Interview With Napoleon's Jon Elmaleh
- Samuel Stevens
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
Hey Jon, how are you doing today? Jon: Doing really well, thanks! Thanks for having me on!
In your own words, how would you describe your sound to people who have never heard your music before? Especially since there is a bit of a difference between your past music and the music that’s about to be released. Jon: I think if you’re into alternative heavier bands, you can definitely find something in our sound that you will be able to get down with…we’re not a super super heavy band, we have accessible, catchy parts and all, but we also definitely have parts that you can throw down too.
Overall, how would you compare the three tracks on your forthcoming EP, Vol. II, to your previous EP, Vol. 1, or any of your previous EPs, Dead God and Enemy Within? Jon: I think these three are probably the most unique tracks we have ever made… For starters, our new guitarist, Justus Hajas, had a hand in rewriting some parts, and we went back and redid them. "I Am Forgotten" specifically completely changed from the original version. I would say this EP has a bit more of a nu metal influence, more modern metalcore. If Vol. I kind of sounded like early-2000s metalcore; this one would be the 2010s. How was it working with Scott Middleton (ex-Cancer Bats) at his home studio to shape and record these EPs? Jon: Great as always. We have been working with Scott for a long time now, and he totally pushes us to bring out our best. These three songs are on Vol. I and Vol. II draw inspiration from acts such as Underoath, Counterparts, Misery Signals, Poison The Well, and The Bled, which pushes your sound into incorporating faster tempos, lower tunings, and more intense vocal performances from you. Whose idea was it to push your sound, rather than keep what was already working? Jon: I think this was natural… I personally listen to a ton of music and have such a large range of inspiration to draw from, and to me, the idea of writing the same song again is boring; we can always play and listen to our older songs. Why do we need to rehash them? On the vocal performance side of things, you deliver a heavier style than some of your previous EPs. Was it a natural fit trying to find the right place vocally for these songs, or did it take some time to get where you had to go to achieve the final result that is heard on these songs on Vol. I and Vol. II? Jon: To be honest, I always wanted to scream like that; it was just not really having the ability… In between Dear God and the self-titled series, we played a lot of shows, and I blew my voice many times, and I have now spent some time really working on my harsh vocals and focusing on technique.
Are you willing to further discuss the EP’s lyrical themes and explain the song’s subjects? Jon: All the songs are very different here. "Buried…" is a song that attacks the conservative mindset. "Haunting Me" is sort of horror movie inspired, sort of like running away from a monster… "I Am Forgotten" is just a typical angry breakup song [Laughs].
What are some of your favourite tracks on the EP? Are there any that stick out to you that you can’t wait to test out on a live audience? Jon: "Buried In the Garden of Eden" is my favourite song we have ever written. I think the riffs are just so heavy, and I think people are going to go nuts when we play it…we’ve started practicing for tour too, and it sounds even harder live. Were there any songs on the EP that you had any trouble writing at all? Jon: "I Am Forgotten"... I really liked the chorus, but I felt the rest of the song was kinda bland, but Justus really helped bring it to life. Otherwise, I think it would have been scrapped.
Do you have a profound moment from writing or recording either Vol. I or Vol. II that still sticks with you to this day? Jon: The first song we finished was "No Victory". I think hearing my screams back was really cool because I did not really realize until then how much progress I had made as a vocalist.
What is something you hope people will take away from these new tracks? Jon: I hope people like the change of direction and can appreciate that we are trying to keep our bands' sound fresh.
How does it feel to have such a huge co-sign in Silverstein’s Shane Told, including you guys in his Alternative Press’ 23 Bands Keeping the Scene Alive list? Jon: Super awesome! Shane is the best, super nice dude, extremely talented. Growing up, Silverstein was one of my favourite bands, so it is super cool that he is into Napoleon and sang on one of our songs! Are there any more plans for the rest of the year besides the EPs and the short Ontario tour to support them this summer? Jon: We plan to tour through the rest of the year! Working on stuff for later in the summer and fall already! Thanks for taking the time to talk about your new music, Jon! Before you go, is there anything you would like to add? Jon: If we come through your town, I hope to see ya at a show!
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