SOLIMPULSE interview
Hi Serhii! I don't know SOLIMPULSE yet, so let's start with the obvious question: what were you doing before this project appeared? Have you played in other bands, or is this the first time you've put your own compositions out under a separate name?
Before starting SOLIMPULSE, I played bass guitar in Sad Alice Said and was also a member of Sidus Atrum. Both projects were an important part of my musical journey and gave me valuable experience.
SOLIMPULSE is my first fully solo project, where I have the freedom to explore my own musical ideas and bring them to life exactly as I envision them.
Tidefall is a curious title for a debut. Did you have it before writing the music, or did it turn up somewhere along the way? The same goes for the sea running through the EP. Was that the subject from day one, or did you notice the connection between the songs only after you'd written them?
The idea of the sea was there from the very beginning, even before I started writing the music. It was the central image I wanted to explore throughout the EP, so the songs were connected by that concept from the start.
The title Tidefall, however, came much later, when the music was already finished. It just felt like the right name to bring everything together.
Why “No Horizon” as the first single? Was it the song you felt best represented SOLIMPULSE, or was there another reason for choosing it?
I chose “No Horizon” as the first single because I see it as the centerpiece of the EP. To me, it captures the overall mood and atmosphere of Tidefall, so it felt like the most natural choice to introduce the project.
Five tracks, twenty-two minutes. Nice and compact. Did you write more than this, or was the EP always going to be this short? I'm asking because I'd rather hear five tracks that belong together than a record padded out to meet some imaginary album-length requirement.
I planned Tidefall as an EP from the very beginning, so the shorter format was always intentional. I wanted to create a cohesive piece of music rather than stretch it into a full-length album just for the sake of it.
Yulia Lykhotvor sings on two tracks. How did you get her involved? Since she's known for Sidus Atrum, I wonder whether you approached her because you wanted that particular voice, or whether the collaboration came about more casually.
As I mentioned earlier, I had already worked with Yulia in Sidus Atrum, so we knew each other musically. When I started working on SOLIMPULSE, I felt that her voice would be a perfect fit for the music and its atmosphere. So the collaboration came about quite naturally.
Did you give Yulia finished songs and let her work out her parts, or were you involved in shaping what she sang? And why only two tracks? Was there a point where you considered using vocals more often but decided against it?
I wrote the vocal melodies and lyrics myself, but Yulia and I worked together on bringing them to life. Her interpretation added something special to the songs.
From the beginning, I wanted Tidefall to be a mostly instrumental EP, with vocals appearing on just one or two tracks. I never really considered making it more vocal-oriented, as I wanted the music itself to remain the main focus.
The track titles are pretty bleak: “After Nothing”, “Hollow Veins”, “No Horizon”. Are they connected to actual events or thoughts, or do you prefer to leave the words open enough for people to find their own meanings? You don't have to explain every line, of course. I'm just wondering how personal this material is.
I prefer to leave the lyrics and titles open to interpretation, so everyone can find their own meaning in them. Of course, there are personal thoughts and emotions behind the music, but I don't want to define exactly what each song is about. I think it's more interesting when listeners can connect with the music through their own experiences.
Which records were you listening to while writing Tidefall? Not necessarily records that sound like SOLIMPULSE. Sometimes the biggest influence is something that wouldn't make sense in a list of genre references.
I listen to a pretty wide range of music. Sometimes it's black metal, sometimes indie artists, and plenty of other things in between. But I can't really point to any particular album or artist that directly influenced Tidefall. I think it's more about everything I've listened to over the years rather than one specific influence.
When you compose on your own, do you hear the whole track in your head before you start recording, or do you discover it while working? I'm interested in how you get from the first idea to a finished piece, especially when the music relies on so many different layers.
I usually have a rough idea of the track before I start, but it's never a fully formed composition in my head. Most of the music takes shape during the creative process, when I start experimenting with instruments, melodies, and different layers. I like to let the music develop naturally rather than follow a strictly defined plan.
And how do you decide that a song is actually finished? Do you reach a point where you know there's nothing left to add, or can you keep changing these things forever if nobody stops you?
At some point, I usually get a feeling that the song is finished and there's nothing more I need to add. But I often take a break for a few days or even a week and then come back to listen with fresh ears. Sometimes I notice small things I'd like to change, but usually these are just minor adjustments rather than anything significant.
Have you thought about playing SOLIMPULSE live? If so, would you look for musicians to recreate the recordings, or would you be willing to change the arrangements for the stage? If not, is there something about working in the studio that you don't want to lose?
I haven't really planned any live performances for SOLIMPULSE, and for now it's mainly a studio-based project. I personally enjoy the process of composing and creating music in the studio more than performing live. That's where I feel most comfortable creatively. But I wouldn't rule out the possibility of putting a band together and bringing SOLIMPULSE to the stage someday.
One last thing. You're releasing your first EP under this name, and people will inevitably start putting labels on it. Is there anything you hope SOLIMPULSE won't become? A certain sound you don't want to get stuck repeating, perhaps, or an expectation you'd rather avoid from the beginning?
There's so much music out there today, so I think comparisons with other artists are inevitable, and I don't really mind that. What I'd like to avoid is repeating myself or getting stuck in one particular sound. I want SOLIMPULSE to keep evolving, and I hope that whatever I create next will be something different from Tidefall, rather than just a continuation of the same ideas.
Thanks, Serhii. Good luck with Tidefall!