AZRÆYIL On the Making Of “War”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "War" and the story it tells?
Of course. I wrote “War” in memoriam to my grandfather, who passed away in 2015. I grappled with a lot of regret after his death, that I had to learn to navigate through and live with. When I wrote this song, I was at a crossroads to where I could either wallow in what I think I deserve or I can try to live a way that my grandfather would be proud of. It might seem like an obvious choice but it was a constant battle I dealt with for a time.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
I had the fortunate opportunity to record this song in the privacy of one of my closest friend’s studios. The song was emotional and because it meant so much to me I had to get it right. To just have him and I present, allowed it to be an accepting and open environment. To have a comrade, to crack jokes with in-between takes and to keep you centered through the session is something that I am blessed and thankful for. I am not sure if I am allowed to do shoutouts but he’s my homie so go check out DarkMaestro.
What impact do you hope "War" will have on your audience?
I like to convey stories in a way where my audience can find their own meaning within it. For me, the main message that I want to convey is that you can lean on the side of yourself that has hope. It’s okay to allow yourself to do that, no matter what the situation you're in seems like. I hope it brings them peace, and the strength to see a brighter day.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
My family has always been rather musical. I have four uncles who all play a variety of instruments alongside their children, and so on. Growing up surrounded by it, it certainly becomes a part of who you are. I feel drawn to music. I didn’t think of it as a serious path for me until I received encouragement from one of my high school teachers. He believed I could do great things, which inspired me to believe the same thing in myself. Believe in your kids and respect your teachers.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your music career, and how did you overcome it?
There are many challenges in this career but the biggest one for me personally is fear. The fear of being a failure or of being a great success, I think both of those scenarios can be scary. It held me back for a time, but I realized that my fears and my hesitations were all self-made. No one was going to just take them away for me, I had to do that myself. Now I tell myself that failure is a stepping stone on the path of success. Success has an almost infinite amount of ways to get there. Just keep going.
