1. Greetings to Norway! Your country has for long years been known as the cradle of black metal, but voices all around the world more and more talk about some kind of stagnation - the old bands are not that productive anymore or have turned their backs to the genre and not many young bands seem to arise. I would be interested in the opinion of a person that for sure has much better insight than all the flibbertigibbets around...
Well, I think much of the Norwegian black metal hype is caused, or enforced by the media. As black metal has become more and more „clean“over the years, the media focus has decreased and you might not hear as much about the Norwegian scene as before. Also I think that black metal standards international has increased over the years, and with a so big geographical range, it is much harder to keep track of the individual scenes than it was before. I see this as a positive thing.
The Norwegian scene is also one of the oldest black metal scenes, and I think it is just natural for bands to progress, but there is also a rising scene in Trondheim (Nidaros) with a handful of mentionable bands committed to the old school of bm.
2. HINSIDIG is a band known to just a few listeners here in Czech Republic. You started in 2007, yet I myself got to you in 2010, which was thanks to your debut "I en Tidlos Host". What was the reason behind starting HINSIDIG and what goals do you set when creating music? What path or direction are you planning to take with HINSIDIG?
The reason behind the creation of Hinsidig is pretty simple. We want to express ourselves through music, and that’s basically it. I am not too sure about the musical direction Hinsidig will take. Right now we are just starting on some new material and processing visions. It is quite a slow process when our drummer lives in Germany, and I would like all three of us to have an equal voice in the coming releases. I am pretty sure it will differ much from the debut in many ways, but it will still be Hinsidig with it’s key-elements.
3. Your debut "I en Tidlos Host" is basically an "extended version" of your demo "Bak og Forbi...", am I right? What was the reason to use all the compositions form the demo (except for the intro and outro)?
The demo was originally just a rehearsal-tape. The completion of the album took much more time than we planned, and as we were really satisfied with the demo we decided to release it. You can say that it’s some sort of unintended teaser, though I myself enjoy the atmosphere in the demo more than the album.
4. When I went for the first listen of the album, I was expecting raw black metal. Nonetheless, the very first song proved me wrong. Your music is atmospheric, majestic and it is much more based on the overall impression of the listening than just on sheer brutality. I can not resist asking - what was your main inspiration when writing the songs? Was it your intention to create music of this kind or did everything come out this way just naturally?
Well, it is hard to say what the main inspiration is, since the material was created over a large time-span. Of course I had some feelings I wanted to recreate and the music has developed naturally with these in mind. I remember in the earliest days of Hinsidig, or even a bit before, I wanted to recreate the overwhelming feelings I get while mountain hiking, standing on the top of a newly conquered mountain, and I think this has had an influence on the majestic feel of certain parts. The music is also partly influenced by Norwegian cultural and natural motives, apart from the obvious influence from early Norwegian acts like Dimmu, Troll, Strid, Ulver and Manes.
5. As your lyrics are in Norwegian and I therefore can not take much from them. So please, tell me something about the lyrical side of the album, is there some kind of a main idea or message? Is there any idea or topic that you see as a kind of core value for HINSIDIG so that you can now state that it will stay with you through your entire artistic activity?
The lyrics are introspective and personal, but they can also be seen as a story about realizing the absence of God, questioning one’s own value and the meaning of life. The lyrics are describing the emotions of ones world falls apart, a journey through pain and desperation, a personal Ragnarok.
6. What was the reason to record a Dimmu Borgir cover? Do you feel any special relationship to the band or song or...?
To be honest, it was just a spontaneous decision we made while we were in the studio. We had some dead-time and just thought “what the hell, let’s cover a fucking Dimmu-track!” It wasn’t really intended to be included in the track-list, rather a bonus track for the vinyl version or special edition, but of some reason if found its way to the album, and that’s totally fine. But to be honest: I prefer the original – ha ha.
7. I would not hesitate to call the non-guitar instruments in your music superb. Were these created using a computer or were they recorded using regular instruments? Will you consider me too rude if I dare to say that this is what from my point of view exactly suits to a Norwegian band? The connection with nature, its darker side, strong inspiratation by its power, beauty etc...
Well, thank you. I consider that a compliment. All the choirs are done by me and Gaurvorn, but the orchestral sounds, like the violin was created with a synthesizer. We obviously couldn’t bring anyone from Norway to the studio in Germany just to record 2 minutes of a monotonous melody, hehe. Next time maybe.
8. Do you think one can already speak about "The HINSIDIG Sound" or do you think that you will be progressing both musically and technically and your musical expression will change?
I think it’s too early to be talking about an own sound, so to speak, but I guess that we are by large characterized by our choirs and wet, longing leads, and that these are elements we will keep close in coming releases.
As any artist we wish to progress. What we want to express will always develop as time goes by, and this will be reflected in our music.
9. Do you already have any new tracks? This questions seems logical as a big part of your album was created years ago. If yes, how do these sound? Is their expression and length anyhow different? As I would say that the more extensive lengths suit your compositions really well, they empower the atmosphere and everything...
Yes we have some new material. We are for instance recording a song for the Tormenting Legends compilation these days.
And as said, we are also working on some material for a new album, but due to the distance, this is a slow and time-demanding process. And since we are all busy with other things and projects on the side, I don’t see another album out before 2012.
I don’t wish to comment too much on the new material, first of all because it is not finished, but also because I would like it develop naturally. Atmosphere and emotion will still be key-elements in our music and will be reflected in the lengths of our songs.
10. Are you also a live act or do you find it impossible to play live as a trio? Or maybe you just have not tried it yet...? Do you all come from Norway?
Until now we have been strictly a studio band, but we are planning to do some shows this year. Nothing is completely set yet, but I guess we will include at least one date in the Czech Republic towards the summer.
11. To close the interview, I would like to ask you if you know something about the Czech Republic, where i.a. this interview came from... I ask this question a lot as I find it rewarding when people get to know what the people living thousand kilometers away know about their country...
I have actually never been to the Czech Republic before, and I don’t have too much knowledge about the republic apart from being the origin of the Celts and a former part of the Hungarian Empire. I am neither too familiar with the Czech music scene in particular, but of course I know the band Roots.
Also I appreciate some of your beer, though I probably haven’t tasted too many Czech brands. Yet.
12. Well, that is all from me, I do not want to bother you no further. I was trying to better introduce the band to the Czech readers so that they become more aware of it. As I do not want this to sound just as a mere promotion, I thank you for the great album which of course was the main impulse for this interview. All the best!
Thanks for taking the time!
Best Regards
-(I)
