jueves, 9 de septiembre de 2021

MELKOR - INTERVIEW



1. Melkor has been active for about seventeen years, why did you decide to create Melkor in 2004? Why did you choose the name Melkor and what does it refer to?

I used to collaborate on a project with a friend before 2004, but then we kind of went separate ways and couldn’t carry on with it. But I wasn’t happy about not recording music anymore, so I decided to continue on my own. The name Melkor I chose mainly because I liked the sound of it. It is also the name of a Tolkien character, but that wasn’t really the reason. Also, the project has no connection to anything Tolkien-related besides the name and is not a fantasy-themed band. Sometimes people seem to think that it is, which I find a little strange, since they don’t seem to think of Tolkien so much when they hear the names Burzum, Gorgoroth or Morgoth.


2. Melkor has always spaced its pitches quite a bit since its inception, what is the reason for the long interludes between each Melkor pitch?

Many reasons. I can’t write music fast, and I write a lot before I choose what works best on an album. I try to change some elements each time I release something new, so I need to experiment. It’s also not easy for me to do everything myself, but in the end that seems to be the only way.


3. How has the composition and recording process of the new album “Brandmale” been? How has it been shaping the songs over the last six, seven years? What brands of instruments do you use for recording and composition? ? Is it very difficult for you to have to deal with the recording of all the instruments that are part of the album?

“Brandmale” contains very old songs written directly after “Irrlicht” as well as newer ones. So it definitely is not representative of any one time in my life. Usually coming up with the riffs and arranging them is relatively easy compared to the drum arrangements, writing the lyrics and all the technical aspects. As I said, I write many songs before an album sort of crystallizes among the pieces. So there is always a “trial and error” period between each release. I don’t really want to get into brands of instruments and so on, just to leave a little bit to the imagination of the listener. Spelling out every detail makes people listen as musicians, not as music fans. Or with their brain instead of their ears, if you will. Yes, it is difficult at times to record all the instruments.



4. Like the predecessor “Irrlicht” (2014), it has taken care of the recording and composition, let's say that in a homemade way, however in “Brandmale” we can appreciate a more defined sound, on the one hand less prominence of keyboards and a good Set apart between the dark and melancholic atmosphere that contrasts with the aggressiveness and forcefulness of the rest of the sound, what are your main sources of inspiration when composing and recording your music? How has the sound evolved between your last two albums and how Would you describe the sound of “Brandmale” to someone who hasn't heard it yet?

An inspiration for composing is simply everything that goes on around and inside me. The sound is inspired mostly by the music I grew up with, that means a lot of 90s norwegian black metal, or maybe just my memory of it. Between each release I learn a little more about recording and mixing, and I guess it is noticeable, even though I’m still far from satisfied with my sound. “Irrlicht” was, of course, softer, slower, more melancholic than “Brandmale”. The sound of the latter I would describe as either a weird pro sound from the early 90s or a weird amateur sound of the early 2010s.


5. Pain, nature and loneliness are references that appear in his lyrics in clear consonance with the sound of his music, however in “Brandmale” he has used some texts by German poets, why this decision to incorporate these texts? How can we find a direct relationship between his music and these poems? Are the lyrics of the contions written before the music or vice versa?

The lyrics are always done last, after finishing everything else. I wrote some myself, but at a certain point I simply couldn’t come up with anything useful anymore. So instead of going with anything unsatisfying, I decided to look for other sources. The poems I used all express things that are familiar to me on a certain level. Other than that, all the lyrics have to do is to reinforce what the music already does. I leave it to others to try to pinpoint what that is. For me, there is not supposed to be any one meaning that can be spelled out conclusively.


6. The Polish artist Paweł Czerwiński has been in charge of the album artwork, on the other hand we can intuit that it is an abstract concept. Why did you decide to work with Pawel for the cover of “Brandmale” and what do you intend to reflect with it?

Underwhelming answer: I found his works online and used them, with permission of course. He didn’t create them specifically for me. The artwork is how I would wish the lyrics to be. Not telling a story, not bringing a message. Just there to further amplify what the music makes me feel. The listener might feel something different, make different connections. That is how it’s supposed to be. You could call that an abstract approach, I guess, but that is how I view art in general and how I like to interact with it, also when I’m part of an audience.


7. For the first time you have decided to work with a record label, in this case Crawling Chaos, how did the contact with the label arise? Do you think it has achieved a greater impact in terms of sales and reviews thanks to this collaboration?

The contact came about through a friend of mine who knew another artist on the label. So far, sales haven’t improved much, but that’s not the only thing that matters. It’s more important to me to have a fair deal and a good collaboration.


8. “Brandmale” has been released in a difficult period for bands due to Covid-19, has this situation in any way been reflected in the album? How has Melkor been harmed by this situation?

Not at all.


9. How were your beginnings in music: first concerts you attend, first albums you buy? What did you do in your life that made you want to be a musician?

There weren’t many concerts where I lived and I was never a great fan of live gigs, so that didn’t happen very often, but I think one of the first ones were Moonspell who had just released “Irreligious”. The first albums I bought were tapes by AC/DC and Iron Maiden. Very first CD was Maiden’s “Piece of Mind”. I’m not sure if I’d call myself a musician, but I like to write and record songs, and that is one of the few things in life that seem to come naturally to me. I can’t say that about many things, and that is the only reason for me to do it. While also doing other stuff.



10. Which album represents to you the essence of black metal? What last albums have you bought?

The essence of the black metal that I grew up with and that left its mark on me is probably represented best by Emperor’s “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk”. It’s a perfect album for me, and if I had to pick only one, this is it. The last one I bought was probably “Biography Obscene” by Tulus. I was also very fascinated by the Escumergamënt album that came out this year.


11. What future plans do you have for Melkor in terms of upcoming releases, reissues, etc? Is there the possibility of incorporating other musicians to the Melkor line-up?

There is a split LP with a Swedish project in the making, which will contain a few re-mixed tracks from the album, but I can’t give you any details yet. Apart from that, nothing concrete yet. Yes, there is always a possibility for incorporating other musicians, but just in theory. It probably will not happen much anymore. Melkor is a solo project in its essence.


12. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for Melkor fans, this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.

Great questions, thanks for the interview! Check out my stuff at https://melkor.bandcamp.com/. You can get the album there or at https://thecrawlingchaos-records.de/MELKOR-BRANDMALE-CD. But only if you really want to. Bye!


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