SOURCE – Digital Plague is set to be released independently on August 14, 2025. The album is well-produced, musically strong, and above average. Why isn’t it being released through a label?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – That’s a great question. Fun fact: I actually work in marketing at a label (Reigning Phoenix Music). This puts me in a position where I know what labels are looking for, but at the same time I’m able to apply my marketing knowledge and release strategy to our own release. At the moment, I know we need to focus on building our streaming numbers and getting more touring under our belt before bringing in a label that could replace — and fund — everything we’re doing ourselves; that’s exactly what we’ll be aiming for during this record cycle.
SOURCE – The album cover is often the first thing fans see. What message or emotion did you want the artwork to convey to your audience?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – I worked with MontDoom (Enrico) on the art concept, and the idea was to create a barren environment where the humans who remain after a technological collapse return to a power source represented by something similar to the Samsara wheel. The message is intended as a warning or reality check about our dependency on technology.
SOURCE – What was the self-production process like, and how was the experience of mixing and mastering the album with Dave Otero?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – Self-production was a massive learning experience. It was my first time sitting down and composing parts for each instrument before handing off a pre-production track to my drummer and bassist. Learning how to orchestrate, design synths, and add general production FX was incredibly rewarding, and now that I know I’m capable of this, I’m excited to get even better at it with each subsequent record.
Mixing and mastering with Dave Otero was such a treat—definitely a bucket-list experience; I’ll be going back for the next record as well. I spent a few days in Denver at his studio for the final touches on the tracks; it was an emotional experience hearing them come to life. He did an exceptional job.
SOURCE – This album features some exciting collaborations. How did these partnerships come about, and what made you choose these particular artists, such as Chaney Crabb and Ian Waye?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – We actually didn’t plan for many guest appearances on this album, but we’re very lucky to have these two. After writing “Destructive Apathy,” I imagined Chaney’s voice on the track. I asked if she’d be interested; she said yes and ended up contributing several parts throughout the song, which was fantastic.
Ian Waye was originally slated to do a single guest solo, but we were between lead guitarists at the time, and with the rest of the production on my plate, he ended up recording multiple solos—which ultimately saved me. We’re very grateful to have some top-tier shredding on this record.
SOURCE – Does singing and playing guitar at the same time hinder your development as a guitarist?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – It can be limiting, and I’m still figuring out how to challenge myself more with each song. I’ve already handed off almost every lead to Erik, including some of the more technical riffs I write, so he can handle them live. I usually try to match vocal patterns to the riffs to make things easier, but sometimes they are completely different, and it feels impossible at first. With enough practice, you’d be surprised what you’re capable of.
SOURCE – Why were the drum recordings done by AJ Viana instead of Justin Gogan?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – AJ Viana is the engineer who recorded Justin Gogan’s drum performance.
SOURCE – You recently filmed some videos for the tracks The Final Cleansing and Destructive Apathy. Could you tell us a little bit about them? Who came up with the concept?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – “Destructive Apathy” was purely a performance video; we filmed it in a pinch—two hours, to be exact.
The Final Cleansing was more of a concept video that I came up with. Our bassist, Chris, found a really cool, creepy 1920s building for the location, and I wanted to create a scene of a person seated opposite a future (or past) version of themselves. It turns into an argument because the present version is battered in their current situation, while the future version tries to warn or advise them. The video ends with a small plot twist that viewers can interpret as they wish.
SOURCE – You’ve shared several videos playing the band’s songs — Null Space and Destructive Apathy, to name a few. In your opinion, how does this kind of content help create engagement and promote the band?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – This type of content is currently standard and necessary, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. With such short attention spans today, you need to consistently promote the same content in roughly 60 different variations, in 30–60-second increments. Think of it this way: you release a music video, create a cutdown, and post it—then maybe 10% of your followers see it, and only 1–5% engage. What about the other ~90%? Create a variation (playthrough or practice clip), which might stop the scroll for a different 10% who never saw the first one. Reply to every comment and engage genuinely—rinse and repeat.
SOURCE – I’ve seen you associated with brands like Jackson, Neural, Focusrite, and Novation. Do these brands support you in any way?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – I’ve been working with these brands (and more) for a long time now. They’ve all been very supportive, even beyond sponsored collaborations and product demos, and whenever I have a release I’m able to incorporate our music into those demos or into a simple playthrough collaboration. I’m very grateful for these relationships; they’ve been key in getting our music in front of new audiences.
SOURCE – Is there anything you’d like to say to those who’ve supported you from the beginning — and to those who are just now discovering your music?
Nicole Papastavrou (Guitars, Vocals) – Thank you! To everyone who’s stuck with us since the very beginning, and to anyone who’s recently given us a chance—whether that’s a stream, coming out to a show, or engaging on social media—it all counts. Although this is our second album, it still feels like the beginning for us, and we’re not stopping anytime soon! If you enjoy what we’re doing, tell your friends—nothing beats word of mouth.
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