WARDRUNA

Guardian of secrets

WARDRUNA is a folk/ ambient musical project founded a few years ago by former GORGOROTH drummer Kvitrafn (real name: Einar Selvik). So far only one album has been produced under the name of WARDRUNA. I mean “Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga”- the first part of a trilogy that will interpret the runes of the Elder Futhark. A few days ago I had an honor to conduct an interview with Kvitrafn himself. It turned out to be a great opportunity to visit his dark, gloomy world of sounds & silence and fathom the mystery of this unique creation.

-Hello Kvitrafn! First and foremost, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to talk about WARDRUNA. I find this band very unique and truly intriguing. Your first album „Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga” is one of the best records I have ever heard in so called ethnic music genre. It turned out great, so you must be really pleased with the final result, mustn't you?
Greetings! Thank you. I am very pleased with how the album turned out!

-There are so many things I'd like to ask you, so I suggest to start our talk from the scratch. Most readers of Metal Portal know you probably from the infamous Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH, and also the first album of super- group SAHG. The other projects you were involved in aren't as well-known as the aforementioned ones. So, would you be so kind as to introduce such acts as SIGFADER, DEAD TO THIS WORLD, DET HEDENSKE FOLK, MORTIFY, BAK DE SYV FJELL and JOTUNSPOR, their current status, biggest achievements and so on?
Sigfader is a black metal band founded by Gaahl and Skagg. The plan with Sigfader is to record and album as soon as we all have time to do so. Jotunspor is a project where King and I recorded an album called "Gleipnirs smeder" which can be described as ambient noisy black metal. Dead to this world is a trash band founded by Iscariah (ex Immortal. Det hedenske folk is a band where Abbath (immortal) originally played drums. I took over his job and we where about to record the debut album but the founder (Tyr) got an injury in both his arms and the band was ended. Bak de syv fjell is folk metal band that only released an 7"EP in 1995. The band might ressurect at some point... Mortify is a death metal band that only released a demo in 1994.

-WARDRUNA is the newest addition to your band's collection. It's also pretty much different compared to the other bands you've played in. Actually, how did you get so deeply interested in folk music? Has it always been like this? Were you born in music family?
Allthough I am mostly known for my metal involvements in various metal-bands, I have allways been very into folk- and world-music as well as music from indigenous cultures. So I guess it was only a matter of time before I would choose this direction which was vrey much a result of me feeling that it was tim someone dealth with these themes on their own term and with the suiting "tools" and focus. Norwegian folkmusic is quite conservative and has too much focus on rules and technique and too little on energy, atmosphere and meaning. Maybe the fact that I had no experiance playing these old instrument and was not ever thought these rules, made me free and able to do things in a different way. Use elements from the folk music to express something much older.

-How much of an impact did your surroundings as a child have on the type of music you create in WARDRUNA?
Well its hard to say excactly what factors that shaped my creative work but my relations with nature is a definitely very big source if inspiration for my music.

-Who are some of the luminaries that inspire your works? Could you name any? Are there any Scandinavian folk bands or artists that impress you and influence your work in some way?
No one in particular, not conciously at least. I like some artist or works such as Mari Boine, Terje Isungset, Hedningarna, Krauka and also more traditional based folk music. I am actually more directly inspired being a part of a rite or walking in nature then from listening to any of these artists.

-What is the meaning of Music in general to you? What is unique about native folk music?
Well, this is a very big question, and the answer depends on how you see music as a term. If we claim that music can carrie out what ever meanings - depending on the sosial or cultural context, we have to ask ourselves at some point what it is that gives music the ability to signify, attract and convey meanings. To seek this musical state of "ur" is an important goal for Wardruna´s expression.


-Once you said there are pretty strong correlations between folk and metal music because those two music styles are very visual. What do you mean by that?
If I said metal, I meant Black metal. They are originally both rooted in the idea of making atmospheres that convey meanings or story not in how good sound you have or how good technique you have.
Folk music has also allways been a huge inspiration for norwegian black metal so there are naturally some obvious similaritys.

-As you might know, in recent years folk influences become very popular and almost „trendy” on the music scene, if you know what I mean. How much of a role does REAL folk art play in the contemporary music, in your opinion?
It`s hard to define whats REAL when you operate with just the term Folkmusic/art, because you have both the traditional aspect as well as the the living/growing aspect to concider. The Irish has made two terms out of this where one is traditional music and one is folk music. I like this way of seing it and believe that folk music/art is off course inspired by the traditional music but is free from all the rules of it.

-How did you get involved in making folk music, playing all those weird instruments, how did it start for you? Do you remember your very first public performance and the first instrument you played on?
As for the musical side of starting Wardruna, it was probably a result of there not being any music like this, at least not originating from the norse culture and tradition. Appart from some metal bands and some folk and jazz musicians who dable with the themes, there was nobody who dealth with these themes on their own premises and with both hands. The inspiration and motivation for making this music is off course in coherence with this. I draw alot of inspiration from within as well as the runes themselves and nature. Allthough I am mostly known for my metal involvements in various metal-bands, I have allways been very into folk- and world-music as well as music from indigenous cultures. So I guess it was only a matter of time. I did not plan to play all of these instruments in the beginning but along the way more and more of these grand old instruments came to my attention and its not easy to find musicians who can play them so then it was better to start learning them myself. I played drums on my first performance and drums was also my the instrument I first learned how to play.

-Could you also tell me some more about the idea of forming WARDRUNA? How did you come up with it? What does the word „Wardruna” stand for?
Wardruna is first and foremost a result of me working with sjamanism and norse cultic activities and wanting to musically prtrait some of these things on their own premises. Wardruna means "guardian of secrets".

-What are the most difficult and challenging aspects of what you do in WARDRUNA?
The biggest challenge lies in staying true to the core idea of the whole creating process of the Runaljod trilogy.

-Your debut album „Gap Var Ginnunga” is the first part of trilogy called „Runaljod”. Through the music and lyrics you interpret the runes of the Elder Futhark. Could you tell me some more about it?
The idea is that each rune is unique and beholds different energies, meanings and qualitys. Therefore I use elements, time of year, specific dates, places, sounds and instruments to enhance or compliment the nature of the given rune. You might say that it is the runes themselves who are making the songs and reflecting their qualities and force through me.

-How long did it take to write and record „Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga” album? Was this a difficult process for you and did you face a lot of challenges with the recordings?
The first recordings for the album was actually done early 2003 and Wardruna has since then slowly developed into the musical expression that I have been seeking. I have used alot of time to find the right recipe and balance as well as the right tools for the job.

-Could you tell me some more about writing and recording process for this album? I'm particularly interested how did you catch on tapes all those sounds of Nature? In many people's opinions outdoor sounds made this album so special and beautifully naturalistic...
The biggest difference from a more conventional recording process is that this is much more time-consuming. All the outdoor recordings are of course less convenient and there are many obstacles that you normally don't have to think about, but basically the recordings are carried out just like a normal indoor recording. Mic'ing up trees, stones etc. as well as regular instruments.