Hello, what's happening in Arkona?
Hello to you and all our listeners! Now we are having a rest, also preparing for Heidenfest tour, which will start in the end of September.
First off, what inspires your music?
My internal atmosphere inspires me. It can be different and can come in any moment, and it does not depend on circumstances.
Your recent EP carries the title track which is about fist-fighting. Could you tell us more about it and why you picked it?
We have chosen this idea, because it’s ancient Russian fun on Perun’s day. Two rows of men stood facing each other like two walls and a run would start the fight. Such an entertainment was believed to be good for strengthening the fighting spirit.
Stenka Na Stenku will appear on your latest album, how is work progressing on it?
The album was released on 27th August. We worked on 'Slovo' for a long time; we started recording in early November, ended in beginning of June. I carefully thought about every detail and this time I took part in every process associated with this album. Many ideas in the recording process came from me. Also I want to tell you that this is the first album, which was recorded exactly the way I saw it before, when I created my songs.
Now we are getting a lot of positive reviews on 'Slovo' and we like, that people love our new songs and that they are feeling album’s atmosphere.
Could you tell us more about it and what direction you think the music is taking?
From the end of 2009 we were in neverending trips and tours, that’s why the most of the songs were created on road. Perhaps, lyrics contains some kind of melancholic mood because of longing for home and this album has less aggressive and funny themes than on Goi, Rode, Goi. It’s also more epic than previous. My songs involve so many topics and events, but if we talk about the general idea and meaning of my lyrics, then we can say, that in the first place it is connected with the revival of native culture and my native faith. We touched many topics, about which we sang before, but also have new ideas. And, as always, we were not in some stylistic frames.
I'm sure you'll of heard the track Yurilo appeared on the American version of the sitcom The Office, are you flattered by the use of it?
We do not know anything about this show. Most likely it is some new bullshit for aging housewives. Producers of the TV show contacted the label and bought the rights to broadcast, because all rights have Napalm records. No one let us know and no one asked us. I think that should not be serious about this, glad that 'The Office' just a TV show, not porn.
When you sit down to write music is the process a jolly one or is it a very serious endeavour?
It is a process of unity with myself. Some kind of ceremony, which I spend alone. It can have different character, but at this moment from me is flowing a stream of energy, which I can’t stop.
Do fans get dressed up for gigs? What's the strangest costume you've seen at a gig?
People, who love our music (I don’t like the word “fans” a lot), usually look absolutely normal and they are not some clowns. But when we are playing big festivals, we see a lot of different freaks! But don't pay attention to them a lot, so can’t tell you about some special costumes.
Your singer Masha is, as I'm sure many interview questions have pointed out, female.
Rather than asking the usual questions about how it is to be a female metal singer and how the scene has reacted to it, I was wondering why you think people ask about it so much; why is it still an issue?
To be honest, you are the first, who has asked about it! But I think, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman. The most important is what you want to tell to people and if you are doing it from the heart.
What do you enjoy listening to? Do you listen to folk music a lot in your own time?
I’m listening a lot of music. Now, I’m listening to more black metal, than folk, but ethnic folk also one of my favorite styles. I’m a person, who is depends on mood, so I'm choosing music according to my current mood.
At the band's inception what made you want to get together and play the music you do, rather than say rock music or more usual heavy metal?
In the times of the beginning of Arkona, I listened Nokturnal Mortum and Butterfly Temple, first bands which started to play folk metal in Russia and Ukraine. So I wanted to play music like that.
There apparently was another band called Arkona from Moscow who had Nazi/national socialist influences. They've since changed their name but were you aware of them?
First time we heard something about them, was when our first album was released. After some time we heard, that they changed name to “Varyag”.
I'm unfamiliar with the Moscow metal scene and the challenges it faces, what is it currently like being a metal band in Russia given that a lot of the news that comes our way on Russia is quite negative?
The biggest problem for Russian bands is visa regime, but for us it’s not big problem. Russia have quite big music market, and I can tell you that it's not bad! There are a lot of different bands with different styles and good material, but, unfortunately for them, they can’t realise this themselves, and that’s why not a lot of people know them. Another problem, is that in some regions people are not ready to spend money on shows, because of financial problems, so many bands have no reason to have Russian tours. But I want to tell you that heavy music is still alive and a lot of music bands releasing albums, and labels and magazines are working and supporting Russian music market.
You'll be next playing in the UK at the Heidenfest tour date in London, along with Alestorm, Finntroll and Turisias amongst others, do you feel very much at home with those folkish bands and do you feel you have a connection with their similar sound and style?
I know the guys from Finntroll and I can tell you that they are great people. I don’t know a lot about other bands' members, as style of the bands is not very close to me. Also, I don’t see any connection between styles; these bands have different styles and culture. We are more underground band with completely different worldview and music.
What can the UK fans look forward to at Heidenfest from yourselves?
We will present our new set list, it will contain songs from new album “Slovo” and some old songs. We are sure that everyone will like it!
Many thanks for your time, good luck with the new album and tour.
