DOUR from Vancouver announced they will be releasing their debut album AGORA on June 19 that has such an emotional weight behind the lyricism that it will have the listener start reflecting on who they are and why mental health is important in every aspect. Being in a world where technology manipulates people to the point where their mind starts to deteriorate, reshape, and slowly become a machine themselves; this album will bring you on this psychological shift to come back to reality and see how the world truly is.
AGORA is an emotional space that is filled with vulnerability, loss, grief, and internal conflict that will not only bring awareness, but also be able allow fans to relate to the band if they experience the same situations.
AGORA carries more than the weight of a debut. The record was written and recorded with an earlier incarnation of the band as a three-piece, including bassist Gabe Jacob Ferman, who has since passed away. Rather than leaving these songs behind, DOUR have chosen to release them as they were intended, preserving that creative partnership and giving the work a life beyond the room where it was made.
DOUR released “Neophiliac” captures how people can easily become emotionally addicted or controlled by media which can cause dissociation to the point that you don’t even know who you are. Emotional numbness encapsulates the gritty vocals that makes you feel like the narrator is expressing how detached a person can become to reality. “Neophiliac” is not overstimulating, but it mirrors the feeling of being on autopilot day by day when the world just seems to never change.
Interviewer: For new fans out there, can you give some history about the band and what led you to create the soundscape that the band has?
DOUR: “It’s sort of been trial and error over time, discovering yourself as an artist doesn’t come with any road map other than trying something and deciding whether or not it feels right, In regards to the sound that is. The subject matter however we wanted to be a focal point, & over time developed the way we wanted to go about expressing that.“
Interviewer: You guys just released your debut album “AGORA” , does it feel more like closure, preservation, or a new beginning?
DOUR: “It’s tough to say, I think it’s actually all 3. Having this record does preserve and acknowledge the band’s core self and its past members, yet it also brings closure as it is now evolving, and with that brings new beginnings.”
Interviewer: Why did “AGORA” feel like the right title for the album?
DOUR: “I felt that it should be a welcoming place of understanding over anything else. Likeminded or not we suffer the same, some are more aware of it than others but that can be viewed as a luxury as well as a burden. I wanted this record to bring awareness to what the audience may not consciously understand to be a danger to their psyche. Manipulation of your mind subconsciously is most certainly something that shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Interviewer: What themes kept resurfacing while writing these songs?
DOUR: “One of the main themes that continued to manifest was the reluctance of self. This alone paved the narrative for the rest of the themes and songs on the record, although some strayed and blended with other ideas, at its core this is where most of them existed. Societal manipulation and colonization of the mind is the new modern day warfare in which we are currently losing. With this comes lack of self care, discipline, or a sense of values that reflects the individuals heartfelt desires. Mass confusion is the new normal and it’s not something we should be used to.“
Interviewer: Was there a track that emotionally challenged you the most to finish?
DOUR: “Just enough rice was the one song that I couldn’t bring myself to develop as much as the rest of the record. That one is very special to me and was for someone I loved and lost years ago. To this day it hasn’t stopped bothering me and I’m not sure if it will. Now with Gabe living within a different lens it has now gained another meaning, as we continue to pass it round.“
Interviewer: What bands or records inspired the atmosphere of “AGORA”?
DOUR: “I think at the time it was most likely Television, Joy division, The cure, and The Jam, lots and lots of Jam. In particular, all mod cons.“
Interviewer: “Just Enough Rice” is a unique title. What is the story behind it?
DOUR: “Other than what I said earlier I think the title itself was almost random when I came up with it, but at the same time as life went on and it gained meaning along the way it almost found itself being very well suited. The way that song talks about loss is as sad as it is beautiful, and I think the name reflects that.“
Interviewer: “Neophiliac” is the opening track for the album; is there a metaphorical meaning behind the song?
DOUR: “Neo is definitely the track on the record that sets the tone for the concepts the record reflects. Psychological manipulation of the subconscious through media, and blatant gaslighting by our government officials all over the world. How that affects the individual and with that their relationships with the people around them are all things we experienced first hand and needed to make it apparent to manage and combat, Music helped us do that.”
Interviewer: Did finishing the album change your relationship with the material?
DOUR: “I do find myself having more respect for this record now that it’s been done. You never realize how numb you’ve become to your art after spending so much time creating it. Once that’s over you are in a better position to judge it and learn from it. And I’ve definitely learned a lot during this record, it’s helped shape the narrative for the next one.“
Interviewer: What do you hope listeners emotionally take away from the album
DOUR: “Being informed is not a crime but a right, standing up for yourself and those you love is not a crime but a right, speaking your mind to aid people you care about is not a crime but a right. And if you do not defend it, you will surely lose it. At this point we need to consider that being protected by any means necessary. We’ve been shown how aggressive the “elites” of the world can be when it comes to pushing over the public to satisfy their desires. If it is to be so then I think it’s time we return fire, Or we risk losing everything.”
AGORA is out Friday, 19th June
“Neophiliac” is out now on all streaming platforms
AGORA tracklist
Neophiliac
Towers
Laugh
Mundies
Numbers
Call
Just Enough Rice
