Getting to Know… Crejuvent | Interview

For Interview #34 in our ‘Getting to Know…’ series, The Musical Hype chats with Fredrico ‘Freddy’ Spera, the brainchild of extreme metal band, Crejuvent.

“I don’t really care how people describe [my music] as ultimately, I do this for me. I think that uninhibited sense of self isn’t something you see very often in bands, so I like to think it makes my music stand out somewhat.” Fredrico ‘Freddy’ Spera is completely honest regarding his extreme metal band/project, Crejuvent, which features himself and ‘some guest people.’ His honesty is greatly appreciated in our 34^th interview in The Musical Hype’s colorful ‘Getting to Know…’ series which has featured an assortment of musicians with various musical styles.  Freddy and Crejuvent become the latest asset.  Without further ado, Getting to Know… Crujuvent: Interview #34.

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype: Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Crejuvent distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?  

Fredrico ‘Freddy’ Spera, Crejuvent: I feel I can provide a very specific form of “not giving a fuck”-ness, and it shows. I do not shy away from the music I want to create for Crejuvent and I do not compromise on what I want to end up on my recordings. The way I say this makes it sound like my music is OUTRAGEOUS or really left of center, but it’s not especially weird or anything like that. I want to make music that’s as genuine to myself as possible, and to some people it can sound like a weird jumbled mess of music (or as one reviewer has described it: “Layered across the the beat with the care of a person throwing out a slop bucket”) or like something thrown together just for the sake of it. I don’t really care how people describe it as ultimately I do this for me. I think that uninhibited sense of self isn’t something you see very often in bands, so I like to think it makes my music stand out somewhat.

Faulkner: Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your Crejuvent form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

Spera: I think early on I wanted to create really heavy music instead of just creating music. Eventually, I realized I didn’t like coming up with something I liked only to then say “oh but it’s not heavy so I can’t use this”, and so with the realization that nothing’s forcing me to write music a specific way came a shift in the vision. But yeah, in the beginning I think Crejuvent was born more from a desire to make music that fit a specific role – I wanted to write technical death metal and have this project be this super heavy entity where I could show off my chops and shit like that. And, of course, I wanted a platform where I could bring together my love of heavy music and toilet humor.

Faulkner: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Spera: Right now, I’m more focused on this being sort of a vanity project if you will. I want this to be my ego trip. I’m really not an egotistical guy, I’m quite the opposite. Having played other people’s music for so many years in so many different formats and being this person that doesn’t really put themselves ahead of others regarding many critical life situations, I felt I needed an outlet where I could sort of take back control and do things my way. Crejuvent gives me an outlet to accurately document where I am at in life at any given point. I’m not looking for financial success or validation from others out of this project, my aspiration is for Crejuvent to be this healing entity for myself.

Faulkner: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Spera: My biggest musical hero would definitely be Devin Townsend, and his work with Strapping Young Lad has especially influenced Crejuvent’s music. Alien is my favourite album ever, and to me it’s the best album I’ve ever heard that most accurately represents a specific feeling. That sort of accurate representation is something I strive for with my music, definitely. Musically, I’m also really influenced by classical music (as can be noted by my latest single Vesti La Giubba, a cover of a famous aria) and a lot of technical death metal bands such as Cynic, Obscura, Beyond Creation, etc.

Faulkner: Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Spera: I don’t tend to perform very often with Crejuvent as most places don’t really wanna book a guy playing bass and screaming into a mic to backing tracks. I perform plenty with other bands and since I tend to be a bit overkill onstage – I’ve injured myself so many times. I’ve tripped on cables and monitors, slipped on a hill right in front of the stage, jumped off huge walls, whatever. That said, I think the weirdest thing that happened happened whilst nobody was looking. I was playing a show with one of my other bands and the owner of the venue (this batshit insane looking old woman) came up to me after the show and told me that she was enjoying us so much she started masturbating whilst watching our set.

Faulkner: Wow! Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?  

Spera: Tricky, but I think I’d have to pick “Blue Spirit”, the B-side from my latest single that just came out last month. I’m not sure what makes it special really, I just had a lot of fun during the whole process and, unlike the single itself, I actually wrote the track so it has a bit more of a personal element to it. The whole song just sounds right to me, it all fits into place and I got to do so much in just the one track that when it was finished and it actually came out sounding like a functioning track I was really happy.

Faulkner: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?  

Spera: I once ran face first into a cactus. Because I was making fun of how a friend used to run in gym class. Really sums up my whole life to be honest.

Faulkner: Closing this thing out, what is you/your band currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Spera: I’m currently working on some new music. I have a specific idea for it, but until I know it’s actually something achievable I don’t really want to indulge in the specifics. But it’s based on a dream I had. As someone who suffers from regular night terrors, the impact a pleasant dream can have is indescribable. It was an extremely pleasant dream that revolved around life and death, and what it means to be alive and to have human experiences and connections. Hopefully a good release can come of it.  Until then, however, I recently released a single called “Vesti La Giubba”, which everyone should absolutely check out! It’s on all streaming platforms and whatnot so y’all ain’t got an excuse!

 

Faulkner: Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.

[Photo Credit: Crejuvent]