1. Greetings to Ukraine. As you’ve told me this is the first interview in the band’s history so let me thank you for this opportunity. Let us briefly look at the history of YGG. I guess that not many listeners know how the band was created. I’m wondering if you could point out some important moments in your history and what was the idea and reason as well as circumstances behind the creation of the band.

This is the 1st interview that YGG gives for the listeners. Our album was released long time ago and we hope that most of those who are reading it now are familiar with our creativity. The history of the band goes into 2000s, when me and Helg had an idea to record a cooperative album. At that time we both played in Runes of Dianceht. But we had to postpone our project because I was busy in Nokturnal Мortum and Helg also played in Khors. Nevertheless, I kept on working on texts and conception of the new band and album. Helg was working on music as well. In 2009 we started to realize our ideas and in autumn 2010 the record was began.

2. The band consists of three experienced musicians who have played in various bands and sometimes even together. Can we say that there is more than just a “wish” to play a good music? Can we talk about friendship here? Is it a friendship which urges you create the best music possible?

Yes, me, Helg and Odalv are good friends and we are deeply bound at the spiritual level. This is very important for our line-up that we are joint not only by friendship but also common ideology for realization of our ideas.

3. When I’m listening to your debut album “Ygg” with my eyes closed it evokes me the best from Drudkh, Khors etc. so was it natural for you to pursue such musical path? Have you had a clear vision of what kind of music you wanted to play?

We created our songs without following any musical criteria or wishes, everything comes from our hearts. We combined it all in a stream of our efforts and Gods helped us.

4. Vocals are a very charismatic aspect of “Ygg”. Some people may not like it but now after a while I consider them be an appropriate part of music. But to be honest when I put the album on for the first time I expected a more traditional black metal vocals. Did you choose this kind of vocals on purpose or is it just a natural sound of your throats?

Vocal in our music is not just a singing of my lyrics with music. It’s a kind of instrument which brings our feelings and emotions via throat. We didn’t rehearsed it on purpose, it came by itself from our hearts during recording.

5. “Ygg” is sung in your maternal tongue. On one hand I’m glad for it on the other hand it’s pity that I don’t have an exact idea what are the lyrics about or what may be the essence of the band. Could you please describe what is “Ygg” about what, is the album’s main concept or if there is some kind of story?

Yes, all our lyrics are in Russian, probably in the future we will create lyrics in Ukrainian. In our texts we tell about Gods and people who behave as Gods. All lyrics are allegorical and full of images. Each lyric has a secret meaning and definite action. But on a sheet of paper it’s not more than words. We bring life in to them with the help of music. The conception of the album and YGG in general – is a Man as a part of ROD, the beginning and the core of our existence. A man who acts and lives as Gods tell him. A Man with pure soul and clean thoughts.

6. Do you consider lyrics of YGG to be the most important thing? Is it something which is born first or do you create lyrics after music is composed? By the way how the process of composing in the band looks like? Is every member involved or there is some “leader” who always comes with a “complete” material?

Our lyrics are not just lingual message. In music they create definite vibrations, which let listeners to realize and feel intuitively what our voices say from the hearts. We don’t claim for being sacral and genuine but we hope that people will hear us in the main stream. Lyrics and music were created independently. When music was ready, we combined it with lyrics so that they complement each other. All members were involved in preparing the material. Helg was occupied with music and I was creating lyrics. All together (Helg, Odalv and me) we made arrangements.


7. When I was checking-out your line-up I haven’t found any mention of who is responsible for keyboards, samples etc. which are present in your music. Of course I don’t how reliable is the source I read… anyway could you explain this in more detail?

The person responsible for keyboards was Astargth. He was an audio operator and engineer of the album. He helped to create the needed atmosphere. In some songs and intro you can hear an instrument, called vargan. I was playing it. Perhaps, in future we will use some more unusual instruments for creating the necessary atmosphere in our music.

8. I’m sure I’m not the only one who was quite saddened by a departure of Helg from Khors. I was afraid that he might not play in any other band. When he left Khors, were YGG already existing? Does he dedicate all his effort to YGG? I have to say that his style of playing is easily recognizable in YGG which is a good thing.

He left KHORS just before the recording of YGG’s album, we were just working on it. I was embarrassed by this fact but it didn’t prevent us from starting our project. Judging from recent events, Helg came back to KHORS and already played few concerts.

9. What about live performances? Have you already played live or you’re just planning your first gigs? Or am I wrong and you do not intend to play live?

We don’t plan to play live. From the very beginning YGG was created as non-live band. We consider that our music isn’t possible to reproduce on the scene. In the process of creating the songs many things happen intuitively and later we decide if we leave it as it is or change something. Of course we prepare material in advance and bring it to the studio, but during the record something may be changed. I would say most of the materials were born on the studio in the process of recording; some of them were recorded from the very first trail. YGG is a kind of intuitive music.

10. In conclusion I would like to know what can we expect from YGG in the future? Do you have some plans or you haven’t been thinking about the new album yet? Can we, listeners, consider YGG to be a full band or merely just a studio-project?

We have big plans for future. We plan to release vinyl album and then start a new album record. We are working on it now. Let Gods help us!

11. That is all. THANK YOU very much for your willingness to give an interview, we really appreciate it. And thanks a lot for your music too, because I’ve enjoyed it and will enjoy it for a long time.

We very appreciate your interest to our music. Thanks for your support! Gods are with us!!!
Hail ROD!!!

Explanation - ROD is often considered to be the supreme god and the creator of all life and existence.