Exclusive Interview: Nvmeral talk writing and recording “The Harmer and The Fool”!

Last month saw the arrival of a record in “The Harmer and The Fool” that we’d been waiting for something like a year. The first sonic creations of Oxford Progressive Post Hardcore collective Nvmeral are born of many years of experience and shared stages with other bands they simply refuse to name, not to mention the hand of cards that life has dealt them. Mutual influences from the likes of Alexisonfire and Thrice have of course helped but in truth, listening to the record, the 18 months they spent crafting a signature sound of their own has been time very much well spent…

How did your previous experiences writing and recording help to smooth the path of the new record? “As we recorded TH&TF ourselves, we were really able to hone in on different techniques we’d learned in the past. Luckily Chris has years of experience at the desk in the studio so that also helped the process run smoothly. From previous experience, as much as its nice to have an outside opinion during the writing and recording process, we felt this time there’s no pressure to impress anyone but ourselves. We took our time, in our own time and created the product we as a unit were truly happy with.”

How does the writing process of a new track start? Melody, riff or rhythm first? How does it evolve from there before you consider it the finished article? “It depends. Sometimes one of us (usually Chris) will write a template of a song and we’ll all get together, listen in and discuss what would sound good where and what needs to change etc. Sometimes a track is what we’re looking for with very little change required, so we then get adding the additional sounds to really fill out the track and bring the atmosphere that we feel the song needs. Other times we’ll just jam from a riff that someone has, and it forms into a product over a bit of time. On one occasion, a song that may appear on EP2 started from me sending some lyrics to Chris and he created a great piece of music that really completed the emotion of the words”

There is a real grit and integrity to the lyrical narrative of “The Harmer and The Fool“; how did you go about getting the balance between heavy and melodic sounds right sonically to match that? “From the get-go, we’ve wanted to utilise everything we can personally do, with our instruments, voices and lyrical content, creating something that would cover bases across all of our influences ranging from rock, prog, metal, post hardcore and even pop punk. We feel capturing the right energy and emotion throughout our songs just comes naturally. We want the listener to feel something from both the music and lyrics, with out one overshadowing the other. We certainly try to balance the lyrical content with the music, so the listener doesn’t miss anything and hopefully finds the whole song interesting upon indulging”

If you had the opportunity to work with a guest in the studio next time around, who would you like to work with and why?

Ricky Taylor – This has always been a difficult one for me to answer, especially with recent happenings. Chester Bennington was always up there as he had a massive part in influencing me to become a vocalist. Lacey Sturm is my favourite female vocalist in rock and metal so working with her in some capacity on a song would be awesome. To really mix it up, the voice of Moya Brennan of Clannad would really bring an amazing atmospheric feel to any track.

Chris Jones – I’d like to explore collaborations with bands and artists that enable exploring blends of multiple genres powered by a post hardcore intensity.

Dean Harris – The London Philharmonic Orchestra would be an experience.

Varun Arthur – Charlie Simpson of Fightstar. He’s got incredible vocal ability with his melodic and screaming which would be fun to incorporate into what we do.

Tim Lucas – Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. Some female vocal in a track or 2 could be fun.

For us gear nerds out there, can you tell us what you’re using gear wise (pedals, strings, drums etc) to get your sound?

Ricky Taylor – Vocal: “Shure SM58”

Chris Jones – Guitar: “Ibanez SZ320 (From the arc, but still offers so much versatility), Marshall JCM and Jim Dunlop Plectrums”

Dean Harris – Drums: “Pearl EXR Fusion, Axis Double Pedal and Sabian Cymbals”

Varun Arthur – Guitar: “Fender Jim Root Telecaster with Active EMG Humbuckers, GT100 Pedal and Orange Pedalbaby”

Tim Lucas – Bass: “Stingray 5”

What difference would it make to you as a band if you could land an endorsement from a gear manufacturer?

Ricky Taylor: “I’d take a Shure endorsement if it was going but wouldn’t mind Atticus Macbeth or Vans. That would be pretty cool”

Chris Jones: “Cheap or free gear would be great!”

Dean Harris: “I’m not good enough for an endorsement, but if any think differently I’d welcome Pearl, Sabian and Vic Firth”

Varun Arthur: “I love the equipment I use, so anything from those brands would be quite something. Plus Macbeth would be an awesome side endorsement”

Tim Lucas: “It’s hard to get good G#’s on bass and second-hand Dingwall cost almost as much as news ones, so a Dingwall endorsement please!”

“On a serious note, just being able to represent the companies that help create our sound would be a massive honour, or even others that we could experiment with to broaden our sound even more, whether it would make a difference to the attention or reputation of the band, we wouldn’t mind either way.

We’re enjoying what we do, and we hope others are too, with or without endorsements and dream guests. EVERYONE is welcome in the Nvmeral family!”

“The Harmer and The Fool” by Nvmeral is out now and everywhere you’d expect it to be…