Midwinter - Interview Nadine Sandfort / V.U. and Mordan / Midwinter
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Let´s start with the common introduction: Please introduce the band to the readers.
MORDAN: The band was founded in 1998 by guitar player Esther and keyboard player Tom. Shortly after that, bass player Andi, the former vocalist Jörg and former drummer Patrick joined the band. After a "few" rehersals and some gigs, through which the band could make their first steps into the Metal underground scene, the first CD „Loss Of Light" was forged in 1999. In winter 2000, after Jörg left the band, I, Mordan, became the new singer. After a lot of concerts and the publication of our second CD „Astral Mirrors" in november 2003, we can proudly assert that the work was worth it and that we became a fixed part of the local Metal scene. Of course we are working constantly on boosting our publicity level. As we are not "labeled" yet, we have to do all the promotion by ourselves.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:How did you came up with the name "Midwinter"? Was it the result of long discussions or came it up to your mind in a certain mood ? Does it have a special meaning ?
MORDAN: That we chose the name Midwinter had several reasons.On the one hand it indicates an important heathen feast: Midwinter. On the other hand this name contains a lot of musical facets of the band:cool and fast parts, which sweep like a blizzard over the land. Atmospherical and melodic passages, which remind you of a glittering winter forest or of the touching melancholy of the moonlight on frozen lakes. Triumphal parts, on which in the listener´s imagination, a battle on freezing fields takes place.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:On your homepage you describe your style as Black Metal. Are you in any connection to the Black Metal scene ? What do you think of the idealistic and narrow-minded scene in Norway on the one hand and their attitude towards "commercial" bands like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir on the other hand ?
MORDAN: We describe our style as "Black Heavy Metal", as those two parts dominate in our music. Although some other metallic elements flow into our music, we agreed on this description. The questions of "true" Black Metal and "commercial" bands never was that interesting to me.I think, you cannot define the description of commerce, as everybody defines it for his own aims differently. Everybody should do as he likes. I decide for myself, which music and which band I appreciate and which not. I listen to Darkthrone, Burzum ( the first three Cds without the political shit ) and co. as well as to "commercial" things. The main point is, that the music touches me. And this can only be done by bands, who are putting their heart´s blood into the work they are doing. If they are "commercial" or not, I don´t give a fuck ! Most bands, who describe themselves as "true", offer me a a great comedian entertainment, haha !
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:Concerning your lyrics: do you write them together or do you have a chief?
MORDAN: For the mainpart of the lyrics Esther, Andi and I are responsable. All three of us have more or less the same taste concerning the choice of the topics, but everybody has his/her own style in writing.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Which topics do you write about and where do you get your inspiration from ?
MORDAN: My favourite topics are things like lucid dreaming, astral voyages, reincarnation, nightmare-grotesque sceneries, the nameless horror from the accursed catacombs beyond time (Lovecraft rules!) ..... I get my inspiration from different things, like literature, music, movies, long walks through nature and my twisted imagination.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Does the music or the lyrics come first when you write a song ?
MORDAN: It differs. In most cases, the music comes first.Esther, Andi and Tom are responsable for it in first case. Than the one who shall write the lyrics gets a sample, so he can start writing. Sometimes a lyrical concept is already existing and the music and the atmosphere are adapted to it. But there are also some songs, who were born in the rehersal room, which is always a pretty funny thing, as nobody knows how the result will sound like. „Evoking the Grotesque" is such a birth for example ...
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Why do you sing in English and not in German ?
MORDAN: The English language is rounder and it´s easier to speak. It´s easier to get it into the listener´s ears.Furthermore we also have some fans outside of Germany and we want that our lyrics are comprehensible for everybody. Personally I like, when I buy a new CD, to read the lyrics while I´m listening to the CD. It fits into the overall picture, I think. Furthermore our lyrics make up a part of the atmosphere of our particular CD.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: You´ve done some shows up to now. Which were the experiences you made ?
