Kim Larsen este, cel putin pentru mine, o persoana cu un suflet frumos, un artist desavarsit, cu un comportamanet normal si prietenos din cale afara. La DBE 1 a cantat cca jumatate de ora singur si s-a simtit foarte stingher in fata unui public numeros si foarte zgomotos. I-am promis inca de atunci ca se va intoarce in Romania, insa in formula completa. Si iata ca :OF THE WAND AND THE MOON: (www.ofthewandandthemoon.dk) va sustine in seara de 18 august un concert deosebit, mai ales ca ultimul album, lansat in urma cu doar cateva luni in urma, este o reala bijuterie Experimental Dark NeoFolk.

Salut Kim! Cum mai e viata in Danemarca? Ati avut parte de multa zapada in iarna asta?

“Viata e cu suisuri si coborasuri, ca de obicei. Nu am avut parte de nici o zapada si sincer nu prea imi pasa. Inca imi place cand ninge, dar cred ca iarna a devenit prea lunga pentru mine. As prefera sa fiu undeva unde e cald si insorit.”

Cum a fost 2011 pentru tine? Ai scos un album si ai avut multe concerte. Ai fost in turneu cu DEATH IN JUNE, asa ca a fost un an special pentru tine, nu?

“Nu prea s-au intamplat multe in 2011, cu exceptia unor concerte frumoase in Rusia, Polonia si, bineinteles, magicele show-uri alaturi de DEATH IN JUNE. Albumul cel nou a fost lansat, normal. Din cauza asta 2012 va fi plin de concerte. ‘Cancerul’ sau ‘Dragostea’ isi arata fata acum…”

Proiectul tau are o istorie lunga si a lansat multe albume NeoFolk. Poti sa-mi spui cateva detalii pe care le consideri importante din istoria trupei, te rog?

“Cred ca multe lucruri au fost importante si inca sunt. Cel putin pentru mine. Nu as stii de unde sa incep si unde sa pun punct.”

Stiu ca ai cantat cu SATURNUS pe primul album. Ai mai colaborat cu THE LOVELESS si acum faci parte din BLACK WREATH si SONNE HAGAL. Ne poti impartasi niste noutati despre aceste trupe? Mai ai vreo colaborare despre care ar trebui sa stim? Ai cantat si alaturi de Tomas si Simone…

“SONNE HAGAL lucreaza momentan la un nou album, care suna foarte bine pana acum. Mi-am adus contributia in studio la voce si chitara.

BLACK WREATH trebuia sa fie un proiect de studio, insa este probabil sa ne apucam sa cantam live la un moment dat. Toti suntem ocupati cu tot felul de lucruri, asa ca ne e greu sa ne facem timp. THE LOVELESS este on-hold pe moment, asa cum a fost de ceva ani buni. Si da, l-am ajutat pe Tomas la voce, pentru noul album ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO. Cu Simone nu am facut nimic. Nu stiu de ce ma tot intreaba lumea despre asta. Poate ca eram cam beat, nu mai stiu…*rade*.”

De ce este :OF THE WAND AND THE MOON: este inca un proiect solo in studio?

“Pai prima mea experienta de a face parte dintr-o trupa a fost cu SATURNUS. Asta m-a determinat sa aleg o cariera solo. Muzica este ceva foarte personal pentru mine si nu accept ca altcineva sa vina sa-mi spuna ce trebuie sa fac. Si nu am de gand sa muncesc ca un negru construind ceva, ca apoi sa nu simt decat goliciune. Bineinteles ca lucrez cu oameni la albumele mele dar live si ei au sansa sa-si lase amprenta. Insa, la final, eu am ultimul cuvant. Asa cum si oamenii cu care lucrez exercita un control total asupra propriilor proiecte.”

In 2009 la DBE 1, show-ul tau a fost unu solo, insa s-a simtit ca ceva nu iti convenea. De ce? Pana la urma era vorba de muzica ta, creata de tine…

“Cred ca atunci a fost al doilea show solo din cariera mea. Probabil am simtit ca muzica ar suna mai bine daca ar fi beneficiat de un suport melodic sau de percutie. Insa, privind inapoi acum, mi se pare ca s-a totul s-a desfasurat chiar ok. Unele din piesele noi au devenit foarte greu de interpretat live solo, deoarece au o parte instrumentala foarte bogata.”

