By: Chris Stead

With the duo of Percy Trayanov, the clasically trained pianist, and Severina X Sol, the vocal diva extrordinaire, and now Dre Robinson, their new percussionist, CYLAB is creating new and exciting music for the next generation of the Goth community. Influenced by the electronic movement, but looking back to the days of trip hop with soulful delivery, CYLAB presents music that will touch the deepest parts of your darkened soul.

CYLAB has a strong presence in their music and their voice can be heard loud and clear. This is not just Goth music for the dancefloor. This is music fore every day. Their expression and message come through loud and clear especially when you are simply sitting at home, listening for your own enjoyment. Percy and Severina give us an idea of what is currently going on and what we can expect in the near future.

Gothic Angst Webzine (GAW):How did CYLAB first come together?

Percy: Towards the end of 1999 I started writing some material for my new project called Cylab, which turned out being the foundation of our first release “Unparallel Universe” . Me and Severina have been friends, at that point I was also giving her piano lessons. I had this song which in my opinion needed female vocals and I asked her to record some vocals. It literally took 20-25min and the song was done. The chemistry was obviously there, but for some reason at that point we didn’t go any further. Both of us had different things going on. Couple of years later I had basically the whole concept for Cylab figured out, Severina recorded a few more songs and we were both really happy the way things turned out. We both agreed that we should take things further.

GAW:How did you meet Dre, your touring percussionist?

Severina: We’ve both known Dre for years since we all lived in the same small town of Seattle together years ago. However, it was one late evening at one of the Das Bunker Anniversary Festivals in Los Angeles that my good friend Erik (aka DJ K.R.U.X.X.) brought up that we should have Dre play percussion for us live. Of course! It was such the obvious answer, why hadn’t we thought of it before? Dre knows his beats so well. He’s been awesome to play with. We are honored to have him as an integral part of our live outfit.

GAW:Speaking of live performance, I see you’ve played with Conjure One
and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and Regenerator.
How were these groups to play with?

Severina: We very much enjoyed sharing a stage and opening for Conjure One. They are such strong, classic and graceful performance artists. We hope to play with them again at any point in time. Touring with My Life with The Thrill Kill Kult was a little dream come true. I mean, c’mon, we grew up listening to those Rockstars! And then to get to tour with them? Aww, Fc*k yes! From day one, those guys took good care of us, we all played great shows and the tour was a blast. We got to share a stage with Regenerator for the Bats Day Festival in California last year. Regenerator live is a delightful and fun act. They were awesome to work with.

GAW:Your sound reminds me of an addictive mix of trip-hop and dark electro.
How did your unique blend of music develop?

Percy: For most parts that comes from our influences. Both of us have pretty vast musical taste and I think that played a major role. We did have a direction and I’ve always been writing dark, sometimes not very upbeat music. I guess I was looking for more of a specific vibe, than a practicular style, not typically mainstream sounding, yet accessible, holding its own musical dignity.

GAW:Percy, I know that you are a classically trained pianist.
Do you use these skills to help mold the music CYLAB produces?

Percy: To some extend definitely. Having the music school background really helps to develop compositions and orchestrations easier and maybe sometimes in a bit more complicated manner than the usual. I’ve always looked for stuff that is different. Never really got into songs revolving around 3 notes.

GAW:What has changed musically from “Unparallel Universe” and “Satellites”?

Severina: I know for me, I definitely went deeper lyrically. This album is a complete work of reflecting and considering the many darker angels of the psyche and then following it throughand out to the other sides. It is where we face the enemies of our own selves. It is where we reflect the enemies outside us as not seperated from us. ‘Unparallel Universe’ was about relationship. ‘Satellites’ is about a reflecting pysche contemplating what is within and what is without while meditating on associations and conclusions without attachment.

Percy: I just wanted to keep going in somewhat similar direction, but kick it up a notch or 5. Musically, never wanted to play it safe. On top of the dark and moody vibe I wanted to implement more of an electronic chaos, break things up a little, process things a little more different, add some sort of manic tingle in the listener’s ear.

GAW:Are you currently working on new material?

Percy: Yes, little by little. Still laying down the ground work.

GAW:You currently have two CDs out. Is a new disk on the way sometime soon?

Severina: We have a special something in the works to come out this late Spring. Keep your eyes open!

GAW:When can we expect to see CYLAB on the road next?

Percy: Probably by the end of spring we are going to do a small tour, in time for our upcoming release. Also we have a few festivals coming up this year. Still in a process of getting a few shows booked in the UK and rest of Europe as we have been wanting to do that for quite a while. The end of March though, Cylab is going to get filmed for the movie “ The Sanguinarian”. We are so excited! The movie will also feature music by Covenant, Apoptygma Berzerk, Iris and Culture Kultur.

Check Out More:

CYLAB on MySpace
CYLAB Official Web Site