Ravenheart Music: Interviews

Theatre of Tragedy are a fave band of mine, and I have stuck with them through their changes of musical direction. One reason is that I like all types of music anyway, and I also tend to be open minded regards my
musical tastes, no matter who the band is. Anyway, we at Ravenheart Music have been given the opportunity to ask Lorentz, the keyboard player with Theatre of Tragedy a few questions, so here goes.

Can you tell us Lorentz a little bit about the band, and how it all came together all those years ago?
"Absolutely Dave.... We all came together here in the metal scene, in the Stavanger area of Norway. Three guys had a band and wanted more musicians, simple as that! When we met and started jamming around we just seemed to find this good way to make music and play it. We had a really strong connection and it was great fun. It was very new, not only to us but also to the people around us, and we did things from our own intuition really, with no obvious influences, which was very special...."

Liv Kristine is an awesome vocalist and the split has been pretty well documented. Can you tell readers who may not be in the know, was she pushed or did she jump?
"Well, let's say, after all that was written about it from her side and what we said, there really isn't any doubt - she was pushed. She is a very good vocalist and a talented performer, but it didn’t really work anymore for us all. Sad story, but that’s how things turn out sometimes."

I have always been a fan of the band, even through their differing musical styles. However, have you alienated any fans along the way and if so, is the new album, which seems to be a mix of 'Aegis' and 'The Storm', going a little way to try and win that fan base back?
"Yes, we probably have alienated a lot of fans, but also many have stood by us and we've picked up a lot of new ones along the way. It hasn’t been a 'career move' to do music the way we do, but we have never ever compromised on the music. We have always done the album we want to at every given time. This gives us more satisfaction than selling shitloads of CD’s."

In the past, as we know, you have flirted with Industrial, electro and even pop. And with the band working with Alex Moklebust (front man with Zeromancer) on the latest record, did any fans think that you were heading perhaps towards an industrial club floor type of sound?
"Yeah... I think some might have, yes.... Even though, after all these years, they should realise that they should not expect anything from us in that way at all, Ha! Ha! I know no one who has predicted something about us and was then right about it. Choosing a producer will sometimes give a hint, true...; but if you take “Assembly” for instance, Hilih Hillesma was not really that well known for producing Electro-goth-metal-pop either, so you never know what to expect and neither do we."

Back to the new record, the awesome album cover? Can you tell us more?
"Thank you, we love it also. It's the fantastic work of Thomas Everhard. He'd done some work for us before and we are really satisfied with his stuff, actually. As we listened to the songs on the album and as they became more and more finished, we noticed similarities with all of our previous albums, so we had the idea of including elements from all of them, rolling them all into one. Mr Everhard took the challenge and produced a wonderful cover!"

Anyway, can you let any readers of this site that have not heard the new material yet, know what to expect from this record?
"It is an album to sit and enjoy but also really get into. It is very melancholic and gloomy; not something you would listen to before heading out on to the town.... But the album will definitely grow on you after a few listening sessions. It is also very varied, so you will definitely find something which you will like and possibly things that might unnerve you as well..."

I indeed myself rate the new record (that offers a mix of old and new) very highly. Do you have any fave songs on the album, and was the recording process simple or did it bring major headaches on occasion?
"Not headaches really, but some major work and refinement processes. We usually do not produce at our best unless there is some pressure involved. Some of the songs were finished just in the nick of time..... My faves are "Hollow", "Transition", the title track "Forever Is The World", "Hide And Seek", "Illusion", "Deadland" and "Nine Days Wonder".... Ha! Ha!... That was about half the album, but I can listen to these songs for ages and not grow tired of them!"

I have to be honest and say that Nell Sigland I feel has had to fill an awesome pair of shoes in 2006 after Liv Kristine's departure. How has she settled in? And a question for Nell, I am a fan of The Crest. Are they still a going concern does she know and were they happy at you leaving them?
"Actually, she has settled in pretty nicely and she is one of the boys, so to speak.... She contributes a lot to the band and is a real pleasure to work with. She writes a lot for the band actually, and on this last album, some of the songs were almost entirely produced from her side - together with her husband who wrote all the music for The Crest by the way (which is a fun fact for you!). The Crest, to my knowledge, have had no real concern about Nell joining Theatre Of Tragedy. They just saw it as a positive.... I believe they're still a band, yes..!"

TOT I must say now seem very settled and focused in what they are doing. I assume that this is down to the new vocalist and a return to form with 'The Storm' and 'Forever Is The World'. Would you like to elaborate?
"Yes, I'd agree with that.. We are very comfortable in our situation right now and we thrive in the rehearsal room together. It is a good creative atmosphere, I just wish we could actually be doing the band full time..., that way we could have so much more time to play live and make music. But in the busy life of family, job and studies it is a difficult thing to do, sadly..."

I would give anything to work Ravenheart Music full time, but one does have bills to pay. Anyway, musically, what or who do members of the band listen to when they are chilling out or relaxing?
"It is all so different, and I’m not really updated on what the other ones listen to unfortunately.... For me it would be; Massive Attack, Imogen Heap, Susannah and The Magical Orchestra, White Birch, Tori Amos, Depeche Mode...., etc. and I really like the chill out collections from Hed Kandi."

And do you have any hobbies/projects when not making music?
"Well, for everyone Theatre Of Tragedy (ToT) is our main project and hobby. As we all work or study full time, we use all of our spare time for ToT. Other than that, some of us do workout, socialize, spend time with our families, etc. We're all pretty normal people really. Yeah, and we go out and get pissed some weekends as well!"

I like it! And what are your expectations of the female fronted rock/metal scene as a whole in mainland Europe, the USA and indeed the UK? My personal view is the UK and maybe the USA should open up to this type of music a little bit more. I get a little fed up when I read reviews that say..."this is just another female fronted band". I never hear..."this is yet another male fronted band", when a guy bands record is being reviewed :)
"Yes, that is totally true! I think for a long time, reviewers and “music-know-it-all” faces have been too busy trying to find the new hype-object and always presenting the bands in which they believe in at that very moment, to be the 'coolest' or to be 'the next big thing' in any given genre. They are less focused on good music, more on the best image."

"Of course, how you portray yourself has an impact on how you come across to other people, but music should be the main focus. If not, it will be all show and no talent."

"Also, it's easy for reviewers who do not care for a specific genre, to generalize all bands into one, which is not a professional thing to do. It's quite 'fantastic' to see the power of the media and money in the music business. If you have a big enough apparatus and the right people behind it, you can make almost anything sell and be popular. The pen is more powerful than the sword!"

Well Lorentz, thank you for your time and good luck in all your future endeavours. We at Ravenheart Music UK wish you all the best with the new release. It is a very strong album indeed and although I am not suggesting that your form wavered, it seems to be a return to form nonetheless. I am sure it will do well. Finally is there anything that you would like to say to anybody across the world via this website?
"Thank you so much Dave! And thanks for taking the time to produce this interview for us. We hope that many people will lend an ear to our new album, and I sincerely hope that we will be able to travel around the world to play live for everyone who would like to see us. Cheers!!!"

I love Theatre of Tragedy. Their new album 'Forever Is The World' is quite easily obtainable and is worth checking out. Thanks ever so much Lorentz and all the best.