Interview with Lantlôs - Herbst

Thanks for taking time to answer our questions, and let’s get started. Lantlôs has just released their second full-length album “.neon”, can you tell us more about the concept and ideas behind this monumental release?

It is about the relation between reality and the inner core. When I was 17 my perception completely shifted. Everything I percept is kind of blurry and "filtered". It is as if you were watching a movie. You don't have control about anything. It is as if you were not going the same ground as others. I felt surreal. Not in a superior sense, but just that my relation to reality is wrong. The outlying impacts descend into a blurry substance that doesn’t even exist. Everything that exists is within yourself, because you only can experience via yourself, there are no consents. I guess you won't get an idea about what I am talking about. And it is very hard to explain it to you, because it is something very special. But you can imagine it as a constant feeling of having a flush. This is extremely complicated to cope with, because everything changes. Everything is grey; there are no contrasts, no good, no bad, no happiness, and no sorrow just grey, and it escapes. That's what neon is about.

Can you tell us more about the concept behind the album’s cover? And also why is it named “.neon”?

It is a man torn apart by various arms and a woman. The man symbolizes the inner core. The arms and the woman are outlying impacts to the soul. Whereas the outlying impacts torture the man, the woman symbolizes the impacts that are getting closer to the core. It is again related to a blurred perception of reality. The core is floating in some bleak and blurry, abstract surrounding and just feels emotions and impacts on his soul. This perfectly goes along with the main theme of .neon - depression, depersonalisation, greyness, love, torture and surreality. Fursy is really a great man you know? I never told him what I wanted to have and he also didn't have the lyrics when he did the paintings. He's so extremely good in grasping atmospheres and visualizing them, it's insane! I'm so happy with the artwork!

The title is related to flush and losing control and also embedded to the all over surreal theme of the album. I was going out and totally hammered, I totally lost control and all I felt were emotions, I was so to speak blind. There were just colours of neon lights; I didn't know where to go, where I was and what I am, it was like the ground was shifting:  Delirium, disorientation, absolution and isolation. And this is why I chose the title.

Labeled as experimental, Post-Black Metal, etc., Lantlôs has a very depressive sound behind the project. Can you tell us the reasons behind why Lantlôs sounds like this? If you had to put a label on the band’s music, what genre would you categorize it under?

The reason Lantlôs sounds as it sounds is simply because this is the feeling my life. I am not special, nor intellectual. Everything that counts, at least for me is emotions and trying to make the best out of your life and try to be happy. My music is around myself and about myself, nothing more and nothing less. I don't think about any concepts, because the concept of Lantlôs is me, it is natural. I would tag it Post Black Metal.

Now that Neige is considered a full-time member of the project, will there be any more input from him in the music writing process in future releases? How did he become a full-time member of Lantlôs?

I don't know yet. I think, I have a very clear vision about what I want to have and I can be very egocentric/difficult when it comes to music. In addition to that Neige has also loads to do with Alcest. Though, our visions meet in Lantlôs, so I don't know – maybe if the time is right and we both feel like, Neige will contribute something, be it whatever it may be. He became a full-time member because we share a lot of views and emotions. He also exactly knows what I want to do without me telling him. I feel that he absolutely suits because we have a deep connection when it comes to emotion and of course music.

With some jazzy influences in “.neon”, the band has a unique sound to it on the crowded Post-Black Metal scene. Will these influences continue to be part of the Lantlôs sound in the future? What other elements do you want to incorporate in the band’s sound for the future?

There will be some jazz elements in the new album, yes, though they won't be elementary. I don't want to say too much, but the new Lantlôs actually sounds a lot different than both .neon and the debut. The songs are by far longer and hypnotic. The whole album is feeding on you. It is abstract, surreal and ugly. If we are just talking about the music itself, it is also something really different and special and I am curious what people will say.

We know that “.neon” has just been released, but we also know that musical genius cannot be contained. Have you guys started working on ideas for a future release?

Yes, Neige and I will enter the studio in July to record the third Lantlôs full-length.

Being a two-man project, are there any plans of having a live line-up? Will there ever be any live shows for Lantlôs?

Yes, we are working on that and I have the feeling that we will be ready to rehearse very soon. Neige and I both definitely want to play live, so it is just a mater of time when we meet the right people.

Will all the current bands doing the ‘depressive Post-Black Metal thing’, what do you think makes Lantlôs standout from the rest?

I think the overall concept around Lantlôs is something very special. I don't know any other band having the same background.

If you could make a super band with any musicians dead or alive, whom would you pick? And what kind of music would you play?

I guess it would be Dave Coverdale on vocals, Paul Gilbert and me on the guitar. If I really could play with those guys, I wouldn't even care about the drummer nor the bassist.
Both are Gods! Whitesnake and Racer-X are some of my favourites. Of course we would play 80's heavy metal!!

Anything else you want to add for your fans and our readers?

Thanks for your support! I hope you will like .neon! Feel free to contact me for any questions and comment! Thanks!

Thanks for the time and good luck promoting the album.

Thanks for the opportunity and for your interest! All the best!

More info: http://www.lantlos.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/lantlos. Read our review of ".neon" HERE