals that make up this number. Thus the concept of “7 Billion and a Nameless Somebody” was born.
Rockoverdose.gr: There is a song called “Syria”, what's the story about it?
Ankur: This song has an interesting backstory behind it. It actually started out as an anthem outlining the detrimental effects ‘brain drain’ has on a developing economy. It was originally called ‘Out of Control’. However, while watching a documentary on the Arab Spring one night before I was supposed to get into the studio to record the vocals, I decided to change the entire theme of the song. It was a risky move going into the studio with a blank sheet of paper, since I lay immense importance on the lyrics. But seeing all that that was going on in the Middle East-North Africa region had such an impact on me that it made me want to address the issue in this song.
Rockoverdose.gr: How was it recording the album on your own, you have a home studio?
Ankur: It wasn’t as relaxed as it might sound. We treated the recording phase as professionally as it would be in any external studio. Setting specific, short-term goals really helped us meet deadlines and achieve our targets. Having our own infrastructure certainly gave us the creative freedom to write what we desired but we laid a lot of emphasis on discipline, which allowed us not to go overboard resources-wise.
Rockoverdose.gr: “We Are All Vain” changed completely during the recording process?
Ankur: Yes, this song pretty much encapsulates the musical journey we have gone through over the last 2 years. We started playing this song as the opening number on our first Indian tour in 2010. It was just called ‘intro’ back then. It had a completely different vocal chorus and the beginning riff was also played differently. In the end, the song would explode into a crescendo of heavy guitar riffing. While it was a good, explosive introduction at a live concert, we got the feeling that on the CD it needed something more subtle while still maintaining its dynamism and impact. So we tried various permutations and combinations, mixing keyboard sounds with bass and drum combinations to finally come up with something that we were all satisfied with. It took 2 years, but it was worth the effort.
Rockoverdose.gr: What led you to Hollywood producer Stephen Marsh for the mastering?
Ankur: We had worked with Stephen on our debut album “Prognative” so we knew what to expect from him and more importantly he knew what we were looking for. We loved his work on the Hangover films and that’s where we decided to contact him in the first place. Safe to say, he did a terrific job once again.
Rockoverdose.gr: What does the crow represent in the cover?
Ankur: Well art, as music, is best left to the interpretation of the individual. The album art certainly has an intimate meaning for us, but we encourage our listeners to establish their own relationship with it. So how would you interpret it, Stella?
Rockoverdose.gr: ...Well, lets not affect the readers' opinion with my own judgement! Now, I get a feeling of oriental influences in the music, was it an outcome of the Asian tour? Are you participating in the composition of the songs too?
Ankur: I guess it’s a combination of a lot of factors. Me coming from India, certainly plays a role in the ideas, concepts and landscapes that unravel in my mind. Our travels have also had an influence on how we look at song structures, rhythms and melodies. As musicians who embrace all spectrums of sound, it is sometimes not easy to pinpoint exact influences. But exposure to different cultures invariably adds to your personal musical universe.
Rockoverdose.gr: Are you going back soon? Is it easy to play in those countries?
Ankur: It’s difficult to compare audiences from different parts of the world. There are certain aspects that do make it harder to plan and implement tours and concerts in certain parts of the world, but the enthusiasm and the love of the audience makes it all worth it in the end. The passion that the Asian crowds display is incredible and we are planning a tour there again for the first half of next year.
Rockoverdose.gr: Any future plans of visiting Greece?
Ankur: Oh definitely! I personally feel very attached to the Mediterranean people and culture and have visited the region multiple times. Most of the people I have met on my travels have been extremely kind and believe it or not, have had a terrific taste in music. We almost toured Turkey and Greece in Summer 2011 but the tour had to be cancelled due to certain unforeseen circumstances. But we hope to be playing for our fans in Greece very soon.
Rockoverdose.gr: Hope we see you soon then! Thanks for your time Ankur, if there's anything you'd like to add, please... go ahead!
Ankur: I would just like to thank everyone that has been a part of the Fire on Dawson history this far. The hard work of all those involved in this project has made it possible for us to reach where we are today. In addition, our friends and family that have supported us throughout this highly unpredictable journey for the last 6 years. Lastly, a big thanks to all those who have ever purchased a CD, a T-Shirt or a concert ticket of ours to show their support for our music. We appreciate it immensely and hope that you would continue to give us the inspiration to push our musical limits.
For Rockoverdose.gr: Stella Tsolakou
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