In this interview, I was able to catch up with Barry Dreier of the U.S. based Symphonic Power Metal band 'Reflection of Glory' to ask him a few questions about his sophomore album 'Escape the Dream'.
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with you:
(Barry) Thanks, Jacob! I'm excited, and I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me about 'Escape the Dream'.
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the project?
(Barry) Well, I guess getting involved in the music industry was almost inevitable for me. I grew up surrounded by music and picked up the bass guitar before high school. Playing in garage bands got me into live sound and recording, and the rest is history! The purpose of this project is pretty straightforward: to bring honor to God. I don't want it to be about me; that's why I didn't use my own name as the music brand. My biggest hope is that the music will bring the Gospel to people. For unbelievers, that something would tug in their heart or get stuck in their mind and ultimately lead them to believing the Gospel. For believers, I hope that it would be an encouragement to them in their faith.
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Barry) So I am the founding - and only! - member of Reflection of Glory. I started it as a solo project way back in 2008 - as an acoustic singer/songwriter project. So a lot has changed. I did a few albums in acoustic/light rock before taking the plunge into symphonic metal for the 2017 release 'Reborn'. It has been very rewarding and a lot of fun to tackle the genre change, and I think it's working out well.
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Barry) Sure. The name Reflection of Glory really captures my goal with my music: to reflect the glory of God to others. And that comes from 2 Corinthians 3:18, which describes how all believers are reflecting the glory of the Lord, and are also being transformed by that. As a Christian, I'm not really supposed to look like myself, but as I grown in my faith I'm supposed to look more and more like Jesus. So I chose the name to show that, and hopefully the music and lyrics all do that as well.
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Barry) As a guitarist, I love Ibanez guitars. They're very popular with metal players, and for good reason. I play one of their RGD series that's an extended scale, which I love for the lower tunings. As a bassist, I've always played Fender basses. Which is less common for metal players, but I've gotten so used to their feel and balance that I have a hard time switching over to something else.
(Jacob) Do you have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
(Barry) Definitely my spiritual life with my family and church family. Since I draw my inspiration for music from God, scripture, and my Christian experience; learning and growing in my faith always ends up inspiring me in songwriting. It's also true that growing is never easy, and those struggles and the difficult times seems to be easier to write about. But I also really enjoy the outdoors, especially in the mountains, which really show the majesty and awesomeness of God. There's nothing like standing at the top of a mountain and seeing the whole range stretch out before you for making you want to play some really epic sounding music!
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing you along with your band's sound?
(Barry) Theocracy for sure, for both the style and the content of my music. Also the big secular symphonic bands like Nightwish and Kamelot have had an influence on the musical side of things.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've have had to overcome as a band?
(Barry) Getting people to listen! As a solo project, I'm not out gigging in the local scene. Nobody wants to book a single guy and his backing tracks (which would be really lame for metal anyway). And even with how easy it is to create and publish music these days, that makes it even harder to be heard in a sea of a million other bedroom bands. So building up a presence online and getting people who might be interested to take the time to try it out has been the toughest part. Especially since I have no desire to be any kind of "influencer" who just cranks out "content" once a week to feed the algorithm. But that's made it even more rewarding when people do check out the music and enjoy it.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about the musical direction on your latest release 'Escape the Dream'?
(Barry) Escape the Dream is an accidental concept album. As I was writing, I noticed that the songs were tending to be very narrative and allegorical, all dealing thematically with different kinds of duality. Once I realized what I was already doing subconsciously, I began reworking the songs to really fit together around this idea of escaping the dream. And there's a few different layers to this idea of "escaping the dream." First, that our personal "dreams" (selfish desires and idols) seem good to us, but only lead to death. Anything in our life that we put in the place of God will only disappoint us. Second, it deals with the nature of reality, and how the material world is not the complete and ultimate truth. Like a dream is only a reflection of the waking world, material creation is a reflection of God and His character. So we "awaken" from only believing in what we see to know the ultimate spiritual reality found in God Himself. Escape the Dream as an album works through different "dreams" or allegories that show these ideas.
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Barry) I'm really pleased with how it turned out, but it's really on the listeners to determine if it's successful or not. I think the music is good enough to bang your head to, and that the lyrics are compelling enough to really dig into and think about. But we'll see what others think, and hopefully God will use it to encourage them.
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform, whether live or in studio, and why?
(Barry) Probably The Curse Within My Blood. It's definitely not the hardest, most impressive, or complex song from the album, but it's just such a fun stomper to play. There's just something about the simplicity of it that really draws me back to it, so I just have a blast playing it.
(Jacob) Was there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Barry) The best (and worst) moments were when my toddler would bust into the studio while recording! So there were a handful of takes lost, which is always frustrating in the moment, but was a lot of fun to go back and laugh at later. And it was special to have those memories of my family being involved in the whole process.
(Jacob) At this time, are you planning to keep moving forward as a band and are there any plans for future projects in the works?
(Barry) Definitely. It may be longer than I'd like for the next album, but I already have the concept in mind. It just makes the whole process longer when you've got a regular job, family life, and everything else that goes on. But, I'm of the opinion that it's better not to rush things. So I'll take my time and make sure it's the best I can do. I am excited to get started.
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about 'Escape the Dream' and am looking forward to hearing more from 'Reflection of Glory' in the future.
(Barry) Thank you, Jacob! I appreciate the time you take and using your platform to help good bands that make good music and have good Christian lyrics. God bless!
