Agonia Artist The Moth Gatherer Interview
1.This seems to be your 1st album A Bright Celestial light" its been 5 yrs in the making why did it take so long to get the album completed?
It actually ”only” took two years to write it and record it. Before we made this album we were just writing songs, but in 2010 we felt that we needed to make an album. The songs are quite complex and multi-layered both the music and lyrics so it is a process to make one song, therefore it took us two years to finish it. And we also felt that we wanted to make the best record we could.
2. The Moth Gatherer mixed elements of Neurosis, Jesu , Russian Circle so were Post Rock, Post Hardcore and Prog Rock all meets. Has this always been the sound of the band?
The first song we made, called ”Departure” back in 2009 sounds more or less like we sound today, the difference is that today we have better riffs and a more clear vision on how we want it to sound. And today our songs is more introspective and much more personal. Back then we just wanted to play. I don’t have a label for our music but what people say it seems like we play sludge/post/progressive.
3. How did you come to work with Agonia a very up and coming album in the last few yrs.
Before I played with The Moth Gatherer, I played in a band called Mr. Death that has released two albums with Agonia, and when I quit Mr. Death I got in touch with them about The Moth Gatherer since I think that they are great to work with, and soon after that everything was set and now ”A Bright Celestial Light” will be released on Agonia Records.
4. The Moth Gatherer is from Sweden a place much more known for Melodic and Extreme Death and Black metal . What is the scene and bands like in 2013 has it moved to more experimental and adventurous style and sounds?
I think that the Death and Black Metal scene is thriving today, alot of good swedish bands have emerged in the last years that are still active. Sweden also have bands like Cult of Luna, Khoma, Vaka etc. that plays a more experimental style so I would say that Sweden is a good creative ground no matter the genre.
5. What is the Story or theme behind " A bright Celestial light" just listening to a few tracks you can hear a deeper meaning to the album as a whole..
The album is very personal, and it’s about dealing with the loss of someone you love to cancer. My mom passed away so instead of going down a destructive path I chose to do something creative. For me and Victor the recording sessions of this album almost was like therapy. Something we did together in order to move on in life. The songs all reflects how we felt and feels.
6. Your one of the few bands today to a proper website http://www.
We have a website, we have twitter, we have facebook, I think it should be easy to gain access to info about a band so therefore we try to be everywhere. And of course, it’s good to be seen as much as possible!
7. Are you fans of the digital age ( Mp3s, Webzines, Internet radio etc) or do you miss the days of physical media ( CD's, Print zines and Traditional Radio).
I still buy physical albums and magazines. It’s something special to buy an album, unwrap it, put it in the player and then just read the booklet, admire the artwork etc.
But I think that Spotiy is one of the best things that has happened since the digital age of downloading came upon us. I also like the easy access we have today, both music, news, information is just a click away and that is good!
8. Do you prefer to perform live or be in a studio which is more inspiring for the band?
I would say that we are a studio band. I don’t know what the future holds but at the moment we don’t have any plans to play live.
We just want to create music and that is something we do best in the studio.
9. What are the members of The Moth Gatherer listen to ? it tell us a lot normailly of the directions of the style and sounds of future releases and also what the bands musical spectrum?
We listen to alot of different music. Ofcoure we listen to Breach, Cult of Luna and Neurosis. Victor also listen to Meshuggah, Coldplay and house (don’t know which artists though). Bands I listen alot to are: Neurosis, Killing Joke, Eels, Breach, Tiamat, Kyuss, The Konsortium, AC/DC, Swans amongst other.
10. Will Agonia be sending you on tour for the label or just doing local gigs for now? will we seen you in North America any time soon?
As I mentioned earlier, we don’t have any plans to play live right now, but if we perform it would be awesome to play in North America!
11. Do the members of The Moth Gatherer perform or record in other projects? if so tell us about them.
Not at the moment. Before The Moth Gatherer me and Victor played in a hardcore band called Oceanlift and when we called it quits I started Mr. Death with Juck (ex. Treblinka) but I left the band last year. The only plans we have now is to write a new The Moth Gatherer album, and that process is so huge so we’ll see if we even have time to start playing with some other constellations =)
12. Were do you seen underground music moving more to a very indie world again were bands use PR companies and get their digital out to the world or will labels focus more on digital age and get bands them on the road or get videos out there to make the revenue to keep the labels alive?
I think that that is very different depending on the band and label. We all work in different ways and one have to find the best way for you.
Either way, it is interesting to follow the music industry in a time like this.
13. Are there any bands out there that are very unknown you would like the world to check out that have impressed you.
I would like to salute The Konsortium! Probably the best album I’ve heard in years. Simply amazing! They are not very unknown but they should be bigger!
And Terra Tenebrosa. Their music is so special and aggressive. It is like a nightmare, a wonderful, hauntning nightmare.
14. Thanks for the time any closing thoughts here
If you decide to pick up our album I would recommend to turn off the lights, lie down and crank the volume up and let the record take you on a journey inside your mind!
Thanks for showing interest!
//Alex
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