Xandria (www.myspace.com/xandria) are not only an awesome German gothic band, but Nils their bassist is a very good friend of mine, as is 'minty' Lisa. 'Minty' - she knows what I mean! Anyway, here is an interview I recently conducted with Nils and his wife & Xandria's singer Lisa.
Dave: Tell me a little about Xandria's history?
Lisa: XANDRIA - as we know it nowadays - was founded in the year 2000 by Marco, who was inspired by the early work of Paradise Lost and Tiamat. We gained a record deal after only two years and signed it on the 12th of December 2002. In the following year 2003 we released our first "real" album KILL THE SUN. RAVENHEART followed in 2004. Two Videos were created from this album: RAVENHEART and EVERSLEEPING. 2005 was our personal year of hard work and crisis: releasing the 3rd album in 2 years was horrible! But, finally, we survived it and we now are proud to present SALOME - THE SEVENTH VEIL to our fans. These are the rough facts, but I can tell you, I could write at least 3 whole books about what happened inbetween!!!
Dave: Your latest album "Salome" I consider to be excellent, can you tell me more about the songs on the record?
Lisa: The songs on this album were written by three persons - marco, Nils and me - so I'll tell you some things about the songs I was involved in. SAVE MY LIFE was written by Marco and me about a close friend who had a bad heartache at that moment. Writing the lyrics for VAMPIRE was quite hard for me, because Marco had a certain wish for the plot ("It has to be about a female vampire!"), but finally I really love that one. I'm quite sure though, I'm never going to write about vampires any more :D...
BEWARE is the oldest song on the album. It was written by me for the debut album, only that then nobody seemed to like it. Somehow it got lost in the depth of Marco's Computer during the following years and suddenly reappeared last October. We had much fun working on it and I'm glad that finally BEWARE takes place on a XANDRIA-album.
SALOME deals with the soul-striptease a musician/singer is in danger to do as soon as he or she acts in public. It is very honest and emotional and it is one of my favourite XANDRIA-songs ever.
Guest singer Mika Tauriainen from the finnish rock band ENTWINE gives our song ONLY FOR THE STARS IN YOUR EYES that special finnrock-touch. I felt it as an honour to work with him.
FIRESTORM is great although I had to write three different lyrics until Marco was satisfied. But he was right: the final one was the best of those. This song is heavy metal and I hope that one day I will be allowed to make some more growls like that one in FIRESTORM.
One of my favourite movie soundtracks ever is taken from THE PIANO. I was inspired by this music when I wrote THE WIND AND THE OCEAN. People often tell me that this song perfectly calms down babies...;)
SISTERS OF THE LIGHT reminds me on SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! It is so much fun to play this song - but I always have to forbid myself to sing it like the BEEGEES would do...
Nils: EMOTIONAL MAN is about what people might see in other persons - in this case Lisa - and about glorifying aspect of another person you don't know at all. It has got a lot to do with the music business in general. And thus, it perfectly fits the underlying theme, if there is such a thing, of the title track's lyrics.
A NEW AGE is our current opening song at our live shows. It's about people promising you heaven on earth to their own benefit. SLEEPING DOGS LIE actually was the first song I wrote for Xandria, but it didn't really fit the "India" mood it had been written for originally. So it ended up on our latest album. In a sense, a very traditional hard rock song which could have been a Bon Jovi output if it had male vocals - and Bon Jovi were a little bit more of a rockband nowadays ... It's got a very sexual undertone and deals with passions which are hard to suppress.
ON MY WAY is about a seemingly one-sided yet strongly sexual relationship. To a certain degree, it may be seen as a counterpart to our song "Black and Silver" on the "India" album, lyricwise. One of my live faves from "Salome".
Dave: Are there any particular meanings to the songs and do you have any preferred tracks?
Lisa: Ooops, I should read all of the questions before answering them. See above.
Nils: Errr ... same with me ... ;-) Preferred tracks? Basically, I love the whole album. But if I am two pick some: Salome, Emotional Man, Firestorm, A New Age, Beware
Dave: Can you give me more info on the "Sisters of Light" (Club Remix)?
Lisa: I really would, but I have none. I only know that there IS a Club Remix which was made by JESUS ON EXTASY (some really nice people!). But as I hate all kinds of remixes (of any song/band) I'm not so interested in these things. (Our manager surely is going to beat me up for this bad promotion... gnaaah ;))
Nils: I do not care. I didn't write the song, I'm not to be heard on that remix and if it wasn't the fact that the name Xandria was on the cover, I would not give a sh.. just like for all the other outputs of this type of music. So dance yourself stupid, remember the band's name, but then do not bother me telling it was the only Xandria song you like ...
Dave: Your previous album "India" is another awesome slab of melodic gothic rock. What is the difference between "Salome" and that one?
Lisa: INDIA was pure bombast metal. SALOME is some kind of "back-to-the-roots-of-XANDRIA". It is much rougher and less polished than INDIA.
Nils: Not much left to be added ...
Dave: Was the recording of this current album simple, or did it give you major headaches?
Lisa: In the beginning we all were very very excited, for SALOME was the first album ever produced by ourselves. But the recording sessions were really relaxed and we loved the fact that we were able to make our own decisions this time.
