Crimson Moon: How did the band get started?
IDVex: Under the lack of finding band members, I decided in the winter of 2013 to create “1/2 Southern North” (read: Half Southern North) as a one person band.
Crimson Moon: What kind of music do you play?
IDVex: I named my sound “black noise of doom” and I am influenced from many different musical paths as doom metal, black metal, dark ambient, avant-garde, classical and experimental music. But I am not a person who likes “labels”. In my past demos the sound was more experimental and amateur as I was looking for my identity, but now things have found their way.
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
IDVex: It was an inspiration that derived from a geographical region. From the northern city of Greece which I have spend some years of my life, one part of me will always belong there and as the Greece is a southern country I made a combination of all these things.
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members.
IDVex: As I am the only member of the band I will introduce myself. My main instrument is my voice so when I decided to create a one person band I had to learn how to handle and play all the other instruments plus the sound equipment. At first it was a little bit difficult but I really enjoyed the whole process.
Crimson Moon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
IDVex: Since the start of the band in 2013 I have released four demos and two split albums.
The three first demos (“d.1”, “Noise the Ether John” and “Lothron”) have been released as an Anthology Album in CD and cassette/tape format in 2014 by Mercyful Hell Productions (Peru).
The last demo “Cantabile of Hades (Rivers of the Underworld)” has been released in CD format by CVLMINIS Records (Russia) in 2017 and the two split albums “Split Album with E.A.R.S” (Athens) and “Thanatophobia-Split Album with S.I.R.S” (Poland) have been released the first one in 2016 by Deathforce Aposynthesis Records (Athens) in CD format and the second in 2016 by CVLMINIS Records (Russia) in CD format and in 2018 by Heerwegen Tod Productions (Poland) in cassette/tape format.
Also this year (September of 2021) all the past demos and 1/2SN’s part of the split albums have been re-released in limited edition cassettes/tapes by Depressive Illusions Records (Ukraine).
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
IDVex: The last release of 1/2SN is the demo “Cantabile of Hades (Rivers of the Underworld)” contains three tracks inspired from the rivers of the ancient Greek underworld, Hades. The last track is a traditional Greek dirge sung in Greek language.
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
IDVex: I am the composer of the music and the writer of the lyrics, as the only person I do everything on my own.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
IDVex: I draw inspiration from mythology, left hand path philosophy and personal experiences.
Crimson Moon: Has the Covid Pandemic impacted the band at all?
IDVex: Ιt was and it is a very hard situation for everybody but I stayed focused on my music and art, so during the lockdowns I finished the recordings and the production of my upcoming first full length album.
Crimson Moon: What is the music scene like where you guys are from?
IDVex: I am from Kalamata a small city in the Greek south. The scene is not so big here but we have a lot of good rock and metal bands, also some places for concerts. Before the pandemic things were quite good with many live performances from local bands and not only, but today concerts have not yet been allowed. Hope things return to what we call normal soon so that concerts can happen again.
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
IDVex: I am influenced from different music fields as I said before but some of the bands/artists that have influenced me are: Bathory, Dissection, Ulver, Sunn O))), David Bowie, Windir, Wardruna, Savatage, Beatles, Arvo Part, Beherit, and many many more.
Crimson Moon: What is the band like when you play live?
IDVex: As a one person band I haven’t done any live concerts. But It would be nice as an idea.
Crimson Moon: If you weren’t in this band would you still be involved in the music industry?
IDVex: Absolutely.
Crimson Moon: As a musician what advice can you give to fellow musician just starting out?
IDVex: Just grab an instrument and start playing the music that you love! Don’t care how it sounds at first, things will improve over time. Also don’t give a fuck to what others say! Plus always support your local music scene!
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band?
IDVex: My first full length album is almost ready, so I am focused only to this now, to find a good and supportive label to release it and to support my work in the best possible way!
Thanks so much for this interview!
Contact them at:
https://halfsouthernnorth.blogspot.com
https://12southernnorth.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/halfsouthernnorth/
https://www.instagram.com/half_southern_north/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDPKayqOIPj6i5lDczL4rBA?view_as=subscriber
