Ignea (Interview in English)

English Interview by Skype (1st October 2016)

 

Interview with Helle (vocalist, on the middle), Evgeny (keyboardist, behind Helle, on the right) and Dmitry (guitarist, on on the right of Helle)

 
 
Could you introduce yourself and introduce Ignea (style of metal, members…)? 

Helle : On this interview, there are 3 of us: Helle the vocalist, Evgeny, founder, keyboardist and composer, and Dmitry, the guitarist. There is also Xander on bass and Ivan on drums, but they’re not here today. We play Oriental Metal, which is basically heavy sound with some Middle Eastern elements. 

What does exactly mean “Ignea”? 

Helle : It’s the Latin word for “fiery, in flames”. 

We know that the band was founded in 2011 by Evgeny and Dmitry. The band was first known as Parallax, but in 2015, you decided to change the name. I didn’t follow the story as well, but why did you change the name of the band? 

Helle : It is very simple. We changed the name, because there were lot of other bands (about 60) called Parallax as well. And, as our music has been changing, it was the good time to change the name and start the new era for the band.

I see that you’re the first “Oriental metal band” of Ukraine. Is it true? Are there no other “Ukrainian oriental metal band”? 

Evgeny: At the moment, there are a few other oriental metal bands in Ukraine.  For example, our friends Xes Dreams, but they play more symphonic and experimental metal with oriental flavour. But yes, we are the first “real” Oriental metal band in Ukraine. 

Here is a question I like to tell and which is very philosophical. In 2011, why did you decide to found the band? 

Evgeny: Basically, I’m a completely self-educated musician. I never took lessons. I also always wanted to play in a band, but could never learn to play music of other composers. That’s why I decided to compose my own music and eventually found the band. 

Helle : That’s something strange, because our guitarist Dmitry is a classic musician playing piano and organ.

Dmitry: Yes, I am an academic musician, and I play guitar for my soul in IGNEA.

So let’s speak about music. First, you released an EP “Sputnik” in 2013. Could you tell me how is working the writing process? Who writes songs? 

Evgeny: I write most songs, including music, arrangement… Lately, I’ve been sometimes using riffs by other members and arranging them. And now Helle writes most of the lyrics and vocal lines. Usually, I write demo tracks at home and then, we all meet at rehearsals and start playing them.

Which subjects did inspire you? (movies, books, life…?)

Helle : We are inspired by lots of stuff. When we were coming up with our first EP, we were really obsessed with space themes: John Carter movie, Pioneer One series, Mars, space exploration etc. Later, we also got inspired by myths, religions, Middle Eastern culture and so on. So, whatever is on our mind and in our souls, can result in music.

The 22^nd November 2015, this day was special, because you released “Alga” and changed the name of the band as Ignea. There is something that impressed me: it was the symphonic orchestra who played with you (directed by Serhiy Lykhomanenko). This is extremely unusual, with a so young band. How did you succeed to make this collaboration? 

Dmitry: Serhiy is one of my friends. We just sent him our demo and he was so impressed by the intro to the track that he told :"We should make it with an orchestra". So, we all gathered lots of musicians (students, teachers, professional musicians…), all in all 45 people. And this is how the track and video with an orchestra was born.  

I saw that you made collaboration, but with a great musician: Yossi Sassi (Ex- Orphaned Land). How did you contact him? 

Helle : You know, Evgeny is very shy. But when we released “Sputnik”, I suggested that we should show our music to those artists that inspired him to write it. Yossi Sassi was among them. So, we contacted him via email, and he replied that he’d be glad to record a track with us. This is how Yossi Sassi performed guitar solo and bouzukitara parts in “Petrichor”. Bouzukitara is an instrument combining a guitar and bouzuki, and was created by Yossi. 

I also saw that you will open Orphaned Land in Kiev, the 28^th October. Congratulations! I think you’re so happy…

Helle: yes, we’re extremely honoured to open Orphaned Land show. It’s the first time they visit Ukraine. And, you know, Orphaned Land are the fathers of oriental metal, so for us, opening their show is like playing with Behemoth for black metal bands. This is the best thing that can happen with us at the moment. And we’re happy that we’ll meet them in person.

