Chaos, Community, and Circle Pits: Jake of Æther Realm on Touring, Growth, and What’s Next
Photo Credit: Bryce Chapman
Chaos, Community, and Circle Pits: Jake of Æther Realm on Touring, Growth, and What’s Next
From selling signed baguettes at the merch table to orchestrating möbius strip pits in Quebec City, Jake of Æther Realm thrives on turning every show into something unforgettable. In this candid conversation, he opens up about joining forces with Omnium Gatherum and Hinayana, experimenting with new vocal techniques, and balancing the chaos of touring with the creative demands of writing the band’s next album. With humor, grit, and a touch of redneck charm, Jake shares how Æther Realm continues to evolve while keeping fans at the heart of their journey.
Tour Collaboration – How did you feel when you were invited to join Omnium Gatherum on this tour, and what does this lineup mean to you personally?
I’m a big fan of Omnium’s album Beyond, with The Unknowing and New Dynamic, and I’ve been a fan of Hinayana for ages (they’ve been playing with us in Austin for a long time) so it sounded like a fun lap around the US with good buds.
Los Angeles Date – The LA show is shaping up to be a highlight. What kind of energy do you expect from that crowd, and how do you plan to match it?
Man the honest answer is that I feel like you have to fight harder to win the crowd in LA than in other cities. LA gets like a thousand shows a week, they’ve seen it all, vs like Boise ID where bands only come through on routing shows and the people there are just insanely hyped to see anyone at all. That said I always enjoy LA, I get up to my usual merch table antics (last time we sold a signed baguette). I’ll see a lot of friends, and I’ll put on the best show I can, but that’s something I try to do everywhere we go.
Æther Realm will be at 1720 in Los Angeles on December 2nd!
New Music Hints – Are you planning to showcase any unreleased material or surprises during this run, or will the setlist lean on fan favorites?
We’re playing an unreleased track on this run! It’s called “Get Fucked” or maybe “Get Fukt” or possibly “Get Fukked” (we haven’t decided on the spelling yet). I’ve been trying to improve and expand my screaming vocal techniques in a live setting (doing more “fry” screams and less “false chord” screams which are more taxing on my voice). It has been a lot of work to get comfortable with a new technique in front of a crowd, but it’s allowed my voice to be more resilient on the road.
Roots & Influence – You’re based out of North Carolina. How has your local scene influenced your sound, and how do you carry that identity onto international stages?
I’m never more patriotic than I am when I’m in another country ha. I definitely play up the “crazy redneck Guy” persona onstage, which is sort of a novelty to folks outside of the south.
Our biggest local influences were probably Wretched, and Wrath and Rapture, two epic melodic metal bands that incorporated a wide range of genres into their music. Wretched’s doing some shows with Nekrogoblikon next year, you should catch em!
Stage Experience – Æther Realm is known for blending melodic death metal with epic, sometimes playful elements. How do you translate that mix into a live performance?
I try have fun with audience interaction – it’s how the shows can feel “new” to me as well. All the banter and storytelling that goes on is figured out on the spot. I’ve been telling the audience that I’m bored with circle pits, and having them make different shapes. We did a möbius strip in Quebec City!
Creative Growth – Has preparing for this tour sparked new ideas musically, or influenced the direction of your next project?
Honestly no, tour prep is more of an obstacle for album creation for me – I’ve told my dudes that these are gonna be our last shows until the new album’s done, and everyone’s on board. When you crank up the writing for a month, and then have to pump the brakes to switch gears and get ready for a tour for a month, then actually tour for a month, then take a minute to get your life back in order before trying to crank the writing back up, and before you know it you’re prepping for the next run – it’s not a process that lends itself to efficient writing.
So the touring is fun, and it allows for face-to-face time with my bandmates which is nice to get aligned on ideas, but I need some time away from the road to button up this next release.
Fan Connection – What do you hope first-time listeners walk away with after seeing you live on this tour?
I hope they walk away with seventeen thousand dollars of merchandise at the table! And a sense of community within the fanbase – I think we’ve got a good bunch of folks that are welcoming to newcomers.
**An Attachement from the road**
Life on the Road – Touring can be chaotic. Do you have any rituals, traditions, or humorous stories that help keep the band grounded while traveling?
Every tour I try to find some kind of silly thing to rope my tour mates into and find some connection. This tour it has been the nutmobile, a little 7-dollar RC bus shaped like a peanut. I’m driving it into the venue at load in, driving it up and down ramps and stairs and just generally getting in everyone’s way with it. Let’s see if I can attach a photo: (see attachments haha)
Evolution of Sound – Looking back at albums like Tarot and Redneck Vikings From Hell, how do you feel your sound has evolved, and what’s the next chapter?
I have grown more comfortable with singing, and more comfortable taking little vacations outside of the realm of metal, and I have a desire to continue doing that – playing around in genres or styles of song we haven’t touched before. I love meat and potatoes melodic death metal with choirs and strings but my favorite album this year was by Igorrr, which truly goes all over the map.
Future Vision – Beyond this tour, what’s next for Æther Realm—new releases, collaborations, or dream goals you’re chasing?
I’d love to break into the European festival circuit – I’d love to get a Jari Mäenpää guest solo one day, but mainly I’m keeping the goals bite sized. Getting this next album across the finish line is enough work to deal with for the time being.
IN CONCLUSION
Whether it’s driving a peanut-shaped RC bus through venues or dreaming of European festival stages, Jake proves that Æther Realm’s path is as unpredictable as it is exciting. Their blend of melodic death metal, playful energy, and relentless drive ensures that every chapter feels fresh — and with a new album on the horizon, the band is poised to push boundaries even further. For fans old and new, the message is clear: expect the unexpected, and be ready to join the community Æther Realm is building one show at a time.
(Interview by Ken Morton)
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