With their third album, Déjà Vu, Fighter V opens a new chapter without giving up the melodies and big choruses that define their sound. We talk to Emmo, the band’s vocalist and producer, about the group’s evolution, the creative process behind the album, and the balance between classic ’80s hard rock influences and forging an identity of their own. We also look at their work with Frontiers Music, their connection with fans through songs like “Victory”, and Fighter V’s upcoming appearance before Spanish audiences at Lion Rock Fest.
David Aresté
Metal Symphony: First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. It’s a pleasure to speak with you. It’s been a few months since the release of Déjà Vu. Looking back now, how would you sum up this period, and what kind of feedback have you received from both the press and your fans?
Emmo: Thank you very much for having me! It has been a really exciting and intense period for us. Releasing an album is always a special moment, but with Déjà Vu it feels even more significant because it is our first album with Frontiers Music and it opens a completely new chapter for Fighter V.
The feedback has been very positive overall. What makes me especially happy is that people don’t only talk about the songs themselves, but also about the melodies, the vocals and the authentic 80s feeling of the album. That’s exactly what we wanted to achieve. And of course, hearing people sing the choruses back to us at shows is probably the best feedback you can get as a musician.
Metal Symphony: Now that you’ve had some time to reflect on the album, are you completely satisfied with the final result, or is there anything you would do differently today?
Emmo: I think you can always find something you would change six months later. That’s just part of being a musician and producer. But overall, yes, I’m very happy with the album.
For me, Déjà Vu represents exactly where Fighter V was at that moment. We made a lot of decisions during the production process, and at some point you have to let the record go and accept it as a snapshot of that period. If I started working on it again today, I’m sure I would change little things here and there – but I think that’s true for every album.
Metal Symphony: Déjà Vu is your third studio album. What does this record represent in Fighter V’s evolution as a band?
Emmo: I think it represents a real step forward for us. It doesn’t completely break with what Fighter V has been before, but it feels like we’ve reached another level in terms of songwriting, production and confidence.
We know much better today what Fighter V is supposed to sound and feel like. At the same time, we don’t want to simply repeat ourselves. Déjà Vu has different influences and moods, but the identity of the band is still there.
And having Frontiers behind us gives us the opportunity to bring this music to a much wider audience. That’s a very important step for the band.
Metal Symphony: The title track revolves around the idea of events that seem inevitable and destined to repeat themselves. How did that concept come about, and what does it mean to you personally?
Emmo: The idea behind Déjà Vu is basically about situations where you can already see what’s coming, but somehow you still can’t avoid it. Certain things seem to repeat themselves because some things are almost written in stone.
I think that’s something everyone can relate to on a personal level. We all have situations in our lives where we think, “I’ve been here before.” Sometimes you recognize the pattern, but you still walk straight into it again.
That’s what I liked about the title. It works on a personal level, but it also fits the overall feeling of the album and our love for the classic 80s melodic rock era.
Metal Symphony: The album stays true to the melodic hard rock and AOR spirit of the ’80s while still sounding like Fighter V. How do you strike the balance between honoring your influences and maintaining your own identity?
Emmo: That’s probably one of the most important questions for us. We don’t try to hide our influences. We love the music of the 80s – Journey, Survivor, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and many others – and that DNA is naturally part of Fighter V.
But I think the important thing is that we’re not trying to recreate one particular band. We’re taking the elements we love – big melodies, emotional vocals, strong guitar riffs, keyboards, harmonies and huge choruses – and putting them together in our own way.
For us, it’s a tribute rather than an attempt to pretend that we’re living in 1985. We want the spirit of that era, but with our own songs, our own personalities and a modern production.
Metal Symphony: Emmo, besides being the band’s vocalist, you also produced the album. How challenging was it to combine those two roles, and what were you aiming to achieve with the overall sound?
Emmo: It was definitely challenging! Being the singer and producer means that you are involved in almost everything, so sometimes it’s difficult to switch off and simply listen to the music as a listener.
This time, a lot of the songwriting and production process also happened remotely. I created demos based around riffs and hooks, and the other musicians had to trust those ideas before everything came together. The instrumental recordings were done at Little Creek with Pulver, while I worked on the vocals with Ronny Lang at The Voicefinder Studios.
My goal was always to make the album sound big and powerful, but without losing the emotional side. I wanted the guitars, keyboards and vocals to have enough space, while keeping those huge melodic choruses that are so important to Fighter V.
Metal Symphony: You once again worked with collaborators such as Victor Olsson and Ronny Lang on the vocal production. What do they bring to Fighter V that makes these collaborations so valuable?
Emmo: Victor and Ronny are both fantastic musicians, but more importantly, they bring another perspective.
Victor has a great understanding of the melodic rock/AOR world, and on Déjà Vu he didn’t just work on the keyboards – he also co-wrote and produced the keyboard parts with me. He also contributed backing vocals together with Tess.
Ronny has been extremely important for me as a vocalist. He’s my vocal coach and also an excellent vocal producer. When you’re singing and producing your own album, it’s incredibly valuable to have somebody you trust who can step in and say, “Try it this way,” or simply tell you when something isn’t working.
Those outside ears make a huge difference.
Metal Symphony: Dave Niederberger is still involved in the songwriting despite no longer being a member of the band. How does that creative process work nowadays?
Emmo: Dave is still a very important part of the Fighter V songwriting family. Even though he’s no longer a member of the band, there’s a musical connection and a history there that we don’t want to lose.
