AZBAC Interview

Q1: For those entering the volcanic world of AZBAC for the first time, can you introduce the project and explain what your music is fundamentally about?

AZBAC: AZBAC emerged in January 2026, in the heart of São Miguel Island, Azores (Portugal), as an inevitable response to the landscape that surrounds me. The project is an exploration of what I call Volcanic Synth, a kind of convergence of Dungeon Synth and Dark Ambient. More than just music, the compositions serve as visual projections. I explore the palette of colors and textures suggested by the volcanic theme, while I integrate epic and spatial elements into the soundscapes. My process is intentionally self-taught and intuitive. I do not have formal music theory training, so I focus entirely on density and on the construction of atmospheres through Software and the integration of field recordings. The debut album, Zenith Beneath The Ashen Clouds, released on May 2nd, marks the first chapter of this journey through landscapes of ash and fire.

Q2: The Azores possess a unique volcanic beauty and isolation. In what ways does your homeland continue to shape the spirit and identity of AZBAC?

AZBAC: You are right, the Azores Islands are truly unique in their natural beauty. To answer your Question, this is not a conscious process. We all carry an identity that stems from our lived experiences and the environment around us. A lifetime spent on an island, surrounded by the vastness of the sea and the volcanic spectrum, within the specific constraints of insularity, inevitably shapes one’s personality. This social and cultural context defines how I view the world and, fundamentally, how I feel and create the music of AZBAC.

Q3: What first gave birth to the idea of Volcanic Dungeon Synth within AZBAC?

AZBAC: To be frank, the concept took shape during the composition itself. Initially, there was no pre-defined theme, my only goal was to bring my inner world into reality. However, as the music developed, its specific weight and rhythm drew me toward volcanic imagery. I completed the rest of the album with that focus. From this experience, I coined the term Volcanic Dungeon Synth. While this subgenre does not officially exist, it provides a distinct identity for the project and clarifies the intent of the sound for the audience.

Q4: AZBAC feels deeply personal and carefully constructed in atmosphere and detail. How important is authenticity and human expression within your creative process?

AZBAC: I appreciate those words. Indeed, the process was extremely long and meticulous. I lost count of the times I built, rebuilt, and adjusted the tracks. It was crucial that the sound reflected my intent in a genuine way, despite my significant limitations in music theory, practice, and sound design. I also relied on feedback from my son and a friend throughout this journey, fresh ears and a sense of distance are always valuable. Above all, this work is an authentic piece of human expression, free from superficial or artificial artifice.

Q5: Your work carries a strong sense of isolation and solitude. Is AZBAC  intended as personal reflection, environmental immersion, or something closer to ritual atmosphere?

AZBAC: I believe it is a bit of everything mentioned. I do not dictate how listeners approach the record. The beauty of art lies precisely there, it allows each person to find their own interpretation of the sound. This album was not premeditated, I want it to be everything or nothing at all.

The listener holds the final word.

Q6: Zenith Beneath the Ashen Clouds feels deeply environmental and elemental. When composing, do you begin with a visual landscape in mind, or does the music itself reveal those environments as the process unfolds?

AZBAC: Most of the time, the process starts with a visual image. I build from there and attempt to bring the sound as close as possible to that specific idea. However, the result remains a deeply personal sonic interpretation of that imagery. It is fascinating how the music occasionally follows unexpected paths and creates its own visual metaphors in my mind.

A track intended to represent one concept often shifts into another. A perfect example is Caldera Shrine, it lacked that highly atmospheric and spiritual middle passage originally and was meant to embody the visual image that ‘Volcanic Zenith Contemplation’ now projects.

Q7: Field recordings play a significant role within your sound. What draws you toward blending natural environmental textures with synthesizers?

AZBAC: This seems like a simple question, but it is not. On a conscious level, I introduce field recordings because I want the listener to have a tangible, almost palpable image of what the music projects. I realized that music alone does not suffice to convey the full sonic imagery. This is logical, as music is a human construct, whereas nature and mundane reality possess a vast array of other sounds and noises.

On an unconscious level, however, this choice may also represent my insecurities regarding my creation’s ability to place the listener in the desired framework. Therefore, I turn to these complementary devices. It is something I still need to reflect upon…

Q8: Across your music there is a constant presence of transformation — forests becoming ash, silence following eruption, destruction giving way to stillness. What does volcanic imagery represent to you on a philosophical level?

