I guess since you’ve spent so much time with him
over the years, you just need to have a little time to yourself, and the same
for him also.
Oh yes. I think it’s important to have a break. And also with the band. We
had a pretty long break just recently. We stopped playing for like six months. Everybody went
their own way and had their own experiences. Then when you come back together
you create something even stronger. You’ve learned something on your own, and
then you come back and share it. And I think that’s what creates....creativity!
Would you or the other members of your band consider yourselves spiritual
kind of people, or maybe more in touch with what’s inside of you more than
say regular people walking down the street everyday?
Sometimes you end up feeling pretty strongly about things. I think when
people search inside of themselves, they are the sort of people who know
things. And they chose to know it, but never speak about it. Yeah, screw it,
I feel things more than other people. I feel things are changing, and yeah,
something has to happen pretty soon. When you share those feeling with others
you discover, actually to your relief, they feel the same, and then you don’t
feel so alone.
With each new release the keyboards and techno influence expands. Do you ever
foresee a time when you would break all ties with your metal roots?
No, I don’t think so. Our roots are pretty strong. This is something that is
pretty much inside of us. We can not break them. But we try to keep up with
the times. Yeah, we use more keyboards, and maybe on the next album we will
go for some more songs a little bit more electronic I would say, but not
really techno. We use sounds, some more modern sounds. I think it’s something
we will do a little bit more.
What kind of music fans do you think SAMAEL music appeals to or could appeal
to?
Actually, I don’t know. Sometimes I meet people who really shock me. When you
play a gig you use that to meet people. It’s hard to have view on everything.
I think it’s people who try to search for something, and give of themselves
as well. The way I see it with SAMAEL, as we step up with every album, people
who follow the band expect us to progress, and would be disappointed if we
did exactly the same album twice. That’s what I think, I could be wrong. So I
think with the next one we will try some new elements, but also keep the same
line.
Are you happy with the success you’ve had? Would you like to touch more
people with your music?
Yeah! As long as you do something you feel is right. If you trust in what
you’re doing, that is what is important to me. And if you are true to
yourself and can reach more people than I have nothing against it. You should
share it with more people!
When did you start playing music?
When I was like six years old, I took piano lessons. Then I quit for a while.
When I was twelve I picked up the guitar. And then I taught my brother how to
play the drums.
Were your parents supportive of your ambitions to play music?
My father was into music as a hobby, I think that influenced us. But when it
went from just liking music to actually making a career of it, they were not
so supportive. So we had to prove to them we could do it.
Did you and your brother know at a young age what you wanted to do with your
life, to play music?
Yeah, I knew. There was something inside me telling me to do it.
Did it start as a hobby at first and then you grew more serious with it?
No actually. When we started we knew right away that we wanted to do
something with it. Then we realized it was not so easy. When I was fourteen I
knew I was going to do something in music, I just wasn’t sure what direction
I wanted to go in. Even as get older, I think I will stay in music in some
way because it is truly inside of me.
You’re starting to get into producing right?
Yeah, I produced one band so far, ROTTING CHRIST. We toured with them, and we
discussed it, and I wanted to try it. It was a great experience.
I have to tell you, A Dead Poem, the ROTTING CHRIST album you produced, came
out really well. I love it!
Thank you!
Have other bands approached you to produce them?
Yes, a couple. I might do it again. I don’t want to get into it too much
right now because I have SAMAEL to concentrate on. And I think if you produce
too many bands you start to lose the uniqueness of the types of sounds. I’m
definitely not going to it with SAMAEL, because then you have to chose what
to put your energy into. But I think I will produce again.
Well, it’s something to keep in mind for the future....
What do you mean?
Oh you know, twenty years from now when you’re too old to be in a band, you
can be a big record producer!
(Laughs) Yeah, it’s a great job. So yeah, it could be. I might do that later
on.
Will you record with Waldemar Sorychta at Woodhouse studios again?
We are not really sure right now. We might try to change and work with
somebody else. We might try a different producer and mixer, get two different
persons, two different views. Nothing is decided. We’ve just been working on
songs. When we’re done we’ll decide that.
Because you’ve been pretty consistent with him, you’ve used him for the last
four recordings.
Yeah, so maybe it would be nice to try something else. He is really good,
it’s not like we have to change. But maybe it would be good to try a change.
We really don’t know for sure right now.
But you do know for sure you will record in the fall, and hopefully release
it by the end of the year.
Yes, I think so.
So what’s in your CD player right now? What are you listening to?
Strapping Young Lad, The Prodigy. And some classical as well. Have you
checked out the remix I did of Passage?
Yes I did! I like It! (Xy did a classical remix of Passage called Xytras)
It’s different.
You did that all electronically right?
Yes.
Would you ever like to do a symphonic SAMAEL album? With a full orchestra,
strings and all?
Yeah sure, (laughs) why not? But you have to make sure the compositions would
fit.
That would be interesting!
Yes It would!
Well, I guess I’ll let you go so you can get ready for your trip. You leave
tomorrow right?
Yes.
Will you try to see some of Istanbul?
Yes. We arrive early Friday so we’ll have Friday night to go out.
What do you think you can expect from The Turkish music fans?
I have no clue! But it should be good.
Well good luck and have fun. And Thanks Xy!
Thank you Anne, I’ll let you know how it goes. And take care.
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