Interview Dez Marinkov

Dez Marinkov continues to push the boundaries of progressive metal with his latest single, The Serpent Queen. In this interview, he discusses fantasy-inspired storytelling, creative collaborations, and the vision behind his upcoming album Parallel Dimension.

1. "The Serpent Queen" combines progressive metal, electronic elements, and cinematic storytelling. What was the original inspiration behind the song, and how did the concept develop during the writing process?

The inspiration behind the song comes from my love of fantasy worlds, both in books and in films.
I've always been fascinated by stories that combine mystery, symbolism, and larger-than-life characters, and The Serpent Queen grew naturally from that passion.

2. The lyrics explore themes of temptation, inner darkness, and transformation. What message or emotional journey did you want listeners to experience through this track?

I wanted the song to capture the feeling of a struggle between self-control and temptation.
The Serpent Queen symbolizes those forces in life that can appear beautiful and attractive, while at the same time leading us away from who we truly are.
I hope listeners can feel that tension throughout the song and find their own meaning within the story.

3. Diana Komitova delivers a powerful vocal performance on the single. How did this collaboration come about, and what did she bring to the song that elevated its final form?

Actually, Diana and I worked together in another project called I.V.R. Project, where she was the vocalist and I was the drummer at the time.
We didn't know each other personally, but it turned out that we come from the same hometown, even though neither of us lives there anymore.

After that project came to an end, I invited her to be a guest vocalist in my solo project, Dez Marinkov.
She recorded two songs, although the second one has not been released yet and will appear once I complete the album.

Diana brought her creativity and powerful vocals to the project. I truly believe the song would not sound the way it does without her contribution. She is an exceptional professional, highly dedicated to her craft, and people like that are rare. She definitely knows what she's doing.

She is not the only special guest featured on the upcoming album.
Listeners will also hear guest performances from Rafael Trujillo (Obsidious, formerly Obscura, Serenity, The Spirit and Panzerballett), Ivan Ivanov - guest vocals from Velian, Alex Alexandrov guest solo guitars from Hecktic, and Santiago Dobles, known for his work with Aghora as well as his past involvement with Pestilence and Cynic.

Each of them brought their own personality, style, and musical vision to the project, helping to expand the sound and make Parallel Dimension an even more diverse and exciting album.

4. The track balances heavy progressive metal passages with dark electronic textures. How do you approach blending these different musical worlds while maintaining a cohesive sound?

I don't have an exact formula - it's all about feeling.
I love metal and rock music, especially technical progressive metal and progressive rock, but I also enjoy electronic music.

Everything I compose is simply what feels right to me.
I don't consciously try to force different genres together.
If an idea serves the atmosphere and emotion of the song, then it belongs there.

5. The music video presents a striking dark fantasy aesthetic filled with symbolism. Can you talk about some of the key visual elements and how they connect to the song's narrative?

The video contains many symbols connected to the themes of the song - temptation, submission, fear, and transformation.
This is also the perfect opportunity for me to thank the entire team at Brainstock FH, who are responsible for the incredible work behind the video.
Without them, the song would not be the same - nothing would be the same.
I don't want to provide a definitive explanation for every image because I believe art should leave room for personal interpretation.
The best way to understand the video is to watch it carefully and discover your own meanings within it.
The Queen is alive.

6. As both a musician and creative visionary, how important is the visual aspect of your work when presenting a song like "The Serpent Queen"?

For me, music and visual art are two sides of the same story.
Visual elements help communicate atmosphere and emotion in ways that music alone sometimes cannot.
In The Serpent Queen, they play a key role in building the world and the identity of the character.

7. This single will appear on your upcoming third solo album, Parallel Dimension. How does "The Serpent Queen" fit into the larger concept or story of the album?

The Serpent Queen is one of the chapters within the world of Parallel Dimension.
The album explores different dimensions of human consciousness, emotions, and perception.
Within that framework, the Serpent Queen represents temptation and the darker forces that can alter a person's path.
She symbolizes one of the many realities that exist within ourselves.

8. Compared to your previous releases, what new creative directions or challenges did you explore while working on "The Serpent Queen" and the material for Parallel Dimension?

With every new release, I try to step outside my comfort zone.
While working on The Serpent Queen and the material for Parallel Dimension, I focused on creating a bigger sound and a stronger connection between the music, lyrics, and visual concepts.

The challenge was to combine the heaviness of progressive metal and electronic music with a more cinematic and emotional approach, without allowing any one element to overpower the others.

The album itself will be very diverse. For example, the first two songs already available on my YouTube channel, Harmony of Angels and Flowers from Saturn, are significantly heavier and feature much more technical progressive metal, with far fewer electronic elements than The Serpent Queen.

9. With the album currently planned for 2027, what can fans expect from Parallel Dimension, and what aspects of the project are you most excited to share with listeners?

I hope fans will discover something different in every song.
The album will feature both heavy and aggressive moments, as well as more atmospheric, melodic, and cinematic passages.
My goal is not simply to present a collection of songs, but to create a complete experience.

What I'm most excited to share is the world of Parallel Dimension in its finished form.
I pay close attention to every detail, and I'm very curious to see how listeners will interpret the music and the stories behind it.

I sincerely hope to complete the album by the fall of 2027. I handle absolutely everything related to the music myself.
At the same time, music is not my full-time profession - I have another job, and my time is extremely valuable. Sometimes I even have to sacrifice sleep in order to keep working on the album.

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