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Every
song on Njord has an own identity, straight from the heart.
Back in 2004 when I met Liv Kristine
for the first time, I couldn’t foresee that some years later
LEAVES’EYES would bring their sound so much to perfection, like on
their third album ‘Njord.’ In compare with their debut ‘Lovelorn’ (2003)
the dreamy atmosphere is now grown in a bombastic and intense journey.
The band worked for the first time with a real Choir. In November the
‘Beauty & The Beast’ tour begins to promote their new album live.
When Liv Kristine calls, she just
received good news: her ENT doctor (ear, nose and throat specialist – SD)
told her that she still has a perfect hearing. Many musicians have the
risk that over the years they get problems, she was worried, but luckily
there is nothing wrong. It is like an old friend on the other side of
the line, and with much laughing and enthusiasm we share some new
developments.
Frankly the front woman shares her
thought about interviews: “It is difficult to answer email
interviews. I have to be creative with typing my answers on the same
questions. I try to give different answers, to make it a bit personal.
“
New developments
In 2007 an earthshaking period for
Leaves’Eyes started. Liv Kristine mentioned the pressure of the DVD
production and new band members.
Liv Kristine: “In
2007 we also started with ‘Njord’ (2009). At the same time we had to
build a new studio in the countryside where we live. Before that we
rented a studio, forty kilometres away. During the movement, techniques
broke down and we needed new computers. Also the production
from the DVD was a break in
the song writing. That is why it took a bit longer than we expected.
”
The band needed a peaceful time after
the long touring period to sit down and write new material: “Thorsten
Bauer (Guitarist Atrocity, Liv Kristine, Leaves’Eyes) is the main
composer. We were working in the studio every day. We have two recording
rooms, so it is also possible to work with other bands at the same time.
”
Her husband Alexander Krull (vocalist
Atrocity, Leaves’Eyes) is also the producer of this album and worked
with bands like Elis and End Of Green.
Liv Kristine: “In 2007-2008 there
was a lot of touring, and also we had to find a new drummer. All
together it was a busy time. 2009 will be even more extremely. I am very
proud of the boys. It costs 100 sleepless nights but it was totally
worth it!”
Involving Family
In compare with other artists Liv
Kristine decided not to keep work and family totally separated. The
Mastersound Studio is a big factor in the changing process over the
years:
Liv Kristine: “We have an own studio, not so
far from home. It is easier to include family in the music business. The
main reason to involve my family is that my husband and I have the same
dream: We both
want to live from music and have a family. Now it is like a second dream
comes true! It is such a luxury, and such a fine thing. There is always
somebody making music in this house!”
You are the front woman, so the big
boss of Leaves’Eyes. How is that working in the band and at home? She
starts to laugh and is as modest as always:
“I am so proud of us! We took so much
time and effort in the band. We suffered more than planned with ‘Njord.’
I am not a woman who says ‘Act like my rules, otherwise no diner.’ When
we are working on an album Alex is the producer: that is his profession.
I give him advice when he asks for it. It is not that we bring work home.”
Isn’t it hard to keep work and private
separate? There is a risk to talk about a recording process all the
time?
Liv Kristine: “It is easy to bring
issues at home, but we also need a private life. We are trying to have a
good structure and it works. In the morning I bring my son Léon to the
day-care and then I start to work on the music. It is simple: when he is
there, I don’t work. That is a rule and I stick to that. It is a good
way of planning.”
Being Professional
She sounds a bit amazed when she
starts about the production of ‘Njord’: “It is the biggest and
longest one I ever did. We wanted to have a real orchestra and choir. We
worked on each song till it had an own identity. I don’t want to do
half-hearted things, because that doesn’t work. We are professionals and
perfectionists. So we had a 40 person-orchestra conducted by Victor
Smolski from Rage, who helped us with that. It was totally new
experience. Still we did the mixing at home to make it work with the
guitar sound.”
You learned a lesson with the new
album?
Liv Kristine: “Yes we become better
technicians, and also on other levels we have more experience now. Alex
is our producer, but the others including myself, are still learning
about doing the recording and the preparations for the mix. Sometimes
he can’t hear it anymore due to ‘tired ears’ and asks Thorsten and me to
come in for a final word. That is why I am so happy with the good ‘ear
news’ so he can trust me in the mixing advice!”
Concept behind Njord
Not only the music of LEAVES’EYES is
heavier on this album (more technical, more bombastic arrangements) but
also the lyrics are very detailed and needed a lot of research.
Liv Kristine: “Thorsten
wrote a melody into a Celtic tradition like ‘Irish Rain’ and ‘Emerald
Island.’ Those songs needed a concept based on Irish history. When we
recorded those demos I continued my research and went deeper: ‘Why not
bringing old Irish into the songs?’
Also expended my own influences,
like on ‘Les Champs De Lavande’ in French. When I heard the melody it
had immediately an atmosphere of the lavender fields in France. The
Vikings travelled to France, and lavender was well-known in the middle
ages, so it fits perfectly in the story. I make every lyric authentic
and individual. That is why I used eight languages on this album.”
