Interview With Venice Revive's Omar Cohen

How would you describe your music to any person who may have never heard it before? Omar: A beautiful blend of metalcore and symphonic metal.

What's the significance of your band's name? Omar: During the COVID lockdowns, Venice had no gondolas in the canals, so dolphins were sighted there. I knew that had to be the band name right away.

What are your musical influences? Omar: The first album draws a lot of influence from the classic metalcore I grew up on, like As I Lay Dying, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, and Avenged Sevenfold. For my next album, I'm trying to draw inspiration from more modern bands like Catch Your Breath, Deadlands, and Our Promise.

If given the chance, what musician(s) would you like to collaborate with? Rather, this is to either write a song or be featured on a track. Omar: Trivium, without even thinking about it, Matt has literally been my childhood guitar hero.

What's the album about?

Omar: It talks about how I dealt with the loss of my dad, the five songs in the middle represent the five stages of grief, for example.

What's something you hope people take away from the new songs on the album? Omar: I really hope I can help people deal with whatever kind of loss they're dealing with right now.

Which songs on the album were the most fun to write, and which were the most challenging to write?

Omar: "Future Paradise" for both, the parts there give me goosebumps, while it's also the most difficult to play.

What did you allow yourself to do creatively for this song that you haven’t in the past? Omar: I am trying to get into mainstream media, so I'm trying to follow some sets of rules, but it wouldn't be MY album if I didn't let some of my own creativity in.

Do you have any favourite song(s) off the new album? Omar: Songs are like children, you don't pick favourites!

When you find yourself in a creative rut, what do you usually turn to? Any habits, environments or even non-musical sources that help you reconnect with your creativity?

Omar: Listening to tons of other songs, either stuff I know or checking out new stuff.

Do you have any favourite songs to perform live? It could be your own music or even a cover. Any reason why? Omar: I have a full list ready to be played on shows, one cover each, can't wait to fill it. There are super challenging songs like Ghost Walking by Lamb of God, and super fun and easy songs like The Death of Me by Asking Alexandria. Every song has its own kind of charm and reasoning to play live.

What do you currently have planned for the remainder of the year? Omar: To finish recording my second album! Hopefully, it'll be out in 2026.

If your music were a type of food, what would it be and why? Omar: A vegan burger. I love the raw aggression of metalcore, but I never swear in my lyrics, and I talk about deep emotional stuff. I actually hate songs that are about releasing anger. I can't listen to Linkin Park and Pantera because of that!

What's the most random thing that has ever inspired you to write a song?

Omar: Listen to the lyrics of "Evolution," while it talks about how my dad lived a full life even with severe heart problems, the lyrics describe how humans persevered through everything nature true at it. The earthquake in Türkiye in February 2023 made me think about it.

Thanks for the time today, Omar. Is there anything else you may want to add that I didn't cover before you go? Omar: No, thank you! My name's Omer Cohen, I'm the songwriter of Venice Revive! Here are all our socials. Thank you so much!

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