Influenced by astrology and themes of self-worth and healing, our conversation with Seven Kingdoms dives into the emotional inspiration behind their new EP, The Square. The band reveals how their partnership with Reigning Phoenix Music has reignited their passion for releasing music, balancing DIY independence with label support. They share insights on their creative evolution, from fan-chosen covers to fresh sounds shaping their upcoming full-length album. Plus, get a taste of what’s in store for their high-energy live shows and hear about their dream collaborations. This revealing glimpse behind the scenes is a must-read for fans of melodic power metal and stories of persistence, growth, and passion.
ATN: Congratulations on The Square! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the EP’s title and themes?
SABRINA CRUZ: Thank you! Yes, I work as a tarot reader/practicing astrologer in my other profession outside of singing for Seven Kingdoms. On a regular basis I found myself helping clients and even close friends who were dealing with very difficult situations within their intimate relationships and self worth. Which can be very hard to navigate and sometimes devastating to one’s mental and emotional health. The Square was inspired by an aspect in Astrology called a “Square.” Which describes an energy of intense challenge and great difficulty.
ATN: What story or message did you want to convey?
SABRINA: “The Square” is specifically expressing the energy between two planets, Pluto (power struggles, toxic relationships and obsessive thoughts) and Venus (love, self esteem, values, what we cherish) It can sometimes be a struggle within Love when both parties aren’t on the same page or want the same things. It describes how silent treatments or the lack of communication can cause mental health issues. How if someone doesn’t have the Love they once did for another, that they should love them enough to let them go. To let them find someone who can love them properly rather than to continue to hurt each other deeply just because they can. The EP is a musical expression that encompasses the stages of healing, from the initial experience of grief to the present moment of awakening and understanding.
ATN: You’ve just joined Reigning Phoenix Music. How did this partnership come about, and how has it impacted the creative or promotional process for The Square?
SABRINA: Our management team was the one that made this connection with us. We have been a DIY band with crowdfunding as our base model for some years after a really terrible experience with a former label. It left such a bad taste in our mouths that it was actually difficult for us to ‘want’ to be a part of something again. Our manager insisted that this was the right move, and it has been wonderful so far. It’s actually super refreshing to feel that we are part of a family working towards a common goal rather than just a brick laid into a gigantic wall of someone else’s empire. The RPM team has been really amazing for us in this new partnership and we are super thankful to have them on board. They have done a significant amount of work getting this EP out into the worldwide arena, and have given us valuable assets with promotion that we absolutely could not do on our own. We are very thankful for their team, and look forward to a long relationship with this new label.
ATN: Camden has mentioned that joining RPM lets you maintain some of your independence while benefiting from label support. How has this balance affected the production and release of this EP?
SABRINA: We handle everything regarding the creation and production of the music on the band side, then the label is doing the push and promotion, also with distro. It’s a format we have wanted to do for a long time this way: Being able to crowdfund, the band takes on the risk of producing the content, then handing it off to a label in partnership that puts it through the chain, and promotes it properly. It takes some risk off the label side and allows them to focus on the promotional side and the distro. It’s a win-win for sure in our eyes!
ATN: In what ways does The Square reflect a new chapter for the band? Are there specific sounds or styles on the EP that hint at the direction for your next full-length album?
SABRINA: I feel every time we release new music that it is in a sense a new chapter in the book of Seven Kingdoms. We strive to be better with every offering and simply offer the best we have at the moment. The Square is a taste in the direction we are going for the album, but even we can’t see exactly what is on the other side. We simply write when inspiration hits but it always seems to come together in a very cohesive manner. Even our covers always seem to match the theme coincidentally.
ATN: With tracks like “Through These Waves” and “Wilted Pieces,” you’re showcasing a variety of styles. Could you walk us through the creative process for these songs and how each fits into the EP’s overall sound?
SABRINA: With an EP, we try to make a ‘sampling’ of what you can expect from the next album. It’s a quick snapshot of the band before we dive into a larger body of work. It allows us to get great feedback on the sounds, and make some minor adjustments to the other music that isn’t fully finished or written yet before we record the full length. On an EP, we try to offer distinct sounds, so that all the sounds may not sound alike, or may seem a bit further from one another, as the full album will blend these sounds a little smoother since there will be more original songs and ‘space’ to go from one to another. It’s meant to be an appetizer to get the fans hungry before a large cycle like a full album release.
ATN: The cover of Mister Mister‘s “Kyrie” is an intriguing addition. What inspired you to include this track, and how did you go about making it your own?
SABRINA: So the covers are a Kickstarter perk that is picked by a backer. They will submit 10-15 songs for us to choose from. We all marinate with them until we find one that we all believe we all could do well and could make it sound like a Seven Kingdoms song.
ATN: What song are you most excited for fans to hear?
