Makshoof Music Profile - Silverlake (Bahrain)

In the first article in a series of interviews on the artists who have supported triplew.me and got behind Makshoof Music, we take some time to talk to Silverlake, from Bahrain, about performing in Bahrain and what's next for the band.

Silverlake's music has a blend of everything melodic, with neatly layered and textured sounds providing a different take on the pop-rock genre, mainly because it's not precisely pop-rock. It's pensive and melodious with neatly crafted jangled guitar chords with well structured phrasing and thoughtful lyrics.

With the music scene in Bahrain a focus of this interview, it seems that there are some difficulties to performing and getting heard live in the Gulf Kingdom, something that hopefully triplew.me, in association with local promoters, can help to change, even if it's just by giving more opportunities to bands to play outside Bahrain or any other country that may not have the opportunities for bands to play as often as they would like.

Check out their profile here, and tell us what you think by leaving a comment on their profile page (please register first).

Firstly, tell us how Silverlake got together?

Silverlake started out as a two-piece band back in 2008, with just Hameed Al Saeed and Ammar Mohammed, both doing Guitars and vocals. After a few jam sessions with friends; drummer Ali Al-Qaseer, and bassist Ali Milad, we gradually started shaping our own sound. And with the more recent joining of keyboardist Hamad Dashti, the boundaries of our musical creativity seem to be getting broader as we set out to explore new grounds of mixed musical genres.

Who are your main influences?

Our main influences include a lot of both newer and older bands. Bands such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and Coldplay are driving forces that fuel our songwriting. We don't really shun any particular era of music, gaining inspiration from classic masterpieces to modern.

How do you find the music scene in Bahrain?

The music scene here is quite the opposite of what an up-and-coming musician would wish for. There are close to no studios and agencies that cater to the needs of rock and roll musicians. Also, rock and roll music/culture as a whole is viewed as a sacrilegious, and a somewhat evil culture. Its a struggle really, musicians have become so boxed and closed into their homes because of the media. Likewise, concerts come across twice or three times a year, its ridiculous how a lot of hard work and effort goes unrecognized. Its kind of frustrating since you've got people who work hard in their spare time to produce actual art, rather than race around in cars, go to clubs, and do illegal substances.

Silverlake’s music is quite melodic, with some great texturing and the lyrics , tell us what inspires your music and to keep going?

I've always believed that writing and making music is the finest way to express those certain feelings and emotions that can't exactly be expressed solely with words, or with music alone. But this can also be traced back to our influences, for example a lot of structural and melodic stylings are borrowed from classic rock and progressive rock while the hooks can be traced to newer genres of music.

Tell us what will be on Silverlake’s summer mix-tape/what you’re listening to right now?

Well we'll hopefully have 3-5 songs on that. Pink Floyd will always remain our biggest influence but lately we've been getting into bands like Muse and Porcupine Tree.

If any band could support YOU at a gig, who would it be?

Most likely local bands such as The Tryout, Ala Ghawas, & the centurions and others.

You mentioned to triplew.me that you were recording some new material. Tell us what, and when, to expect some new Silverlake songs?

We should have some new material up by the end of summer.

Have any shows planned?

Not that I currently know of, this brings us back to the music scene over here and just how dead it is.

Silverlake's profile is here, check them out and perhaps get in touch via our commenting system to let them know what you think.