ATROCITY (Eng)

– Hello Yasmin. First off, thanks for answering to our questions.
You have just released with ATROCITY “After the Storm”. Are you happy with the work done?
I can’t get enough listening to the music, which is a new experience for me, regarding, that I am a part of it. I just completely forget about that fact.  She seems to have her own life…and when you take the time to connect with her, she takes you by the hand, guiding you into her very own world…revealing more & more of herself to you ~
She was created through our heart & soul ~
So, coming back to your question, I am more than content.

– You are the guest vocalist in this album and you have also supported the band in some previous releases. Have there ever been any plans of joining the band as permanent member?
I am not sure that would serve the purpose of Atrocity being Atrocity… I think my brother needs his artistic freedom to go on new musical adventures without his sister breathing down his neck! Hahaha.
He did a fantastic job without me as a member for 25 years!
But, I am so happy about the work, we have done together so far & hopefully continue to do in the future. The first time, when he invited me to contribute to songs on the album BLUT, was very brave of him! It was a wish, we had since we were kids, to make music together. But, I wasn’t ready for him until, Atrocity tamed a bit down for that occasion…and due to the surprisingly good feedback, we received, CALLING THE RAIN was created. I still think Atrocity did absolute pioneering work with that album at that time & is responsible for the fusion of metal & gothic, which followed later… I had nothing else to do, but to be just myself & to enjoy the freedom of expressing myself.

– Why have you work in those concrete albums?

AFTER THE STORM was initiated a very, very long time ago. We had been with CALLING THE RAIN on Christmas show tour, supporting the band Rage…mmhh, 97 or so…  Tosso played on his guitar some great tunes in the late nightly hours in the tour bus, telling us that he had actually a whole lot more beautiful melodies & ideas in his head for another collaboration with me. Years later, at Alex & Liv’s wedding party, Tosso & I stole away to another room, on a little break, he played for me some more worked out melody lines &I loved it! There was definitely a follow up in the making. Alex even bound that into their new contract when they signed with Napalm Records. So here we are 2010! But, I believe, it is now the right time…we grew as artists individually & our meeting now, shows it.

– I guess most people won’t know too much about you. Are you or are have been involved in any other musical projects?
Am a bit of a hider away hahaha. Think it is time, I put my biography on myspace & facebook. I always did & do express myself with music. I have quite an extensive hand made instrument & flute collection. The only thing is, I am actually a bit shy to come out with my own written material, which fills up drawers & shelves. It is for me so personal, that it feels like walking naked through Hidepark, laying my soul completely bare. Only friends & a small selected audience know some of my own work in music & poetry, which I presented in intimate listening sessions in the past. It was different working with my brother & the guys together, they know me really well & Alex has the gift to persuade you with his courage, strength & a kick in ones backside to come out of ones snail-shell. I had a film company & worked, together with a great team, as a filmmaker. To combine my love for music with my passion for directing, we produced loads of music videos, band profiles & filmed live concerts eg exclusively Wacken Open Air in our time. So when, I worked with bands, some asked me to guest vocal, which I very sporadically did, when my busy schedule allowed it. Skysclad, for example, springs into my mind at this moment. I am also on some samplers, with an Enya tribute improvisation, you can listen to on myspace, & with ‘Desert Land’, which is also available now as a bonus track on the remastered version of CALLING THE RAIN.

– While listening to your voice in the album I can only describe it as unique. What are your influences as vocalist?
Thank you Tania! My soul, my heart, the spiritual work that I am doing are the antennas for me to receive, to see, to hear, to feel. And this is what I am expressing with my voice & my flutes, which are for me an extension of singing.

– I think we can clearly notice Arabic elements. Are you interested in this stuff? And since ATROCITY has done a few changes in their style; what type of music are you into?
I am half North African Berber…so that just naturally expresses itself as well as other cultural influences, which seem like memories in my system, resonating & coming out.  My music taste is very eclectic. Everything that is authentic, interesting & most of all touches me, I listen to…from A – Z… from Albinoni to Zappa, hahaha. There are also some very exciting new storytellers out there, ‘even’ in the mainstream music business.

– I’m also wondering if you are a self-taught or did you took any lessons? Please explain us a bit about you; your beginnings and/or your background.
I always sang. When I was a child with & for my grandmother who had a beautiful soprano voice, pure like a crystal bell. We sang the whole day & she recited poetry & ballads, even while we were working in the garden or with the animals. Our grandmother’s cousins as well as her brother were opera singers. Later, I joined some bands & sang in choirs. I had classical voice training & I started to sound really bombastic, but I wasn’t happy with it. I felt like loosing myself. So I stopped it  & started with ‘natural freeing the voice training’ to undo what I’ve learned before. I am very lucky, I found not far from where I live now, a master Alexander technique teacher & we continue to explore, to understand & to use the body as a natural instrument.

