Q1: Claver, congratulations on your new rock album ‘DIVIDE’ What inspired you to embark on this project, and how does this album differ from your previous work?
Claver-Thank you! This album has been a long time in the making. The inspiration came from a deep desire to explore the raw and unfiltered emotions that rock music is known for. I’ve always been fascinated by the power of a single riff or chord to convey complex feelings, and I wanted to create an album that captures that intensity. Compared to my previous work, this album is more personal and in many ways more daring. I pushed myself to experiment with new sounds and to be more vulnerable in my songwriting.
Q2: You’ve been known both as a guitarist and a producer in the music industry. How did you balance these roles while creating this album? Did you approach any aspect of the album differently because of your dual roles?
Claver-Balancing the roles of guitarist and producer was definitely a challenge but also incredibly rewarding and in India we don’t have the comfort of being just anyone of them. The liberty to have complete creative control, which meant I could shape the sound exactly the way I envisioned it. As a guitarist, I focused on capturing the energy and emotion in every take. As a producer, I made sure that those moments were enhanced rather than lost in the mix. I approached the production with the mindset of a guitarist, always thinking about how each element would interact with the riffs and solos.
Q3: As someone who’s handled a lot of the production work on this album, what challenges did you face? Were there any particular moments where your experience as a producer really made a difference?
Claver-One of the biggest challenges was staying objective. When you’re so close to the material, it’s easy to get lost in the details. There were times when I had to step back and listen with fresh ears to make sure the mix was doing justice to the performances.i used to even bounce it out to Micu the guitar player in the the F band, he is a big daddy in the ad world and is brilliant in music sound scaping.
Q4: The guitar work on this album is phenomenal. Can you tell us about the techniques or gear you used to achieve the specific sounds and tones that stand out in the tracks?
Claver-Thank you! I spent a lot of time experimenting with different guitar pedals and processors . I used the NUX mg30 for ‘DIVIDE’ explored the amplifiers in it—classic tube amps for that warm, organic sound, combined with Dmarzio DP220 D activator bridge hum bucker for texture and depth. I also played around with different techniques to bring a unique feel to certain songs like the kill switch. And I have played the piano in the title song ‘DIVIDE’ pretty thrilled about that. A lot of stuff came from just letting the gear speak for itself and capturing those happy accidents that happen when you’re not overthinking things.
Q5: Was there a particular track on the album that was more challenging to produce or play? If so, what made it stand out, and how did you overcome those challenges?
Claver-Rocket , Moonstruck, Divide & Man as You..ahhhh I can keep naming all the songs in the album coz they all are high-energy songs with a lot of intricate guitar work and it was tough to get the right balance between technical precision and raw emotion. The challenge was making sure it didn’t sound too polished.
Q6: Collaboration is key in music. Did you work with any other artists or musicians on this album? How did their input shape the final sound?
Claver-While I handled a lot of the production and instrumentation myself, I did collaborate with a few close friends who are incredible musicians. Yousuf Tareen ,Hebzy Williams ,Upasana Chhetri ,Manas Jha ,Jaishankar ,Darren Das ,Maahir Siddique & KC Loy. Their input was invaluable. They brought fresh perspectives and ideas to my songs.
Q7: Rock music often carries strong emotional and thematic elements. What are the central themes or messages you’re trying to convey through this album?
Claver-The central theme of this album is resilience. It’s about pushing through adversity and finding strength in the struggle. Each song touches on different aspects of that journey—whether it’s confronting personal demons, fighting for what you believe in, or just surviving the chaos of life. I wanted the music to reflect both the highs and lows of that experience, capturing the intensity of those emotions in a way that resonates with listeners.
Q8: Looking back on the entire journey of creating this album, what are you most proud of? Is there a particular moment or achievement that stands out to you?
Claver-I’m most proud of the fact that I stayed true to my vision throughout the entire process. There were times when it would have been easier to compromise or take shortcuts, but I resisted that temptation. One moment that stands out is when I finally heard the mastered version of the album in its entirety. That was the moment I knew all the hard work had paid off. Hearing it all come together exactly as I imagined was incredibly satisfying.
Q9: The album cover is striking and carries a lot of emotional weight. Can you tell us about the creative process behind it and how it connects with the themes of the album?
Claver-this piece of art is created by my friend Mandy Kulkarni I would let him answer this one.
Mandy-Claver made me listen to his album tracks. Freaking killer like always. And then he flaunted the album cover design to me and seemed proud he had designed it himself. Was shit served on a fresh new plate hahahaha! But on a serious note, I felt the track Divide had so much of aura to be the title of the album. While I listened to it in a loop, lyrics to music, I did feel the pain of today’s world, divided and broken while an innocent paid the price. In my vision, kept seeing a survivor girl child in a tattered jacket with her only buddy, a teddy bear, and she was emotionally numb, looking at a massive divide between a land that she once knew as home, which had now turned into a wasteland after a post-apocalyptic aftermath.
Q10: Finally, what do you hope listeners take away from this album? Is there a specific feeling or message you want to resonate with them after they’ve heard it?
Claver-I hope listeners come away from this album feeling energized and inspired. If there’s one message I want to convey, Music has the power to lift us up and give us strength and if this album can do that for even one person, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. So Download the ‘Divide’ album from all the music streaming platforms. Support GOOD Indi artists ONLY.
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