Dryad, creator and composer of Tassi, his solo Post-Black/Shoegaze project, took time to answer my questions about Northland III, his third album.
Hello and first of all, thank you very much for your time! Could you please introduce yourself and the project Tassi without using the usual “Metal” labels?
Dryad (all instruments): Hello, I’m glad to accept your interview! Thank you! As for my personal albums, I think they are like a real dream, which I cherish and appreciate very much. I want to make my music full of divinity and romance, so that people can feel warm when they hear them. After all, the world is really sad enough now
Your new album, Northland III, will be released soon. How do you feel about this?
Dryad: As I just said, I hope it can bring warmth and hope to people. I love the style of Black Metal very much. It has been with me for 17 years, but now I just want to create a Black Metal album full of beauty, that’s it.
Why did you choose this continuous name? What does it mean for you?
Dryad: They are related to a dream when I was a child, and I know who I was in my previous life through some way. In short, the concept album of the north is not only a career I must continue now, but also an indispensable driving force in my life.
Since the very beginning, you created a universe where a character, named the Bard Tassi, explores his universe to find Uni, his beloved one, through oniric landscapes. Where does this idea come from?
Dryad: Sorry, honey, here I want to correct that the protagonist’s name is actually Dryad Tassi, but it doesn’t matter, ha ha. My creative inspiration comes from the divine comedy by Saint Dante Alighieri. I am moved by his spirit and belief. I think light flows in his blood vessels and he has a crystal heart.
How does the composition process happen for this album? Was it different from the previous releases?
Dryad: I think this album is more romantic and warm than the previous two albums. My personal favorite album is the second, but this album is better than the second. I have tried to add some new ideas from lyrics to composition mode. I hope the attribute of this album is light. Then my personal novel Caelum Deva also stopped in this album and has not been updated. I haven’t written the follow-up story line yet, but it’s not very important. After all, it’s an eternal dream.
On every song, you manage to create an ambience between quiet parts and insanely raw Black Metal/Shoegaze elements. What are your inspirations?
Dryad: I’ve always been very blackgaze! I think it has an incredible relationship with Black Metal. I like to connect dark things with pure things, which will give me a sense of balance!
How do you link Northland III with your previous releases?
Dryad: The storyline of the third album is related to the first two albums. The whole theme is from my personal novel, but my novel has stopped updating, so I will put the novel on the agenda as soon as possible.
To me, the song Memoir Of Eerie Fantasies II is definitely the most seizing of the whole album. What does it mean for you?
Dryad: The song memoir of eerie fantasies II is indeed a little obscure, just like the first album. When I was playing this song, my mental state was not very good, full of anxiety and anxiety. At that time, I began to review the works of some bands I used to like, such as Nocturnal Depression, Lifelover, Silver, etc… « life is toxic, but it is possible to find an antidote every minute », that’s it. I think I should cherish the life I have now. Although it is suffering, it is definitely the most precious illusion in my life.
Since 2020, Covid-19 crisis fucked a lot of things up, how did you face the situation? Did it have an impact on you as a musician?
Dryad: The epidemic is really frustrating and angry! My album was also born in this unfortunate time. I think it is a rare joy for me in such an unsatisfactory era. Seriously, 2019 is as far away as another time and space for me. Now I just hope people can be safe and healthy.
Do you already have plans for Tassi’s future after the release of the album?
Dryad: Bliss-Illusion may play some Tassi songs in the future, which will be in my plan. I also want Tassi to become a band that can perform live, but now my most important thing is to live first. Ha ha, because now I’m a little hard up, I need some stable income to support my life.
What do you love about your music that you cannot find in other band’s music?
Dryad: I think I made a beautiful Black Metal album. I used my own lyrics to stay away from a familiar and disgusting life state. It may not sound so mysterious, but you can know the story of my previous life through it.
What can you tell me about the Metal scene in China?
Dryad: Sorry, I have nothing to share with you. I just hope it gets better and better.
What is your best and your worst experience as a musician ever?
Dryad: I think my best experience is that I can connect to my original world through music, which is an eternal country of truth. The worst thing is that I can’t go back there now, but I will live this life well and I will cherish it.
Maybe you already heard about the French Metal scene? Which French bands do you know?
Dryad: Nocturnal Depression was a band I liked very much in my early years. Then Alcest influenced my band (Bliss-Illusion), and Les Discrets was also very good. Sorry, I know too little
What if I ask you to compare Tassi’s music with a dish? Which one and why?
Dryad: This question is so cool ha! I don’t know which one it will be, but it must be a vegetarian dish ha ha ha! The taste must not be sweet, ha ha. I hope it is very nutritious to people, ha ha
Are there any musicians or bands you would like to collaborate with?
Dryad: I’ve always loved Sigur Rós in Iceland and Jónsi (lead singer), including the works of Alex Somers, that’s it.
Last question: which bands would you love to tour with? I let you create a tour with Tassi as opener and three other bands!
Dryad: Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Alcest, Lifelover, Hypothermia, Gorgoroth, Dark Throne, Bethlehem, Envy, Cult Of Fire… Sorry, a little too much…
That was the last question for me, so thank you very much for your time and your music, last words are yours!
Dryad: I’m glad to accept your interview. I hope you, your family and friends can be safe and healthy! Look forward to the show! I would also like to thank my good friends William and Alcide and Time Tombs Productions for this album but also, Anesthetize and Source Atone for their support since the beginning of this project ! Finally, may our troubles and worries come to naught!