– Hello, thanks for taking your time. How are you holding up? How do you feel about having your debut full-length coming out soon?
As I write this, the album has been out for about 3 weeks. So far, the response has been better than I had expected. There has been coverage in a number of major market outlets and the inquiries are still being received.

-You have been in bands before. What motivated you to form your own solo project?
The prospect of handling the writing and recording process myself has been something that I had wanted to explore for years before starting Hulder. After years of playing music with others, it became more and more apparent that my vision was not going to be something that I wanted to compromise. Making the decision to do everything myself was a simple matter of not having complete control over the sound, atmosphere and direction of Hulder.

-One-woman bands are more common every day. Are there any other that you like? Or women artists playing extreme Metal that influenced you in any way?
There are a few other women in contemporary black metal that I have been following (Sortilegia and Yxxan to name a few) and of course, there are a number of women who have been a part of the black metal craft since the genre’s inception. I don’t feel that placing a divide between genders within a genre of music is particularly important.

-In HULDER you not only keep the classic Black Metal sound, but also the imagery. What did you find in BM that turned into your haven?
Black Metal spoke to me immediately. As a young teenager, I was exposed to a handful of classic albums and it was like a fire was lit inside me. The interest and drive to create has been a part of the experience since then. This is evidenced by the few short-lived bands that I have been associated with in the past. It wasn’t until late 2017 that I felt my focus cleared.

-In what way are your themes, sound and aesthetic connected?
Imagery, music and overall audioscape are all deeply connected. My intention with “Godslastering…” was to invoke the same sensations that I experienced when listening to a cherished album. The ability to become lost in the atmosphere of an album has always been something that has fascinated me and I wanted to be able to provide that experience with this record.

– Your debut album “Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry” is coming out in just a few days. How do you compare it to your previous releases?
By the time I found the time to answer these questions, the album has already been released for a few weeks. The process was more intentional with this album. While a considerable amount of time was spent writing and recording the earlier releases, this was the first time that I was able to dedicate my time to honing in the intended sound. In addition to that, Iron Bonehead provided a budget for the album and that afforded me the ability to work with a trusted engineer in order to further produce the sound that I had always envisioned. The experience was a far cry from the 4-track cassette recordings that comprised the demos.

-It’s coming out with Iron Bonehead, who also re-issued your previous material. How did everything arise?
The collaboration with Iron Bonehead Productions was a pretty natural one. They reached out to me after seeing that the “Embraced…’ EP and “De Oproeping…” collection had been garnering a buzz. I believe that IBP may have been the Euro distributor for the EP. That may have been what sparked his interest. In any case, they re-pressed the collection LP and did a great job with it so when they asked if I would be interested in doing a full-length, I was on board.

-What are some of the lyrical themes covered in the album?
Lyrics on the album are an exploration into the human experience. Grief, loss, devotion and understanding the power of the “self” were all driving forces for the album. A mix of harsh reality and folklore/fantasy has always been something that I have sought to express.

-You were raised in Belgium, a place with a rich medieval history and architecture, and in myths and legends too. How has your home country inspired HULDER and that specific things from Belgium are you turning into music? And into this album specifically?
I was born in Duffel and was raised in Mechelen. Both places are full of folk tales and ancient structures. As a child, it was easy for the mind to wander and wonder about the history and experiences that had been. In addition to surroundings, I was always influenced by my Grandmother. She was an antiques dealer who dealt primarily in medieval wares.

-And in what way are you inspired by your surroundings in the US?
Currently, I am located in Oregon. The nature here is next to none. Much of my time is spent exploring and foraging in the wilderness of the coastal mountains. Naturally, this is a very inspiring experience.

-And how would you describe “Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry” in just 3 words?
Medieval Black Metal.

-And finally, what are now your near-future plans in these uncertain times?
Metal Mean Festival, in Brussels, just announced the first live Hulder performance on European soil. I am in the process of recruiting a backing band for that. We will begin rehearsing soon and when we make that debut performance, it will be honed. In addition to that, I have begun working on the next release as well as some film score work (a new endeavor for me).

– That’s all from our side, thanks again for your time. If you’d like to add some final words, feel free to do it.

Tania Giménez

tania@queensofsteel.com

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