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  Second cercle Inscrit le : 13-08-2005 Messages: 1118 | Interview with Christoph Ziegler (complet) Interview with Christoph Ziegler May 30, 2004 JJM: Greetings Christoph. Why don't we start out by having you tell the readers about the bands formation, and describe the music you create. Christoph Ziegler: Hello Joe. Well, the story/ history of Vinterriket is quite boring and nothing special, I think. I have started the whole project back in late 1996. In the early days the whole thing was very slow and I was not 100% behind it. The first demo tape was released in early 2000 or in the end of 1999, I think. So it took 3 years to finish the stuff. This was mainly because of bad equipment and so on. After the release of the demo the whole thing became more serious and I totally focused on the project. Up 'til now many EP's, CD's Demos and so on have been published on different labels around the globe. Too many stuff to mention, actually. Vinterriket was founded because of my endless love to the dark side of Mother Nature. I wanted to express my feelings and the way I see nature through this kind of art in order to satisfy myself. You know, principally I make Music ONLY for myself, for nobody else! If others like the music, too: Ok. If not, I do not care at all. Of course it is great to see that many others share the same feelings, that many others have the same visions/ landscapes/ feelings inside when listening to the music of Vinterriket and that many others interpret my lyrics, as I'd do myself. Then I see they got the point I want to express. Others listen to the stuff and they understand simply nothing what I wanted to express. But as I said: I do not care at all. Vinterriket is me and I am Vinterriket. No other members have been included in the past. So it is no "band" at all, better to say a "project"! Vinterriket's music is only influenced by the dark side of Mother Nature. Some of the tracks are pure melancholic, depressive and cold Dark Ambient and some tracks could be described as grim, frosty and symphonic Black Metal. JVinterriket is a Norwegian word meaning : If all my facts are correct ''Realm of Winter.' This is interesting because back in Winter Realm' or 1995 Gehenna the black metal band from Norway released a song with that same nameheard this word? . Is this perhaps how you first CZor : Yes, VINTERRIKET means something like "Realm Of Winter" "name for the Winter realm" in English. I simply felt to use a Norwegian project with this meaningwhen the 1st Demo tape . The decision came up was in progressname "VINTERRIKET" would fit . I just thought that the perfectly to my musicbetter name around which would fit . There is no better to the sound of Vinterriket, I think! The word VINTERRIKET describes the whole sound/ concept very good. No, the decision to use this name has absolutely nothing to do with the Gehanna-track. J: Can you tell me about your creative process? How do you usually create music in the studio? Do you use a computer program/software, synthesizer, or both when creating music? CZ: It is a lot of stuff, which I am using. Ibanez guitar, some marshall amplifiers, Cubase V, Samplitude, Wavelab, Soundforge, Yamaha synth, Yamaha sequencer, a digital 8-track-recorder, drum machine.... Of course microphones, bass, some effects etc. too. Soon I will get new and better and more expensive equipment, I hope, but everything is a question of money. I'd need new synths, a new guitar and so on. J: Is creating dark ambient music an easy or hard task in your opinion? I know that's kind of a stupid question but I've always wanted to create music similar to what you're doing, but never really knew where to start. CZ: Well, it is just a matter of inspiration and skills, nothing more. If I am inspired, songs are just spreading out from my head. The songs I am creating are just reflecting my own personality, my feelings and my thoughts. Sure, making music is always not that easy as it seems, but if there's enough inspiration and if there are enough ideas/ skills, it should be no problem at all. You should be able to transform your ideas/ feelings to music. Therefore you'll need the skills. J: I've noticed you've done covers of both Graveland & Burzum. It seems like nowadays you generally only see bands that share the same political views as those bands performing covers of their songs. So I'm curious to know where you stand on that issue and what are thoughts about Nazism in music? Also are bands such as these banned in Germany? Because from what I understand any form of Nazism in Germany is strictly forbidden now a days. CZ: There is not much to say about the cover-song and Graveland, I think: In July'2001 I have recorded this track ("Forge of souls"), which will be featured on the GRAVELAND Tribute CD/MC/LP to be released by NAWIA PRODUCTIONS (POL) as Intro or outro. I do not know if it'll ever be released. It is a great synth-track, I think! I made the cover-song within only 2 or 3 days. I like all the Graveland- stuff very much. Some Graveland-stuff sounds similar to other Graveland- stuff, but all in all Graveland is a very good band! Therefore I have made this cover "Forge Of Souls" from "Following the Voice Of Blood" CD'96. The Pagan- Graveland stuff is better than the Black- Metal- Graveland stuff, I think. I hope you know what I mean. "Der Tod Wuotans" is e.g. featured on the Russian version of the "Winterschatten" CD. This track is pure grief! One of the best Ambient-tracks I have ever heard. Melancholic and filled with total emptiness. I think this track fits also perfectly on the CD though it has nothing to do with the concept of the album ("Winter"). But the overall atmosphere and the mood of this special track are fitting perfectly, I think. Vinterriket and politics are two different things. I am NOT mixing music with politics. Politics is another field for me. Of course I am very interested in politics, but this is something else and has nothing to do with music. I do not care what others do. If they want to mix politics with music they should do. This does not affect me. I also have my political views, but this has nothing to do with my music/ Vinterriket. I hope you understand what I mean. I could write thousands of lines about this topic, BUT: No comment. Cause this question is too much in the field of politics. And as I said: Vinterriket and politics are two different things. Of course I have my political views and I am very interested in politics, but this is my private thing. I'll not misuse any private political views within Vinterriket. Thanx for understanding. Everybody walking around with open eyes will see all those problems and will know what to do! I hope that the German people will "wake up" soon. But I think it is already far too late! It is already fact (statistics) that Germans are disappearing slowly! In 2050 there'll only live 40-50 Millions of Germans in Germany. The rest (40-50 Millions) will be foreigners! This progress is not stoppable anymore..... The situation in Germany right now is already worse enough... Yez, Nazism is strictly forbidden in Germany nowadays. The same goes for symbols; bands and stuff like that going in this direction. J: You've recently created a new band called Nebelkorona. Can you tell us a little bit about the project and what we can expect to hear from it? CZ: Yea, Nebelkorona is a Vinterriket side-project. It was created some where in 2003. Actually I have just created 2 tracks for this project so far which will be released on a 7" EP in July/August 2004. Nebelkorona is more "romantic" than Vinterriket, I'd say. I prefer to call the style "Dark Romantic Art". Besides this there's not much to tell about Nebelkorona. J: I'm guessing you enjoy some music outside of the dark ambient realm. What other types of music do you enjoy and what types of music do you hate? CZ: Since some years I am not into Black Metal anymore, actually. I am listening to a lot of music: All kinds of music. Ambient/ Industrial/ Classics/ etc. Some Black metal, too. But I am no longer interested in the current Black Metal scene, to be honest. There are too many shitty bands around copying each other and making the same like others did even better years ago. I am seldomly buying a CD related to Black Metal. There are only a few bands around which are able to catch my attention. Those bands are different, because of their originality and because they are not doing standard- stuff like thousands of others. I will not mention any names... I still have all the old records of the Scandinavian Black Metal bands, for example. Sometimes I listen to them, but I prefer other stuff these days. All the music to which I am listening is atmospheric, dark, melancholic and original. Those parameters should be fulfilled! I do not want to be labeled as Black Metal with Vinterriket. Therefore I always avoid the term "Black Metal". J: What bands have influenced you and persuaded you enough to create a dark ambient band? CZ: As I have already explained above, Vinterriket is only influenced by the dark side of nature, nothing more. Other's music is playing a minor part when it comes to inspiration. Sure, I am listening to a lot of music each day. But there is no special album/ bands that stands above everything and there is no band, which has influenced Vinterriket directly. There are really a lot albums which are great in my eyes and which are very important to me, but I do not want to mention them. "Important" is