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Hi,
first off I just want to congratulate you on your new album. To
new fans could your please fill us in on the history behind it
all?
MZ -
Okay, here we go…
There have been 6 EverEve full length albums so far…
Seasons (1997, Nuclear Blast), Stormbirds (1998, Nuclear Blast),
Regret (1999, Nuclear Blast), E-Mania (2001, Massacre), .enetics
(2003, Massacre)…. And now: Tried & Failed (27th
of June 2005, Massacre)
Right
now EverEve consists of…
MZ – voice &
keys, .havoc – guitars, OQ – bass and Martin C. – drums
& percussion
There
are some more people taking part in the “E-team”, too,
supporting us and our vision, for example Synthesizer-Guru Joerg
Huettner, who in the meantime also established himself in the
film-industry by working on major motion picture soundtracks (like
Catwoman, The Ring 2, Batman begins, ...).
There
have been some changes in the line-up since we started becoming a
“real” band in 1996 and throughout the years there have been
tons of positive events… and unfortunately some not-so-positive
experiences, too. We’ve been touring Europe several times, also
the U.S., played more than 500 single shows and festivals around
the globe, released a home video, numerous sampler contributions
and made our first appearances on national TV with the release of
“.enetics”. So a lot has happened… maybe we should write a
book about it one day…;-))
How
has your new album been received by the media?
MZ -
Actually results have been very extreme this time, there have been
some really positive reactions but also some rather critical
reviews. The variety of opinions seems to be bigger this time,
either you love the new album or you hate it… There seems to be
nothing in between. This is something I appreciate because it
means that the album “takes” a lot of the listeners… you
need a lot of time and emotional attention to “feel” this
album. It is no easy-listening sound… Love it or hate but do not
ignore it!
And…
of course I am happy if the press results are good but more
important for me is the opinion of the people out there buying the
CD… and these reactions are really really good.. the fans like
the new songs a lot. Some of them even consider “tried &
failed” being the best EverEve-Album so far… So this is what
is important for me… not the results of press critics and sound
checks…
I
know artists are not happy to categorize their music, but how
would you describe your music to an outsider?
MZ
-
We try to capture our latent-melancholic, to the core cynical and
sarcastic, awareness of life and pack it into some hard, intense
music. Life has many colours and though being rather
“dark-greyish” and focussing at the shady side of the sunny
side most of the time EverEve is not depressive. We try to catch
the images of life and create a musical vision…
One
day a guy from the press called it “Cyber Goth Metal” as there
are some futuristic elements, hard guitars and a dark atmosphere…
You are right, I do not like categories because life cannot be
categorized but I think this label “Cyber Goth Metal” is not
bad…
Where
does your inspiration come from, both musically and lyrically?
MZ
-
When we start writing new songs we do not have any plans or
concepts what the new stuff should sound like. We just start
making melodies, looking for some ideas, thinking about
arrangements etc. For EverEve it is extremely important to be
open-minded without any stylistic or conceptual boundaries. This
might be the reason why every album is more or less different from
the other ones… For us, every new album is like a journey… You
pack your stuff (i.e. the new musical ideas) and then you start
walking… of course you are influenced by the experiences you
have made during former journeys… but the most interesting and
exciting trips are those taking you to new shores… and with
“tried & failed” this has been the case, too. It turned
out to be an epic, orchestral album, musically and emotionally
influenced by impressions gathered on our first concert journey to
Russia
in the spring of 2004. I think the new album is less
“aggressive” than “.enetics” but it has become a really
intense and emotional album. Its basic feeling is deep, desperate
sometimes, suffering... yet at the same time smooth, warm and
infatuated. It is like a soundtrack made for full moon nights…
What
topics do you deal with in your lyrics and why?
MZ
-
Lyrically I am inspired a lot by personal experiences but also by
poems (like this time some poems by British Writer Emily Dickinson),
by movies and by observing other people…
This
time the words of the songs deal with the bittersweet aftertaste
of failure. Human beings are always driven by an also unfulfilled
urge for sexual, emotional and spiritual comfort, contentment and
domination. Although often resulting from failing the scheme of
life is new strength. Self-pity turns into comforting woefulness...
and ultimately into defiant energy. So once again…clouds turn to
sun… but we wanted to catch the moment right before this
transformation…. as the way you feel being torn between despair
and new hope is one of the most intense emotional states of a
human being… but it is not a negative view… the album is not
depressive because every failure means the chance for a new and
better beginning.
Who
has produced and mixed the album, and are you pleased with the end
result?
MZ
-
Being an artist you are never 100 percent satisfied… there is
always something you discover what could have been better,
“harder” etc… but you have to come to end doing a production
because otherwise it will never be finished. Actually we spent a
lot of time for the production this time as there are so many
details, complex arrangements and different tracks that it has
been hard really hard work. Especially the orchestral arrangements
needed a few weeks before everything turned out to be as we wanted
it to be.