The songwriting process is quite flexible nowadays. Sometimes an idea starts with me, sometimes with Roman or Dave, and then we develop it together. On Déjà Vu, this collaboration helped bring different styles into the album while still keeping everything within the Fighter V universe.
I actually think that’s one of the strengths of the record: there are different personalities involved, but they all understand what makes a Fighter V song a Fighter V song.
Metal Symphony: Fighter V has always stood out for writing songs with memorable melodies and huge choruses. When you start working on a new track, what usually comes first: a riff, a vocal melody, or the lyrical idea?
Emmo: There isn’t really one formula. Very often it’s a riff or a hook that gets things started. I like to have something that immediately creates a feeling.
Then I usually start thinking about the vocal melody. For me, the melody is extremely important – even before the lyrics are finished, I want the vocal line to feel emotional and memorable.
The lyrics can come later. Sometimes you have a melody and suddenly a phrase pops into your head that gives the whole song a direction. I think the best songs happen when the melody, the lyrics and the arrangement start working together naturally.
Metal Symphony: After playing these songs for a few months, has there been any track from Déjà Vu that has surprised you because of the fans’ reaction, either live or through streaming platforms?
Emmo: It’s always interesting because the songs you personally expect to be the biggest ones aren’t necessarily the songs the audience chooses.
For me, Victory has been especially interesting because people immediately connect with its message. It’s about being the outsider, facing obstacles and finding the strength inside yourself instead of simply waiting for better days to arrive.
Live, I’m also really happy with how the more emotional songs work. That’s something you can’t always predict in the studio. You can produce a song and think you know how it will feel, but then you play it in front of people and suddenly it takes on a completely different life.
Metal Symphony: This is your first album released through Frontiers Music. What has joining the label meant for Fighter V, and has it opened new opportunities for the band?
Emmo: Absolutely. Frontiers gives us a much bigger platform and an international network that is extremely important for a band like Fighter V.
We’ve always believed in our music, but reaching people outside our immediate scene is another story. Having a label like Frontiers behind the album helps us get the record into places and in front of people that we might not have reached on our own.
For us, it’s not about suddenly becoming a completely different band. It’s about having the opportunity to take what we’ve built over the years and bring it to a much bigger audience.
Metal Symphony: Since your debut in 2019, Fighter V has continued to grow step by step. Looking back, what do you think has changed the most about the band over these years?
Emmo: I think the biggest change is that we’ve become much more confident in our identity. When you start a band, you’re still trying to figure out who you are, what works and where you want to go. Today we know much better what Fighter V represents.
We’ve also learned a lot about songwriting, production and working together. And personally, I’ve grown enormously as a singer and producer. Every album teaches you something, and every show teaches you something.
The biggest difference is probably that we trust ourselves more today.
Metal Symphony: If someone had never heard Fighter V before and you could recommend just one song from Déjà Vu, which one would you choose and why?
Emmo: That’s a difficult one because the album has different sides of Fighter V. But if I had to choose one, I’d probably go with Victory.
It has a lot of the ingredients that define us: the big melody, the guitars, the keyboards, the harmonies and a strong chorus. But there’s also a message behind the song that I really believe in. It’s about taking your chance, believing in yourself and not waiting for someone else to change your situation.
So I think it’s a good introduction to what Fighter V is about.
Metal Symphony: You’ll soon be performing at Lion Rock Fest. What does it mean to you to be part of a festival featuring so many respected names in melodic hard rock?
Emmo: It’s a great feeling. This is exactly the kind of festival where we feel at home.
We’ve grown up listening to many of these bands, so sharing a festival with artists who have influenced the music we love is something very special. At the same time, it’s also a chance to show that Fighter V belongs to this scene and that there is still a place for new bands carrying the melodic hard rock tradition forward.
For us, festivals like Lion Rock are not only about playing our own show. It’s also about being part of a community of musicians and fans who genuinely love this kind of music.
Metal Symphony: You’ll be sharing the stage with several well-known bands. Is there anyone on the lineup you’re particularly looking forward to seeing or meeting?
Emmo: There are quite a few! That’s one of the great things about Lion Rock Fest – there are so many bands that I personally enjoy.
I’m always interested in meeting musicians I’ve listened to for years, but I also love discovering bands I’ve never seen live before. For me, that’s what festivals are all about: meeting people, watching great performances and hopefully having a few beers and good conversations backstage afterwards.
Metal Symphony: What can the Spanish audience expect from Fighter V at Lion Rock Fest?
Emmo: They can expect a lot of energy, big choruses and absolutely no holding back!
We’re a live band, and we want people to sing, jump, clap and have a good time with us. We’re going to bring songs from Déjà Vu together with some of the Fighter V classics, so there should be something for both people who already know us and those discovering us for the first time.
Most importantly, we want people to leave the show with a smile and hopefully with a few Fighter V melodies stuck in their heads. That’s the best possible result for us.
Metal Symphony: Finally, thank you once again for your time. Would you like to leave a message for all the readers of Metal Symphony and for everyone looking forward to seeing Fighter V at Lion Rock Fest?
Emmo: Absolutely. First of all, thank you to everyone who has supported Fighter V over the years – whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or you’ve just discovered us through Déjà Vu.
And to everyone coming to Lion Rock Fest: come and say hello! We love meeting people after the shows, talking about music and sharing the experience with our fans.
We’re incredibly excited to play for the Spanish audience and to bring the Déjà Vu songs to the stage. So turn up the volume, sing along as loud as you can and let’s have one hell of a night together!
See you at Lion Rock Fest!
David Aresté