Not a Carbon Copy: On Sigil's New Single "Wormtongue" and Maintaining Creative Originality
Bands like Sigil come around every once in a blue moon. Taking influence from the rarest of music genres, Sigil doesn't try to compete with the current scene, they shine like a rare jewel outside of it. If there is any merit to this, the latest dark and engrossing single, "Wormtongue" speaks volumes to these auspicious up-and-coming- artists in the scene. Outside of the instrumental momentum that envelops this track, it's a song about anger and how we fall prey to this human emotion when it hurts most.
This isn’t the only thing worth noting about the unique nature that surrounds this act. While these Las Vegas heavy hitters have played alongside bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Poppy, FEVER333, and Beartooth to name a few at festivals such as the iMatter Festival and the Las Rageous Festival, this is one of the many things that shine about this fresh sounding, alternative-metal band. Sigil has a background story that is just as interesting as the music that fills your ears, proving that creativity knows no bounds. Here to share more about their story and welcome us to their musical legion is vocalist Landon Hill!
What started Sigil? What is the story behind that?
The origin of Sigil is unknown to all. Through forces unknown to us, we have managed to find ourselves in our current forms. We have had to sacrifice important pieces to gain clarity and finally have assembled what we believe to be our strongest form.
You guys combine the sounds of 90s metal and elements of the industrial era. That's not a sound you hear often, if at all right now. It's amazing stuff.
Thank you! I find the four of us have incredibly different backgrounds & tastes that combine into our sound. The current sound in music leaves me wanting more. Very rarely am I finding new music that fills me with nostalgia without sounding like a carbon copy of something that’s already existed.
Sigil “Wormtongue” Single Art
The sigils, what do they mean for each of you? Care to share that with us?
Our Sigils were assigned by our Queen. We were strictly given the illusion of choice by our misfortunes by the pursuit of fame and fortune.
In a genre that's always looking to stay progressive, what are your ways of doing that? I know you also have to consider staying in touch with your musical roots as a band?
Genre’s in metal are just muddled terms used to label music so people can easily disapprove before even giving it a chance. We just use our intuition to keep track of our vision through the many changes bands go through and will continue to.
All of us are seasoned musicians, so our musical roots are defined in the ability to adapt and survive in any space. We all adapt to the process of making & recording our music, our delivery of the music, and doing what we can to cultivate this group of people that appreciate Sigil.
So, "Wormtongue," lyrically, where are you coming from with this? Instrumentally, it has all this tenebrous and intense energy that just washes all over you. It kind of sticks with you after the first listen.
The lyrics came in a very free-forming way. Keene and I (Landon) were able to bounce melodies back and forth with key phrases that we agree follow the initial vibe we get from it. From there we just let the energy of the instrumental guide the tone. It’s one of my favorites too and I can’t exactly put my finger on it either.
You guys released a handful of singles crossing back to 2017 with "Deadproof," in what ways was this process with "Wormtongue" creative and recording-wise different from the others?
Initially, the singles came from the short turnover of Landon joining the band. Once we finally had “Death Proof,” the band was eager to release it. Then we just took off running. We wanted to follow up and tell the story of Sigil through our visuals with “Waste” then “SiiiX.” These were our final songs of the first chapter of writing from the band.
Wormtongue’s creative process was unlike that in that sense. We were working on an “EP” that turned into a massive writing session that “Misery and what we now have to release through the year, came from. Our ability to record ourselves, track ourselves entirely on our own, in our own homes puts us in the ideal place during these times.
Did 2020 change your perspective of writing? I ask a lot of artists this. It was a difficult time for many and we all processed that time in different ways.
It only changed our approach to getting the production quality we expect of ourselves. Investing into ourselves & our music has paid off this year now more than ever. If anything, it forced us to have the confidence to do it without second thoughts.
What are your goals for this year now that 2020 is officially over?
Release the music we worked on all year with the same intensity as we have without sacrificing the vision. There’s more work to do. Luckily the team we continue to put into place has enabled that for what’s to come.
Listen to Sigil’s new single “Wormtongue” down below!