Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
01 Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Thanks for having me! I’ve been great, although things have been rather hectic lately with the release of MeK’s debut single, Unawaken. After spending so long developing this project behind the scenes, finally sharing it with the world has been both exciting and a little surreal. It’s been a busy few weeks, but I’m certainly not complaining!
02 What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
Unawaken is the debut single from MeK, and its title is deliberately paradoxical. We tend to associate awakening with gaining awareness, understanding or some form of enlightenment. But what if the very things we believe make us conscious are also what keep us trapped within a particular perception of reality?
The song explores that contradiction, questioning whether awakening is necessarily a liberation or whether it can become another illusion altogether.
It’s heavily influenced by my fascination with philosophy, consciousness and spiritual alchemy, themes that run throughout the wider MeK // CONSTRUCT universe.
I deliberately leave the meaning open to interpretation. I’m much more interested in making people question what they’re experiencing than telling them exactly what they should think. After all, where’s the fun in giving away all the answers?
03 How was the recording and writing process?
The writing process is quite organic, despite how meticulously constructed the final result might sound!
Because MeK is a solo project, I have the freedom to follow an idea wherever it takes me. Sometimes a song begins with a guitar riff, sometimes with an electronic texture or an atmosphere I want to create. I don’t feel particularly obliged to respect genre boundaries, which is probably why classical influences, industrial electronics, flamenco and crushing metal occasionally end up sharing the same room!
I develop the compositions and arrangements in my studio, gradually building the different layers until the music begins to resemble what I’ve been hearing in my head. But while MeK is a solo project, bringing that vision to life has involved a remarkable collection of talented people.
From initially programming the drums to eventually working with a drummer who could bring them as close as possible to what I’d imagined, to additional vocal performances, production, mixing, mastering, artwork and the music video, I’ve brought in different collaborators at different stages, each contributing their own expertise.
The challenge has always been translating what’s in my mind’s eye into something tangible, both sonically and visually. And when you consider everyone who’s contributed along the way, there’s actually quite a team behind the Construct!
Of course, the advantage of being the sole creative director is that nobody can tell me to stop adding things. The disadvantage is that nobody can tell me to stop adding things either! 🤣
04 Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Lyrically, Unawaken explores the conflict between our desire to understand reality and the possibility that much of what we believe to be true is shaped by forces we’re not entirely aware of.
There’s an underlying tension between awareness and ignorance, between questioning the world around us and questioning ourselves. The lyrics touch on the uncomfortable possibility that we might be participating in the very illusions we’re trying to escape.
When writing, I prefer to approach these ideas through symbolism, imagery and suggestion rather than spelling everything out. I like lyrics that reveal different layers depending on how closely you listen, or even what state of mind you’re in when you hear them.
For me, the words are another piece of the larger puzzle. They work alongside the music and visuals, but I deliberately leave certain connections unresolved so listeners can discover their own interpretations.
After all, I’d hate to deprive anyone of the opportunity to have a perfectly good existential crisis while listening to metal!
05 Will you be hitting the road this year?
At the moment, there are no plans to take MeK on the road. The project was conceived primarily as a studio-based audiovisual experience, and that’s where my focus remains.
I’m also the bassist and member of Dāmim, and perform as a live bassist for Lowen, so I certainly get my share of stages and loud amplifiers!
With MeK, I’m interested in exploring a different kind of creative freedom, where the music, visuals and underlying narrative can evolve together without worrying about how everything might translate to a conventional live performance.
Never say never, of course. If the right circumstances came along and I could present the Construct live without compromising its identity, I’d consider it. But for now, I’d rather concentrate on building the universe than figuring out how to squeeze it onto a stage!
06 What else is happening next in your world?
There’s plenty more coming! Unawaken is only the beginning of what I’ve been developing with MeK // CONSTRUCT.
The debut single introduces the first chapter of a larger audiovisual narrative unfolding across three interconnected releases. Each explores different aspects of the Construct, with the music, imagery and underlying concepts gradually revealing more of the bigger picture.
The music for the next two releases is already finished, and I’m now working with some incredibly talented collaborators to bring their visual worlds to life.
Beyond that, I have years of material and ideas waiting to emerge. The biggest challenge might be deciding which door to open next!
For now, I’d encourage people to experience Unawaken alongside its official video. There are clues scattered throughout the Construct, although I can’t promise they’ll make everything any less mysterious! 😈
Watch Unawaken: https://youtu.be/ur8PIF-kwTI
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1qLTb7XlofTRkyaqGxYd7j
Explore MeK // CONSTRUCT: https://linktr.ee/mekproject