I know this question is very painful, but I’m so curious to know your reaction. When I think about Ukraine, I can’t stop thinking about what’s happening actually with civil war between East of Ukraine, pro Russian, and West. As a metal band, how do you live this situation? Do you think that your music is a therapy/medicine? And personally, how do you live with this situation?

Evgeny: There is no civil war between West and East of Ukraine. There is an occupied territory in the Eastern Ukraine, where lots of our people defend us from Russians. As a metal band, it doesn’t affect us at all. We just don’t perform in occupied territories and will not give shows in Russia, of course.  But for us personally, it’s difficult and heavy, because some of our friends are in army and are fighting against Russians now. Yes, it's difficult...

This event was very important for you, as I saw on Facebook: Jamala’s victory on Eurovision Song Contest 2016, with the song “1944”. Which type of victory it is? The victory of music? The victory of Ukraine? 

Helle: I think that Eurovision Song Contest is a very geopolitical contest. But Jamala’s track “1944” was a real surprise for us, as she is Crimean Tatar and her song has a straightforward connection with our song “Alga”, which is basically sung on behalf of Crimean Tatars who defend their land.

Of course, we hope that you will find a booker who will produce your music. If this guy came to you and said “Ok, you can tour with whoever you want”, which band would you like to choose? Orphaned Land, I guess…

Helle : Honestly, we don’t think about it. It’s a hard question. We are very focused on our album now. And, as it will be much heavier, we will not only suit playing with oriental metal bands, like Orphaned Land or Myrath, but also with female-fronted bands like Otep, for example.

What we’re all waiting for, it is you first album. You said that recording were finished. Mixing is on the way to finish…Did you have any official news to say? 

Helle : We have no release date at this moment, as it all depends on whether we get signed by a label.

Evgeny : We can say that you will have 10 songs (with lots Middle Eastern elements). In these 10 songs, 2 of them will be songs we released a few years ago. The sound will be much heavier, and Helle will be growling there a lot, apart from clean signing.

Do you planned to tour through Europe? 

Helle : This is very hard, because we need visas to travel through Europe. But, we’re feeling very patient. We are waiting till our album will be mixed, send our demos to labels. And of course, we’ll plan the tour to support our new album.

Some months ago, I saw on Youtube that you (Evgeny) were in France with some friends. You were in Nantes. How was your travel? Good?

Evgeny: Yes, it was a good experience. I like this travel and I appreciate your “cuisine” (cooking in French) and your red vine! That’s so pretty good! (laughs)

You said you were in France for Hellfest 2016. What do you think about France? What do you like? Which bands did you see ?

Helle: In fact, the purpose of our travelling to France was visiting Hellfest, so we didn’t travel the country very much. We saw a lot of bands, like Black Sabbath, Rammstein, Primordial, Ghost, Sunn))) and other bands. But of course, we’d be glad to see France once more.

Any favorite’s books, movies, bands…? 

Evgeny: Harry Potter! (laughs)

Helle : Well, our tastes are very diverse. For example, I am much into fashion and like reading Vogue magazines, and, am inspired by books about Ellon Musk, Steve Jobs and other outstanding people at the same time…And yes, we love space movies. 

Now, let's use your imagination. If John Williams died, and if Hollywood proposed you to compose the soundtrack of the next “Star Wars”, would you accept?

Evgeny: No! John Williams is a genius and I think I can’t do something that professional. His music is so complicated. I’m just a guy who composes personal music…But if it was Hans Zimmer, for example, then I’d say yes!

Dmitry : John Williams is a father for all of us. 

A last word to say before conclusion?

Helle : Thank you for this interview ! It’s our first Skype interview, because we usually answer questions via email. So thank you for having us, follow us on social networks and stay tuned for our album. 

A BIG thank you to Helle, Evgeny and Dmitry who answer my questions ! Now, let's stay tuned and maybe, see you soon ! :) Cheers !