1. Good evening Kvitrafn, how are doing? Where are you right now?

Greetings! I am doing good. Things are hectic these days but thats a good thing though. I am now at home in Bergen.

2. Promo CD of your project Wardruna is spinning in my player for a quite „long“ time. I just can´t detach myself from listening to it. What made you to start a project like Wardruna and record such a album?

Thats good to hear! The idea of doing a project like this, I think came to me as a result of increasingly working with runes, shamanism and digging deeper and deeper into the norse mysteries.

3. I suspect that the idea of Wardruna started sometimes in 2002. Your music was then used as a soundtrack for Peter Beste document about Gaahl. Have you met some feedback concerning your music?

When my music was featured in that documentary the film company recieved a lot of questions on the music. So I decided to put a song out on myspace and since then the overall responce has been overwhelmingly good.

4. I guess that you have. But “Gap var Ginnunga“ got released after 6 years of work. Were you determined to record such album during the beginnings?

It has been a long process finding the right balance, ingredients and tools for this album. The whole concept where I wish interpret the runes on their own premisess makes it a very time consuming process. The final result is pretty close to what I had envisioned.

5. I guess that you will agree that music of Wardruna is quite hard to describe. It reflects not just a spiritual aspect but the Norwegian folklore as well. Do you consider yourself as a patriot?

I am a patrion of nature and many of the old ways of experiencing nature as well as breathing life into these values again. Ones roots will always be a part of who you are but I don't think that heritage and history and tradition is in it self necessarily worth being in tune with. In the same way I think that not all religion does anything good for the humans or the earth it self. For me personally, being in tune with it makes me always seek new truths and deeper contact with nature as well as being in tune with my self.


6. You have used the variety of ambient music aspects. I read somewhere, that you used a lot of authentical sounds from nature. Tell me, how did you record the natural elements? Have you recorded outside of studio in open environment?

I felt it was only natural to interpret the runes on their own premises. Each rune is unique and beholds different energy and since my concept is about using elements, sounds and instruments that compliment each of the runes, one can say that it is the runes themselves who are making the songs and reflecting their qualities and force through me. Examples: Kauna is related to the torch(fire) - so I play on flaming torches like an instrument. Bjarkan relates to the birchtrees so I play on birchtrees and so on. these recordings naturally takes place outdoors.

7. I´m asking because the sound production of the album is just beautiful. It´s not just a sterile studio sounding, it sounds lively. Are you satisfied with this form? I guess that it was intentional.

Yes, I am very satisfied. It is not allways about getting good or bad sound but finding the right sound. I feel the energy of what I am aiming to express is very present int the soundscape.

8. You played all instruments used on the record. I guess that it was quite tough to make it sound compact.

It has been alot of work but it has been fairly ok to handle.

9. I also wonder where did you learn to play all those instruments. Maybe you´re gifted by the highest deities. Have someone from your relatives led you to music? I don´t think that the handling of so many instruments is usual.

I have ever since I was very young been interested in playing drums, and that evolved quite early into the need to compose as well. I have an older brother who is a drummer and musician and maybe that inpired me at some point. The need to break things down, from huge drumkit to a one hand shamandrum, became very present, as well as my interest for these grand old instruments. I guess I learned playing them with alot of will, time and patience but I still have alot to learn.

10. Songs titles like „Hagall“, „Bjarkan“, „Jara“, „Algir“, „Thurs” are derived from the names of particular runes. Can I suppose that you aim for the musical descriptions of runic “alphabet”? I have also read somewhere that „Gap var ginnunga“ is just 1st volume of a trilogy. Does it mean that we can expect continuation?

Yes, it definitely does. Wardruna is about sowing new seeds and strengthening old roots, in a cultural and spiritual context. The "Runaljod" trilogy sets out to interpret the runes of the elder futhark. "gap var Ginnunga" is the first album and the creation of the new seed. "Yggdrasil" is the second album and the growt and strengthening of the seed. "Ragnarok" is the third album and the transformation of the seed.

11. I sense a small similarity to a Tibetan meditative music in Wardruna. Do you feel influenced by such a music?

I use impulses from music from many different indigenous cultures, so yes.


12. Forgive me this question, but what made you to abandon the black metal drumming for a while and concentrate on such a project?

It´s quite simple really; working with Wardruna gives me much more meaning then anything else I have ever done artistically.

13. On a multiplicity of photo’s you’re portrayed with variety of talismans. Usually it is symbolic from various myths. What is your relation to your history and do you consider those talismans have a true power?

Yes, if I want them to. A tree without roots will fall so I believe that roots and history can be of great value but not just because they are my roots and history. It has to be something I can relate to today as well.

14. It is not a long ago since you left the band “Dead to This World”. What preceded this? I guess that you did so because of lack of time.

Yes, I wanted to have full focus on Wardruna. DTTW is a great band and Iscariah is a great guy so he respected and understood my descicion to leave the band.

15. You have also played in Gorgoroth for a 4 years. You participated in recording and you´re still recording with some of the Gorgoroth’s members or at least you’re in contact with them. What is your opinion on the feud about the band´s name?

I honestly believe that it is totally irrelevant what I or anyone else mean or fell about that feud.

16. That´s all from me. I would like to send you appreciation for the time you have spent with these questions. I wish you best of luck for the future. Regards!

Thank you!
-Einar Kvitrafn-