Enid are an interesting indie rock band with a mellow sound, as displayed in their latest EP release, Paracosmic Collision. These guys are truly doing something different, so if you like your indie a little more experimental, then don’t miss out!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released an EP titled Paracosmic Collision, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the EP ?
Paracosmic Collision is above all a tribute to the music we were brought up on, the rock of the 90’s, but also to open the doors to a world filled with symbols of other eras, sometimes distant, through the lyrics and poems. Musically, and in today’s terms, one could define this record as a mixture of rock, soft rock & indie pop. Nawal’s singing is full of nostalgia. Paracosm is the term that defines an imaginary world, close to reality, and when this world collides with reality, it is the astonishment that we want to reach the listeners. Interpreting through music the works of old poets who have passed is like a moment suspended on the border of the imagination where one could almost meet these poets, it is also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the music, the arrangements & the creation. This EP was entirely written by Nawal, and Pascal, the singer and drummer of the group. This alliance works wonderfully and the experience of performing these songs on stage with good musicians is a very enriching thing.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
For Enid, the pandemic was a kind of a blessing, because this suspension of time, of working life and of active life, simply allowed this beautiful project to start. Enid was created during the pandemic. The first drafts had already been around for a few years, and it was a trigger to really know what we wanted to do with it.
Do you plan to release any singles from Paracosmic Collision?
The very first single to be released was Runaway Girl, and to our surprise, it was warmly welcomed by some professionals in Belgium, and was quickly programmed in the biggest rock radio in Belgium.
Then came And I and Dream Within a Dream. We don’t think we will release any more singles for Paracosmic Collision. There may be one last video on the way. But we have already started working on the next steps.
Have you started writing for another EP or an album ?
We have indeed started working on more material, but we don’t know yet if it will be an EP or an album. What is certain is that we have material for one, and even several sequels to Paracosmic Collision. It’s just a matter of time.
Your music has an indie pop sound. What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently ?
Many of the songs were started by Nawal a long time ago, some even 20 years ago, only with a folk guitar. The musical arrangements have been worked out so that it can be played in a band. Nawal is influenced by artists such as Clannad & The Cranberries, she is also often credited with having similarities with Kate Bush, so her influences are more towards the English, Irish and Scottish scene. Pascal is influenced by US alternative rock, but has listened to a lot of different rock styles. Every new band we listen to is like a great discovery, and everyday we discover great bands like Wolf Alice, Wet Leg, Thyla, Sheer. Recently, we also like The Mysterines, Emma Ruth Rundle, Softcult…
You’re from Belgium. What is the local music scene like where you are ?
Unfortunately for the local scene, many clubs have suffered from the pandemic. The Belgian music scene is also as complicated as the country itself, where we have 3 official languages. The Southern part is more festive and loves cover bands, whereas the northern part is culturally closer to Anglo-Saxon creativity. So it can be a very complicated path to make a place for yourself in the music scene. Some festivals even have to include cover bands to attract the public.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
Nawal and Pascal wrote and recorded all the tracks at home, and then they were sent to the studio for mixing and mastering.
Do you have any tour dates lined up in the UK?
We would obviously love to have the chance to be programmed in the UK, but that is still a long way to go.
What can people expect from an Enid show and why should people come and see you perform live?
We were able to do a few concerts this year, but we are still working a lot on the sound aspect for the live show, but what we want to do above all is to succeed in taking the audience into this sonic imagination, to make people travel through time through Nawal’s voice, which is the main asset of the project.
Any last words for the fans?
We are very happy to have been able to do this first interview and we hope to continue to take people into our musical reveries, as well as also attracting new ones to share these moments with us.