Shortly before the start of a new tour, we spoke with Cody Ford, guitarist of Soen, about Reliance, the Swedish band’s latest album. In an honest and in-depth conversation, Cody reflects on identity, creative evolution, the balance between light and shadow that runs through the record, the constant challenge of balancing touring with songwriting, and the very real impact of artificial intelligence on music today. Between studio insights, memories of Portugal, and a clear passion for artistic creation, this interview offers an intimate look into the present and future of one of contemporary progressive metal’s most consistent bands.
M.I. - Hi Cody, how are you today?
I’m good, thank you.
M.I. - You’re getting ready to come to Europe.
Yes. Lots to do, lots to rehearse, lots to pack.
M.I. - In a week you’ll be starting the tour. Are you excited?
Very excited. It’s always exciting to start a new chapter, releasing a new album, playing a new set, new production, new light show, touring with new bands, meeting new friends. Every tour is its own unique experience, so yeah, I’m really excited.
M.I. - When you joined the band, Soen already had a very defined identity. What was the biggest challenge in finding your own voice within the band?
Honestly, that was the easiest part for me. It felt like a perfect fit. I could just be myself and play the style I play. When I joined, it was during Lotus, and I was doing the leads and solos. The genre and the music felt completely natural to me. I come from a prog-metal background, with influences like Pink Floyd, so it all felt very comfortable.
M.I. - When new members join the band, do they adapt to the “Soen language,” or does that language change with each new member?
It’s a bit of both. There’s definitely adaptation to the Soen language, but a band is made of individuals with their own styles and ideas. Ultimately, you have to serve the vision of where the band is going. Sometimes that means putting your ego aside and serving the song—doing less than you want, or doing something you normally wouldn’t.
At the same time, there’s give and take. When I joined, suddenly there were more guitar solos. When bass parts are written, you think about who your bass player is and play to their strengths. So it goes both ways.
M.I. - Reliance explores the balance between light and shadow, calm and intensity. How did you decide this duality would be the backbone of the album?
That happened very naturally. We started with around 16 demo songs and gradually narrowed them down to the strongest ones. As the process moved forward and lyrics came together, the themes started to reveal themselves. Some things aren’t premeditated when writing an album, they just happen. It’s almost like something guides you. We recorded 12 songs in the studio and then narrowed it down to 10. Those songs weren’t just strong individually; they were strong together. That allowed us to create a nice ebb and flow with the tracklist.
M.I. - What happens to the songs that don’t make the album?
Usually, they go in the trash. (laughs) Sometimes we release them, like the Lotus Undiscovered tracks, but there are songs from Imperial, Memorial, and this album that no one has ever heard. Some of them are actually quite strong, but if they’re not up to our standards, they might never see the light of day.
M.I. - Soen often uses one-word album titles. What does Reliance mean to you personally?The album title came after the songwriting. We didn’t start with a concept… we looked at what we had created and asked what word best described it.
To me, reliance has light and dark sides. There’s unhealthy reliance: on phones, distractions, or things that control us. And then there’s healthy reliance: on each other, on relationships. That can be positive, but it can also become unhealthy and sad.
A song like “Indifferent,” for example, deals with longing for someone you might never have back… that reliance on another person to feel whole. So Reliance felt like the perfect word to capture all those themes.
M.I. - Did the writing process for this album challenge the band in new ways?
The writing process evolves with every album. Martin usually writes the foundation of many songs, then shares them with the band. A lot of writing happened between tours, and then on tour we fine-tuned things, changing parts, getting input from everyone.
The challenge is balancing touring with writing. Touring is essential, but you can’t stay stagnant creatively. Since I joined, we’ve released albums almost every two years, which is really hard. As soon as you release one record, you basically have to start writing the next.
M.I. - So while promoting an album, you’re already writing new material?
Pretty much, yeah.
M.I. - What inspires you most… does touring play a role?
Everything inspires us. Life experiences, personal events, and what’s happening in the world: wars, injustice, violence, where society is heading. Some themes are very personal, others are more like commentaries on the world. That’s part of Soen’s DNA, our view of the world. And with five guys in the band, everyone brings their own battles and triumphs to the table.
M.I. - Compared to Memorial, did you aim for a more melodic or emotionally direct sound on Reliance?
A little bit, yes. We’re not afraid to keep things simpler when needed. Melody is the most important thing for us: vocal melodies, guitar melodies, solos. The music has to grab you.
Writing strong melodies isn’t easy, but that’s always the foundation. Everything else is built around that.
M.I. - Are you a professionally trained musician?
Yes, I studied music at university, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in music. I was never great at reading music, so I didn’t get into the Bachelor of Music program, but I took most of the same classes: theory, composition, and so on. Lars and Stefan are also formally trained.
M.I. - Do you think professional training makes a difference in an era where AI is creating music?
I think I could tell the difference, but honestly, AI has come so far that it’s getting very difficult. We’re entering a potentially dark time for music if we don’t push back.
Music theory can help inspire ideas, but you don’t need it. What matters is what comes from your heart and your gut. Kurt Cobain didn’t care about music theory, and his songs were more impactful than anything I could write with all my training.
Great music speaks to the human condition, things that are hard to put into words. AI just reflects what already exists. The real danger is that platforms are creating AI bands so they don’t have to pay musicians. If people want real music to survive, they need to support real bands.
M.I. – You recorded and mixed the album with Alexander Backlund and mastered it with Tony Lindgren. What did they bring to the sound?
Working with Alex was amazing. He joined halfway through Memorial after we changed direction, and he completely understood our vision. For Reliance, we decided to do the whole album with him from scratch.
He’s honest, down-to-earth, and has an incredible ear. He doesn’t try to take over the record, he serves the band’s vision. I loved how he captured my guitar solos. I spent weeks in the studio with him, just working on guitar parts.
The studio itself was amazing… you sleep there, cook there, and just focus. The vibe was light, we joked around a lot, and when you’re having fun, good things happen. Tony was also fantastic, an absolute professional.
M.I. – Didn’t you feel the need to get away sometimes?
Not really. The isolation helps you focus. Of course, we went for walks and got some fresh air, but there were no distractions. You wake up, coffee’s on, and you get to work. That focus is invaluable.
M.I. – Does Reliance represent a new chapter or an evolution for the band?
A bit of both. Certain elements flow through every album, but we always try to evolve. On this album, there are more downtuned guitars, more experimentation with keyboards and atmospheres, and even a song without drums. It’s about keeping things fresh.
M.I. – You’re not coming to Portugal on this tour, but you played here last year at Laurus Nobilis Festival. How was that experience?
We love Portugal. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. The people, the culture, the beauty… it’s incredible. The support we get there is amazing; it’s always one of our best shows in Europe. We’ll never skip Portugal. We’ll be back.
M.I. - What can fans expect from this tour?
New songs from the new record, some old songs coming back, new production and lights. We’re always evolving the live show. We’re rehearsing next week, but I think it’s going to be a killer show. And we’re bringing some great bands with us.
M.I. - Any final message for our readers and the fans?
Thank you so much for your support, we truly feel it. Portugal holds a very special place in our hearts. We love you and can’t wait to see you again.
For Portuguese version, click here
Listen to Soen, on Spotify
Questions by Sónia Fonseca
