Pic courtesy of: Adagio "We’re all united by Heavy Metal of course, but we are not into one kind of music. If there is emotion, if something happens, then, it has some valor…"

CR: New album Dominate, different cover I can see, no more figures of a woman. What can you tell us about this record? What surprises or familiar aspects does this new production bring?
Stéphan Forté: Yes, we wanted to change the concept of the cover.This new record is a more metal version of Adagio.The songs are shorter, but much more powerful.We’ve tried to condense all the Adagio elements into a “song” structure.

CR: Where did you guys record the album? And what musicians are involved in the development of it?
Stéphan Forté: We’ve recorded this album in our own studio. It’s the first time that Kevin and I are doing a production together, and it went great. Only the drums have been recorded in Germany by Dennis Ward.

CR: You guys play very few gigs this year, I’m correct? And if so why is that? Any future plans to play or participate in a bigger event?
Stéphan Forté: Yes, it has been difficult after Underworld as we needed to work with another singer and many other important things to arrange before we could think quietly about a tour. So now everything is ok, and we will tour as much as possible to promote Dominate.

CR: If you had to define Adagio’s sound, what exactly would you say? What is the purpose of a band that is so full of talent and that obviously is very influenced by classical music?
Stéphan Forté: Dark and dramatic Heavy Metal with Orchestral elements.

CR: Among many of the influences the band has, like Yngwie Malmsteen and some great progressive metal bands, what other music genres do the members of Adagio listen to and look up to?
Stéphan Forté: We’re all united by Heavy Metal of course, but we are not into one kind of music. If there is emotion, if something happens, then, it has some valor…

CR: Talking now about your past releases “Santus Ignis” that album was just…if I may, amazing, full of powerful melodies and such a great quality in composition and musicianship, can you say that Adagio’s first production could be THE ONE in terms of an album that help you guys defined the bands character?
Stéphan Forté: I would rather say that “Sanctus” is the album that gave birth to the name of Adagio. Now, Underworld is much more personal and close to our identity.

CR: The first released has many orchestral instruments that gives almost an operatic atmosphere but never becomes too dramatic or depressing, how can you guys play with all those instruments with out loosing the essential power that “Santus Ignis” delivers?
Stéphan Forté: When I’m composing, I compose for the orchestra, considering it like another instrument, like guitar, drums….So all the instruments are complementary.For example, intead of doing a full harmony with a Chord on guitar, by playing my fundamental, my 3rd, 5th, 7th and whatever else I need, I will for exemple orchestrate this differently.
My guitar will do the power chord, then, for example, the cellos and Contrabass will do the unison, the French horns, the 3rd, the alto violins the 5th etc…., it’s another way to compose, but that’s the way I’m using to mix everything together.

CR: There are many Instrumental songs in “Santus Ignis”, why is that? And what do they mean to the album?
Stéphan Forté: There are just 2 instrumental on Sanctus!! lol,
Before Adagio, I was really into neoclassical instrumental stuff. So let’s say it was a sort of helper to do the transition between intrumental compositions and vocal stuff.

	Pic courtesy of: Adagio "Japanese fans are great, they are really supportive since the beginning of the band, and we are really thankful for that"

CR: There are two great songs that I will like you to talk about, Second Sight and Panem Et Circences, what do they mean, and if there is a story behind them.
Stéphan Forté: Second sight is about a man able the see the end of the world before anybody else, and Panem Et Circences, is about the romans that were providing bread and games to the mob, in order to hide the reality of the politics.

CR: Moving to your next production “Underworld” this album is somehow deeper, and more…depressing, like there is something hurting within every single song, I’m right or just my twisted perception on things?
Stéphan Forté: Yes you’re entirely right; this album has been very painful to compose.

CR: Also there seems to be more keyboards in this record, was that an element that you guys wanted to add in a bigger proportion for “Underworld”?
Stéphan Forté: Kevin is coming from classical music, and Piano, when it’s well interpreted is a vector of great emotions, so I’ve composed a lot of piano parts for Kev.It adds defintely a color.

CR: The number of Instrumental songs in “Underworld” has diminished why?
Stéphan Forté: Simply because the songs were longer as we’ve put the instrumental parts into the songs.

CR: What elements from these two previous releases did you guys used in the new album Dominate, and by the way why that title for the record, Dominate?
Stéphan Forté: The main word is “Dark”, the darker the music is, the better it is. So I would say, the dramatic aspect of the music, and the classical elements mixed with metal.
About the name Dominate, we wanted a strong and positive name, and as Dominate is our favorite songs, we thought that it was a cool idea.

CR: After those two CD’s you guys released the live album “A band live in Upperworld”, wasn’t it too soon to be releasing a live album? And where did you guys said you recorded that live presentation?
Stéphan Forté: When our record company asked us to record a live album, we were of course thinking that it was absolutely crazy for a young band like Adagio to release a Live so early, but, I think that it would have been kind of strange to refuse to record an album, so….

CR: I heard that Adagio has a huge fan base in Japan, are you guys surprised by that, and is it true that Japanese fans are one of the most loyal and demanding groups?
Stéphan Forté: Japanese fans are great, they are really supportive since the beginning of the band, and we are really thankful for that.

CR: It’s well known that the founder father of Adagio is you Stéphan but is the rest of the guys participating in this new production more in the composition of the songs or are they just putting finishing touches to what you do?
Stéphan Forté: I’m still composing most of the songs, but now, I let the guys arrange their own parts. It brings much more life to the music.

	Pic courtesy of: Adagio "There are some feelings that only can be transcribed through art"

CR: In regards of the album covers, how do you guys pick them?
Stéphan Forté: In general, we choose the cover in function of the music of the album.

CR: What does art mean to you?
Stéphan Forté: Everything, it’s the most magical form of communication.There are some feelings that only can be transcribed through art.

CR: What bands do you guys (in metal) think have a bright future on the world metal scene?
Stéphan Forté: It’s difficult to say but I would say Lacuna Coil and Dimmu Borgir, I think (and hope) they will be very very big soon. Don’t get me wrong they are already major bands, but I mean that they can be references.

CR: Stéphan you are also a guitar teacher? Can you please tell us what kind of other activities does the rest of the band have other than being musicians?
Stéphan Forté: We all do music only.

CR: Do you guys know of any Centralamerican or Costarrican bands?
Stéphan Forté: No I’m sorry

CR: To finish, would you guys like to play in Costa Rica, have heard something about our country?
Stéphan Forté: Of course we would love to, it seems to be a wonderful place, and if we have the opportunity to come and meet you guys, we will immediately:)

CR: Well, thank you very much for the time and patience if you would like to add anything else, please do…
Stéphan Forté: I hope that you will enjoy “Dominate” and we wish you a merry Christmas!!!!