- Posted By: Dark Emperor
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After waiting for several years we now have a few days to go for the release of "My Destiny" and "Njord" from Leaves' Eyes. We where able to catch up with Liv Kirstine for a few questions about this new release among other things.
Inferal Masquerade: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. So, let’s get started:
I.M: 4 years have passed since "Vinland Saga" and you guys are back with "Njord", can you tell us what do you think has changed in Leaves' Eyes during all these years?
Liv: We started to compose in 2007, and we had planned to release the album in 2008, however we just built a complete new studio from the ground as we had to leave the one we had rented before. Moreover, we were forced to renew the complete studio equipment and recording system after moving into the new studio. This took about at least a year. In the middle of all this, we had to produce our DVD, which is a "monster" project of six hours playing time. Of course we had troubles finding a new bass player and drummer, as our two former members decided to concentrate on their other jobs. Nick Barker, who was our drummer for a while, unfortunately had to step back from metal and music business during a difficult period of time in his life. We suddenly had a phone call from England, in which he was terribly sorry to tell us about some serious personal problems he had. It is quite difficult to find a new drummer, especially because he or she has
to be able to play the songs by Leaves' Eyes, Atrocity and my solo project. However, we needed to get through these extremely busy and hard times to get a new perspective on things, and to settle down. Since the first demo recordings for "Njord" we have been able to achieve goals that we thought back in 2007 would be quite impossible. I am so proud of my band members - "Njord" is a dream coming true, and all the hundreds of sleepless nights were worth it.
I.M: Can you tell us what has changed musically since your last full length album?
Liv: "Njord" (producer: my husband Alexander Krull) has a power to it that even is more intense than any previous production I've been part of. Technically, we constantly have new ideas and aims. We have our own studio and therefore we have the opurtunity to specialize in technical tasks concerning album and DVD productions. "Njord" has even a more bombastic but delicate sound that "Vinland Saga", because techniques allows it. We recorded the classical parts in Minsk (Lingua Mortis, supervised by Victor Smolski), we had a complete local choir (Al Dente) singing the choir parts, moreover, a special artist playing solos on special instruments like the uillian pipe and the whistle. The lyrics mainly deal with characters from northern mythology (e.g. Njord, Fröya'sTheme, Nine Wave Maidens, Ragnarok), or with places and historical happenings (e.g. Scarborough Fair, The Battle of Maldon, Emerald Island, Irish Rain, Les Champs de Lavande). This is why I found it necesary to deal with all these different languages. "Vinland Saga" is based on Leif Eirikssons discovery of America, even the EP, Legend Land, which followed soon thereafter. "Njord" has a much broader concept, travelling through history, and into Nordic mythology. It has always been important to me that our sound and art is authentic, and that our audience really gets the feeling of being on a wonderful journey. I feel that our music needs a special well-written and interesting concept, and I want to travel through time and space. For me history has always been extremely interesting, and even when I left my home country Norway and moved to Germany 12 years ago, I had more books about the Vikings with me than clothes and shoes. The lyrics are written in 8 languages (english, middle-high german, old-english, gaelic, norwegian, icelandic, french and one "self-made" linguistic fictional phonetic sequence)...I even sat down to study a bit French to be able to write one French lyric. I did study Old-English and Middle-high German, so it was really nice to be able to use this knowledge. Gaelic is completely new to me, though, but fortunately I found a wonderful person who helped me. "Njord" is an album that demands an expansion in linguistic terms. The songs also inspired me to use my knowledge in classical singing to a greater extend than on earlier albums. I have learned a lot and developed as a singer and an artist.
All this makes this album a multilayered and highly interesting experience for our listeners, for your ears, hearts and minds. If I should describe "Njord" in three words I would say bombastic, emotional, contrastive, and pure.
I.M: The first single from "Njord" with the title "My Destiny" was released as an EP before the release of the full album. In this song you can hear a very distinctive change in the guitar riffs of this song compared to previous material, is this the new musical direction that Leaves' Eyes is taking (a more hard rock / mainstream metal sound)?
Liv: No, we are not heading for a mainstream metal sound, not at all. We picked "My Destiny" to be the single track because it is a song you can easily "tune into", i.e. a good choice for a single. It's a good way to introduce the album (out 28.08. in Europe), although you will of course have less commercial songs on the album. "My Destiny" is actually an EP, for the price of a single, with four non-album tracks, and one extra album song. My favourite tracks on the album are "Irish Rain" and "Fröya's Theme" which are not at all mainstream metal tracks.
I.M: Will you guys attempt another guiness world record of signing 6000 EP's?
Liv: I wish I had the time to try another attempt....at the moment I am spending my "off-time" with long-distance-running, heading at good marathon-results. Last week-end I joined a run in the Alps in Austria with Napalm Records' boss "Max". My battery was empty as we crossed the finish line, however, it felt absolutely amazing. Is there a sign-up spot in the guiness book for female singers' running results??? ;-)
I.M: What can we expect from "Njord" compared to the bands previous work?
Liv: Liv: Our debut "Lovelorn" was very refreshing and a wonderful start for the band, also the press and the audience were surprised. However, you shouldn't forget that we all have a huge experience and knowledge as musicians of Atrocity and former ToT to rely on. This brings Leaves' Eyes a wide step forward, so we were really no newcomers in our genre. Moreover, I really have to say that Atrocity + Liv Kristine is a magic formula! I took my experience from my favourite ToT releases "Velvet Darkness They Fear" and "Aegis" as a basis for Leaves' Eyes music. Our 2.nd album "Vinland Saga" was a manifistation of the music of Leaves' Eyes - we had "settled" in the genre gothic metal with female vocals. "Njord" is the perfection of both our 2 former albums. We all have developed as musicians and technicians and this is experience that is unpayable.
The feedback has been absolutely amazing. Many journalists and fans have already pointed out that they believe and hope that 2009 will be the beginning of a wonderful journey for Leaves' Eyes. I hope the universe hears this!
I.M: Why was the decision made to release "Njord" so late in the USA compared to Europe and other regions?
Liv: I wish I knew, however it all comes back to publishing policy.
I.M: Will Leaves' Eyes be coming back to the USA for a tour in support of "Nojrd"?
Liv: We will tour Europe in November 2009, USA/Canada December 2009, then Europe and Russia in the beginning of 2010, and another long tour in the Autumn of 2010. We are also discussing a South-American tour or an Asian tour next year.
I.M: Anything else you guys want to add for our readers and your American fans in general?
Liv: Thank you so much for being such a fantastic audience. Your response and support is outstanding, something you can watch on our DVD! We are looking forward to take you on a wonderful journey with "Njord" and to see you on tour in December!
Thanks for the interview and good luck with the promotion of the new album.
Thank you - always my pleasure!
