Q & A: BRINGING A NEON TWIST TO MODERN METAL WE MEET OCEANS ON ORION
“If you’re too scared to start from nothing, nothing is all that you deserve.”
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
- LK: I’m Lev Kerzhner, lead singer of Oceans on Orion. We’re from Tel Aviv and we bring a
neon twist to modern metal, moving between 80’s golden era vocal harmonies and djent-esque
break downs and heavy parts.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
- LK: Our latest single, “Start from Nothing” from our upcoming album of the same name, is a
case and point example of how we make music. Heavy riffing, extravagant back vocals and
lyrics that speak directly to the reality of things. “If you’re too scared to start from nothing,
nothing is all that you deserve.”
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
- LK: A few years ago I had an indie band that started making some waves, and festival
performances, it fell apart, unfortunately, and left me with a harsh reality. Here I am, starting
again. And the opening sentence of “Start from nothing” was a bit of a mantra for me.
Simultaneously a call to arms and a kick in the butt, to get off your ass and do things.
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
- LK: “Glam-Core.” Joking. But really, it’s a fun musical experience infused with gorgeous
videos and messaging.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
- LK: There are many. So many. From The Last In Line by Dio and Appetite for Destruction by
GNR, which were the first rock records I was into, to early Police albums, which were a huge
lyrical influence on me, to Steve Vai, & Yngwie Malmsteen’s early work which got me playing
guitar, to “Three cheers for sweet Revenge” by My Chemical Romance, who infused punk.
Truly too many to count, each adding their own color to what became a broad artistic reference
palette.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO ?
- LK: Probably “Tomorrow’s Rain”. Our debut single. It was a blistering hot production in one of
the most unique places on earth and the behind the scenes show just how many laughs were to
be had in the situation.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
- LK: Building companies and telling stories.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
- LK: Not anymore. I love the art of execution. The moment where you truly meet reality. The
one time you do the song. The one time it counts. It’s an incredible rush and I love it.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
- LK: After my indie band fell apart, I had a bunch of material I’d written over the years that
were more metal oriented. I was at Wacken Open Air discussing it with someone very dear to
me and partly to impress her I said “Yeah I think I’ll start a metal band”and I did. And here we
are. Crazy how things turn out.
HOW DO YOU WRITE?
- LK: I usually get bits and pieces of songs in my head while running or driving, every once in a
while I sit down and hammer these out into songs, creating a basic arrangement. This
arrangement gets shared with the band who have their own inputs and ideas. From there I adjust
the arrangement to accommodate and accentuate things and we’re off to record it all.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
- LK: I’m very easily inspired, so a great many things, honestly. Relationships, the human
condition, personal daring. Grit, beauty in the face of horror. Age. History. Space. Poetry. The
color yellow. The human experience, really.
WHAT IS NEXT?
- LK: Right now I am 7 songs deep into the following Oceans on Orion album, which will
probably see light a year after our debut album lands. I can’t wait to feature some of these songs
in our live shows.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
Web: oeansonorion.com
Email: oceansonorion@gmail.com
YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/oceansonorionofficial
IG: instagram.com/oceansonorion
FB: facebook.com/oceansonorion
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6s4AIbCKY5vBhyHSOBGDCH