probably the wrong word. Let's better say, "which are my favorite ones". I am listening to a lot of different music styles, too. Ambient, some old Black Metal, Industrial- stuff, experimental stuff, futuristic stuff, Classic and so on. There are just some parameters, which should be fulfilled, in all those different styles: Coldness, grimness, melancholy, atmosphere and originality! This is the most important thing. The music should be able to catch my mind, to be able to "move the soul" and to be able to get myself into the "correct mood", if you understand what I mean. I am seldomly buying a "Metal" or "Black Metal"-related CD these days. I am more into Industrial/ Ambient. VINTERRIKET is only influenced by nature, nothing else! Sure, you get influenced by many things around you, you can even say by ALL things around you: Friends, books, films, landscapes, pictures, music etc. But my main source is nature. The dark side of Mother Nature so to speak. J: Are you a fan of Peter Andersson's work (raison d'etre, Necrophorus, Atomine Elektrine, ect) at all? I recently heard a few of his projects and was blown away by most it. CZ: I know some of the stuff, but I am not that familiar with all those projects you've mentioned. I actually prefer other stuff, but I will not mention any names here. These days I am mainly into Dark Ambient, Industrial and Experimental Music. J: I could be wrong, but I think you're mostly concentrating on creating dark ambient music now and are no longer making any metal songs. Is this correct? CZ: Nope, this is not true. The next full-length CD, which will be out some where in 2005, will contain "Black Metal" – tracks exclusively. I am just doing what's in my mind. There are no limitations and no "rules" whether to create Dark Ambient or Black Metal- tracks. J: Although I only own three of your releases I've always liked the artwork. I'm guessing these are photograph's you've taken from around the world? CZ: Well, The cover- pictures/booklet pictures should always fit 100% to the music. I am of the opinion that the layout and the pictures fit perfectly to the music. The pictures I used on covers / booklets and so on have ALL been shot by myself, some by a German friend of me (from Erzgebrige) and some by Haewwel (Vinterriket- session- member). I have never used other pictures than those shot by myself, my friend and Haewwel. I am proud to use self-made pictures and not to steal them in the Internet like others do. The pictures, which can be seen within my booklets and on my covers, are not only shot in the Alps (near where I live): (Northern-) Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Germany (many of them),.... J: In just four years you've released a lot of material, most of which is limited, and on vinyl or tapes. Is there any special reason why you release so much material so often? Also to date how many Vinterriket releases have there been? CZ: A lot of the stuff which has been released are re-releases, different- version, Brazil- / Ukrainian, Russian- versions of releases, Vinyl-versions and so on.... If you'd not count all those the amount of releases is not that big. I am creating music each day, several hours, normally. Well, how can I produce such a big amount of music? It is quite simple: To make music is what I want to do. I love it. I am spending almost all my free time for composing music. I like it. I usually use several hours a day to create music,... There are days/ weeks/ months with a big lack of inspiration/ ideas. On the other side there are days/ weeks/ month where ideas are just flowing out of my head if you understand what I mean. It depends. J: Do you think there's anyone out there beside yourself that owns every Vinterriket release? CZ: Yea, maybe. I know some fans, which are owing (almost) all releases. But you are right: It is nearly impossible to get all the releases. To get all tracks is no problem, but to get all releases is a problem, I think. There are so many country-specific releases around these days… J: Dark ambient music is generally very dark, melancholic, and desolate sounding. Often times I figure people that make this type of music probably aren't the happiest people on earth. So with that said do you enjoy life? CZ: Well, this is a difficult question I think. I am of the opinion that it is NOT possible to create such dark and melancholic music if you're a rather happy and positive-energy-filled guy. The music I am creating reflects my inner self, my mood, my thoughts, and my soul. When listening to Vinterriket you'll probably hear how it must look inside myself. On one hand I enjoy life, on the other hand not. It depends. J: What circumstances lead to Vinterriket being signed to Ketzer records, an otherwise