Toronto Prog DEREV’s Debut Album “Troubled Mind” + Cross-Canada Tour Dates (QC/ON/MB/SK/BC)
Toronto, Canada’s Derev is proud to release their first full-length, Troubled Mind, now available as of March 26th on digital platforms (links below).
The follow-up to their 2021 debut EP Leap of Faith, Troubled Mind takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.
Offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band’s innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.
The band adds:
“This album is very personal and introspective. It’s full of memorable songs and parts to listen to and digest, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. Every song tackles a different state of mind and takes the listener into their thoughts of a mental state that they can relate to. As this one marks our second official release, we think the fans will be excited about hearing what Derev still has to offer. They’re in for a crazy ride full of energetic ups and heartbreaking downs.”
Derev was conceived after founding member and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, my name is Armando Bablanian, the guitarist and co-founder of the Progressive Rock band Derev.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
“Troubled Mind” is our second major release after our debut “Leap of Faith”. It’s a very dense album, both musically and conceptually. The subject matter is the human psyche, addressing different mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.
Musically, the album builds on the foundation we laid down in the first album and expands from there, incorporating different instrumentation, styles, and songwriting approaches. Songs range from mellow, calm tracks to heavy headbangers. We’re also incorporating more prominent keyboard parts and instruments such as Cajon, Darbuka, and some electronic elements.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
We don’t have a single approach to songwriting. It’s different from song to song. Some, such as Room 9, started off from a jam session and were built from there. Others started as more of an individual effort. Then they’re presented to the other members to improve, alter, extend, etc. All in all, it’s always a collaborative process. Personally, I always have ideas floating in my head. If they sound good enough, I grab a guitar and try to recreate what I’m hearing. That usually gives me a sense of whether there’s anything tangible worth pursuing. What remains consistent is tracking and demoing ideas pretty early in the songwriting process so we have a clearer picture of how things sound and where the song is headed.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Yes, yes, and YES! We’ve already released two music videos for “Room 9” and “Tides of Time”. We have also released a lyric video for “Cyclone” and have an upcoming one for “Darker Self”.
Touring-wise, we are currently finishing up the Ontario/Quebec run, which we started in March 2025. In May 2025, we are hitting the road for a Western Canada tour! We’ll be going from Toronto all the way to Vancouver and playing more than 15 shows over a 3-week period. We can’t wait to share the new album experience with everyone!
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
A couple of weeks ago, we had our album release show in our hometown, Toronto. It was an unforgettable night at a great venue, with great bands and an amazing crowd. Playing a show like that to celebrate an album that we’ve been working on for the past 3 years was really special.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
I’ll give two bands that are related. “Perfect Storm” is another project in which Adel Saflou, who has done the vocals for both our albums, is singing. They have 2 albums out, and I really like their progressive rock sound. The second one is Adel’s own project called “Ambrotype”. This is a pretty experimental one that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Definitely worth checking out!