The
album has been produced once again by Gerhard Magin (e.g. Theatre
of Tragedy, Crematory, Totenmond, etc.) who also did a great job
on the last 3 albums. He is part of the “E-team”, too, as he
is a strong supporter of EverEve and he is able to
“understand” our songs. Corresponding to the musical style the
production is a little bit “softer”, too, this time… but the
songs needed this kind of warm and emotional sound…. And of
course the album is still far away from being a pop-album…;-)
Who
has done the artwork? And how important do you feel it is to have
a great cover?
MZ
-
This time we also put more emphasis on the visualising of the
musical and lyrical content. We managed to work together with
Markus Richter and Cane Hoyer, two internationally well known
artists of avant-garde and erotic-art, who participated
exclusively and for the first time in a music-production, also
made sure that “Tried & Failed” became a unit acoustically
and optically. We are very proud of the visual concept, creating a
unique atmosphere of dark erotic that is deeply connected with the
content of the lyrics.
We
knew that some people would react in a negative way because of the
“sexual” approach of the artwork but we do not care about that.
It fits perfectly to the sound and the words so why being
“political correct” just for the sake of itself…
Do
you have any touring plans?
MZ
-
There are some plans but first we will wait some time to get an
impression about the reactions to “tried & failed”. At the
moment it is far too early to give any statements about sales etc.
So nothing has been fixed so far. Playing live is very important
for EverEve but doing extensive tours has become more and more
difficult these days. The music business is on its knees and so
are the concert promoters. So for some years we have a new
strategy… We do not play unless the conditions are adequate. I
do not refer to money! We do not do this whole thing to get money
but we want to give the audience a full professional EverEve show
because THEY have paid to see a professional show… so during the
last years we only played when the organization (e.g. light,
sound, etc.) has been sufficient. This means that there have been
less EverEve shows but the shows have been better, being a big
party for the fans and for us giving them one hell of a
performance… So we will see what will happen in autumn and in
winter. So far we have got some really cool offers to play some
shows in
England
and
Spain
… and hopefully we will be able to come to
Denmark
one day because we have never been in your beautiful country but
we know Danish beer and we get some nice response by Danish
fans…;-)) so if you know a concert promoter…;-))
How
do you feel about the co-operation with your label, and are you
satisfied?
MZ
-
The Cooperation is good. One important reason for us to sign to
Massacre Records has been that we are one of the biggest bands on
their rooster. Another reason has been that there are not too many
band of our genre on Massacre Records… so they can give us full
support… Our promo lady Iris Bernotat is very important, too, as
she supports us very well… I am drowning in interviews, signing
sessions, special events, radio shows, etc…. but it is okay…
that’s the way we like it!
The
internet is a very important source for many music fans ? how do
you use the internet and how important is it for you and other
bands?
MZ
-
For us the internet is the most important means of communication
with our fans all over the world. Actually we are quite proud
meeting E-Maniacs all over the world… There are some places
where we are even far more popular than in
Germany
. For example there are many people from Eastern European
countries and from South European and South American countries who
are really into our music… We appreciate this! And the best way
to be in contact with this cool people is our homepage www.evereve.net.
When you take a look at our forum you will meet people from all
over the world… and you will have to chance to get in contact
directly with the band members…
The
only thing that is not so positive concerning the internet is of
course the problem of downloading music. I can understand all the
people claiming that CDs are too expensive but downloading means
the death of music scene! Especially for bands like EverEve who
spend every fucking Euro we get for the production of a new album
it is really hard… you can download music for free… but you
can not record and produce an album for free…
How
do you see the metal scene at the moment?
MZ
-
I think situation gets better. The last years have been really
hard for every music scene. But hard music becomes more popular
again, at least here in
Germany
. I really appreciate this… But there is still too much plastic
dance floor MTV music clones around us…so I think it is
important to stand together in order to making “real” music
more popular. And it is important to be open-minded within the
rock, metal, Goth, Independent whatever genre. I do not care if
someone is a “poser” or a die-hard black metal fan anymore…
The most important thing is that you are really into handmade,
“real” music…
For
bands like us the situation is not easy here in
Germany
. It is hard to live by the music even if you are a “popular”
band releasing albums, videos etc. I think the situation in
Scandinavia
is better for bands as they get some support from the state and
there is a strong feeling of community and mutuality. EverEve does
not get anything from anybody. But the positive reactions of the
fans and the support of the media (like in this interview) help us
to keep the flame burning.
To
finish things off - could you pls. make an all-time Top 5 or sort
of the 5 most important albums in your opinion?
MZ
-
I will give you some kind of my personal all-time Top 5… but my
personal taste is very special and personal… so it is not a
best-of the most important albums…
There
is no particular order (and I needed at least 50 names to refer to
all my favourite albums) so… I do not give them a ranking….;-)
I
really like:
- Pink Floyd – Pulse
- At the Gates – Slaughter of the soul
- Marilyn Manson – Mechanical animals
- My Dying Bride – Songs of Darkness, Words of Light
-
Twin Peaks
– Soundtrack (TV series)
and…
and… and…
Last
but not least I want to thank YOU for this interview, and I also
want to say a big hello to all our Danish friends. We appreciate
your support and we really hope that you will like “Tried &
Failed”!
Regards,
MZ, EverEve
Keep
fighting strong and hard,
Kenn
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