In cateva luni te vei reintoarce in Romania, de data asta in Transilvania. Ce amintiri ai legate de prima vizita? Bune sau rele?

“A fost o experienta foarte faina. M-a suprins cat de multi oameni au venit si mai ales ca au venit din atatea colturi ale lumii. M-am imbatat foarte tare, ceea ce a fost, iarasi, o experienta excelenta.”

De data asta, proiectul tau solo va deveni o trupa completa in Alba Iulia. Spune-mi cate ceva despre restul membrilor. Mai lucreaza cu alte trupe, poate? Ce instrumente o sa foloseasca?

“Da, in Alba Iulia o sa punem in scena o chestie mai complexa. Il avem pe Matthew Moller la tobe. Mai are cateva trupe – THE CITY KILL si SINK SHIPS. Am mai cantat cu el in Eudaimonia Collective. Apoi, Iver Ask Overgaard este la chitara electrica si mai canta in minunata MY BELOVED, pe langa o droaie de alte proiecte. Tim Mogensen canta la bass si mai face parte din trupa ruso-daneza PARZIVAL. Louise Wilk-Zerahn face backing vocals si percutie. Nu mai imi aduc aminte cum se numeste celalalta trupa a ei, si nici macar nu sunt singur ca mai canta cu ei. Insa apare pe ‘The Lone Descent’ cu niste backing vocals extraordinare. Si ultimul dar nu cel din urma, Niels Rønne la clape, armonica si percutie, care mai canta cu RAINSCAPE (care se numeau SWIMWEAR CATALOGUE).”

Ce asteptari ai de la publicul prezent? O sa cantati afara, intr-o cetate veche…

“Nu am vreo asteptare. O sa vedem cand ajungem acolo. Dar cetatea pare minunata.”

Primele trupe anuntate la DBE 4 sunt SOLSTAFIR, THE KILMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE si LANTLOS. Ai ascultat vreuna din ele pana acum? Crezi ca genul de muzica abordat de aceste trupe este compatibil cu al tau? Chiar daca trupele Metal vor canta in prima zi si tu in a doua – pe 18 August.

“Din pacate nu cred ca am ascultat pe nici una din ele. Nu prea mai ascult Metal zilele astea. Poate ca am ascultat ceva de la SOLSTAFIR acum o mie de ani, dar nu-mi aduc aminte. Asa ca o sa ma pun la curent cand ajung acolo.”

“The Lone Descent” este unul dintre albumele mele preferate pe 2011. Are multe atingeri de prog-psych din anii ’60. Ce feedback ai primit in urma lansarii?

“Numai recenzii pozitive, sa fiu sincer. Dar cum se spune, azi la bal, maine la spital… sau ceva de genul asta. *rade*”

Ce muzica asculti in ziua de azi? Care sunt albumele tale preferate?

“Eu nu prea ascult muzica zilnic. Am ascultat ceva KING DUDE, pentru ca mi-a trimis TJ. Foarte interesant – trebuie luati in seama.

Albumele mele preferate, pai…’Thunder Perfect Mind’ de la Current 93 a fost albumul care m-a fulgerat si din cauza lui fac ceea ce fac acum. De asemenea ‘Rose Clouds Of Holocaust and… But What Ends When Symbols Shatter’ de la DEATH IN JUNE ocupa un loc special in inima mea. Alte albume care trebuie mentionate: ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’, ‘The Soft Bulletin’ si ‘Embryonic’ de la Flaming Lips – care au o productie excelenta.

Una peste alta, imi place o groaza de muzica: Lee Hazlewood, Johnny Cash, Six Organs Of Admittance, Nature & Organisation, Carcass, Sunno))), Earth,Baby Woodrose, Solblot, Forseti, Sonne Hagal, Henryk Gorecki, Arvo Pärt, Samuel Barber, White Ring, Iceage, Sibylle Baier, Serge Gainsbourg, Joy Division,The National, Editors, Susan Cadogan, The Clash, Irma Victoria, Sods, Sort Sol. Si mai sunt, dar mi-ar trebui o zi intreaga sa le enumar pe toate.”

