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A QUICK CHAT WITH JAKE E OF CYHRA!

For years, you’ve relied on Toontrack gear for your songwriting sessions and creative process overall. You just completed a new record with Cyhra. How did Toontrack play in this time around?
Toontrack has been part of my creative DNA for years, but on this record it became more essential than ever. The reliability and realism of Superior Drummer, EZkeys and EZbass allowed me to sketch out full arrangements anywhere without ever compromising on feel or quality. For Cyhra’s new album, Toontrack wasn’t just a writing tool – it was the backbone of my entire pre-production process. The drum, piano and bass libraries helped me shape the groove, the dynamics and the emotional tone of each song long before I stepped into the studio. By the time we began tracking for real, the vision was crystal clear. It kept the whole creative flow sharp, fast and inspired. Having our drummer, Alexander Landenburg, featured in Jacob Herrmann’s Duality EZXs meant I could write with his sound from day one, which made everything feel connected to the true identity of the band.

You’ve released several singles leading up to the actual release. The latest one – “Box with Spirits” – just came out. Tell us more about this song specifically – and the video for it!
“Box with Spirits” is a song that came from a very raw and honest place. Lyrically, it deals with emotional baggage, the parts of ourselves we lock away just to keep functioning and the moment you finally dare to open that box again. It’s vulnerable but also empowering. Musically it’s heavy, cinematic and one of the most dramatic tracks on the record. The video, created by the amazing Patric Ullaeus, mirrors that emotional journey. I wanted it to feel like being trapped inside your own mind – confronting shadows, memories and the things you try to outrun. It blends performance with a dark, atmospheric storyline along with some acting elements that bring the emotion to life. Patric captured exactly what I felt when creating the song.

In addition to being one of the main writers in Cyhra, you’ve just completed a big project scoring a full movie. Tell us more!
Yes! I recently finished scoring the feature film “Vi är Metal Dragon,” directed and produced by Hollywood director Titus Paar. It has been one of the most creatively rewarding challenges of my career. I wrote four original songs for the fictional metal band Metal Dragon together with Christoffer Borg (Art Nation) and his incredibly talented brother Felix Borg. Toontrack’s products were absolutely essential throughout this process as well. They gave me the tools to quickly experiment, refine ideas and build a powerful, authentic metal soundscape for the film. They helped me establish the musical identity of Metal Dragon from the ground up. Scoring is definitely an area I plan to continue exploring alongside my work with Cyhra.

What’s next on your agenda – with the band and personally?
I’m gearing up for a massive year. Our next album with Cyhra – title still under wraps – drops in March followed by touring. The response to the early singles has been incredibly motivating. Personally, I’m balancing music, acting and film scoring in a way that finally feels natural. I’m filming my first Hollywood movie, Eonblade, starring alongside Doug Jones, and at the same time continuing to develop new music for Cyhra and other artists. It’s an intense period – but without a doubt the most creatively fulfilling time of my life. I’m excited to see how all these paths come together in the year ahead.


AREA 33 SDX DEMO EXTRAVAGANZA!

Awesome tracks – including one of which is an all-new track by Fredrik Thordendal!

SHAWN CHECKS OUT THE AREA 33 SDX!

Shawn dives deep into the bottomless well of the Area 33 SDX.

MORE FROM BERNTH.

In this video, Bernth reacts to his followers’ solos!

METAL MONTH CUSTOMER JUKEBOX COLLECTION.

Did you miss any awesome songs? Here you go!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE GRIFFITHS.

Charlie talks background, inspirations, Haken, solo album and more!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT – YIANNIS PAPADOPOULOS

Yiannis talks Superior Drummer 3, his new band with George Kollias, practice routines, career highlights and more!

ROLLING DICE TO WRITE A SONG!

Trey is back with a new episode!

PROGRESSIVE METAL IN MIXOLYDIAN B13.

George Karayiannis checked in with a quick video!

A SONG USING ONLY NEGATIVE COMMENTS.

Hats off to Bernth for turning negative online comments into something positive!

JAY POSTONES PLAYTHROUGH.

Progressive metal drumming of the highest order.

METAL MONTH JUKEBOX #4.

Another collection of great songs – by you!

ARE YOU READY TO PROGRESS?

This week, we explore prog! Listen to Nili’s guest solo…and get started working on your own!

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