Liv Kristine is very personal in her
music:
“Every music and concept comes from
my heart. I have a classical and metal background. You hear that both in
the songs. The Saga’s is another big passion: I had more books then
shoes when I moved from Norway to Germany. I am interested in history
since the first grade.”
Wider Horizon
A new element on ‘Njord’ is that Liv
Kristine uses her voice different: deeper and with wider soprano timbre,
and not only the soft voice people know from her.
Liv Kristine: “Musically we
discovered a great horizon: our sound goes further and it is more
bombastic. I brought that in the lyrics too. Like in ‘Ragnarok’ or the
single ‘My Destiny.’ It is a step further in the mythical journey. The
one we started on ‘Elegy.’ Some other songs go back to the Middle Ages:
to describe the places where the Vikings travelled. I had to learn
totally new things and that is very exciting.”
What were your main sources for the
research?
Liv Kristine: “There are some good
homepages about the history of the Vikings. And the real books: I can
recommend something like the ‘Introduction to Nordic Mythology’ or
equivalent to that, as a starting point.”
Where the new band members involved in
the whole process?
Liv Kristine : “ Drummer Seven
Antonopolous and Alla Fedynitch on bass, came too late into the band to
influence the production. It was just finished when they joined Atrocity
and Leaves’ Eyes. However, they can bring in some own ideas if they
like for further productions.”
New Solo Album
Liv Kristine has her own solo project
LIV KRISTINE. She is also busy with a new album since ‘Enter My
Religion’ (2006). More on:
http://www.livkristine.de/
“The new solo album is almost
finished. It is clear we are working a lot, everyone who wants to bring
in something is allowed for that. It went very fast soon after the
‘Njord’ production. Guitarist Thorsten Bauer and I sat down, and just
wrote amazing music. It is an inspirational flash and we recorded
everything in one long session.”
Is it different then before?
Liv Kristine: “Normally we record
the vocals in a separate room. This time I sat next to Thorsten with a
shield to protect me from the other sounds coming from outside, to
filter only my voice, and we communicated directly. We recorded each
song ‘in one take’, without cutting and pasting the voice afterwards. On
this album, you can really hear and feel that the songs are ‘alive’ and
‘real’ .”
It sounds like it is totally different
from what you did before, right?
Liv Kristine: “Yes it makes the new
album more personal and close. I only used two or three instruments and
a few rocky arrangements. It is more an individual album. We have to
wait with the release till after the Leaves’Eyes promotion, beginning of
2010 is the expectation.”
Wasn’t it scary to be so close on the
skin of the listener?
Liv Kristine: “I felt a bit more
fragile and naked, because my singing voice comes from deep inside,
however, I do not fear it. I am not afraid of showing you who I am, nor
of critics. I loved ‘Enter My Religion’, but now I see that it was
slightly too polished, sometimes. It was released by a huge major label
with a big campaign. This time I keep it more basic.”
So you want to have it back in your
hands?
Liv Kristine: “I let nobody talk
into my business, I won’t let the big money decide what, how and when to
do things! I have made my bad experience and being a mother and more
grown up and experienced, I want no circus. It is music from the hart
and it’s personal! In both LEAVES’EYES and my solo project you get Liv
Kristine, but my talent, knowledge and voice are wrapped up in different
ways.”
Keep on growing
To bring some light in the
conversation, I start about her amazing opera voice. Was it a hiding
talent?
Liv Kristine: “I was amazed by the
new songs and how the composing process evolved: the music itself makes
how I sing. I have experience in all genres. I was member of a classical
choir, background singer and learned a lot by myself. It started with a
hairbrush in front of the mirror, at the age of six. And the experience
of live shows made me discover other parts of my voice. Maybe I would
take lessons in the future, but this time I walked a new path. It was
not easy but a part of my job. Being an artist means you keep on
growing!”
Is that something you ask from
yourself?
Liv Kristine: “Theatre Of Tragedy
is overtaken by better bands after four years of fame. Shame but that
happens when some of the band members are not able to move on and
develop. In the beginning you are successful, but the rest of the world
isn’t sleeping! There are many bands with good looking girls, so it is
necessary to be critical as a young band.”
What will happen in the new year?
Liv Kristine: “We start touring in
November and next year more Europe, also a USA tour. We will definitely
do some summer festivals. See you all on tour, and it is always nice to
have a special conversation aftershow!”
Check for tour dates:
http://www.leaveseyes.de/
myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/leaveseyespage
Thank word to Napalm Records and Liv Kristine.
(Silvia Deurwaarder)
Members:
Liv Kristine - Vocals
Alexander Krull - Vocals, Keyboards,
Programming
Thorsten Bauer - Guitar
Mathias Röderer - Guitar
Alla Fedynitch - Bass
Seven Antonopoulos - Drums
Former Members:
Martin Schmidt - Drums (2003-2004)
Chris Lukhaup - Bass (2001-2007)
Moritz Neuner - Drums (2004-2007)
Nicholas Barker - Drums (2004-2008)
Peter Hörnung - Drums (2007-2008)
Albums:
(2004) Lovelorn
(2005) Vinland Saga
(2009) Njord
EP’s:
(2005) Elegy
(2006) Legend Land
(2009) My Destiny |
