Vesania with delicate corpsepaint

interview with 28-06-2004

Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Hell o. We are VESANIA, black metal band from Poland. We are here since 1997, but we've debuted in Empire Records in 2003, by ’Firefrost Arcanum’ – lp. that you can get from Crash Music Europe. After the release we promoted the album, especially by gigs, and so we gained the title of newcomer 2003 in metalpress like Thrash`em All or Metal Hammer in Poland. Now preparing for the second opus, ’Labyrintheme’.

What was first the Vesania image or the band? Created the image first to find to other persons who fit in?
There were always some ideas, yet before the band was formed. I've always been saying, that VESANIA existed since ever, then I looked for the people. Maybe not to fit in, rather to understand the meaning, to proceed, to fulfill the path projected. As for the image itself, it comes into being constantly, we work on in it and all together we try to create image of the band we want.

Did black metal felt as the right musical style to express? Never thought of other styles?
For this band I never thought of other style. It used to be obvious for me. VESANIA seems to fit into this style, but with my personal understanding of black metal, as an anxious and powerful kind of metal music, that goes always with this special meaning of the whole creation, so the most important music itself, but lyrics and the transfer in it and the image too. Such formed black metal band pretends to be a real monolith of meanings and expression.

Think you can add other styles into the music like thrash or gospel parts?
Thrash metal – I could find some influenced parts in Vesania. Gospel – I do not think so.

What are the true BM bands to you these days? Which band do you consider as the originator of BM? Why?
These times of dividing into true and untrue black metal bands are gone now, fortunately. I'd rather not do this, and I never did. It always seemed to be funny for me... And as for the originators – whole young Norway with bands like Mayhem etc., and there were Celtic Frost, Bathory, and bands like Beherit too... And always was the mighty Venom... Hard to choose one, maybe Venom. They were first to present such music, simple and satanic-like, they were first to release ’Black Metal’ album, and so everything was started.

What were the bands you started listening to? Do you think the metal styles can go more extreme in the years to come?
First metal bands that I listened to was Slayer, Sepultura, Celtic Frost, Venom... And they all was the most extreme I could imagine. Metal music is evolving still, just as everything does. Styles are changing, they go more advanced, more technical, faster and more precise. Releases are better produced, and well promoted. Metal music explores new and new ways of extreme, more brutal and perfect. One could say, that it is more and more extreme, but for me, the most extreme are these all underground records, bands like Beherit or something. This is real hell.

Which music style do you spit on? Why?
I do not spit on music styles, I have many other things to do in my life. There is no time to think 'bout all those things that are simply stupid or not interesting. If I do not like some kind of music, like all this hip-hop and disco stuff – I do not occupy myself with it. Besides, all those kinds of music are the direct response for the needs of societies. And what is sad here – usually these ’musics’ have nothing or rather nothing common with music understood as an art.

Is it hard to find inspiration for new songs? Where do you take them from? Books, movies etc?
It is not hard, it's only to look around, to live, to feel. Inspirations are everywhere. We're just inspired by everything that makes us think.

What is your education? Doing something with it? Prefer it above a musician career?
I'm now finishing my studies at Warsaw University. I hope to be done in a month or two. I've always wanted to graduate the University, independently from doing anything else. Just for my private satisfaction. But these studies are not connected with music, and I do not think 'bout my future considering education. So I prefer metal music, and let it be my future, if I can say so.

Your opinion about Poland joining the EU? What is your profit as a country?
I'm not familiar with politics...

Ever been to other countries for holiday? Your fav country you would like to visit? Why?
I've been to some countries, but rather for playing concerts, not for holiday. Generally I do not remember when I had holidays... If I could have some free time in summer, I'd go to the place like Tibet or northern India probably. Turn off the phone, no medias. Other ways of understanding the world and human being, total silence. It might be good, but not for long.

Why don't you use corpsepaint?
We do. We didn't use it on the pics in the booklet, 'cause to this concept we didn't need to. It was then to show the faces unmasked. But during live shows we use corpsepaints, but delicate, not usual black and white, rather grays scale.

Explain your onstage behaviour ? Is live the power of Vesania?
It is. It is supposed to be. Shows are the best way of expression for such emotions and power, that this music consists of. We try to transfer whole energy and devotion we have. We always prepare some special events for stage performances, we'd rather treat concert as an performance than execution of music live only. So we want Vesania to be a professional live band. Many rehearsals, many tries of every detail. Then, it's only to go on stage and present 200% of the abilities and expression. We want to prepare our shows in order to make it remarkable, we want people to remember our shows for long time.

Ever made mistakes during a song? How do you correct them? Think the people will notice?
Of course I did. And each of us makes mistakes, it's the human-dimension of creation. We're not machines, and from the certain point of view – it's good. It makes the music lives. Sometimes people could notice some mistake, but it's the signal to practice more and more.

What do you eat before a show? What do you drink afterwards?
Before the show we rather eat not too much. It's not good to have a full stomach, you move and think slowly then. But after the concert – beer always. Not too much, if the next day is the another show day. If not, strange things may happen...

Your album is also released in Europe. Think there is a difference between the scene in other countries?
I do not think so, there are rather no general differences. Some countries have some special taste, just like Norway is known from black metal attitude. Some countries, like Germany, has a great amount of summer festivals, so they can see much more bands than for example we can in Poland. Eastern Europe is in this topic thirsty of music, especially countries behind Polish eastern border. Some metal markets are very special, like Japan, or U.S. especially, where you have to play live often to be a good band. But these all things are rather details I think, if the music and the band is good and professional, it will defend itself in each place.

What are the differences between Polish BM fans and South European fans? Different clothes? Haircut?
Are there any differences beside the origin? Rather not... Usually fans in the rich countries look better, wear better clothes. That's all.

How much do you pay to fans when they got your bandname as a tattoo?
Huh... Good question. I do not expect such sign of devotion, but it would be nice to see such man. So... I'd pay no money, but I would thank really much. Sometimes such nice things happen, not long time ago I met some people I've never seen before in the street. They said: ’Thank you for Vesania. Go on!’. It's very similar impression I think...

What is your fav body modification ritual? Why? Do you have modified something yourself?
I have some tattoos and some piercing stuff, but these are not radical modifications. I've always been against changing my very own body, and since I remember I was the only one between all friends in metal bands, who didn't have a tattoo, but with no special reasons. Since year I've started doing some of it, and it draws in. So I proceed.

Say something to end this little intie?
Thank you for your time and attention, I hope we speak not for the last time. If you all readers, have ’Firefrost Arcanum’ album, just try to understand the whole act of it. Read in-between the lines, focus on your very own path of seeking the truth. ’Mirrors crushed, but watch the picture distorted. Think. Create.’

Last rites?
Wait for the ’Labyrintheme’ and take care of yourselves!