AFTER TOURING I LIKE TO DISAPPEAR INTO WOODS AND MYSELF
Thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. Fans here see you as living legends. What’s like living with the fame? What are the upsides/downsides?
When I’m on tour I’m doing what I do. You know? For the band, the crew and obviously for the fans. But when I’m home I try to be very private and I don’t socialise too much. You get to meet a lot of people on tour, so when you’re home: you just wanna be by yourself. You have to keep the balance.
What you do when you’re home, outside the band, what do you do for your free time?
Usually I go to the gym or out into the forest for a a long walk. Ever since when I was a kid, I can relax fully only when I’m out in the nature. Or if I put on a movie. Those are my two worlds where I can close the outside world completely and disappear into my own me I guess. That’s very important as we do much touring. Iven never been much for hanging out with people when I’m home. I like to do my own thing. But, I do have lots of good friends also.
Do you ever have time to meet the fans during concerts and festivals or you just play?
I do appreciate all the support we get from the fans and sometimes I try to make time for them. But when I’m on the tour I try to focus on the show and getting through the day.
WE STARTED WORKING ON NEW SONGS BUT THERE’S ALSO SOME PREVIOUS ELEMENTS THAT WE WANT TO BUILD UPON
Do you have a strategy on how to create new and fresh materials, how to bring in new elements into music? Do you maybe shut down and don’t listen to similar music that you create sometimes?
I don’t really listen to much of the same music that I write. That makes it easier for me as I’m not influenced by others. I always try to create my own world. I’ve always felt like there’s always room for improvement. I still feel I like to challenge myself in guitar playing and song writing. Every song and record you write has some new inputs that grow into that creation. We started working on new songs but there’s also some previous elements that we want to build upon.
BEAUTY OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS IS WHEN YOU DISCOVER NEW THINGS WHILE YOU’RE WRITING
We want to continue to explore it as we just touched it a little bit. We want to evolve those ideas that we have already. Its always been a bridge by bridge by bridge between every record. When I’m in the writing mood, things can always take different turns from what you had in mind from the beginning. But that’s the beauty of the creative process because you discover new things while you’re writing. Sometimes there a door or way I didn’t expect to show up and I decide to explore it.
What is the dynamic in the band during creation of songs, can a song take a complete twist and go in completely other way as other band members suggest it?
I work in my home studio and others join to work on song arrangement and details. For the first two records we were writing and creating as a band and had a group dynamic. Ever since “Vobiscum Satanas” – I’m more of the songwriter than a guitarist as that’s what I wanna do. That’s where my passion is: to create my own world.
What are your expectations from the concert tonight?
I never set up too much expectations, because I never get disappointed. But I understand that its been 15 years from the last time we were here, so its always good to be back. I think the band is better than ever. For the first time we worked on every single detail and the show is better than ever. Of course, it’s a small stage so we had to squish down a little bit.
Yeah, we understand that, we saw you at Rockstadt Festival last year and it’s a different experience, festivals and concerts on the other side.
We didn’t have a lot of production for that show, it was a fly in show. But for this tour I’ve planned a lot. And this is just a begging. We have already set plans for the summer festivals. Its gonna be even bigger production. So, what you see tonight is basically the smallest production we are gonna have from now on. Were gonna build up as we are working on a lot of crazy ideas and I’m looking forward to it. That also keeps us inspired to go on stage when something new is happening. It can be crazy sometimes!
WHEN I GO TO A CONCERT: I WANT TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE!
Do you expect more as you have a bigger show and production?
Metal has always been a combination of music, lyrics and a lot of visual aspects. Naturally, in the early days there was no money to put into production so you couldn’t do a lot of things but we always had ideas and some kind of small production over the years. The bigger we became as a band, the more we wanted to explore that side too. Visual aspect of the whole music style is very important and is also an inspiration. I’ve always had visions on what I wanna bring on stage. You should feel that the whole stage production is connected to the music. So now we started building up all the ideas I had in my head. For me it’s very inspiring. I don’t want just to create music, I want to build up visual aspects also. We still do become one with the music. But you have a stronger impact if you also have a visual aspect fitting into the music. That keeps us motivated but also gives something back to the crowd. When I go to a concert: I want to have an experience. I don’t wanna see some old guys playing in blue jeans some boring cowboy songs. I want to have an experience and the epicenes that you feel when you go to the live concert. That’s something I want to create myself.
That’s what the fans are looking for: to be blown away by the show!
The feedback from the crowd has been way better than expected and I have received tons of positive feedback though various messages. Its great as we are putting great effort to bring the band onto the new level.
GREAT TO BE BACK TO CROATIA AFTER 15 YEARS
What about the setlist? Do you have one specific song that you are sick of playing and do you ever feel like: I don’t have to energy to play it tonight?
Yeah, of course there are some songs that are not in sync with me these days. Not that I don’t like it; I’ve written it and I’m connected to it one way or another. Some songs have been played for thousands of times and you know. If I go to listen to some old bands. Of course, I wanna hear my favourite songs. But at the same time, I understand if they don’t play them because they must be fucking tired of playing them. It’s a really tough balance that you have to keep in that way. You have to be really motivated to play and not just move from one song to another. We always try to make a good mix of songs for the old fans and for the new fans. But we have limited time on stage and the more records you write- it becomes more difficult to squish all you want into one gig. Now I feel it’s a really good balance on the set, I think that the crowd has been really digging it and we really feel inspired to play. I didn’t think I would like it so much but its really cool to play the whole debut EP. The has been really digging it! We are also working on new sets.
You mean like for the festival gigs?
We are thinking about a special set to do this summer. We are talking about it. We started working on it and now we are developing a special kind of set. More work for us as we plan of playing songs that we haven’t played like in forever but that’s also interesting. And keeps us motivated. We have many plans but right now we are on a go spot and you’ll see a lot from us!
Would you like to say anything for the end?
Great to be back after 15 years as we haven’t been touring much in Europe during the past few years, but this tour is a new start on that front. We reorganise a lot and try to make everything better. So, you’re gonna see more of us in Europe and also these parts of Europe also.
The interview has been conducted with on 19 January 2025 in Zagreb by Pavao Hodap and Kristina Hećimović.
Gallery:
DARK FUNERAL, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ex Deo, Kami No Ikari; Boogaloo, Zagreb, 19.1.2025
