FADING NEMESIS – A SPIRITED INTERVIEW WITH FARAH NAZ

Farah Naz is the fearless lead singer of the hard hitting band Fading Nemesis. She is a powerhouse of a singer and the musicianship of the group is truly excellent. Fading Nemesis is comprised of Naz, Jason Riot (Guitar), Kyle Christian (Bass) and Chris Hazard (Drums). The group just released a re-imagined single of the Oliver Anthony track, “Rich Men North Of Richmond” which showcases Naz’s astounding voice and vocal range.

Fading Nemesis‘ sound is audacious. it is filled with enormous vocals, driving rhythms and rampaging riffs. Based out of Arizona, the band is dropping a new full length in the spring of 2024. They are currently in the studio working with the prodigious producer, Larry Elyea. Their music also contains contemporary themes ranging from the ideals of freedom to being true to oneself. All with thunderous guitars, astounding bass lines and dynamic percussions. Not to mention, Naz’s vibrant and emotive voice. Add their rich production and you have the essence of Fading Nemesis.

Farah Naz was kind enough to sit with AMP for this spirited interview.

AMP: Can you give our readers a little background on the band?

FARAH: Fading Nemesis was conceived and birthed when I returned to the States from the UK. I lived there for a while but a family tragedy brought me back. At that time, I had to take a break from music because of the accident that had occured. I truly wasn’t sure I was going back to it. My goal at the time was to heal and see where life was going to take me. All of a sudden, songs started showing up inside me and I knew this musical phase of my life wasn’t over.

I found an incredible producer. His name is Larry Elyea of Mind’s Eye Digital. I called him up and said “let’s see what we could do together”. So, we did an EP and it was pure magic. We then decided to do a full length. In the next few months we wrote 6-7 songs. Then Jason (Riot), our guitar player, came into the picture. He joined in the songwriting process. Before we knew it we had an album’s worth of material. We brought in Ben Anderson from Nothing More to play drums. The whole process was very organic. It just flowed out of us.

When you have such energetic people working together, something special always happens. It took on a life of its own. We knew we had to get this out. It had been a minute since I performed but I wanted to hit the stage. I feel entirely at home in front of an audience. The two places I feel totally alive is the stage and the studio.

So, we put out a couple of singles and went on the road with Peyton Parrish. After a couple of show supporting Parrish, I knew this had to continue. We brought on Kyle Christian (Bass) and Chris Hazard (Drums) and went into rehearsals. It is time to take this to the people. The record comes out in the spring of 2024 and we are preparing for a long running tour.

AMP: In regards to the new album, is it on a label or are you releasing it independently?

FARAH: We are doing it on our own. If we can release this independently and still reach our fans then that’s a plus. It doesn’t mean we are not going to sign with a label in the future. If we do, it’s going to be more of a partnership rather than a space where we are desperate. We don’t want someone else calling the shots. The art of it all is our baby. We are not in a rush. We want to do things on our terms. Now is the time to test everything out and move on from there.

AMP: How would you describe Fading Nemesis’ sound?

FARAH: The best way to describe it is Eastern melodic notes and vocals crashing with the edginess of rock. It is purely melodic metal. Also, if you strip every song down to just vocals and guitar, you still will get a story. Dress up the singer/songwriter process and you get Fading Nemesis.

AMP: You have an extremely diverse cultural background. Does that get incorporated in your songs?

FARAH: Absolutely! As an artist I am totally putting myself in the process of songwriting and creating. It is impossible not to put all of me in the mix. I really do use my experiences, heritage and my perspective of today’s world as ingredients to cook up what I forge.

AMP: Your songs harbor some strong social themes. Can you give us some insight how they get embedded in your music?

FARAH: That’s a great question! This whole album was created during a time of trauma. In addition, I ventured to investigate the condition of the human plight. The one thing I have recently been intrigued with is the concept of freedom. And the opposite aspect of being caged. For the last few years I have felt the effects of being locked up.