all black metal label? CZ: The contract with Ketzer Records is finished, so to speak. I have signed a deal with the German record company Black Attakk not long ago. All further records will be released by them. I was / I am still very satisfied with the work Ketzer did for Vinterriket. I left in friendship, 'cause Black Attakk simply made the best offer for future releases. This is the only reason why I have left. I am working together with many small underground labels. This is a big advantage when it comes to spread records. I mean if a Ukrainian label is releasing MC- versions of my records it is great! They are spreading them in Ukraine/ Russia exclusively. No big American record company would reach those people at all. So I prefer to work with small record labels from different countries around the globe: ..Brazil.., ..Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Germany I have been in contact with Ketzer for many years now, even before Vinterriket was started at all. He is not living away from me anyway, so it was quite normal to release some stuff on his label. I have no problem that Ketzer is mainly active in the Black Metal scene though my latest CD on their label is pure Dark Ambient. J: Could or will the music of Vinterriket ever be performed live? CZ: Well, in the past I always wrote the following when I was asked this question: Up 'til now Vinterriket has never played live. Maybe in the future? Who knows... This mainly depends on finding other competent musicians. The music is mainly pure Ambient, as you know. So it is senseless to make live-shows, at least in my opinion. In general VINTERRIKET's music is absolutely NOT made to be performed live in crappy concert halls. People should listen to it individually at home during the uttermost darkness! I'd not like it very much to play in front of a drunken horde of stupid kids, you know.... If there would be a gig it would be something very special, I am sure. But there are absolutely no plans for a live-show right now. And 2nd, it would be difficult to perform the stuff live, too. But on the other hand I have several offers for live shows lying here. People are asking more and more about it. But I do not know... Maybe I'll do a gig or more in the future, we'll see what the future will bring. Right now I am at a point where I have started to bring Vinterriket on stage for some shows. Therefore I have recruited some temporary live-session guest-members. If everything goes according to plan Vinterriket will hit stage in Autumn/Winter 2004. We'll see if everything works out fine. But I am quite optimistic these days. There'll be only performed BM-tracks live, 'cause all ambient tracks are not there to be performed live. J: Could you think of a time or a place that would be best suited for listening to Vinterriket? CZ: Sure I can think of such places and times: At night, in the woods, in winter, whilst walking through snowstorms, through endless dark any mystic forests and so on. The ideal places for listening to Vinterriket are always connected to the dark side of nature. J: Does your location in the world influence your music at all? CZ: Sure it does. I am living close to Nature in Southern Germany near the Alps and near the Swabian Alb. Maybe you have heard of this area. Sure, there are much better places where I could live, but I am quite satisfied where I live. J: Here's a classic question for you. If you were to remain on a deserted island for several years what five albums would you wish to bring along with you? CZ: I do not have my "5 best albums" at all. I am listening to a lot of music, different kinds of music. I have a lot of CD's here, which I like very much. But it is impossible for me to mention my favorite 5 albums, sorry. Albums I like very much (Only Black Metal ones) are e.g.: In The Woods- Heart of the ages Limbonic Art- 1st CD Arcturus- Constellation MCD and Aspera Hiems… CD Solefald- 1st CD J: It's rather obvious you spend a lot of time on your music, but I'm sure you have other interests, and probably have a full time job as well. So what do you do when your not creating music? CZ: I am spending almost all my free time creating music and doing stuff related to my music. Besides music I am interested in art (painting) and (landscape-) photography. I am also interested in politics, astrology, history and so on. The list is endless. J: Finally what's the band currently doing and what are your plans for the near future? CZ: Well, at the moment the new CD (Ketzer Records, GER) entitled "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit" is available in the form of a Super Jewel Box King Size (almost A5-size, unlimited edition). Besides this MC-versions in Ukraine (Bloodhead Prod.) and Brazil (Arcano