SABRINA: All of them. We have spent almost a year with them finished, only letting a select handful of people hear them. So it will be nice to be able to share them all and see what the reactions are. I am proud of all of them and love them very much. I am hopeful that they are loved by our fans just as much.
ATN: You’ve mentioned that The Square is a preview of what’s coming on the next album. Could you give fans a taste of what they might expect from the upcoming full release?
SABRINA: Imagine listening to the EP as it is now, but there will be more songs that complement the ones before and after. It will weave a larger picture and a smoother sonic landscape. You are guaranteed to have these sounds on the upcoming full length, but there will be songs that are ‘in the middle’ of these along with others that we will take inspiration from the EP and create similar feels, but different songs.
ATN: With your North American tour with Striker and Lutharo and the European tour with Unleash The Archers coming up, how does it feel to bring this new music to live audiences? Any particular cities or venues you’re excited to play?
SABRINA: It’s been over a year since we’ve played live so it will be fun to play in general. I never get super fixated on any particular venue or place because there is always the sleeper, the one night you don’t expect that ends up being the best. I’m a one day at a time, experience the moment kinda gal. I find that if you place too high an expectation on any show or place it often lets you down. It’s more fun to just see what the crowd brings you.
ATN: As a band known for powerful live shows, what do you hope fans will take away from experiencing The Square on stage? Are there any new elements you’re bringing to these performances?
SABRINA: I hope they experience a moment of fun away from the norm of our crazy lives. That they feel the room, music and words and allow it to move them. That they forget for a moment all the many things they are worried about and simply enjoy the moment to the fullest. We will bring the best we have to the stage and all we ever ask is that the crowd give us positive vibes and energy to work with.
ATN: Looking back on your journey from The Fire is Mine to now, how do you feel Seven Kingdoms has evolved musically and personally as a band? What’s been the biggest change for you all?
SABRINA: We strive to grow and get better with every offering. Sometimes that means learning new techniques or using new equipment. We have had many lessons over the years but the biggest lesson thus far has been learning simply how to play and write together.
SAME 3 QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK
ATN: Artist / band that you feel is the most underrated and why?
SABRINA: Honestly, we believe we are a bit underrated. We have been a band for 17 years, playing a European sound from America. It’s almost like everything has worked against us over the years it seems. We have survived though and we have finally gotten the team behind us that we can count on to make the moves that a lot of other groups seem to get sooner, or with less grind. Just being honest here. We have put in a significant amount of work and personal sacrifice for our art, but we are just even more thankful now that the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting brighter by the day.
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to collaborate with and why?
SABRINA: This is a cool question, we haven’t really done much collaboration with other bands when it comes to music… actually I think that’s more of a hip hop scene thing, but it would be very cool to do something with either our friends in Unleash The Archers, Wind Rose, Striker or maybe get a big guest vocalist or something. Something to think about for sure!
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to tour with and why?
SABRINA: We would love to tour with Powerwolf again, or bands like Sabaton, Halloween, Trivium or Judas Priest. Those would be huge growth tours for us if we could make them happen
Read our review of The Square by Seven Kingdoms
Photo by Camden Cruz
Shredding North America 2024 Tour Dates (With STRIKER, LUTHARO and OSYRON):
- 11/13 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
- 11/14 – Vultures – Colorado Springs, CO
- 11/16 – Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ
- 11/17 – Sinwave – Las Vegas, NV
- 11/18 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
- 11/19 – Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA
- 11/20 – DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
- 11/21 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
- 11/22 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
- 11/23 – Jacknife – Kelowna, BC
- 11/25 – Dicken’s – Calgary, AB #
- 11/26 – The Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB #
- 11/27 – The Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK #
- 11/28 – Sidestage – Winnipeg, MB #
- 11/30 – Reggies – Chicago, IL
- 12/1 – Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
- 12/3 – Meadows – Brooklyn, NY
- 12/4 – Metro – Baltimore, MD
- 12/5 – Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
- 12/6 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
- 12/7 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
- 12/8 – Conduit – Orlando, FL
# = Osyron Joins
European Tour supporting UNLEASH THE ARCHERS:
- 12.02 – Substage – Karlsruhe, DE
- 13.02 – Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE
- 14.02 – Live Music Hall – Cologne, DE
- 15.02 – De Kreun – Kortrijk, BE
- 16.02 – The Underworld – London, GB
- 17.02 – La Machine – Paris, FR
- 19.02 – Dynamo – Zurich, CH
- 20.02 – Legend Club – Milan, IT
- 21.02 – Backstage – Munich, DE
- 22.02 – Masters Of Rock Cafe – Zlin, CZ
- 23.02 – Barba Negra – Budapest, HU
- 25.02 – Szene – Vienna, AT
- 26.02 – Kwadrat – Cracow, PL
- 27.02 – Hellraiser – Leipzig, DE
- 28.02 – Rockhal – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU
- 01.03 – Kronensaal – Hamburg, DE
- 02.03 – Patronaat – Haarlem, NL
