DARKWATER INTERVIEW!!!

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Chuy PerfectProg: Hey guys, it’s a real honor for me and the PerfectProg people to ask you some questions, we really admire and love Darkwater, thank you so much for your time and availability.

Henrik: Thank you for your interest! We will gladly answer your questions.

1. Please talk us about Darkwater. Why this name?

Karl: It took quite some time to decide on a name for this band. In the end we decided to go with something that sounded cool.

Henrik: Yeah actually Darkwater was one of the first names we came up with, and since then we´ve had a bunch of names on the list. But in the end we still felt that Darkwater was the name that suited and, if a name can, explained our music the best.

2. Are you preparing new music?

Karl: Yes we are. We are in the early stages of writing a new album. We want to expand on our style of songwriting for this album, bringing up the tempo a little bit, and perhaps write some shorter songs as well. Nothing is really complete as of yet, so no release date is set, and no title.

3. Are there some tour dates or gigs this year?

Karl: We’re off to play the “Bay Area Rock Fest” in San Francisco next week (June 28), opening for Liquid Tension Experiment, among others. We’re also playing “Slottsskogen goes Progressive” in Gothenburg, Sweden, August 17. We always look for more gigs, but that’s all that is booked right now.

4. Please tell us about the cover of the album.

Henrik: Well the cover concept is done by Markus and myself. It contains images that is linked to the lyrics of every song on the album. When we had written all the lyrics for the album we noticed how well they suited together, almost like a concept. So the cover is really like a compilation of all the songs.

5. From where comes the inspiration to create the music and wrote the lyrics?

Karl: I wrote the lyrics on three songs, Henrik on four, and Marcus on one. The inspiration for me comes from anything, really. Be it music, books, art, or any of my own experiences, as well as those of other people.

Henrik: I have taken a lot of inspiration from peoples lifes around me, and the problems I have seen. A lot of my lyrics is about people with different kinds of functional disabilitys, mainly mental disabiliy, and the struggle they have with themselves but also with the society.

6. What happen with Harmony? Magnificent progpower band, I like so much Dreaming Awake (When the Shadows Fall and Without You my favorites).

Karl: Darkwater is not, and has never been, a replacement for Harmony. They are two different bands.

Markus: Harmony is still alive and well. New full length album will be released in aug/september. It will be proceeded by an EP containing three songs from the album and two exclusive tracks.

7. Why you decide to play prog metal instead prog power? The change was great, notorious improvement, more technique in each member of the band.

Karl: As I said, Darkwater doesn’t represent a change. Harmony is still Harmony. Darkwater has always played progressive metal.

8. I like so much the sound effects of the guitar and keyboards, you create a masterpiece. Which are your musical influences?

Karl: My own influences in this genre are primarily Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation. Besides that, I listen to a lot of different music, ranging from contemporary classical, such as Eric Whitacre or Francic Poulenc, to country, singer/songwriter music, and traditional folk music. I try to bring influences from everything into my songwriting, whichever the context.

9. Henrik, you got a grand and authentic voice, also you play the guitar, great work man! How hard was for you sing in a different genre?

Henrik: Thank you! Well I have always sung in a lot of different gengres so there was no problem. The only thing with singing in a progressive band is that you get the chance to use your voice in a lot of different ways which I of course like.

10. The Play and the Play II, wow, top songs, the piano wonderful, enchanting voice by Henrik, the music is fantastic, amazing technique and coordination of the band, impressive lyrics, who wrote it? Please talk us about it.

Henrik: The music is written be me and Magnus Holmberg, and the lyrics is written by me. This is a really sad story that mirrors the feelings and actions of a person who has always been alone and has to deal with his mental problems on his own, and that has a quite shocking end. I have taken a lot of inspiration for this one from when I worked with people with these kind of disorders. Back then I met a lot of this kind of people. These songs are very close to me, and I feel very happy with the outcome of the lyrics.

11. Markus, excellent work yours on Calling the Earth to Witness, guitar solos, riffs, distortions, progressive harmonies and sound effects, everything is excellent, were you have studying and preparing as musician?

Markus: Thank you. I´m mostly self taught. I have been inspired by different guitarists and guitar sounds in periods over the years. Hopefully by now I have started to develop my own style.

12. Tallest Tree, another top song, one more time awesome music and vocals; please talk us about it.

Karl: I wrote the lyrics while on a six hour bus ride trough Sweden. I only listened to that song the whole trip! I stole some concepts from a song I like by the band Bright Eyes, and set it in a context more familiar to myself. It’s easy not to fail if you never try, so to speak.

13. Magnus, the keyboards excel in the entire album, excellent work too, solos, piano parts, orchestrations and key effects, everything excellent, how much time did you last (as band) to create this masterpiece?

Magnus: Thank you very much, that is very kind! Some of the ideas, arrangements and songs are quite old and some were made in the same moment as the songs were recorded. Some of the arrangements came to life almost instantaniously as the songs were formed in the beginning. Most of the songs and ideas are based on quite old ideas that almost had been forgotten but other ideas were forced in the last minute of the process. We are very pleased with the result of the mixture of old and newer ideas.

14. Karl, you are a great bass player; how is work with guys that have some years playing together? It was hard for you to adapt to the band?

Karl: Thank you for your kind words. I’ve been a member of this band since it was formed, and have never felt that I had to adapt to any set standard. We’ve all adapted to each other, and worked together to become the band we are today.

15. Tobias, you are who improve more of the band, I imagine that you needed to work on drums, how was that?

Tobias: Well, in Harmony we sometimes play fast and tricky parts, but not in a progressive style. Before recording “calling the earth to witness” I had to study different drummers who play in progressive bands. I mainly studied Neil Peart (Rush) and Mike Portnoy (Dream theater) to get ideas how to become a more “progressive” drummer. Summary: Yes, I had to work a lot on drums, but I enjoyed doing it because it opened up a whole new world for me.

16. Henrik, did you play the guitar with Harmony? Are you getting prepared for play the guitar with Darkwater?

Henrik: I don´t play guitars on the Harmony albums, but I play some rythm guitars live to back up Markus when he´s soloing. With Darkwater I have always played guitar, both live and on the album, and I will keep doing that. Though vocals is my main instrument I really enjoy playing guitar as well so why don´t do both when you have the chance, haha.

17. There’s something that you want to say to your fans or share with us?

Markus: If you like our music, please support us by buying our music and not download it illegal. It means a lot!

Thank you so much for your words Darkwater's guys, we really appreciate, best wishes, greetings!!!

Chuy Monjarás
Administrator and Webmaster
PerfectProg.Com

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