THE GATHERING (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What are you currently up to? How is everything doing right now with THE GATHERING?
Frank: You’re welcome! Right now we are in a very excited status, since we are releasing our brand new album ‘Disclosure’. A very good feeling because we worked for about 2 years on this record (of course with some touring in between as well) it gives us good vibes to have the real thing in our hands, and show the worl what we ‘ve been up to.
– You have a new album coming out really soon entitled «Disclosure». What are your expectations on this new opus?
Frank:We have put our heart and souls in this record, and it became a very personal work for all of us.
So yes, I hope the listener ‘understands’ all these emotions and will get into the album. The reactions thus far are really good!
– If I’m not mistaken you’ve worked on this opus for around two years. Could you say taking your time helped getting a better final product?
Frank: Yes, we took our time on this album. We really wanted to make the right choices this time. And also we choose to not use a lot of ideas. We didn’t throw them away but, we were very selective with them. We also took the time to experiment with new sounds and way of recording things. We also wanted the album to be more coherent, so the lyrics will fit the music (and visa versa). These things take time, and I’m glad we took this time, because we are very happy with the result!
– On this new record we can find long songs such as «Paralyzed» or «Meltdown». I’ve always thought this kind of songs show your great atmospheres and the big role they play on your music…
Frank: We wanted to make music as natural as possible, without any pressure from the outside world. It became clear that the songs went in a more escapist direction, with room for experiment and a journey in our own emotional world. Its just what we do best I guess.. playing songs without any limits (time wise and in sense of experimentation)
– And with such atmospheres you manage to evoke certain feelings on the listener. What kind of emotion did you want to express with this new piece?
Frank: To be honest, the songs developed themselves. That is because they are evolved in a very natural way. We didn’t think about track length or typical song structures neither in what kind of emotion it should be, we just simply played. On this album it all came out very good I think. We also want it not to be boring, and it had to sound as honest and personal as possible. But I think we just learned to avoid to ‘plan’ this so to speak, so we didn’t think about that issue at all.
– «Disclosure» is a really dynamic CD, based on Rock but with certain psychodelic hints and electronic elements. Is diversity something important for THE GATHERING?
Frank: yes for sure! We love music in all its forms and formats, and that is why want to express ourselves in such amount of different dimensions.
– In fact I’d dare say on this new album we can find more electronic elements than ever. Was this how you envisioned the record since the beginning?
Frank: Same like I said before, we don’t think a lot about that when we start writing. But we all do love electronic music a lot! We listened in the past a lot to: Kraftwerk, Can and other Krautrock bands. But also: Portishead, and Massive Attack. There are also great things going on nowadays: acts like Justice, Royksopp and Caribou are things I listen to a lot.
– I personally think «Disclosure» has a really personal and introspective feeling to it, both musically and lyrically. What do some of the lyrics on this album deal with?
Frank: Lyric wise this is a very personal album, written by our singer Silje Wergeland. The lyrics are based on real events and deal about things Silje experienced in different kind of relationships. The lyrics are very honest and genuine and I think the listener can identify themselves with them, because they are about things we all have to deal with sometimes in life.
– The cover artwork also has a strong personality and it’s just as inspiring as your music. Would you mind to tell us how did you work on it and who crafted it?
Frank: We knew the artist Carlos Vergara Rivera from Chile for a while. At some point we just got into his artwork more and more that we asked him to create something for the new album. I think he did a fantastic job. The girl, surrounded by her own mystical nature, lives in a mechanical and material world. She has to cope with all the shitty things from the outer world, but she can do it by being creative and listening to her inner self. well euhm something like that.. I think it represents our feelings for this album perfectly, so we are very very glad with the artwork.
– «Disclosure» is your second album with Silje. I guess her first album with the band was more of an adaptation process so do you think now,that I guess hey may feel more comfortable within THE GATHERING, has done an even better job on the record?
Frank: yes, true, But we also took more time to write the songs together now. When Silje joined the band in 2008 we already had a lot of songs ready. Now we started from scratch and she was involved right from the beginning of the writing process.
– All this about «Disclosure» being said; how could you describe this opus in just 3 words?
Frank: pff, its hard to describe it in 3 words, but I’ll give it a try: deep – utterance – colorful
– You started back in 1989 playing a totally different music style, and you have not only evolved playing a different style, but you have also proved to do it with each new record. Is this evolution synonymous for personal growth (not just musical or artistical growth)?
Frank: I guess so, over the years you’ll get older and your taste changes to.. Its like tasting olives: when I was a kid I hated them, they tasted really horrible in my world at that time. But I learned to appreciate the taste and now I love them! It’s a bit the same with music I guess.. when you get older your musical horizon will broaden itself, and therefore also the creativity. Each record we made through the years is a quest for a new sound a new adventure. I don’t know its just in our genes, so to speak..
– In fact throughout these last 20 years things have changed a lot, for instance Internet has had a huge impact on the whole music world. What are your thoughts on new technologies?
Frank: The internet has indeed changed a lot. People download new music from the net like it is water from the tap.. A lot of hard work is being judged and easily deleted like a post it memo.. But the internet brought also good things for creative musicians. You can now share your music very easily with thousands of people without any help or interference from record companies or hot shot managers. You can even make some money (if you are really good) with it all by yourself (Bandcamp for example). Internet makes it also possible to make music together regardless your distance to each other. Also: the direct contact with your fan-base has grown into great possibilities thanks to social media the last few years. (Myspace, Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter, LastFM Youtube, etc)
– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
Frank: We are going to do some live shows in Holland Januariy and February 2013. We hope to play some live shows in Europe to in 2013.
– That has been everything from my side, thank you once more for your time. If you want to add some final words; last lines are all yours.
Frank: Stay slow!
