Excellent
and different music is hard to find during these days, especially if one take
a look into the Metal genre where only a few bands still have any creativity
left. It's with great relief there still is great and dark music to find, you
just have to dig deep into other genres and there is always something
interesting to find. To make you aware of this we thought it was a great idea
to feature an interview with Stephan Groth of Apoptygma Berzerk, the
brilliant band that released the briliant album "Welcome To earth"
earlier this year. |
I reckon
that some kind of background history is necessary! Is this the music you've
always wanted to play of is it the result of a long process? |
Well, it has to do with getting older and more experienced
in every way, like I have learned to use my equipment a lot better, I can
write music in a better way, I have improved the singing and so on. People
have told me that my music is now so polished and in a way sweeter, but I
only agree to a certain extent, because if you dig deep into it, you will see
that there is still this big black layer underneath! The undertones are
definetly wicked! So it is not simple pop music... |
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As a
matter of fact I have noticed that you often have some kind of concept going
on in your albums and it is sometimes even stressed by the samples you use.
Are they casual or do they reflect some moods and ideas? Exactly!
And what I try to do is to break those barriers and prejudices, because I
really have a problem with narrow minded people and in a way I am trying to
help them out of the own limited circle! As I said, this thing that I take
bits and pieces from various styles makes it so that I don't really belong to
any scene but at the same time it comes out that people from different scenes
will actually find parts within my music that they can like. At our shows we
really have a most varied crowd, from Metal to EBM, Goths and totally regular
people; and I like it that way, I would never want to play for one type of
crowd...
Funny you say this because just before leaving for this
tour I got a package from him with some recent releases and we talked about
at least having a meeting as soon as we return! I remember when I heard the
first Arcturus cd, I just thought that if he had taken the guitars away and
added synth, it would have been great pop music, Depeche Mode style! And I do
mean this in a very positive way, I like melodies and stuff so I don't see
anything wrong with that! |
Back to your
music, you actually work with all electronic equipment, but then on stage you
have a band... Why is it so?
When making music, it is much better to just work with machines as they are
basically perfect, they will never play out of tune and you can also arrange a
rehearsal whenever you want! Still, is is my job, as the only "human band member" to add
that human touch, that extra feeling. On stage it is a different story, as it
is more interesting to see a whole bandperforming and actually I want guitars
as they are THE live intrument, they add a totally different dimension to the
music itself.
Last but not least, what is the meaning behind the title "Welcome to
Earth"?
It is not only referred to aliens,
as it shows on the cd single cover, but it is more generally referred to
anything that can make our life on this planet better, make positive changes. I
am quite a positive person myself and I do hope for something good to happen, I
am still waiting...