Debemur Morti Productions Artist Lethe Interview is up
THS: Tor-Helge Skei
AM: Anna Murphy
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1. I see this is a meeting of two
projects Manes and Eluveitie how did Lethe come to be?
THS: by chance, really.. anna contacted
me because of a blog post i wrote a year and half or so ago, where i
talked about wanting to do an album of cover songs.. after trying a
couple of songs, we realized we just had to do more music together,
our own music, and it just grew from that..
AM: We got in touch because of a mutual
acquaintance. We started working on some music without any plans in
particular, did some coversongs and then we decided to start a
'real' project.
2. I hear a mix of Trip Hop, Post Rock,
Electronica and other Avant Rock elements. Was there a set goal of a
sound or did it just come out of love of music and mixing sounds you
both enjoy?
THS: it came naturally, we didn't talk
at all, about how we wanted lethe to be..
AM: It just happened. We're both huge
fans of music in general, not of genres. And that is also how we want
to create music of our own, without any guidelines or limitations.
3. I know Manes is now working with
Debemur Morti is this why Lethe is as well. Seen to be a great home
for Experimenting sound much like Code666 and The End were a few yrs
back.
THS: yeah, it's a little bit
connected.. when manes talked with d.m, i was so impressed with them,
that i asked if they were interested in lethe too, and they were..
the contact since then has been just amazing, so i don't think we
could find a better place to be!
4. Will Lethe be performing live or is
this just a recording/ studio project for now? This is not a one off
project I hope?
THS: it's a bit difficult to plan and
prepare for live shows, because we live in different countries, and
both have a lot of other projects going.. but we have talked a little
about it, and it would be really really cool to make it happen.. but
lots of small things have to be just right.. we'll see.. hopefully..
A: We are already working on the second
album, so the cooperation will definitely not come to an end anytime
soon! We already talked about live shows and would really like to do
it, we just need to find the right time and setting for it. Living so
far apart makes it very difficult of course, but not impossible.
5. Is there a running theme on When
Dreams become nightmares or just a collection of wonderfully off beat
sounds and journeys ??
THS: yeah, there is.. but it's mainly
our own 'guiding light'.. the lyrics, samples, artwork, and general
concept is very deep and personal.. negative..
A: I think it's both.
6.The mix of Female and Male vocals
with the dark neo classic/ Electronic sound is something so familiar
yet so different. Who were the influences for Lethe?
THS: ourselves :-) lethe became what it
is because of the persons involved, not because we had any goals and
plans, and then trying to fulfill that..
7. What are the Members or better yet
the Duo listening to? It tell a lot more about the project then any
other words can say..
THS: i listen to mostly experimental
and 'outsider' music.. i like 'rule-bendinh', both when making and
listening to music, and most other things too, actually.. lately,
it's been a bit of black metal, because there's a potential new
project approaching, but usually i like to listen to anything that
has some kind of nerve, some uniqueness, some reason to exist, in a
way.. autechre, jega, edit, 4-track period darkthrone, burzum,
triptykon, 16 horsepower, dälek, xploding plastix, swans, lots of
stuff..
A: I listen to anything that appeals to
me, that can be black metal or pop music, it doesn't matter. To give
you a few examples: Archive, Desaster, Saltillo, Hidden Orchestra,
Björk.
8. Where do you see the future sounds
of Lethe heading more experimenting or a Darker / Heavier path?
THS: dark is always interesting :-) so,
probably.. we don't plan or think too much about what we want lethe
to be, it is what it is, because of the people involved, and because
we don't have any restrictions or guidelines.. we both immediately
know if something fits into the 'lethe universe'.. but we're both
deeply fascinated by the darker side of life and death and music and
everything, so, don't be surprised if the next one is a bit darker..
or lighter..
A: We'll see what happens :-)
9.If you could make a video with a
major label budget which track would it be and why?
THS: not sure.. hmm.. the first track,
'in motion' is quite a mood setter and kind of sets the listener into
the right mood for the rest of the album, so that could be cool to do
something with.. but perhaps not much of a 'story' for a video
producer to base stuff on.. well, any other song, really..
A: Haven't really thought about that
yet. Spontaneously I'd say "Come look at the darkness with me",
there's some interesting visual things I can imagine to this.
10.If Lethe would collab or work with
any music artist or project who would it be?
THS: a bunch of people!!! i'd love to
work with dälek, in any form, any time, any place!! or tricky, or
burzum, or triptykon... amything really! i'm obsessed with
collaborations :-)
A: Not a musical artist for me, but I'd
love to have Neil Gaiman write some lyrics for us :-)
11. Where do you see music heading in
21st century back to a more independent and self promoted or will
Music go full circle and be more a major label push with new digital
age of itunes, amazon and you tube?
THS: nobody knows, i guess.. the
internet makes it possible for small bands to reach out to a lot of
people, which is good.. but also, since everybody and everything is
yelling and constantly fighting for your attention, small things
drown in the cacophony.. having a label pushing a band might help by
talking to the 'right people', but, well, i don't know..
A: I have no idea.
12.Is Social Media the best way to
promote artists now ( Facebook, twitter, Soundcloud and You Tube etc)
Does a band even need a website anymore ?
THS: i'm not sure if social media is
any better or worse than other forms of promotion.. in some ways, it
seems like social media has completely ruined peoples attention span,
and expectations.. but it can help making music more visible to
different people.. even if it's just for 5 seconds, until a new
status update from some unknown person pops up :-)
A: It seems like it since everybody is
using those platforms more than websites.
13. Thank you again any closing
thoughts here
THS: thanks for the interview.. for
more info and other gibber/chitchat, visit our facebook page
(facebook.com/LetheProject)
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