AZBAC: This is an excellent question. My perspective stems from my training as a sociologist. I believe our attraction to aesthetics like Dungeon Synth or Dark Ambient is not a mere ‘escape‘ from reality. It is a human quest for transcendence. In AZBAC, volcanic events represent the breaking point where nature proves we lack control. This forces us to find an inner strength greater than any catastrophe. Lava is not just destruction, it is a purification through fire that reveals reality in its absolute form, stripped of the filters and illusions that society constructs.

I want AZBAC to allow the listener to ‘witness‘ this power from a safe and contemplative distance.

Q9: Many Dungeon Synth projects evoke medieval or fantasy worlds, whereas AZBAC feels rooted within the earth itself. Do you view your work as part of the traditional Dungeon Synth lineage, or as something forging its own path?

AZBAC: I believe the project has deep roots in the traditional Dungeon Synth lineage, even if I attempted to deny it or the sound don’t reflect that. That sonic premise serves as the foundation for all my composiƟons and I state that with pride. However, my influences are broader. I am a passionate metalhead since the early 90s. As a dedicated listener for over three decades, I followed the growth and evolution of Death Metal and, primarily, Black Metal, which shares an umbilical connection with Dungeon Synth.

Furthermore, I always possessed a weakness for film soundtracks. This entire portfolio impacts how AZBAC presents itself and how it will evolve. I can state with confidence that the project will naturally branch out, but it will always retain a rib tied to Dungeon Synth and a soul tied to Black Metal.

My musicalframework was formatted in that cradle.

Q10: Your compositions move with a slow, tectonic weight rather than conventional melody-driven structures. How significant is atmosphere and immersion within your creative process?

AZBAC: Probably, one reason for this dynamic relates to my limitations and lack of formal music theory and practice. As I mentioned earlier, everything you hear is completely genuine and, quite frankly, relatively naïve. Despite this, I believe atmosphere must always come first, it is the core of creation. Atmosphere and the emotions it evokes drive the entire creative process and how the music develops. I do not believe in music that prioritizes technique over atmosphere.

Technique should only serve as a tool to refine and elevate the atmosphere to levels of pure immersion.

Q11: Hymns such as Caldera Shrine and Crypt of the Ashen Crater carry almost sacred, ritualistic imagery. How essential are symbolism and atmosphere when naming compositions?

AZBAC: As I mentioned, atmosphere is the most vital dimension for me. Without it, music lacks a soul. The only way to manifest this atmosphere beyond the sound itself, or to evoke a specific mental image of the theme in the listener, is to reinforce it through titles and symbolism, like the cover art. To answer your question directly: yes, it is fundamental and indispensable.

Q12: When someone listens to AZBAC alone, in darkness or isolation, what kind of emotional or psychological space do you hope the music places them within?

AZBAC: Everyone must experience the album in their own way, I do not dictate the rules. My only hope is that the listener connects with the record’s ‘soul’. If they choose to close their eyes and ignore the underlying concept entirely, there is no issue. Overall, I consider the soundscape eclectic and broad enough to invoke diverse emotions and meet the various needs of the audience.

Q13: Beyond Zenith Beneath the Ashen Clouds, what visions or environments remain unexplored within the world of AZBAC?

AZBAC: Only time will tell. I firmly believe that every work is the result of its context and era. I cannot guarantee that the next project will continue to explore the world of volcanic phenomena, I refuse to set boundaries for my creativity. If a change occurs, the sound will inevitably reflect that shift. However, you can expect one thing: any future visions or environments will be crafted in a genuine and purely human way, with all their flaws and virtues, always within the Dungeon Synth spectrum.

If there’s anything you’d like to add — your creative process, or something we haven’t touched on — please feel free to do so here.

AZBAC: I suggest that the listener approaches Zenith Beneath The Ashen Clouds in a moment of stillness. This is a record for the shadows and for contemplation. While I am deeply grateful for the support this project receives, I must acknowledge the vast community of artists within Dungeon Synth and beyond. There are many exceptional creators with works far superior to my own who often lack the recognition they deserve. I feel honored to be part of this scene alongside such talent. Thank you for the interest in AZBAC and for the space to share my visions.