God bless,
- Barry Dreier -
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with you:
(Barry) Thanks, Jacob! I'm excited, and I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me about 'Escape the Dream'.
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the project?
(Barry) Well, I guess getting involved in the music industry was almost inevitable for me. I grew up surrounded by music and picked up the bass guitar before high school. Playing in garage bands got me into live sound and recording, and the rest is history! The purpose of this project is pretty straightforward: to bring honor to God. I don't want it to be about me; that's why I didn't use my own name as the music brand. My biggest hope is that the music will bring the Gospel to people. For unbelievers, that something would tug in their heart or get stuck in their mind and ultimately lead them to believing the Gospel. For believers, I hope that it would be an encouragement to them in their faith.
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Barry) So I am the founding - and only! - member of Reflection of Glory. I started it as a solo project way back in 2008 - as an acoustic singer/songwriter project. So a lot has changed. I did a few albums in acoustic/light rock before taking the plunge into symphonic metal for the 2017 release 'Reborn'. It has been very rewarding and a lot of fun to tackle the genre change, and I think it's working out well.
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Barry) Sure. The name Reflection of Glory really captures my goal with my music: to reflect the glory of God to others. And that comes from 2 Corinthians 3:18, which describes how all believers are reflecting the glory of the Lord, and are also being transformed by that. As a Christian, I'm not really supposed to look like myself, but as I grown in my faith I'm supposed to look more and more like Jesus. So I chose the name to show that, and hopefully the music and lyrics all do that as well.
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Barry) As a guitarist, I love Ibanez guitars. They're very popular with metal players, and for good reason. I play one of their RGD series that's an extended scale, which I love for the lower tunings. As a bassist, I've always played Fender basses. Which is less common for metal players, but I've gotten so used to their feel and balance that I have a hard time switching over to something else.
(Jacob) Do you have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
(Barry) Definitely my spiritual life with my family and church family. Since I draw my inspiration for music from God, scripture, and my Christian experience; learning and growing in my faith always ends up inspiring me in songwriting. It's also true that growing is never easy, and those struggles and the difficult times seems to be easier to write about. But I also really enjoy the outdoors, especially in the mountains, which really show the majesty and awesomeness of God. There's nothing like standing at the top of a mountain and seeing the whole range stretch out before you for making you want to play some really epic sounding music!
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing you along with your band's sound?
(Barry) Theocracy for sure, for both the style and the content of my music. Also the big secular symphonic bands like Nightwish and Kamelot have had an influence on the musical side of things.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've have had to overcome as a band?
(Barry) Getting people to listen! As a solo project, I'm not out gigging in the local scene. Nobody wants to book a single guy and his backing tracks (which would be really lame for metal anyway). And even with how easy it is to create and publish music these days, that makes it even harder to be heard in a sea of a million other bedroom bands. So building up a presence online and getting people who might be interested to take the time to try it out has been the toughest part. Especially since I have no desire to be any kind of "influencer" who just cranks out "content" once a week to feed the algorithm. But that's made it even more rewarding when people do check out the music and enjoy it.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about the musical direction on your latest release 'Escape the Dream'?
(Barry) Escape the Dream is an accidental concept album. As I was writing, I noticed that the songs were tending to be very narrative and allegorical, all dealing thematically with different kinds of duality. Once I realized what I was already doing subconsciously, I began reworking the songs to really fit together around this idea of escaping the dream. And there's a few different layers to this idea of "escaping the dream." First, that our personal "dreams" (selfish desires and idols) seem good to us, but only lead to death. Anything in our life that we put in the place of God will only disappoint us. Second, it deals with the nature of reality, and how the material world is not the complete and ultimate truth. Like a dream is only a reflection of the waking world, material creation is a reflection of God and His character. So we "awaken" from only believing in what we see to know the ultimate spiritual reality found in God Himself. Escape the Dream as an album works through different "dreams" or allegories that show these ideas.
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Barry) I'm really pleased with how it turned out, but it's really on the listeners to determine if it's successful or not. I think the music is good enough to bang your head to, and that the lyrics are compelling enough to really dig into and think about. But we'll see what others think, and hopefully God will use it to encourage them.
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform, whether live or in studio, and why?
(Barry) Probably The Curse Within My Blood. It's definitely not the hardest, most impressive, or complex song from the album, but it's just such a fun stomper to play. There's just something about the simplicity of it that really draws me back to it, so I just have a blast playing it.
(Jacob) Was there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Barry) The best (and worst) moments were when my toddler would bust into the studio while recording! So there were a handful of takes lost, which is always frustrating in the moment, but was a lot of fun to go back and laugh at later. And it was special to have those memories of my family being involved in the whole process.
(Jacob) At this time, are you planning to keep moving forward as a band and are there any plans for future projects in the works?
(Barry) Definitely. It may be longer than I'd like for the next album, but I already have the concept in mind. It just makes the whole process longer when you've got a regular job, family life, and everything else that goes on. But, I'm of the opinion that it's better not to rush things. So I'll take my time and make sure it's the best I can do. I am excited to get started.
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about 'Escape the Dream' and am looking forward to hearing more from 'Reflection of Glory' in the future.
(Barry) Thank you, Jacob! I appreciate the time you take and using your platform to help good bands that make good music and have good Christian lyrics. God bless!
God bless,
- Barry Dreier -