Nero: Why the EDM Cosmonauts Are Moving Closer to Arena Rock

How does that manifest visually for all of you?
Joe: We’ve had the silhouette of the three of us as an ongoing visual theme for this album, both in artwork and in the live show. We wanted to show ourselves as a band without becoming too personalized, to remain as abstract figures within the sci-fi aesthetic, rather than filled-in people.

What is the significance of the number 2808, the fictional year in Welcome Reality?
Alana: When we were writing the first album we decided that we wanted to set Nero in a fictional futuristic world. 2808 is the year that an anime series called Cyber City Oedo 808 was set in. We used clips from the anime in the video for our single “Innocence.” We love that date and the way that the number looks. It became something we used more and more and we now, subliminally — and sometimes more obviously — sneak it into various aspects of our work.

What can be expected from the new live show?
Dan: The live show is really a cinematic journey though our music enhanced by immersive lighting and visuals. A theatrical aspect is always very important to us and is something we’re constantly developing. We also want to evoke a series of emotions whilst giving our fans what they want to hear from our past and current work. Some of the new album stuff is more downbeat and emotional so we’re looking forward to integrating that with the heavier stuff. There will be some live instrumentation as well.

There is something more stadium rock than EDM about your sound. As a band, do you relate more closely to dance or rock music?
Joe: Neither really. I think we have the sound we do because we have a really broad field of taste and influences. Growing up we loved both and still do, and try to capture elements of rock and electronic in everything we do. We find it exciting to blur the boundary between the two.