Crezi ca o sa fie sfarsitul lumii in 2012?

“Sper ca nu lumea nu se va sfarsi totusi in 2012. Poate ca se va produce o revelatie pentru unii, din cauza calendarului mayas. Dar nu cred. Dar cred ca la un moment dat, lumea se va sfarsi.”

Care este diferenta intre compromis si onestitate? Tu, ca muzician trebuie sa faci compromisuri? Ai niste exemple?

“Urasc sa fac compromisuri. De asta am si amanat lansarea albumului si productia m-a costat atat de mult. A fost cel mai scump album pe care l-am produs vreodata. Singurul compromis este legat de bani, nu de ceea ce exista in mine.”

Care este punctul tau de vedere in legatura cu globalizarea, recesiunea economica si lumea suprapopulata?

“Nu vreau sa ma gandesc la asta. Ma apuca depresia cand ma gandesc la cata desertaciune exista in lume. “

Inca esti o persoana romantica?

“Mereu, din pacate!”

Multumesc din suflet. Ne vom revedea in cateva luni.

“Multumesc si eu, Doru. Ne vedem in curand. Toate cele bune.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDFjvw_7Vks

Ianuarie 2012

Kim Larsen is, at least to me, a person with a beautiful soul, a complete artist and an extremely warm and friendly person. At DBE 1 he played about half an hour, by himself and he obviously felt very alone before that big and noisy crowd. I promised him even back then, that he would be back in Romania but with a full line-up. And finally :OF THE WAND AND THE MOON: (www.ofthewandandthemoon.dk) will play on the night of the 18th of August at DBE 4, especially since their new album who has been just released is a authentic Experimental Dark NeoFolk jewel.

Hello Kim! How is life in Denmark? Do you have a lot of snow in this winter? Do you like this?

“Life is up and down. As usual I guess. We didn’t have any snow here yet and to be honest I don’t really care. Like still snowy weather, but think the winter is too long for me. Rather be somewhere warm and sunny.”

How was 2011 for you? A new album released, a lot of gigs, Death In June tour included, it was a special year for you, am I right?

“Not much happened in 2011, except for some nice shows in Russia, Poland and of course the magick concerts supporting Death In June. And of course the new album came out. 2012 will prove to be very busy with shows, and as ‘The Lone Descent’ was released late 2011, the ‘cancer’ or ‘love’..hehe.. is first beginning to show now.”

Your project have a long history and a lot of NeoFolk releases. Can you tell me in a few words some important details from your history and releases, please?

“I think there are too many things that have been important and still are. At least for me. I wouldn’t know where to begin or end.”

I know you have played with SATURNUS on the first album, you had also THE LOVELESS and now you are involved in BLACK WREATH and SONNE HAGAL. Some news about these bands and any other collaborations are important to find out now, maybe? You have played also with Tomas and Simone…

“Sonne Hagal is currently working on a new album which sounds really great so far. I contributed with a bit of studio work of vocals and guitar. Black Wreath was meant as a studio project, but maybe we will play live at some point. We are all very busy with different things, so it is hard to get time for it. Also of course talked about doing a new album, but it may have long prospects. The Loveless has been laid to rest indefinitely, and has been for several years. Yes, I did some vocals for Tomas and his new Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio album. I haven’t done anything for Simone. Not sure why people keeps asking me about this….Maybe I was very drunk? I don’t know *laughs*. “

Why …OF THE WAND AND THE MOON is this still a solo studio project?

“Well, my experiences with my first band Saturnus, made it clear that I had to do this as solo project .My music is very personal to me and I don’t need someone else telling me what to do.

 

And I am not going to work like a sick monkey to build up something again, only to get emptiness in return. Of course I work with other people on my albums and live, and they doo get very free hands to add whatever they want.

But in the end I have the final word. As well as the people that I am working with, have full control over their respective projects.”

In 2009 at DBE 1, you have played solo but you looked like you weren’t so comfortable. Why? It s your music, in the end… created by you…?

