UDI LEVY: Merging Prog Metal and Mid Easter Influence

By Prog Sphere on July 12, 2022

NYC-based guitarist and songwriter Udi Levy has recently launched his new full-length release entitled ‘Aleksandria.’ Following his appearance on the recent Progotronics 38 compilation, Udi tells us about the new release, challenges, and more.

Describe the musical frameworks your new album “Aleksandria” explores.

Aleksandria is my first concept CD, I had to think how to fit the composition, arrangement and melody all together into one big picture. I used the main melody of the tune Aleksandria as my concept and combined it with other elements (arrangements, time signatures, instrumentation) in other tunes.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced and lessons learned during the creative process for “Aleksandria”?

For me personally the biggest challenge was not to drift to my other creative style of music. To maintain the same genre (progessive metal with middle eastern influence). Programming and arranging the drums was also quite challenging and a fun and new experience.

Although an instrumental release, is there a message you try to convey with the album?

Message is to try to open the world to ancient middle eastern history through musical compositions.

To someone who hasn’t heard “Aleksandria,” what can he or she expect from it?

There are plenty of riddles within the songs and the song titles. I’m very curious if the listeners will be able to solve them.

How has your perspective on the possibilities of song arrangement expanded over the years?

This is the first CD that I arranged completely by myself, drums, bass, obviously guitar and all other instruments. I can definitely see how that benefited the CD, having just one person be responsible for the vision allows all instruments to complement each other and for the idea to be more focused.

What types of change do you feel this music can initiate?

Open people to different styles of music.

Do you tend to follow any pre-defined patterns when composing a piece?

I’m trying my best not to, sometimes it works and sometimes the song needs to have a predefined pattern in order for it to work.

What non-musical entities and ideas have an impact on your music?

There are a lot of things which fascinate me, for example ancient history and astronomy, which have inspired my music to a great degree.

What advice or philosophy might you impart to other musicians, be it in forms of creativity, technical stuff, the business side of it, or anything else?

Musicians should be able to create something as a whole and for the sake of the composition, try to accompany one another and not to compete with one another.