MORDAN: For me, our gigs are always like an orgasm. There is nothing more honest than rocking with a wild crowd. There is hair flying and bodies are sweating in the smoky venue.I also would perform in front of three people as long as they have fun ( which really happened in the beginning of our band history ). Up to now we have only made good live experiences. Sure, there were also gigs, where the action in the audience was not that big, but after all, it always rocked. Thanks, folks !
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:You´ve had some line-up changes in the past. Do you think the current line-up will remain for the future ?
MORDAN: The changes in the line-up were, up to now, my entrance as the vocalist in 2000 and, not long time ago, the entrance of our new drummer Flo, who definately makes a good work ! You never know if the line-up will be the ultimate, as you never know what can happen in the future. But we hope that it remains, as the current line-up fits musically and personally.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:How is the connection between the musicians outside the band ? Do you only make music together or do you also hang out together in your private lifes ?
MORDAN: Besides making music together, we also meet on week-ends to drink.That´s how I met the band in the past- by making party. Drinking together holds the band together and it is easy to do promotion, hehe !
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:Do you see your band more as a hobby or do you plan to make a profession out of it ?
MORDAN: Well, I think the "fun factor" should be prior. That doesn´t mean that we don´t take it serious what we do, but it should remain informal and give you pleasure.Of course it is every musician´s dream to live someday only out of your selfmade music, but we all have our jobs and that´s why the band is only an avocation at the moment. I think that I would make the band , if I had the chance, my main occupation.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:You produced your albums by yourselves. Do you have a CD contract in prospect in the future ?
MORDAN: The first CD "Loss of light" was recorded in a friend´s studio. The result was okay, but you can hear that, at that time, we didn´t have a lot experiences when it came to production.But we had the oppurtunity to integrate a little but nice studio into our rehersal room. So we had the chance to get involved with the technical finesses and problems and to use the experiences in the next production. The result is our second CD "Astral Mirrors", which sound became a lot better than in "Loss Of Light". We could take a lot more time to go into details until we were satisfied with our work ( a big praise to Andi again, who did most of the work).Furthermore we caught the chance of proffesionel mastering, which also pushed the sound quality a lot. But we are still searching for the "right" label, which really helps us on.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Which bands do you listen to ? Do you have idols and what are your musical influences ?
MORDAN: I mostly listen to the Death-, Black- and Thrash Metalheroes of the late 80´s and early 90´s, who mainly influenced me ( and still do ). But I also like to listen to things of the non-Metal universe, like Neofolk, electronic stuff, classical music ( mainly soundtracks). But I also like new stuff like Norah Jones or Franz Ferdinand. At the moment I listen to System of a down, who I really like.I get my inspiration from different musical styles. Idols....mh, hard to mention. There are some people who I appreciate because of their attitiude and their heart´s blood, for example Satyr, who has besides his band ( including projects ) his own label, through which he also supports unknown bands.Or Peter Tägtgren, a crazy one, who only lives for the music. There are some other personalities and I would like to show my appreciation for them on this place, but I don´t want to annoy anybody. Okay, just a few...Hail Proscriptor, Lemmy, Tom Angelripper, King Diamond, Mille Petrozza, Snake, Christofer Johnsson, Chuck Schuldiner, Trey Azagthoth, Warrel Dane, Blackheim, Dan Swanö, L.v.Beethoven......
VISIONS UNDERGROUND: Is there a band you would really like to go on tour with ? Or a festival you absolutely wanna play at ?
MORDAN: I would like to tour with „Eläkeläiset", because fun and drinking like hell are for sure than, haha. But I don´t mind with whom we perform, as long as it rocks and the boys and girls are no assholes. Most of the bigger festivals became quite expensive, so that the choise isn´t that easy anymore. But we will play at the Blackside Festival in Hunsrück on July 3rd for sure. We are working on more gigs.
VISIONS UNDERGROUND:You got the last words:
MORDAN: Well, thank you very much for your interest in us and for this interview, which was fun! For more infos visit our hompage www.midwinteronline.de and listen to our current album „Astral Mirrors".And furthermore come to our next gigs and have fun there, we are looking forward to that ! Keep the black flame burning inside!!! sincerely yours Mordan from Midwinter
NADINE SANDFORT / V.U.
