 |
 |
 |
First of all, can you give us a short introduction
about your band?
Masq (Guitars, Science, Vocals): Vari is a rather
new and therefore somewhat innovative band(at least we
try), started sometime between the end of 2003 and the
beginning of 2004. Despite of all the chiefly failed
attempts of putting together a live line-up, Vari is a
two member band, including me - doing most of the things,
and Dagaith - mainly consuming beer. hehehe. Well,
actually, since "Vihavald" the band has been working
like this: We both gradually collect ideas, send them to
each other and do some analysing, selecting what suits
for Vari. Then we do the arrangements, recording and the
rest is up to me. Oh, I'm going a bit off the trail here.
Anyway, we are playing extreme metal and that's how it's
going to be. Though, I think our style is in a somewhat
constant change for now as we learn and age. So, no
release is going to be exactly like the previous one(s).
This to some extent "industrial" touch surrounding our
music might come from me being involved in several other
musical projects, including electronic music. Thus - we
experiment.
Your music sounds like a mix between symphonic black
metal and industrial. What are your main influences?
Which bands are your idols?
Masq: My idols are talented musicians. Can't
bother to name any artist/band names because I might get
angry with myself later for forgetting someone important.
Pretty much twisted mind, that I am - listening to very
large variety of music. And I'm ever happy to find new
thrilling products. Everything I find interesting goes,
regardless of the style.
After a dismissal you decided to get back together
and you released the Vihavald demo. What was the reason
of the temporary split-up?
Masq: This one is a misinterpretation. Virtually,
there really was no split-up. As I mentioned above, Vari
is me and Dagaith(was then, and still is). Back then, it
was just the dismissal of the "live members". They never
had anything to do with the band's creation and at some
point we just grew tired of their regular ignorance,
incompetence and disinterest. In fact, most of the "Vihavald"
material was already written by then and we had our new
goals that we kept for ourselves, for the time being.
The "full band rehearsal" period was fairly educational
tho... interesting too. We got many things clear for
ourselves - what not to try in the future.
After months of hard work you released the demo then.
According to the media section of your webpage, we were
not the only one who appreciate it a lot. Are you
satisfied with the result yourselves?
Masq: We have had some truly good feedback which
is always nice. Vari has even had several concert offers
which we have sadly had to decline due to the lack of
live musicians in the band. We were really pleased with
the outcome of "Vihavald" when it finally got released.
And we still are, especially while thinking ourselves
back to that time. I was talking *were* purposely.
Because now that we have a new netsingle("No-Life") out,
some could be argued about the first demo, things that
could have been done better etc. But "Vihavald" was my
first full CD production and I still had many things to
learn in the process. It was a lot of hard work and
pressure. So yeah, I'm satisfied. I was equally pleased
with "Vihavald" when it was released as I am pleased
with "No-Life" now. I guess that's how those things work
when giving maximum of yourself. Always trying to do
better than the previous time. Could say that the sound
evolves with us.
Although the concept is pretty much the same on every
song, you guys managed to put a lot of variation in your
demo. What is your secret, is there something in the
Estonian air?
Masq: Hehe, as a matter of fact the concept was
pretty damn much different on every song when we first
composed them. That's because we were quite new to the
subject, songs were written semioccasionally and Vari
yet had its common style to claim. The hard part was to
make them sound as a whole on the album/demo.
How do the people in Estonia react on your demo and
your music? Is there a huge metal scene?
Masq: People who have bothered to listen have
liked our music. There is a strange mentality in the
local scene that if you don't do gigs you are no one.
Not literally but it's more complex without live
performance.. But there is no other active band in the
scene playing precisely our kind of music, so this
faciliates. Our metal scene has been going uphill over
the last years and has grown strong. At this point I
would like to quote Lembetu from a local band called
Loits. "This day we have everything that a successful
metal scene has to have – festivals, clubs, bars, record
stores, record companies, radio shows and a metal
magazine in Estonian. The mainstream media reflects the
events in the metal scene pretty enthusiastically and
several bands have made themselves heard in radio and
seen on TV." This summarises. Links worth checking are:
www.estonianmetal.com and www.nailboard.org
Most famous bands sing and write in English, while
you decide to write in Estonian. Why did you decide
this?
Masq: Some things are better expressed in our
native language. By the way, our new netsingle "No-Life"
is in English.
Are you guys already busy with writing new stuff for
a future release? If yes, when can we expect that one?
And will it sound different from Vihavald?
Masq: We are not busy writing new stuff, we just
gradually do it as I mentioned above. Both of us have
other projects and suchlike to take care of so it takes
time. Can't promise any certain date for the next
release. It just happens when it does. I guess I have
covered the "will it sound different from Vihavald?"
topic above aswell
What can we expect from Vari in the future? And what
dreams for the future do you have?
Masq: You can expect that we will keep on
rocking. It would be nice to have some live members in
the future but it appairs that it's pretty much
impossible to find members of a decent qualification for
a young band roaming in the extreme.
Thanks a lot for your time. Got some final words?
Masq: Vari is not responsible for any harm this
song may cause you, your dog, your family or your
neighbours. Olge mõnusad.
Interview by: Gerardo (August 2005) |
|
|
|
|