– Now let’s go to this new release, “After the Storm”. What does the title mean and how do you think it represents the album?
AFTER THE STORM is a natural progression from CALLING THE RAIN, musically as well as concerning the title. For me the title & title song of our new album are a metaphor for expressing the longing in ourselves to break free. Breaking free from old limiting beliefs & fears, negative feelings, stuckness in old patterns & habits – cleansed away by wind, rain, a powerful storm. AFTER THE STORM, we stand there – naked, bare, vulnerable. The old is gone. Nothing to hide behind anymore, but a chance to start anew. New life arises.

– I also think the connection between the album sound and atmospheres and its lyrics is obvious. Anyway, what are the main lyrical concepts behind the record?
Alex wrote these beautifully poetic & strong lyrics. For me, they all speak about transformation, renewal & the longing for it. Endings & new beginnings.  He created a mythological journey through different cultures & ancient legends, which are painting with the music & vocals together the sound & atmosphere of the album.

– ATROCITY has always been a quite varied and unique band and
this album is part of such innovation. What prompted the band to release a CD such ethnic?
I think, our collaboration in the past & now. Inviting me as a guest singer naturally causes this kind of music hahaha. No seriously, I am very honoured, that they had me in mind creating our projects. It is a   harmonious melting together of who I am as an artist & the unique artistry  & creativity of Atrocity.

– I bet ATROCITY have no compromises when it comes to create new material, since all the changes the band has gone through are quite risky…

No one can stop my brother, when his endless creativity & vision to explore new territories kicks in! I admire his courage, his determination as well as his integrity, knowing that some people out there may not keep up with him. But true Atrocity fans love the band, because of these surprises!

– Tell us, how was the composition process? Did everyone came up with their own ideas?
As I mentioned before, the unbelievably talented Tosso is for the wonderful music on this album responsible & Alex arranged the pieces & injected the rhythms. They are an amazing team!

– I read the instruments were recorded live. Why did you decide to do so?
Natural instruments being a part of the creative process conveys for me a quality which resonates with the feeling of that moment. It is alive, it is breathing, it is interacting with the whole.

– How did that change the production process?
For sure it takes more time up to experiment & record live instruments and the mixing process is far more demanding to bring all the different elements harmoniously together. Alex did a fantastic job!

– Talking about the production (done by Alexander, by the way), I must admit is great and keeps quite good the whole atmosphere and the spirit of the vocals…
I totally agree! Alex’ skillful & sensitive mixing & mastering keeps the vocals alive. You can hear the little nuances in the voice, the breathing, the tone vibrating to its very end, which for me as a storyteller/vocal painter is essential.

– I think those strong atmospheres are important elements for “After the Storm”. In sound terms, what did you try to achieve with this full-length?
For me it was important that every song expresses its very own atmosphere & to serve that purpose with my vocals & flutes.

– I also found the connection between absolutely all the elements in the album is amazing…
Yes, that was the other intention…that every piece stands in itself as well as flows together as a whole listening experience.

– I guess is still too soon to ask you about the album’s feedback, but what are your expectations?
I gave friends prelistening cds…and was very positively surprised about their feedback. For example, I expected from my friends, which are metal fans to find the quiet pieces boring & to my excitement, ‘Goddess of Fortune & Sorrow’ was one of their favourites.
On the other hand, my so called alternative spiritual artistic friends, from whom I expected to have some problems with ‘Black Mountain’ loved exactly that song … So, good surprises! And another wonderful gift for Alex & me is, that our mother really loves the album.

– And, I suppose this is a typical question but: is it easy to work with your brother?
Hahaha not easy, but very creative! It was a good experience to record together this album in the Mastersound Studio, which is situated in the middle of nature, on our beloved late grandmother’s former farm, where Alex & his family are now living. The studio space is established in the former stables, where hens, ducks, turkeys & rabbits run around when we were children… I had wonderful memories from my childhood coming up, just by being there.

– I imagine it’ll be a tour to support the album live. Would you accompany the rest of the band?
Of course, I would! I can imagine to do selected concerts in suitable premises…and we create something moving & magical.

– And, at last, what are your future plans? No necessarily regarding ATROCITY.
My number one priority is to dare the step & bring my first solo album out into the world. There is so much material to choose from as well as everyday new tunes, music, sound paintings, stories & poetry coming along…so for me it is a question to be inside of myself in the right space. To use my filmmaking skills, I wish to do my own music videos & would like later on to make a feature film with my own music. My other project is Angels’ Hill: I moved here to Far North, New Zealand & live in the middle of nature on my little farm, breeding Alpacas & preparing to breed Peruvian Paso horses.
My voice & my spiritual trainings have been always inseparable. So I will continue to work on both & I am in the process to build up a Reconnective Healing practice for people as well as for animals.

– We’ve finished, Yasmin. Thanks once more for your time. Feel free to add the last words to this interview.
Thank you Tania, I really enjoyed to answer your questions!
My deepest wish as an artist is, to touch from soul to soul, from heart to heart & to inspire. I am grateful to every single person who allows that through my work ~