Man Gremmes Kan
Man Gremmes Kan is a Black Esoteric Metal Band from
Norway.
I recently came across their music and instantly loved
what I heard.
Not knowing much about the band will make it somewhat
difficult to do this interview BUT I am up for the challenge.
1) Good day and thank you very much
for taking the time to do this interview with me. How are things in Norway
these days?
MGK:
Boring as hell, haha. No, at the
moment it's beautiful, the weather is nice and the hiking conditions are
exellent, which makes the music come all the more naturally.
2) So please tell me a bit about the
beginning of Man Gremmes Kan?
Who started it, how did the idea to
start a band come to be?
MGK:
It happened very randomly as a
matter of fact. A friend of mine (Vardalv, drums) asked me if I could record
some ideas that he has that didn't suit his main band Throne of Katarsis and I
did and he loved it. Nothing happened for a while after that and one day that I
was cleaning out some redundant files on my computer I came across them and
really wanted to do something in that vain. More extreme black metal than I did
at the time with my other project Gnipaheller, that is more folk/black metal.
So I just started writing and the songs just kept coming. So it was/is my idea
and my songs, but it would never happened if Vardalv had not asked me to
recorded his stuff.
3) As of right now, what albums have
you already released? (not counting the one in the works)
MGK:
None, Legion Liberation will be
the first one, but there are some demos up on soundcloud for all to download
and listen to!
4) Tell me a bit about your position
in the band and what part do you play in the actual song and music
writing?
MGK:
So far I have done everything ,
songwriting, guitars, vocals and drum-programing but I am hoping that that will
change as we get together and rehearse. Thus far it I really needed it to be a
solo project. Much because the songs really made me see the evolution I have
had as a songwriter and instrumentalist, as well as the production side of
things. But I think the next natural step now is to rehearse and play live, as
there have allready been offers for us to play live but domestic and
abroad.
5) So, you are in the process of
working on a new album " Legion Liberation"
I was lucky enough to hear a song
off this album and I loved it! I am excited to hear the full album.
Can you tell the readers a bit about
this album?
MGK:
Thank you very much! First of, let
me say that the music that is out now are demos and not the final result as we
have not recorded anything yet. As for the upcoming album, it will hopefully
be unlike much of the music released thus far. There will always be
similarities between artists but I hope we can take things a bit further with
varied vocals, untraditional arrangements and such. Only time will tell but I
hope people will enjoy it cause I will. I'm lousy at describing my own music, I
just play it, hehe. Have a listen for yourselves and be the judge!
6) You are currently not signed to a
label. Do you plan to release this album on your own or are you looking for a
label right now?
MGK:
I cannot go into detail but there
is a contract in the works. As I am as poor as can be there would be no point
even trying to release it ourselves. There is no money for the artists in such
a small genre so I just want the music to be available to everyone who
wants it, and to print merchandise since I hate buying clothes.
7) Bands have specific things they
look for in a label. What are some of your expectations as far as a label goes?
Do you have your eye on any specific ones that would simply make your day if
they signed you?
MGK:
In one word; "dedication". As I
said above there is no, or very little money coming our way anyway so the only
thing I ask for is an honest cooperation and that they do what they can to push
the music and treat the product with the respect it deserves. Again I cannot go
into details but I think we might have found the right one. And no, any label
that loves the music is good enough for me in principle.
8) Has Man Gremmes Kan played any
live shows yet?
Where would be the one place you
would love to play or tour if you had your pick of anywhere in the world and
why?
MGK:
We have not played live yet but we
will.
For me personally it would have to
be the States, I have always wanted to go there so that would be my dream come
through. Still, any venue where people can come and feed off the band and where
we could feed of the crowd would be amazing. I should also mention the
Philippines, I would love to go back there as an artist and give them something
they are not used to down there. Great country, great people..
9) You are pretty much a new band,
correct? What are some goals the band has set for the future?
MGK:
To release albums and play live
and to continue evolving. Record and release "honest" music that touches and
entrance the listener. Travel and see the world while playing the music we
love.
10) You are from Norway. How has
your music (locally) been accepted and do you feel that you are forced to live
up to the standards of some of the black metal bands from the late 80's and
early 90's?
MGK:
Quite good actually, I have a lot
of friends from the early scene and the ones who have heard the music likes it.
I do not need to live up to anyones standard but my own anyway, and I have a
quite relaxing relationship as to trying to impress anyone. The jackasses that
need things to stay "true" never understood the concept of Black Metal anyway,
which is to create something unique and extreme with feelings that are
supressed in todays society. The love for your country, darkness, hopelessness,
anxiety and even love..
