I had an interview with Paul Masvidal, whom we know from projects such as Cynic, Aeon Spoke and Death, who form the building blocks of progressive metal. After Cynic’s Istanbul concert, I had the opportunity to ask many questions on my mind. Check out the Focus and Ascension Codes album reviews. For One and For All: God! Sovereign! Free!

Cynic’s Focus album has been an irreplaceable piece since it came out. It was so ahead of its time with his technicality and robo-vocals and had such unique lyrical themes that made it stand out. I think we can agree that your music can be tough for many people to get into. But we can also agree that you’re a big name in the metal scene.  Besides, you also had successful projects such as Aeon Spoke and Death.

When you took your first step into music industry, could you imagine that you would progress this far and become a pioneering guitarist? How do you feel about your current position, the phrases people say for you, being seen as a master?

Paul: Writing songs and playing guitar feels like the most natural thing in the world for me, so it’s pretty cool that I get to do this for a living and that people connect with the music. As a guitarist, I approach it with a beginner’s mind; it would take multiple lifetimes to master the guitar, and it’s an instrument I’m endlessly fascinated with.

We’re curious about your opinion on Strandberg, because you and Sarah Longfield are two of the first people who come to mind when it comes to signature guitars. How would you describe the difference between the MASVIDALIEN and other guitars? And is there a chance you might collaborate with Sarah Longfield in the future?

Paul: I love Strandberg, and I’m proud of the Masvidalien signature guitars I worked on with them. Ola Strandberg is a true artist luthier and a quality human being. After ten years together, I switched to Kiesel because they offered me a rare opportunity to design a custom signature instrument from the ground up, including the body shape, bridge, neck, and every single detail. Their factory is in California, near where I live, so I get to be hands-on with the instrument every step of the way. It will be interesting to see what emerges!

Without a doubt, Tosin Abasi is one of the best-known guitarists in the genre, and as far as I know, he’s your friend. Would you like to collaborate with him? Seeing you two together would be amazing. After your track “Living Waves” with Persefone – which became a lifelong favorite of mine – the thought of you collaborating with anyone else really excites me.

Paul: Tosin’s like a brother to me. I could definitely see us collaborating in the future—we vibe on similar frequencies.

I think I’ve come across a language similar to what I heard in Ascension Codes with the Arcturians. Do you think this has a healing effect on us? Or do you have any experiences with the healing power of music?

Paul: Yes, there’s an Arcturian connection directly linked to the conceptual theme of the album, and it’s integral to the sonic therapeutic landscape of the music. The healing power of sound has nurtured my body and mind throughout my life. On my solo acoustic records, I integrated isochronic tones, which can produce biochemical reactions in the body that increase serotonin, alleviate depression and stress, improve focus, and aid in restful sleep—similar to the effects of exposure to negative ions in nature, which we absorb when around oceans, forests, lakes, rivers, mountains, and more.

I know that you had a concert with Dream Theater here before, back in 2009. I was very young then!:))

I’ve heard that Istanbul has a special place in esoteric teachings too. Maybe it’s because of its geographic location, I’m not sure. All I know is that it’s definitely a magical city. What do you think about Istanbul’s culture and energy? Did you have a chance to explore the city during your last visit?

Paul: I love Istanbul. The dynamic beauty and energy of the city are truly inspiring. The intensity of the people and the culture is unique compared to most other cities in the world. The city never sleeps! I had the chance to explore a little around the area where we stayed, but I’d love to spend more time there the next time I visit.

When we relate mysticism to Turkiye, I think we share some common teachings with Buddhism. Sufi mysticism is quite fascinating. While all teachings may arrive at similar conclusions, only the cultures are different. Are you interested in Sufism? Maybe you can check Rumi’s quotes or some Sufi poetries. All in one!

Paul: Sufi culture and its yogic lineage are vast. The ecstatic words of Rumi and Hafiz are pure inspiration! From the whirling dervishes to the majestic poetry, indeed, truth is all one.

I’m sure you’ve heard of our famous instrument, Turkish Ney, made of reed, which is known to induce a DMT release, haha. I believe Sufi music has a deep meditative effect with Turkish Ney. Maybe you’d consider incorporating such elements into one of your future projects?

