“I’ve been way more included in the creative process”: Kawa on Dagoba’s new album ‘Different Breed’

Marseille-based groove metal band Dagoba are set to release their latest full-length album, Different Breed, through Verycords on June 14th. This ninth studio album aims to bring together old fans and newcomers with a combination of massive riffs, orchestration, and industrial elements. Developed during their 2022 European tour, the album was mixed and mastered by Chris Coulter (Arcane Roots, Idles) in London. Different Breed presents a sound that is both harsh and dark, yet also melancholic and hopeful, marking an important step in Dagoba’s discography.

In this interview with Bass Empire, Kawa discussed his bass gear and approach to recording the new album. “For the bass part, I’ve been using an ESP LTD AP-4 Black Metal. For the ‘sound part’, we used my Darkglass ADAM pedal. We worked a lot on the sound to make the bass deep and also punchy in the high.”

When asked about his approach to bass lines on tracks like “Phoenix Noir,” Kawa explained, “‘Phoenix Noir’ is a powerful and fast track. I put all the effort alongside the bass drum to keep it really tight. I’m playing bass with a pick, so you have to focus on being as precise as possible and as powerful as possible to make it loud and clear. You can also hear in the new track ‘Minotaur’ that there’s an ambient bridge with a cool bassline with a lot of melancholy and a bit of ‘hope’, I’d say. I’m grateful that I can bring those new features to the band.”

Kawa’s role as a bassist has evolved significantly in the creation of Different Breed compared to previous works. “I’ve been way more included in the creative process and also for the artistic direction. We introduced a ‘lore’ for each track with a story, a background, a vibe. I worked a lot on this side of the album. The ‘lore’ and artistry around the music. I also really liked how the basslines are much more complex than before. They don’t always follow the guitar lines. It’s more groovy but also more powerful.

Looking to the future, Kawa envisions further development in his bass playing and musical style in upcoming Dagoba projects. “I’ll try to add more and more personal stuff and inspiration. More complex and fast lines, slides, and I’d like to introduce some slap to the new tracks to come. I’m a huge fan of visual kei (Japanese music genre; Taiji and Toshiya are my inspirations). So I’d really like to make those basslines more complex, groovy, more present.”

Dagoba’s Different Breed is now available for pre-order at your favourite shops.