WARDRUNA

Guardian of secrets

-I'm also dying to ask you about some of those traditional instruments you made yourself exclusively for „Runaljod” trilogy recordings. Where did you get that knowledge? Could you elaborate on this?
I have made the drums that I use one the album. Framedrums with hides from deer. I have also made a Goathorn and more instruments are in process. This knowledge I have got through reserch and experimenting.

-Some of them you bought in stores. Was it hard to get what you needed?
Yes some of them are really hard to find but luckily there are still some people left making these grand old instruments.

-Which of those old instruments has the most unique vibe in your opinion?
Maybe the Goathorn/Bukkehorn with it´s sore melancholic and ancient sound.

-You played almost all the instruments on this album which is quite impressive. Did you take any formal lessons on each of these instruments when you started out or are you self taught?
I am self taught. Learning these instruments has been a slow process that has taken alot of time, effort and off course alot of patience.

-The album was produced and engineered at your own studio Fimbulljóð. Could you tell me a few words about that studio, its location, environment, equipment, stuff like that...
The studio has had several different locations but at the moment it is located in the centre of Bergen. It is a fairly simple studio that is equipped well enough for the type of work I am doing now, both for the indoor and outdoor recordings.

-Working on this album you collaborated with Gaahl, female vocalist Lindy Fay Hella and hardanger fiddle player Hallvard Kleiveland. How did they become a part of the project? How do you see their contribution? How have they affected WARDRUNA's sound and style?
When I started working on Wardruna in 2002 it was only natural for me to include Gaahl in my conceptual thoughts and ideas, him being a close friend as well as a huge recource when it comes to knowledge on the runes and Norse history. As an artist he has a great ability to become at one with what he is aiming to express which is a quality that most recordings can make good use of. Lindy Fay Hella, I had wanted to work with for a while given her unique, fantastic voice which I feel fits perfectly with the whole expression of Wardruna. Hallvard Kleiveland who plays Hardangerfiddle on two of the songs is a young very talented musician known for his soulful way of handling his instrument. There has not been any specific criterias in the recruiting process, just intuition and gut feeling.

-Lindy Fay Hella vocal parts just take my breath away, she is absolutely brilliant! Could you give me some more info about her?
She is a very experimental artist has broad specter of genres and musicians she has worked with. In addition to electronic projects such as Sound of Sotra and Ullangensa she has collaborated with some some of the most merited conteporary folk/jazz musicians in Norway.

-Are you going to collaborate with Gaahl, Lindy and Hallvard on the next parts of „Runaljod” trilogy as well? Any plans for other guests appearances?
Yes I have some other persons in mind as well for the next two albums but I don't think I want to elaborate this now.

-You've probably started working on the next part of "Runaljod" trilogy. What can you tell about? What should we expect from "Yggdrasill" and "Ragnarok"?
Both the runes and story/agenda on each of the albums differs and there will certainly be difference and progression in throughout the trilogy but they will all, to a certain degree, follow the same concept and instrumentation.

-WARDRUNA's music was featured as a soundtrack in a documentary movie „True Norwegian Black Metal” (that was actually my first opportunity to listen to your music) and fitted very well to the alienated and gloomy feeling of the movie. Was it good experience for you? Would you be interested in making some commercial soundtracks in the future?
Yes I most definitely wish and plan to work more with making music for film.

-What have you learned while recording of "Runaljod" first part, that you can teach to the others? What advice do you have for young musicians following your footsteps? If someone asked you how to do it, what would you say?
Everything I know about studiowork as well as handling the instruments I use in Wardruna, I have learned in the process of making this album. It has been a "learn as you go" process that has demanded alot of patience in order to stay true to the concept and my original idea. So if I was to give any advice it would be to be patient and willing to pay the price to get your visions realized. Be ambisious!

-What's next for you, when can we expect to see the next chapters of the trilogy?
My whole way of composing for Wardruna is very time consuming and I hope to have the album finnished sometime within year 2010.

-Some time ago on band's website you published a footage from your live performance on the Norwegian talk show (!) „Store Studio”. Are there any plans for more live appearances? A regular tour is possible?
Yes I am very happy that they wanted us to play there. The show is a very serious and credited show. We are now working on a live show that will have its premier on this years Inferno festival in Oslo. There are no concrete plans for touring yet but who knows...

-OK, that's all. Thank you very much for the interview! Can't wait for the next releases of WARDRUNA. Keep on going!
Thank you! Til árs ok fridar


www.wardruna.com
www.myspace.com/wardruna