After they finished recording their new album “Between Illness And Migration” in their own church-studio-home, Your Favorite Enemies went to New York City in order to get their album mixed by John Agnello. Being used to do everything by themselves, choosing someone to work with them was a very important matter to them, and their choice was undeniably set on John from the very beginning, as they knew he could bring to their sound those different perspectives, this dynamic that is so important and characteristic of them. There are so many layers of guitars, keyboards and such, and with the songs being journeys in themselves, the adventure proved to be arduous at times! But it was nonetheless an incredible one. In this video, discover John’s perspectives and impressions of the album “Between Illness And Migration”.

– Stephanie

In the latest edition of the ”Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show”, on October 28th, Your Favorite Enemies revealed to us in exclusivity the band’s very first vinyl. A second face to their latest album, called “Vague Souvenir”, the vinyl is named “Some Kind Of Sacred Whisper”. Slightly different from the original album, this record is yet another step in that journey that “Vague Souvenir” has been for the band members, a journey that is still going on today!

The A-Side consists of the band’s original songs that appear on “Vague Souvenir”, “If You’re Passing By”, “Sketching Dreams” and “Old Noisy Friend”, as well as the exclusive, never heard before song “From The Grave”.

The B-Side contains the 4 French poems that also are on “Vague Souvenir”, along with a 5th one, “Au Nom Du Ciel”. This poem is, in a certain way, the completion of the series of poems on “Vague Souvenir”. In this interview, Alex tells us what this poem has been for him, and what was his writing process for it. He brings us into his intimate world and makes us travel with the words he crafted.

– Stephanie

A large room, in which they always find a way to be close together… This is “The Upper Room” for Your Favorite Enemies.

Alex shows us around and bit, and they get to discuss about the spirit when they craft music… How important and meaningful that little place is to them… It somehow represents the relationships that they have together… Very close together, with a hint of fragility…

Music is so much more than only words and notes put together… There’s a soul in it… 

Discover a little glimpse of the mood in which Vague Souvenir has been crafted!

Your Favorite Enemies is a band of 6, each having a role that is definite and essential to the sound of the band. Countless times, I have heard how the spirit of the song was more important than the sound of it in itself. However, to convey the same feelings and the same emotions, sounds are essential. You cannot dissociate sound and emotions… So when it comes to emotions through sounds, you cannot allow yourself to be limited. The playing affects the sounds, thus the emotions. The emotions lived by the player affects the sounds… It’s an endless circle, but a circle in which Your Favorite Enemies takes pleasure, seeking beyond what they’ve always been told were the limits. 

In this episode of Chaos&Communion, Ben shares with us about playing bass, and about some of the equipment he uses. 

Discover Your Favorite Enemies in studio, as they had just finished crafting the song “A View From Within”… A song that is so much more than the sum of its note all together… A song that is alive in itself!!!!

I have had the privilege of being in studio with Your Favorite Enemies since the very beginning they started crafting their upcoming album… As soon as I enter this sacred place, I am then known as “The Ghost”… My role is to not say a word and observe what is happening… I do feel really privileged to be a witness to this incredible moment as it blooms before my eye every day, and I feel even more privileged to be able to share it with you.

One thing that I constantly hear, over and over again in studio, is how important “the spirit of the song” is… It’s not about the sound, not about the notes, it’s about the spirit… Are these notes really conveying what we live through this song? Are they really communicating the feelings we share when we are here in studio?

The number of guitars they own, the numbers of effectors they play with like they were toys, the different amps, the combination they make between all of these… it’s more than arranging sounds… It’s a quest for THAT sound that will communicate what you aren’t able to say with words, that will support the lyrics, that will carry you away… And this is why, for them, every little detail is important… This is why they spend so much time over little things that some of us will never notice in the song, but that still make all the difference… This is why every sound matters…

– Stephanie

“We need to touch something that we never had the guts to touch… We need to get dirty a bit… And the music will do the rest…”

For Your Favorite Enemies, the Studio is that place where everything is possible, where you need to leave everything at the door as you enter, and simply come as you are. This is a place where they are walking on a wire, with no safety net, where they challenge every sound they create and produce… Not so that it is perfect, but so that it is real and genuine.