11) I' d like to know a little about
behind the scenes of Man Gremmes Kan.
Like, what goes on at one of your
rehearsals. Like in a movie...I want to know about the "making of" Legion
Liberation.
MGK:
I sit with my guitar
basicly. And the few rehearsals that we have had are intense with beer,
hiking and playing, fixing transitions in the music, joking and
jamming.
12) I seem to ask this question a
lot but I think it is interesting to get the bands point of view on their own
music and hear them describe it.
So, if someone never heard your
music before and had no way of hearing any of your music, how would you
describe your music to them to get them to "like" your Facebook
page?
MGK:
A difficult one. Well, it's
intense, honest, western norwegian style music. If that didn't work I would buy
them a beer, hehe.
13) What is more important to
you....putting out a lot of records or putting out quality records?
MGK:
I would rather put one really good one out than put five
mediocre ones out there. Wherein you have much of the reason for the decline of
music today. Sadly artists nowdays are more focused on quantity than
quality..
14) Explain one
of your live shows...or if you never played live then explain what you foresee
one of your live shows being like? Maybe a bit of like a dream. :)
MGK:
Ah, when time
comes I will think about it. But I want it to be electric, fierce and in it's
own way beautiful. It's really hard to imagine anything before the band is up
and running. I want the others to be able to put their mark on it.
15) Take us into
the future about 10 years. Where would you like to see Man Gremmes
Kan?
MGK:
Playing great
shows and continuing to create interesting music. Touring with bands we like
and living day to day!
16) Thinking
back a bit, I thought you were a one man band....are the members of your band
session players or are they full time members.
I see your
drummer is Vardalv/Skrott from Throne of Katarsis.
How did you end
up with him as your drummer and how is it working out?
MGK:
Vardalv is
one of my closest friends and has always been a great support in any aspect. As
it was his ideas that lead me to the realisation that I can make this kind of
music he needs to take a lot of the blame for this band being created, but he
did not become involved before he told me that he really liked the stuff and
wanted to be involved. He is a drummer that has Black Metal in his bonemarrow
and everything he does has to do with feeling. That is why his drumming is so
intense, it's not the regular "let's do this in 3/4, lets do this in 6/16".
It's "touch and feel". Which in my opinion is what music should be, free of
rules and "norms". So I can't wait to really get the live bit
underways.
17) Well my
friend, it has been a joy to pick your brain apart a bit and find out some
details about the band.
Are there any
final words or information you would like to leave your readers
with?
MGK:
Well, I want
to promote some bands that I really think has a bright future of I'll make a
list.
Sverdkamp:
Awesome pagan band.
Thurs: For
fans of legendary Mithotyn.
Throne of
Katarsis: The best old school BM in the world.
Gehenna: Heard
some parts of the new album, just you wait fuckers!
The Breathing
Process: The best thing to come out of America since Metallica
Vidsyn:
Awesome Folk/Black from Trysil
With this I
leave you for now, untill we meet again!
You can find Man Gremmes Kan on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/mangremmeskan
You can listen to one of their older songs here.
https://soundcloud.com/han-gremmes-kan/man-gremmes-kan-vaar
You can hear their music here as well.
https://soundcloud.com/han-gremmes-kan/man-gremmes-kan-on-a-pulpit-of
Norway.
I recently came across their music and instantly loved
what I heard.
Not knowing much about the band will make it somewhat
difficult to do this interview BUT I am up for the challenge.
1) Good day and thank you very much
for taking the time to do this interview with me. How are things in Norway
these days?
MGK:
Boring as hell, haha. No, at the
moment it's beautiful, the weather is nice and the hiking conditions are
exellent, which makes the music come all the more naturally.
2) So please tell me a bit about the
beginning of Man Gremmes Kan?
Who started it, how did the idea to
start a band come to be?
MGK:
It happened very randomly as a
matter of fact. A friend of mine (Vardalv, drums) asked me if I could record
some ideas that he has that didn't suit his main band Throne of Katarsis and I
did and he loved it. Nothing happened for a while after that and one day that I
was cleaning out some redundant files on my computer I came across them and
really wanted to do something in that vain. More extreme black metal than I did
at the time with my other project Gnipaheller, that is more folk/black metal.
So I just started writing and the songs just kept coming. So it was/is my idea
and my songs, but it would never happened if Vardalv had not asked me to
recorded his stuff.
3) As of right now, what albums have
you already released? (not counting the one in the works)
MGK:
None, Legion Liberation will be
the first one, but there are some demos up on soundcloud for all to download
and listen to!