Therefore, each song is like giving birth. Like having 12 babies. Not the most sensitive analogy but each track has its own name and personality. Yet, each belongs to the same family. All the songs are somewhat connected through this theme of freedom. Take “Allegiance”. I came to the US when I was 10. I see freedom different from those that have lived here for over 5 generations. For me, freedom isn’t a right but a natural priveledge.

The way I stand and fight for it is by not taking it for granted. I feel “Allegiance” is a call to action for everybody that calls themselves an American. You can’t take freedom lightly. Not to use it for an agenda but to understand it is an empowerment. That’s the theme for this record. To understand what freedom means to you and realize it is the most important aspect of one’s life. Cherish it.

AMP: Do you feel women in the hard rock/metal scene are finally being recognized as a major force?

FARAH: in the past, we have been few and far between but the current scenario has changed the metal landscape. Women are coming out of the woodwork. I come from the era where there was Maria Brink, Cristina Scabbia, Amy Lee and a handful of others. Now, everywhere you look there are young ladies expressing themselves in the hard rock and metal genres. I believe there is now a huge acceptance.

I truly believe that women weren’t being rejected by their male counterparts. It just took awhile for women to realize that they could take the reins. I believe it was a societal issue that women today don’t abide by. Once we understood our strengths, things began to change for the better. Women now are stretching their talents and becoming major factors in all genres of music.

AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

FARAH: I would have loved to have collaborated with David Bowie. I fell in love with him since Ziggy Stardust. The musical theater he exposed us to was phenomenal. Just like Prince. He would be another artist I would have enjoyed working with. As well as Chris Cornell.

As to the present, there are many artists that fit the bill and they all don’t sit in our genre. A collaboration with a female country singer would be interesting. Musical genres are losing their boundaries in a way never done so before. New metal is a prime example of that. Nowadays, pop infiltrates into heavier sounds and vice versa. All musical styles are being blended creating unbelievable hybrids.

AMP: Your re-imagined single of Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North Of Richmond” is truly powerful. What prompted you to cover the song?

FARAH: I really believe the song prompted me to cover the song. In retrospect, I don’t think Oliver Anthony realized how strong the track is. I don’t think he wrote it to be a political statement but the song took on a life of its own. The people of the world took it to heart. Even my parents called me and asked if I had heard it. He was on a broadcast that they were watching. The tune was everywhere.

It really resonated with the masses. I thought if I had written the song, how would I have referenced it. My re-imagined rendition is written from the perspective of a young woman whose spouse is either fighting overseas in the military or has died in battle. She is distraught over the fact that the government is not taking care of her and her children. It’s the sorrow felt from being forgotten by a nation. My version is seen through her eyes.

AMP: On a personal note, what inspired you to be a musician?

FARAH: I don’t think I had a choice. I sang before I spoke. Music was just in me. I come from a line of amazing musicians. Songs were always present. I studied British literature and grammar. So, words are my passion. To me, everything is expressed by a melody. I was created for music and I can’t do anything about it. I’m infected!

AMP: Is there a particular track on the new album that you are extremely proud of?

FARAH: Yes! I’m proud of “Queen of Blame” because she has power. “Cage” is another favorite. “Cage” is the most heartfelt, emotional and personal song on the record. I wrote “Queen” to be a powerhouse of a song about a tenacious woman. She is my first born but “Cage” is my middle child. I have to pay a bit more attention to it.

AMP: What’s next for Fading Nemesis?

FARAH: We will be releasing the new album in the spring of 2024 and then take it on the road. Hopefully, we hit a bunch of festivals next season. In the meantime, we are almost done with our second full length and there is already an idea for the third. We will be shooting a couple of new videos.

One short footnote. “Allegiance” is another one of my favorite tracks. Like I said before, it is a call to action for the world especially America. The live video of the song which is currently on Youtube was shot as a short film. In the next version, we go completely western. It will also come out next year and that video was also shot as a short film that we may submit to the Cannes Film Festival for consideration. 2024 will be unforgettable!

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