Eisenwald Records Artist- Fluisteraars interview is up
1. I will start off with why a 5 yr gap between Luwte and Bloem and how do you feel the two records are different and similar?
This five-year gap was needed to get where we are now. The 'why' question suggests that there must be a certain speed in the delivery of art, but we do not share that opinion. In the past 5 years, we have grown our frames of reference, we have worked together a lot and we have been in nature a lot. During this period we also released an EP and a split album with Turia. Those creations were necessary for us to release on a new album. That is not something you plan in advance, but just happens. Fluisteraars is our life and grows with us and, like life itself, has an uncertain but interesting future. So to come back to your first question; there is no answer to the 'why' question. Just like you don't know why you were vomiting five years ago under a bridge and now suddenly typing behind a desk.
The albums are different on many fronts. A small example is the instruments on the Bloem album. They are more extensive and diverse than on the Luwte album. In addition, the theme has remained the same, but has awakened and came to life. While the theme on the Luwte album uses the negativity as a rebellion against the ruling order, the theme on the Bloem album is more positive and rebels in a different way. That way is; ignoring the ruling order and believing in your own truth. That's something we've accomplished in ourselves with this album. We hope that this is radiated!
2. You were a 3 Piece on your last record was there a reason that Asher is no longer with FLUISTERAARS?
We are still a three piece band, but due to some personal things in Asher's life he couldn't deliver what he wanted to deliver so he decided not to join this album.
3. You have been working with Eisenwald for a while the label has really grown into its own over the last 5 years. Why do you feel this partnership works well?
Eisenwald is the best you could wish for as a band. Eisenwald always bends with us and thinks in solutions. We always have the craziest ideas, but Eisenwald always helps us with realizing, or shows a realistic alternative. We also think that Eisenwald has a great sense of taste. This also makes us proud to operate under its flag.
4. On Bloem I hear elements of Post Black metal, BlackGaze,NeoFolk, Electronica and Post metal. What bands have inspired you for this release? I would like to say Fleurety, Solefald, Wolvserpent and Fen to name a few.
Actually there are no influences on this album from the metal genre although there is a lot of ‘’metal’’ on this album of course. And i must admit that i never listened to the bands you named. The music always seems to write itself but the influences come in when your talking about sound for example. For this album we listened a lot to Kaleidoscope(UK) The Smoke (US), Amon Düül II, Deuter, The Associates, Lee Hazlewood and Bushmans Revenge.
5. If you could make a proper video for any track on Bloem which would it be and how do you want it presented?
We are not going to make a video clip for the album. I hope that our music is visual enough that we stimulate our listener's imagination in such a way that everyone gets their own video clip in their head.
6. This there a theme behind Bloem?
We have delved into all kinds of stories in which flowers play the leading role. Consider, for example, the story of Persephone. But we have also been influenced by different notions of the end times. For example, some texts are riddled with references to the Gilgamesh epic. Sometimes we consider the time in which we now live as a flower that is at its ripest but is about to fall. The tension surrounding this flower is a suffocating but mysterious mist. For us, this album is an exploration through the fog and a search for elements from this time that we find important and worthwhile.
7. The artwork is interesting and see a left of center to what you would see. How does it tie into the story of Bloem?
The flowers are photographed from below, which makes them look powerful and overarching. Besides sparkling and clean, they are also ready to die. They have something threatening because they emphasize how insignificant we are. A small piece of modern technology can be seen in the top right corner of the album. This shows that there is always a boss above the boss. And that boss is the scariest and most dangerous of all. That boss ensures that the proverbial flower falls.
8. You have been around for over a decade now how has the digital age ( Bandcamp, You tube, Soundcloud, Twitter, Podcasts) Changed how a band like FLUISTERAARS creates and present your music to the world?
It does not change anything in terms of the manufacturing process. I would be sickened if we were a band making songs to create content for social media outlets. All it brings us is more reach and insight into the number of listeners. That is a win and a curse at the same time because it will take you into the global data horniness.
9. Your Vocal arrangements are very interesting mix of Crys, Scream, Folky, Ethereal, Guttural and Grim. Did Bloem vocally turn out as you wished or was it a surprise?
Nice that you notice. During the pre-productions of this album we decided to record the vocals as first takers without an initial plan. They are honest and direct actions to the music that we later refined. That was a surprising way of working that supports our transparent, close-to-heart approach.
10. If FLUISTERAARS could cover any song and give it their own twist . What song and why?
Aahhh there are so many.. I hope we don't give away something that we may do in the future...
We would like to cover Shocking Blue - Send me a postcard, because it's a great song and a dutch band of course but the lyrics don't really fit our theme’s. Or maybe Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - Some velvet morning: just because it's a beautiful song with such a great atmosphere and sound.
11. Do you feel you are a Black metal band or is that too limiting for what you do in 2020?
Always funny to talk about genres. In our roots I think we are a black metal band yes. As young boys we were fans of the genre, so we wanted to make it. But the older we got, the bigger the music world. So I think Fluisteraars are black metal, but then in a large, round and open domain where there are several entrances and exits. In the middle of this domain is a large clay studio where we can get away with all kinds of styles. Spoken metaphorically.
12. The Netherlands has had a strong and proud history of Black, Doom and Death metal. Do you think bands from there stand out sonically and if so ho please explain?
Not necessarily. What happens nowadays in the Dutch scene is on the one hand very cool, but on the other hand it also makes no sense. You have beautiful and ugly trees. That will be the same everywhere.
13. Visuals and Aesthetics are very important to extreme underground bands . What do you want people to get from the art, photos and music of FLUISTERAARS?
Art is very important to us. We don't want it to support the music, but flourish within the same theme as the album. The music carrier must also be regarded as an autonomous object in which people can lose themselves.
14. Thank you for the time any closing thoughts here.
Thank you for the questions and the interview.
Comments