Interview to Prog Rock band Enchant’s Doug: “I was channelling some sort of subconscious thought or idea that morphs into the lyric”

American progressive rock band Enchant are back after 10 years with a brand new album, The Great Divide, that will hit stores on September 19, 204. On the occasion we had a chat with the band’s guitarist, Doug Ott. 

Q: Can you tell us more about the new album?
A: Well, it’s the culmination of about 2 years of writing and recording. We’re really happy with the songs and the recording and I think the fans will be as well. What inspired the songs? Mostly observations about life really. Ted and I mainly reflect a lot on our own personal experiences when it comes to lyrics.

Q: How did you originally decide to become a band?
A: I was in another band called Chapter and we played with a band called Mae Dae. The drummer, Paul Craddick, came up to me afterwards and asked me to join them because their guitar player was leaving. We got together and it was magic! We changed the band name to Enchant shortly after that.

Q: What inspires you and how do your songs come to life?
A: I just sit down with an instrument and start playing. Usually what comes out has something to do with my mood at the time. If I like what I came up with, I’ll keep playing it and usually before I know it I’m mumbling some sort of lyric to a melody. It just goes from there. I usually realize after the fact that I was channelling some sort of subconscious thought or idea that morphs into the lyric.

OUR PREVIEW OF ENCHANT’S NEW ALBUM THE GREAT DIVIDE HERE >

Q: Any specific artist you look up to?
A: There’s so many. Todd Rundgren, Kevin Gilbert, Neal Morse, etc. I could go on and on.

Q: How would you describe your music?
A: Progressive Rock is what I usually say. There’s so many sub genres but that label works best I think.

Q: What does music represent for you and how do you see the state of music industry today?
A: Music is my life really. So ingrained into my being; I don’t know what I would do without it really. The state of music today, as far as an industry, is terrible. I think that the talented artists are getting screwed most of the time while there’s so many artists with little to no talent, getting all the fame and fortune.

Q: Name 3 albums you would take with you on a desert island.
A: Jellyfish – Spilt Milk, Spocks Beard – Snow & Utopia – Ra