This is an excerpt of a new song the band is crafting, “A View From Within”, as well as a discussion that followed in studio… A moment that is raw

“And if we have to be dirty and have to incarnate something that is a bit of darkness, let’s do it… Because denying darkness is denying the power of the light”

– Matt “Big Byrd”

As I promised you, Chaos&Communion is that special place where you can enter the universe of Your Favorite Enemies… Listen to an excerpt of a new song, “Underneath A Stretching Skyline” by Your Favorite Enemies… See them in their rehearsing environment, discover the church-studio, and delight yourself with the music!

A moment captured as they were not expecting it… A moment that is raw, real… Everything a moment should be about!

In the last Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show, the band talked a little more about that song, about its meaning, and explained the title… Make sure you watch for even more 😉

– Matt “Big Byrd”

Unfolding The Wonders Of Life In A Thousandfold.
By Alex

I was really enthusiastic regarding the idea of performing an acoustic song on the set of the Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show. I have always been a fascinated and devoted fan of Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs and Jack Elliott… so being able to perform in such an intimate setting and organic approach was a true blessing for me. Especially knowing how much of a moment it can be if we let the emotions arise free from any artificial self-conscious and inhibitive rock star make-believes.

As a lyricist, I’ve always been quite amazed to witness how meaningfully impacting a folk song can be on a whispering soul longing for a spiritual revolution, as it’s allowing the empowering essence of the words to unfold their mysteries and to let their secrets bloom in such a healing way. It is empowering enough to transform any wishful, heartfelt dreams into the sheer embodiment of a pure hopeful vision. It is impacting enough to emancipate our spirit from the shackles of our ambitious self-alienation and self-devoted illusions and I can’t describe it, nor explain it, that redemptive fulfillment of freedom that enlightens anyone who incarnates such deep words. I cannot explain it, but I do know that its nature remains the unfolded touch of the invisible.

The decision of performing an AA Bondy song came in a very intuitive spark. I’m a fan of Bondy ever since I listened to the magnificent album “American Hearts” and as I was musing and contemplating the symbolic images, inherent to my introspective and reflective journey towards redemption and salvation. I remembered how contemplative and ruminating I’ve been regarding the lyrics of “The Mightiest Of Guns”. Those lyrics paved the way to the decision of humbly insufflating our own breath of life into the song, in order to share its new spirit with the people we love.

As a reminder that a true moment is not for us to define, I became very ill a few days before the Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show. I was fighting a strong fever and was unable to swallow with ease, that made any rehearsal impossible and turned the possible live performance into something unlikely to happen. Even my presence on the set was becoming an important question mark, creating a bit of a worry for everyone but somehow, as I simply let go and decided to live the moment, it blew a true peaceful wind over everybody’s head. And it led to my decision, not only to be on the set of the Bla Bla Bla after a struggling night, but to take the decision to perform the song and to embrace the moment, for what the moment was about… unfolding the wonders of life in a thousandfold.

Alex

Watch the “behind the scene” insights that led to the performance of the song “The Mightiest Of Guns” by Your Favorite Enemies. Discover the band’s Studio B as they are rehearsing and sharing about the importance of letting the emotions carry the song and letting go of feeding the ambition of turning the song into a pinnacle climax based on a performance.  

Witness the dynamic between the band members that led to the incarnation of the song’s renewed spirit, feel the live performance and hear the band members as they define their personal perceptions and emotions, right after having performed the song and experienced the moment.

This is a vibrant testimony of letting go of any self-conscious, pre-made emotion in order to truly live the moment, as the moment unfolds itself before everyone’s very own eyes… life creates life.          

– Matt “Big Byrd”