“I think this was my second solo live performance back then. I just feel that the music is better performed with some kind of melodic or percussive support. But apart from that I think the concert back then went pretty well. Some of the new songs have become even more difficult to play all solo, as there is a lot of instrumentation on it.”

You will return in Romania in a few months, this time in Transylvania. What memories you have from the first experience here? Good or bad?

“It was a very nice experience. Was surprised how many people there were and from so many parts of the world. Got extremely drunk, which was a nice experience as well”

Your solo project will be a full band in Alba Iulia. Tell me a few words about the rest of the members. They are involved in other bands, maybe? What instruments they will have?

“Yes, in Alba Julia we will be a big live setup. We have Matthew Moller on drums. He plays in several bands; The wonderful Copenhagen outfits – The City Kill and Sink Ships. I also played with him in Eudaimonia Collective. Iver Ask Overgaard on electric guitar who also plays in the wonderful My Beloved, and a thousand other projects I guess. Tim Mogensen plays the bass and also plays with the Russian/Danish band Parzival. Louise Wilk-Zerahn does backing vocals and does percussion. The name of her band just slipped my mind and I’m still not sure if she is playing with them anymore. But she also appears on ‘The Lone Descent’ with some brilliant backing vocals. Last but not least we have Niels Rønne on keyboards, melodica and percussion. He also has the synthbased band called Rainscape (earlier Swimwear Catalogue).”

What expectations you will have from the audience, from the event? You will play outdoor, in an old fortress.

“I really have no expectations. We will see when we get there. But the old fortress looks amazing!”

The first bands announced to participate at DBE 4 are SOLSTAFIR, THE KILMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE and LANTLOS. Have you listened to them until now? Do you think this kind of music is compatible with yours? Even the Metal ones will be in the first day and you will play in the second one, in the 18th of August.

“I am afraid that I haven’t heard any of them. I don’t listen to metal that much these days. Maybe I heard Solstafir at some point a thousand years ago, but can’t really remember. So guess I will hear something new when I am there.”

“The Lone Descent” is one of my favorite albums for 2011. I liked a lot the 60 prog psych touches… What feedback you have received about it?

“A lot of good reviews so far to be honest. But as they say; Today’s hero, tomorrows fish wrapping…or something down that line…*laughs* “

What music you are listening now? But what are the top albums from all times?

“I don’t really listen to a lot of music on a daily basis. But just listening to the new stuff from King Dude, that TJ, just sent me. Something to keep and eye/ear out for.

Top albums of all times….damn…’Thunder Perfect Mind’ from Current 93 was the one that set me off doing what I am doing back in the day, and it is still wonderful.

But guess ‘Rose Clouds Of Holocaust and …But What Ends When Symbols Shatter’ by Death In June holds a very big place in my heart.

Then there is also stuff like; Flaming Lips’ ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’/'The Soft Bulletin’/'Embryonic’ which are so great produced. Anyway, there is so much music I like. Lee Hazlewood, Johnny Cash, Six Organs Of Admittance, Nature & Organisation, Carcass, Sunno))),Earth,Baby Woodrose, Solblot, Forseti, Sonne Hagal, Henryk Gorecki, Arvo Pärt, Samuel Barber, White Ring, Iceage, Sibylle Baier, Serge Gainsbourg, Joy Division,

The National, Editors, Susan Cadogan, The Clash, Irma Victoria, Sods, Sort Sol… I don’t know…Would take me days to mention all.


What do you think about 2012? It will be the end of world?


Hope it will be the end of the world. Maybe it all will make some sense to everything somehow, due to the Mayan calendar and all that…But I doubt it, honestly….But of course some day everything will come to an end.”

What is the difference between honesty and compromise? You, as a musician, need to do the compromises? Some examples?

“I hate compromises. That is also partly why my new album has been so long on the way, and why it has cost so much money to produce. Has been the most costly production I have ever done. The only compromises only involves money, not my heart.”

What is your point of view regarding world globalization, economical recession and the overpopulated world?

“I don’t want to deal with it. I get depressed thinking about all the emptiness out there… ”

Are you still a romantic person?

“Always. Unfortunately.”

Thank you, dear friend. See you in a couple of months.

“Thank you, Doru. See you soon! Best”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDFjvw_7Vks

January, 2012