Having recently released their seventh studio album ‘Asphodels,’ Finn Andrews of The Veils discusses the new nine-track LP and shares his intrigue with themes of love and death.
Stream: “The Ladder” – The Veils
Hailing from New Zealand, The Veils have been part of the music industry for more than twenty years, with their debut album launching back in 2004. Over time, The Veils have only become more compelling, as frontman Finn Andrews’ artistry has matured and developed. He has not only perfected his craft but has also explored a unique sound that is distinctly his own. With the release of his seventh studio album, Asphodels, The Veils’ latest project encapsulates the essence of Andrews’ artistic evolution.
Asphodels – The Veils
Recorded over five days at Roundhead Studios in Aotearoa, New Zealand, the nine-track album takes its name from the Ancient Greek flower associated with the Underworld and has been described by Andrews as influenced more by poets than by traditional songwriters.
Andrews mentions that after twenty years of songwriting, he has reached a significant juncture in his career, where he feels capable of expressing his thoughts and emotions more straightforwardly, enabling him to be his most genuine self. He shares, “I think after your 7th album, much like hitting 40, you should really stop counting. I’ve learned extensively along the way, which, I suppose, is the whole point, and I’ve really distilled it all into these 9 songs. As always, I write about love and death – it’s a compulsion – and that remains true here. However, I feel I’ve reached a point where I can convey what has been swirling around in my mind with more clarity than ever before. I rarely feel pride in what I create for an extended period, but this one feels distinct. It’s built on a solid foundation, I believe.”
Below, Finn Andrews walks us through Asphodels, track by track, sharing the stories and inspirations behind the album.
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:: Stream/Purchase Asphodels here ::
:: Connect with The Veils here ::
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Stream: 'Asphodels' – The Veils
The Veils © Katya Brook
:: Inside Asphodels ::
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Asphodels
The inspiration for this song came from a poem my dad suggested called A Disused Shed in Co. Wexford by Derek Mahon. It’s one of my dad’s favorite poems and has quickly become one of mine as well. It opens with a quote:
“Let them not forget us, the weak souls among the asphodels.” —Seferis, Mythistorema
I was immediately captivated by the word asphodels, and as simple as it may sound, this single word became the catalyst for the entire song. I continue to be astonished by how these initial triggers can be so uncomplicated – sometimes just a word or a few melody notes can unfold entire worlds.
I took my old flamenco guitar (named Paloma, after my daughter) and started playing a descending progression in an unconventional open tuning, crafting a verse:
And when my soul arrived
It looked just like they said
With the ringing bells and the asphodels
In the valley of the dead.
Something about the guitar part felt unwieldy and uninspiring – I’ve never been skilled enough as a guitarist to execute intricate finger-picking. I envy those who can (like Hollie Fullbrook of Tiny Ruins), and recognizing my limitations, I decided to shift the entire piece to the piano instead.
This turned out to be a crucial choice for the song's development. The guitar melody is quite difficult to replicate on the piano, which I believe contributes to its central tension – in fact, I’m convinced that if I hadn’t moved it from guitar, I would have likely abandoned the song altogether.
Writing lyrics has transformed into a momentous journey for me. The words are akin to pebbles in the ocean, gradually shaped over time – I observe their evolution occasionally, and suddenly four years have passed, and they’ve miraculously taken form. I appreciate how the passage of time skews their focus away from a singular moment, embedding the mark of years of diverse experiences into the words. It also serves as a clever way to temper my immediate impulses regarding them. Please allow me to clarify.
When I sit down to compose, it’s all too easy to force the song into a shape that satisfies my whims at that instant. Perhaps I envision a hit single, or I just want to create something entirely different from my last piece. I find that extending the writing process significantly alleviates these superficial
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Having just released their seventh studio album ‘Asphodels,’ Finn Andrews of The Veils discusses the new nine-track LP and his intrigue with exploring themes of love and death in his writing.