Musica) are available. Furthermore, shirts (TS/LS, size XL) of the new record are also available (unlimited editions). Arcano Musica has also published a Brazil-version of the TS for the new album (limited 50). Ketzer Records will release a Vinyl-version in summer 2004, too, in the form of a 3 x 10" MLP series. Posters with the cover-artwork of the new record are available, too. I am sure that there are still some older records of Vinterriket available at different record companies. The stuff which I've listed is just concerning the latest output…. "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit" will also be released as Romanian–CD-version (Lupii Daciei Records, limited 500, w/ exclusive bonus-track) and as Russian–CD-version (Einsamkeit Productions, limited 500, w/ exclusive bonus-track) in June/July 2004. Concerning future releases: Here we go (in the form of a list): BMMB Productions (GER/ 005): VINTERRIKET/NORTHAUNT (NOR)- Split 7" EP'2004 Spring 2004 (500 copies) feat. one unreleased track from the "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit" recording-session. Comes with inlay BMMB Productions (GER/ 006): VINTERRIKET/NORTHAUNT (NOR)- Split 3"CD-R'2004 Spring 2004 (21 copies) feat. one unreleased track from the "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit" recording-session. 3"CD-R will be packed inside a black velvet back. Comes with inlay. Westwall Productions (GER/WW 017): VINTERRIKET- Im ambivalenten Zwielicht der Dunkelheit 7" EP'2004 Spring 2004 (555 copies) feat. two new tracks created in 2003 (BM-style, not Ambient) Oskorei Music (RUS/OSMCD 003): VINTERRIKET- ...und die Nacht kam schweren Schrittes CD'2004 Spring 2004 (1000 copies / Russian version! w/ exclusive unreleased bonus-track!) Re-release, hand numbered Lupii Daciei Records (ROM/L.D.R.003): VINTERRIKET- Winterschatten CD'2004 Spring 2004 (500 copies / Romanian version! w/ bonus-track!) Romanian-edition of the last full-length CD White Wolf Productions (ITA/ WW 001): VINTERRIKET- 7-Zoll-Kollektion 2000-2002'2004 Autumn 2004 (300 copies) A collection of tracks from old, sold-out 7" EP's Shadowface Releases (GRE): VINTERRIKET/FENRIA (SWE)- Split CD'2004 Summer 2004 The CD will feature two unreleased track from the "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit"-recording session "Landschaften ewiger Einsamkeit II"- track on: LOHENFESTE RECORDS (GER)- In Wüsten Lohen Pt. I 2-CD-R'2004 Spring 2004 just a sampler-contribution "Sterbende Sonnen"- track as: Intro for the upcoming Compilation CD on BLUTVERGIESSEN (GER) in 2004 an exclusive track already created in 2002 for this still unreleased compilation "...am Abgrund"- track as: Intro for the upcoming debut CD of FORLORN IN SILENCE (NOR) in 2004 an exclusive track already created in 2002 for this still unreleased CD "Nebulöse Tiefen des Schwermuts"- track as: Song for an upcoming CD of BLOODLINE (SWE) on SELBSTMORD SERVICES (SWE) in 2004 an exclusive track already created in 2002 for this still unreleased CD Besides this, nothing more is planned for this year. I will start to compose new tracks in the middle of 2004. The next full-length CD will be released somewhere in 2005, not before. J: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview and I wish you the best of luck with all future musical endeavors. CZ: Thanx for the interview man! 
je te surveille, tu ne me vois pas, je suis ton côté sombre, je t'influence, je te pousse, tu ne me connais pas, tu m'appréhendes pas, tu ne me contrôles pas, tu es à ma merci, à chaque moment je peux prendre ta destinée dans mes mains ténébreuses... te mener à ta perte comme à ton ascension... | ||
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Baudelaire |
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 Troisième cercle Inscrit le : 29-04-2007 Messages: 1462 | Salut Engel , excellente interview . Je ne connaissais pas Vinterriket , mais c'est , aujourd'hui , un groupe que je souhaite decouvrir . Pourras-tu me conseiller sur leur discographie : par quel album commencer , leur meilleur album ? Merci par avance de ta reponse. The ghosts of our pasts are gathered at the borders of every nation waiting to | ||
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Noctar |
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 Cinquième cercle Inscrit le : 18-06-2008 Messages: 1 | citation : Der letzte Winter - Der Ewigkeit Entgegen, franchement.
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vastAire |
| ' I like all the Graveland- stuff very much. Some Graveland-stuff sounds similar to other Graveland- stuff*, but all in all Graveland is a verygood band!' Il a de la discussion ce monsieur, dites-moi... *non sans blagues ?  | |
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