Interview with Lacrimas Profundere - Oliver Nikolas Schmid

Infernal Masquerade: Thanks for the interview, and let’s get started:

I.M: Lacrimas Profundere has drastically changed its musical style from its original form, why do you think this happened the way it did?

I don’t think that we changed our style that much the last years! Hey, “Memorandum” or “Burning: a wish” were released in 2001. Since the “Fall, I will follow”, released in 2002, we play some kind of Goth-Rock and leave the doom death elements behind! So, as a Goth-Rock band we released 5 records till now, more than some other bands did in their whole life! After the burning: a wish record we thought, this is the best we could do in this musical direction. We don’t want to record the same record twice, because this is as boring as sex with lights off. We grew up in a bit other direction but don’t don’t burn the Lacrimas House down.

I.M: With the change of vocalists in “Songs of the Last View” the band got very mixed reception with the press and fans, was this something that you feared and where prepared for?

Yeah, for sure! It’s always hard to change the voice in a band! Sometimes it works, sometimes not! What would be Guns´n roses without Axl or Whitesnake without Coverdale! So, we knew that it would be hard, but now Rob is more into the band, completely integrated as full member! We know each other better and he has much more “freedoms”! I think with him, we’re more gritty! He’s the best voice I know in the scene and he brings tons of new influences in the band with his fantastic alterable voice! He gave our fucked up souls our dropkick into reality.

I.M: Can you tell us more about the concept and ideas behind “The Grandiose Nowhere”, the band’s latest release?

Did you ever sit down and watch the people in pedestrian area? All of them have their troubles, wishes, blitheness and problems…This is what the title means to me! The Lyrics talk about self-pity, drugs, about Affairs, Love/Hate and "let’s say it smooth" the Love Act intrinsically. It’s a “walk on the wild side!”

I.M: Like we mentioned before, with the mix reception the last album had, what where you guys set to do differently in this new release?

This record is different! Different in development, the condition and the approach! Beginning of 2009 we wanted to dissolve the band, because nobody wanted to speak or stay in the same room with one of the others! We all got kind of a burn out, I had to clear my brain of all the After-show parties and assimilate all the things that happened at our Gigs in Spain, Mexico, UK, Russia, France, Hungary, Swiss and all the others! It was fucking worse that I can’t remember some of it, because I was so drunk! We loose the sight to the basics! So, this record describes the mood I was in the writing process!  I didn’t know, in witch direction I wanted to continue, witch members are still in the band, or if I should continue! After some month, watching TV, I thought to myself let’s write some new songs and call the others to ask if they are still alive, to do a band rehearsal, or speak about the past! To come to the point: we’re bold to go new ways and open the Lacrimas-Gates to let the Rock n Roll in! You know, we were always a bit wicked and dirty, but now it feels like the drunken brother of “HIM” with biker boots that nobody wanted at the family celebration, or the sweet sister of “The Cult” who has a sideline at the table-dance bar next door! Laugh!

I.M: With the suddenly crowded Gothic Rock scene, what do you think will make Lacrimas Profundere standout from the rest of the bands?

I’m not the right person to ask this! Enter: www.myspace.com/lacrimasprofundere and get your own idea of it!

I.M: Lacrimas Profundere had John Fryer handling the production of this release, and the last two. Why did you guys choose to work with him? Since he has worked with other different acts, do you think he has changed the shape of the band’s sound in any way?

Our Producer John Fryer (HIM, Depeche Mode, Cradle of Filth) is kind of a cattle drover! But, we need him; he brings our Chaos bunch altogether and after a month we leave the studio with a new Album in the bag! So he is very important, otherwise we would fly to the next Island, roast in the sun and drink cocktails from the Labels Advance!

I.M: Why did you guys adopted the motto: “Like A Walk On New York City’s Rooftops”?

This Album draws you down, spit you out, let you fly and in the next moment you echo on the brick at the rooftop of a high riser with a cigarette in your hand! Hahaha, sounds strange? OK!

I.M: The band has some tour dates in Europe in support of “The Grandiose Nowhere”, are there any plans for a USA tour anytime soon?

Yeah, we just got a great offer for a tour at the west coast for about 8 concerts in October! Now our booking company and the management has to clear the rest. With Mama Trash and Bam Margera we have some partners who can do a lot for us too and hope they will promote the shows, so, lets see what the cat dragged in!

I.M: What are the future goals and aspirations for the band? What would you guys want to be doing in 5 years?

I don’t know, I stop to think about the future while I play in this band! I just finished my first Interview for the Playboy magazine, so, what better I could get?
Oliver Nikolas Schmid LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE

I.M: Anything else you want to add for our readers and your American fans?

You ROCK, see you in October!!!

I.M: Thanks for the interview and good luck promoting the new album
Thanx a lot for the interview! Best, Oliver Nikolas Schmid (Leadguitars)

More on the band: http://www.lacrimas.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/lacrimasprofundere