Nils: For several reasons, this time the actual recording sessions, but also the process of writing songs and recording demos was by far more relaxed and even fun than with the "India" sessions. We were very well prepared when we entered the studio this time. And working together with our engineer Jorg Umbreit was also very relaxing in the most positive meaning of the word.
Dave: What has the reaction been to the album in Europe? I myself am disappointed that the label have not got behind it more in the UK.
Lisa: The reactions have been mostly positive, although we don't really fit into this fairy-fronted-gothic-thing-scheme. We are us. And, well, we would love so much to work with the UK and other countries, but the world is big, the money is few and it is hard to conquer a foreign music scene when not being a HipHop/Pop-Act. We're trying our best...
Nils: There's not too much sense in spotting other people's mistakes all of the time ... though I definitely might sense some. We are glad that the band still exists, that we can record albums and play for our fans. And with a little bit of fortune, we may play to even more people in the future. We'll see. Latest good news: The new album will finally be released in Russia. Just in case someone is interested ...
Dave: I love this style of music. What is it about this style of music that you yourselves find so unique?
Lisa: Oh, that's hard to explain. If somebody told you: I love the english language, how did you come to speak it? What do you like on it? You would probably search for words like: It's my native language, I didn't really decide to speak it. It's just me. And it's just the same with us and our style of music. We grew up in it.
Dave: Have you been involved with any other projects over the years that you would like to let us in on?
Lisa: I worked with some bands, such as SECRET DISCOVERY, CELTIC FROST, CHAMBER or THE DOGMA. But these were only recordings for some songs.
Nils: Before joining Xandria I released two EPs with a band called Visible Touch. Maybe that band also changed my life. I simply loved it and was down to the ground when we split. Beside that, I recorded a full-length album with a progressive metal band called Mind Masque. After joining Xandria there have been no other projects I worked with. Bass player wanted, anyone?
Dave: Despite Within Temptation making waves here recently (thanks to Roadrunner getting behind this band), the female fronted rock/metal scene here in the UK could and should be better. What are your expectations of the rock scene as a whole in mainland Europe and indeed the UK?
Lisa: Well, the gothic-hype in Germany just collapses. That might sound negative, but I think it isn't. It just means that the people who now call themselves fans of XANDRIA really are fans and not just followers of fashion. For the UK I hope that there will be no such hype. Bands break to pieces about it!
Dave: Would you hope to tour here again in the UK, perhaps other than London?
Lisa: Short but honest answer: YESSS!!!
Nils: Dave, as you know me, the answer can only be YES!
Dave: Musically and spiritually who are your inspirations?
Lisa: My mother who gave the world of piano-keys to me. In more than one way I wouldn't exist without her.
Nils: Musically, I think I have been heavily influenced by the strong melody lines of The Beatles (still one of my faves) and Abba (not that much, anymore ...) in my childhood. And then it was KISSin' time. And it still continues ... There's just one other band I can put so much devotion into, and that is Iron Maiden. Besides, do I have to mention I really love Bruce Dickinson's solo outputs? If your time and space is limited, better don't get me talking on that ... Anyway, I do not think both band's impact on my nowaday's creative work is very strong. It's more like a home or a close friend you always love returning to or meeting after a while of absence. But, of course there is so much brilliant music around. I guess the subconscious is influenced by far more than we know.
Dave: What have you learned about the music industry so far and what tips can you give to others?
Lisa: The most important thing I learned is, that it's better journalists hate you than they don't even care about you. So stay true to your ideals and always be sure that you can believe in what you do.
Nils: When I was younger I did recognize many of my favourite bands lamenting on how f..d up this business can be. I recognized but, since I was not very much into it, didn't quite get the point. I always thought (and every now and then still do) they had the wrong jobs. But, getting older (not necessarily wise by that time) I had to learn they were not wrong all of the time ... Just as Lisa said, you always should and will have to ask yourselves "Is this really us?" or "Is this something we really want to do?". Believe me, folks, it is harder than it seems ...
Dave: I have to ask this. Do being husband and wife in a band have it's problems?
Lisa: Yes, indeed... again and again we both have to answer this question... :D... no, honestly, being married is a throughout positive thing for us, as we always have a part of home, of family with us. We never fight on tour. We don't necessarily have the same opinion about everything and we respect that. And there is always a person I can totally trust in - perfect!
Nils: I cannot really imagine touring without her anymore ... She is my home and my life.
Dave: Finally is there anything that you would like to say to the fans in Europe and in particular the UK?
Lisa: See you soon and excuse my bad english...! :)
Nils: To Europe: There are still far too many white spots on the map - I hope we will have the opportunity to play right where you are in the not too distant future. As for the UK: I already mentioned it speaking to Dave some time ago: Thanks for giving us "Fawlty Towers" and Iron Maiden. I hope you realize my twinkling eye - I really adore the aforementioned, but of course would never reduce you to a comedy series and a rock band (even if both are unique). Both shows we played in London were fantastic and there's little I would love more than playing the UK again! To all of you, wherever you are: Get your copy of "Salome" and be a pain in your local promoter's neck just to get us to your places! Cheers!
Dave Smith (Aug 1, 2008)