Capturing a seasoned elegance and ferocity well beyond their years, Sydney's Reliqa are entirely in a league of their own via their blazing mix of prog, metal and genre-defiant creations. Already a burgeoning fixture in the Australian progressive metal scene, Reliqa have spent much of 2022 wowing crowds on stages, appearing at all national dates for Monolith Festival as well as supports for Caligula's Horse and Thy Art Is Murder earlier this year, as well as unveiling new music in the form of their blazing single Safety, featuring Sean Harmanis from Make Them Suffer. But while their ongoing successes have seen their star quality exponentially rise, it's this month that the group arrive at yet another triumph: a third EP, I Don't Know What I Am, ready to dazzle with its measured mayhem and sharpened dexterity.
With the new EP dropping the same day as the group's final appearance at Monolith Festival in Perth alongside the likes of Karnivool, Cog, Plini, Ocean Grove and more, there's still plenty of Reliqa magic still to come in the not-too-distant future. But before the next incredible Reliqa chapter truly ignites, Reliqa vocalist, and all-round powerhouse, Monique Pym joins host Tiana Speter on the latest epsiode of Behind The Soundcheck to chat new music, vulnerability and some extremely quick onstage problem solving. Read on and listen below.
In this episode we discuss:
The reality of hard work for any working band or artist, and the struggle of downtime.
Reliqa's active patience involved in building towards the upcoming release of I Don't Know What I Am.
The goal behind the band's lead single Safety featuring Sean Harmanis from Make Them Suffer.
The trademark arsenal of skills, tools and sounds of Reliqa, and how and why they chose to branch out in their new EP.
Embracing their genre-defying sound and carrying that notion into I Don't Know What I Am.
Writing from a more personal perspective for the new EP and Mon's comfort zone background as a constant writer.
Finding meaning in music, accessible music and respecting the platform of vulnerable communication and varied listening styles.
A recent live music memory for Mon involving pants, gaffer tape and some quick problem solving.
CATCH MONIQUE ON EPISODE 4, SEASON 2 OF THE SOUNDCHECK'S PODCAST BEHIND THE SOUNDCHECK BELOW, ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCASTS - OR CHECK IT OUT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS FROM.
RELIQA'S BRAND NEW EP I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM IS OFFICIALLY OUT
FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER, FOR MORE INFO HEAD HERE.
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BY TIANA SPETER