Paul: I’ve heard of the instrument, but I wasn’t aware of this aspect. I’m curious to research it more now, especially the DMT connection! I’m definitely interested in exploring more world and traditional instruments. 

You once mentioned that progressive metal used to be unintelligible to people, so your bands weren’t liked much back then. Now we see that people really enjoy progressive and experimental music. What do you think has caused this change? Do you think we’ll go even further and explore new musical genres beyond experimental music?

Paul: The passage of time has broadened people’s minds, thanks to the artists who came before, like Cynic. Progressive music, in particular, has made significant strides in recent years, and it’s very encouraging to see. It’s especially inspiring to witness artists who strive to create something new and original.

I know you’re not particularly into pop music, and it seems like you’ve brilliantly combined metal with a unique ethereal sound. But I’m curious, do you explore other genres as well? How do you feel about genres like psytrance or psybient? Do you like them? Do they influence your music or inspire you in any way? 

Paul: I’m a fan of great artists regardless of genre. A well-crafted song transcends the labels we give them. I especially love the more experimental edges of psytrance and psybient, particularly when they involve spirituality and aliens, haha.

Have you ever thought about doing a big, special concert for Cynic? I was thinking it could be amazing with holograms, light shows, and a space ambiance, combined with a bohemian style to create a traditional-futuristic stage. I would really love to hear your thoughts and the images you have in mind for something like this!

Paul: We share the same vision! I dream of this kind of show too… maybe we can all collectively manifest it one day!

Talking about technology, Cynic has gone through a lot of changes, like switching your album cover artist, using synth bass, and more. I’m really curious about the stories behind the visuals. From what I know, all the cool illustrations we’ve seen were done by Venosa, and there was even a character in Focus. What do these visuals mean to you?

Paul: The visual component is directly linked to the musical; they are all part of the same environment, expressed through different artistic mediums. It’s more about the feeling and energy they emit rather than any literal meaning. The frequency the art emits is what resonates most with me.

It seems like there’s a certain structure to each album. For example, the cover of Kindly Bent to Free Us looks like a tree of life or an explosion. I even connected the song “Holy Fallout” to this explosion. Did I pick up on something there 😛 hahah

Paul: You certainly did! Every detail is carefully considered on every Cynic record, and that, of course, includes the cover art. The cover of *Kindly Bent to Free Us* holds multiple meanings, including a representation of the human mind and an explosion happening simultaneously.

What are your ways to blend new styles of music into your music? How do you integrate your influences to your music despite the fact that influences usually affect the music stemming from the artist’s subconscious mind? Do you sometimes intentionally add new elements and influences to your music while creating it?

Paul: I don’t know where the music comes from; it feels more like my body is a vessel for the sounds to travel through. It’s truly a mystery to me, and it seems that my best work happens when I’m most relaxed and at ease, allowing the energy to flow through me. With all that said, I do tend to gravitate towards ideas that sound fresh and original.

Some artists like making changes on tour setlists depending on the country of the show. We know the fact that specific songs of an artist can be listened to more than other countries in a country. Do you consider this fact and do you make changes on setlists? If so, which criterias do you bear in mind while doing so?

Paul: For this tour, we prepared a whole new batch of songs, so we didn’t want to stray too much from that, aside from maybe a song or two depending on how much time we have to perform. Sometimes we’ll add a different song to adjust the energy, either bringing it up or down, depending on the audience. If I had more time to prepare, I would have loved to bring in a Turkish Ney player to do an improvisational live piece.

Did you consider anything special for the audience in Istanbul while preparing your show?

Paul: My usual preparation before any show involves a short meditation and visualization practice. Throughout the evening, I could feel my heart expanding outward to the fans.

What are your thoughts on your performance in Istanbul, and how did the city’s music scene influence your experience on stage? Do you see yourself performing here again in the future?

Paul: I can definitely see us coming back sooner rather than later. I loved the whole vibe, the venue, and especially the fans.

What would you like to say to the Surge Turkiye team and your Turkish listeners? We already feel like we’re receiving messages of unity from outer space!

Paul: Thank you all for your presence at the recent show, and a special thanks to all the Cynic fans who continue to take this journey with us! We have been waiting for you and we love you.