E
Hello you guys. How is going on with the mad preachers of dark cult from Norway, this days!? :)
GM
Hello, all well here, thank you! ;)
E
I must to confess, I’m watching over “Gothminister”, for a while. For me your Visual midge is some sort of bizarre decadence, a combenation between Eros of “Umbra et Imago” with superb scene acting at the vein of” King Diamond”. Please reveal your secret-what lead you to use such a combination for your look?
GM
My main inspiration for the Gothminister image was horror movie vibes mixed with an elegant version of the Riddle (in Batman).
E
During your show, Gothminister is actually preached behind a preacher cafedral postument. I find this idea Brilliant for a live performance, as yours –it is highly effective and visually great. What lead you to use such an element for the show?
GM
I always try to add new elements to the live shows. I think people who pay a lot of money for concert tickets deserve to be entertained, and we try to make each show different from the next. I remember first introducing the preachers chair on our European tour with Lacrimosa in 2005. Towards the end of the tour, the tour manager told me he thought this idea was genius and that we as a support band back then really got a lot out of it. So, when I finish our show standing 3-4 meters tall on the preachers chair – and then the next band go on, the front man in the next act suddenly seems visually very small in comparison.
E
As long I know you guys, are working about a new full length album, at this wary own days? After 2 previous album it should be truly marvelous a peace for collectors, after all it will contain a DVD! Could you tell us more what shall we aspect from this “a new year” present?
GM
We have worked very hard on the new album. Unfortunately, we are cursed with some strange incidents every time we record a new GM album. On the first two albums we experienced serious health problems, cars exploding and studios burning down. This time around unfortunately even worse things happened.
First I was supposed to fulfill the long awaited animation project with a friend of mine. I had written the song and we were in the middle of working with the lyrics, then suddenly she had to pull out of it because her best friend suddenly died and she was mourning. Then we were supposed to go into the studio some weeks ago, after waiting for it to be rebuilt. I think we waited for 6 months, but just a few days before the studio sessions, the producer s father suddenly died, and I couldn’t continue working when he also was in grief. So, already two deaths and we haven t even started recording the album yet. I hope everything goes up from here.
You can expect a lot of different songs from the new album, really. They are the product of a writing session for more than two years. The DVD will contain material from our main stage show at M`Era Luna in Germany 2006, our headliners show at WGT in Leipzig, Germany 2006 and also interviews and backstage material. Really looking forward to, finally release some more video material for the fans.
E
Most of the tracks from your albums are available for downloading at your official web site. Although the songs being short and the quality suitable for such an option-I wonder, why have you choose to act that way. After all the age of mp3 downloading are disturb badly the selling sod the original cd’s…Unfortunely honest musicians are still not available to make a honorable living because of their music…
GM
We have a record deal with Tatra/licensed to Drakkar in Europe, AMG in Russia, Dancing Ferret in North America and Hellion Records in South America and we have publishing deal with BMG for the world. They are not likely to want us to put out the whole song for free downloading from Myspace or anywhere else.
We are still going to present some material from the new album free for downloading but in my opinion if people really want the whole song they should buy it to support the band.
E
All of this monstrosities your mention at your songs: Misshapen creatures, dark passages and the evil demons of hell are some how full of humor (at least at my opinion it seems wary hilarious, with a good humor behind the concept), You probably remember the American famous band “G.W.A.R”.with all the attribute clothing and demonic ideology mixed with good honest laughs. From other side you have “Lordi”, Finish rockers whom demonic visual look are pretty much at the same vein-Would you consider your self as a Norwegian G.W.A.R/ Lordi?
GM
It s up to people to make decide how they consider Gothminister. And yes, we have humor but not to an extent that it becomes ridiculous (I hope?) I have always been seriously interested in horror movies, gothic ghost stories and gothic architecture, and I am honestly serious about this stuff as well. I just like to let the darkness inspire me to something positive instead of negative. I have experienced many troubled situation and I believe what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. And it is important to face your dark sides instead of running away from them. And I think it is important to have a certain imagination in order to survive today; like why do you believe in ghosts? Because if you don \t believe in them, you will probably never experience them… ;)
E
Lately you became highly appreciate and well known for the European Scene. You got marvelous critics from famous metal web zines (Metal Hammer).Your appearance at famous festivals like Wave Gothic Treffen , Dark Storm Festival and finally an appearance at M’era Luna Festival-As long I know you guys have appear before 10000 people! Such A success took you not for that long (the band formed at 1999).How would you describe your own success?! Where’s the catch?
GM
The response for Gothminister has been fantastic from day one. Unlike my previous bands, we have each year improved also when it comes to popularity. I think it is a combination of catchy music and visual entertainment. And Gothminister has a statement that for me is very real; I had a very poor health when I started Gothminister. Making this music and forming this project in a way helped me survive. It all lies in your mind and creativity can be nothing but positive, also for your health, in my opinion. So I faced my inner darkness and grew stronger. This is what I wanna preach to the people through Gothminister: confront your darkness and get inspired-Creativity leads to happiness and our biggest source to creativity is the dark and the unknown.
E
If we already speaking about the issue. You guys play at so many countries, all over the world –Russia, Scandinavia, States you name it…At your opinion what was the best show ever, something to commemorate at thy hearts?
GM
It is so difficult to pick one show, we have had a great time everywhere we performed and we are very thankful for being able to do this. I have met so many people on the road and heard touching stories; everything from people traveling a thousand miles to see our show (and further; one fan came from South Africa to the UK!!!) and I have said goodbye to fans who told me the next day they had to go to war to serve their country, but they wanted to see a show with their favorite artist first – I am just overwhelmed and very thankful how many great fans Gothminister has got through the years. Also many people contact me and say GM inspired them to make their own band, and this is off course one of the nicest things – because that is the whole point – be creative, and if we can inspire people, that is a big honor.
E
The Norwegian Chaos of the late 80’s and Early 90’s –stormed the world about Black Metal fury. Killings, Church and massive jury trails. How ever Black Metal reached a huge popularity among the fans –Selling thousands of copies for the global market. Today the Norwegian Electro/Gothic scene is growing biger. For example the “ElectroStat” festival (Norwegian Goth/Electro fest”) contains some wary known and respective musicians. What is your personal opinion about the development of the Dark scene at your country?
GM
The dark scene is in development, yes. Finally Norway had to admit that the most successful artists abroad are those in the dark scene. As an example, Gothminister was the first band from the electro/gothic scene to be sponsored a full Norwegian tour by the Rikskonsertene; meaning they booked and paid for a night liner to bring us across the country. This was in connection with the release of our last album in 2005. We brought Tristania as our special guests for that tour. The same year Bylarm organized a full “gothic night” in ordwer to present all the bands in the genre; Gothminister, Apoptygma Berzerk, Mortiis, Theatre of Tragedy and Sirenia to mention some of them.
E
Thank you for the wonderful interview. Some last words for the Israeli Fans?
GM
Thank you for the interview, we hope to one day get the chance to play in Israel
All the best from GOTHMINISTER;)
E = Erik / GM = Gothminister
Interview by Erik
