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VOLA

Formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2006, VOLA explore a mix of 70's style progressive rock, electronica, industrial and metal, topped off with clear, beautiful vocal lines.

After recording early demos, they self-released two EPs, ‘Homesick Machinery’ (2008) with an early line up of Asger Mygind (vocals/guitar), Niels Dreijer (guitar/backing vocals) Martin Werner (keys), Jeppe Bloch (bass) and Niklas Scherfig (drums) and then went through some changes for 2011's ‘Monsters’ which saw Bloch and Sherfig replaced by Nicolai Mogensen (bass) and Felix Ewert (drums).

Talking about the early releases, Mygind reflects; “On Monsters we started experimenting with 7-string guitars and more groove-driven songwriting. It worked so well on the EP that we wanted to elaborate on this for a full album.”

Mygind was in high school when he started writing songs and jamming with his friends in a rehearsal room in the basement of his parents’ house in the Copenhagen suburbs. “The collaboration grew out of a common interest in adventurous rock and weird time signatures. We’d listen to stuff like Freak Kitchen, Opeth and Porcupine Tree and tried to play their songs in order to explore what kind of sound we could create as a unit. And also because it was just a lot of fun!”

In 2015 they digitally self-released their debut album ‘Inmazes’ which was mixed by Asger Mygind himself and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork, Amon Amarth, Symphony X, Paradise Lost, Devin Townsend, Arch Enemy) of Fascination Street Studio. Creating ‘Inmazes’ after the two EP’s was a liberating experience for Mygind and his bandmates. “The album format of course also allows for a more voluminous story to be told in music and lyrics, which can lead to an overall more rewarding creative experience - and by that - a more rewarding listening experience.”

The album had an instant impact with rave reviews flooding in. By this time Niels Dreijer had left the band (2012) which saw them reapproach their songwriting technique. “We became one person less than on Monsters, I had to fill out more space as guitarist and singer, as Niels also played guitar and sang a lot of vocal harmonies.”

In the months following the release of the album they played their first ever festival shows at Euroblast (Germany) and ProgPower Europe (Netherlands) and the band caught the attention of Mascot Label Group (Flying Colors, Black Stone Cherry, Monster Truck, Von Hertzen Brothers, Ayreon) who re-released the album physically and digitally throughout the world.

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Interview

Louis Vola: Bass Player and Bandleader

Louis Vola: Bass Player and Bandleader

Source: Keep Swinging

If you are an admirer of the music of the Hot Club de France, Louis Vola (1902-1990) will be remembered as one of the bass player of the quintet, like Emmanuel Soudieux (he passed away) and Coleridge Goode, who played after the war in London with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Louis Vola played an important part in the first years of the quintet, and not only as a bass player ........ he was also a tireless impresario!Today more ...

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