Earlier this month saw the release of Andros Insidium on 20 Buck Spin, the sixth album by Leila Abdul-Rauf under her own name.

Metal fans may know Leila as the singer and guitarist for death-metal group Vastum (the band she has fronted since its formation in 2009), but she has been involved in a number of projects over the years, some very far from the realms of metal.

According to Leila people often pigeon-hole her solo output as “ambient” music, but she considers “cinematic” to be a better descriptor.

Listening to Andros Insidium this does feel like a more appropriate term—the album being rich in textures and instrumentation. Sometimes the music inhabits a sonic world reminiscent of the otherworldliness of Dead Can Dance, at other times (like on the album’s harrowing title track), the stark piano and vocal presence is more in the lineage of Diamanda Galás.

It’s dark, intense and at times harrowing music.

Leila joins me to discuss the album, collaborations, mythology, imagery and how creative freedom and financial insecurity go hand-in-hand for independent artists.

Photo by Alex Parra

Album art by Justyna Koziczak

Andros Insidium on vinyl and CD from 20 Buck Spin

Leila Abdul-Rauf on bandcamp

Catch Leila Abdul-Rauf live:

May 28 Center for Computer Research in Music & Acoustics (CCRMA) Palo Alto, CA May 30 First Church of the Buzzard Oakland, CA

Leila Abdul-Rauf on Instagram

Thanks to Dave at Earsplit PR

Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My music on Ampwall

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Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman

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