There's more to ANGELTHEORY front man Charles Fenech, than just being the
master mind behind Australia's leading EBM act. With SOLAR he shows us that he is ready to branch out into uncharted worlds beyond the industrial scene. Armed with the debut SOLAR album, "A One Room World" under his arm, there seems to be no rest for this man.

1/ What was the reason behind starting SOLAR?
SOLAR started back in 2004; in between the first and second AT albums. After "Fatal Condition", I didn't want to dive straight into writing another AT album. I really wanted some time away to just provide myself with a clearing. So I started just doodling one day and wrote a piece of music, and finished a track very quickly. Then a second, third and before I knew it I had six tracks within a few weeks.

The material came very easily, so for me that just showed it was something that I needed to continue with. I then decided then that this could be a suitable project for me to work with.

2/ What was the reason for making this project instrumental?
I wanted this to be as different from AT as I could make it. I find writing music really easy, lyrics and melodies I have a harder time working with, especially if I feel I have nothing interesting to say. So I thought an instrumental project would therefore further the differentiation between projects.

3/ How did you go about writing a SOLAR track?
The main thing I looked for when writing was to create an atmoshpere. Like with AT, I like to pin-point a certain feeling in the music first and foremost. Being an instrumental project, this was of course vital to make the tracks stand out. I used a lot of organic and electronic precussion as I wanted to give them an "earthy" feel, and make them quite dynamic. I usually started with precussion and just built up the track over a few minutes. Once I had the main idea, I tore the track apart and started building introductions etc. It was a very different way for me to work, and as a result the tracks have a progessive nature about them. 

4/ What are your favorite tracks?
"Anedi" is definately one of them. Its simpilicty and atmosphere draws me in. And for this good reason I used it as the albums opening track. "Stars" is another favorite, as it is actually a very old track of mine. It was originally written in 1991 and I always wanted to use it for something or other. This felt like the perfect project for it.  About 85% of what you hear on the album, is from the original recording in 1991 ! I added a few small things here and there to update it a little, but most of it is the same.

5/ You mention Delerium and Tangerine Dream as influences. In what way
did they influence you?
The early Derlerium albums, "Spheres I & II" in particular I really love. These albums really nailed a certain atmopshere which i loved. I can listen to them again and again. Tangerine Dream I have been a fan of since the mid eighties. I love how their early tracks are like a long musical journey that last sometimes 20 minutes or more. The secret there is to keep people interested over that space of time. While none of my tracks here are that long, I wanted to ensure that the tracks that are 7 minutes plus long, keep people interested.

6/Are there any plans to present SOLAR live?
Yes there are, but all still in the planning stage at the momment. Ill be doing a couple of shows in Melbourne, this year. Im approaching them from a very different way, then say an AT show. As this is not club music I want to present something in a very laid back enviroment... like an old theatre. I will also have visuals which will reflect the music, they will play a big part in the show. Art work is being done by "Afrenasia" here in Melborune. My hope is we can get a show together in the coming months.

7/The album could be used as a soundtrack for a film.
Yeah that was the intention actually.

8/The sound is quite unusal, almost timeless in places, was that intentional too?
Initially it wasnt, the tracks just came out that way. But as I went along I became conscious of that fact, and started to use it. I wanted the tracks to have that sound where you couldnt really pin point what year it was made. So much music falls into this trap where you can easily pick the year it was made just by the sounds used, or the production. So with SOLAR my intention is to aviod that trap, and make it timeless..

9/What plans are there for SOLAR in the future?
I have already started the second album actually, in fact I am half way through it. This time I have included a vocalist on some tracks; "John Van Loon" of Dark Territory. We have been freinds for many years and have always been wanting to work on something together but never really found the right style. This works perfectly. Im using his voice like another instrument in places, and in some it takes the lead of the track. We are making a really nice blend together, his voice is so easy to write for. The second album will be a slight stylistic departure from the first in places, but i see this as a natural progression of the project.

-Charles.