4) Tell me a bit about your position
in the band and what part do you play in the actual song and music
writing?
MGK:
So far I have done everything ,
songwriting, guitars, vocals and drum-programing but I am hoping that that will
change as we get together and rehearse. Thus far it I really needed it to be a
solo project. Much because the songs really made me see the evolution I have
had as a songwriter and instrumentalist, as well as the production side of
things. But I think the next natural step now is to rehearse and play live, as
there have allready been offers for us to play live but domestic and
abroad.
5) So, you are in the process of
working on a new album " Legion Liberation"
I was lucky enough to hear a song
off this album and I loved it! I am excited to hear the full album.
Can you tell the readers a bit about
this album?
MGK:
Thank you very much! First of, let
me say that the music that is out now are demos and not the final result as we
have not recorded anything yet. As for the upcoming album, it will hopefully
be unlike much of the music released thus far. There will always be
similarities between artists but I hope we can take things a bit further with
varied vocals, untraditional arrangements and such. Only time will tell but I
hope people will enjoy it cause I will. I'm lousy at describing my own music, I
just play it, hehe. Have a listen for yourselves and be the judge!
6) You are currently not signed to a
label. Do you plan to release this album on your own or are you looking for a
label right now?
MGK:
I cannot go into detail but there
is a contract in the works. As I am as poor as can be there would be no point
even trying to release it ourselves. There is no money for the artists in such
a small genre so I just want the music to be available to everyone who
wants it, and to print merchandise since I hate buying clothes.
7) Bands have specific things they
look for in a label. What are some of your expectations as far as a label goes?
Do you have your eye on any specific ones that would simply make your day if
they signed you?
MGK:
In one word; "dedication". As I
said above there is no, or very little money coming our way anyway so the only
thing I ask for is an honest cooperation and that they do what they can to push
the music and treat the product with the respect it deserves. Again I cannot go
into details but I think we might have found the right one. And no, any label
that loves the music is good enough for me in principle.
8) Has Man Gremmes Kan played any
live shows yet?
Where would be the one place you
would love to play or tour if you had your pick of anywhere in the world and
why?
MGK:
We have not played live yet but we
will.
For me personally it would have to
be the States, I have always wanted to go there so that would be my dream come
through. Still, any venue where people can come and feed off the band and where
we could feed of the crowd would be amazing. I should also mention the
Philippines, I would love to go back there as an artist and give them something
they are not used to down there. Great country, great people..
9) You are pretty much a new band,
correct? What are some goals the band has set for the future?
MGK:
To release albums and play live
and to continue evolving. Record and release "honest" music that touches and
entrance the listener. Travel and see the world while playing the music we
love.
10) You are from Norway. How has
your music (locally) been accepted and do you feel that you are forced to live
up to the standards of some of the black metal bands from the late 80's and
early 90's?
MGK:
Quite good actually, I have a lot
of friends from the early scene and the ones who have heard the music likes it.
I do not need to live up to anyones standard but my own anyway, and I have a
quite relaxing relationship as to trying to impress anyone. The jackasses that
need things to stay "true" never understood the concept of Black Metal anyway,
which is to create something unique and extreme with feelings that are
supressed in todays society. The love for your country, darkness, hopelessness,
anxiety and even love..
11) I' d like to know a little about
behind the scenes of Man Gremmes Kan.
Like, what goes on at one of your
rehearsals. Like in a movie...I want to know about the "making of" Legion
Liberation.
MGK:
I sit with my guitar
basicly. And the few rehearsals that we have had are intense with beer,
hiking and playing, fixing transitions in the music, joking and
jamming.
12) I seem to ask this question a
lot but I think it is interesting to get the bands point of view on their own
music and hear them describe it.
So, if someone never heard your
music before and had no way of hearing any of your music, how would you
describe your music to them to get them to "like" your Facebook
page?
MGK:
A difficult one. Well, it's
intense, honest, western norwegian style music. If that didn't work I would buy
them a beer, hehe.
13) What is more important to
you....putting out a lot of records or putting out quality records?
MGK:
I would rather put one really good one out than put five
mediocre ones out there. Wherein you have much of the reason for the decline of
music today. Sadly artists nowdays are more focused on quantity than
quality..
14) Explain one
of your live shows...or if you never played live then explain what you foresee
one of your live shows being like? Maybe a bit of like a dream. :)
MGK:
Ah, when time
comes I will think about it. But I want it to be electric, fierce and in it's
own way beautiful. It's really hard to imagine anything before the band is up
and running. I want the others to be able to put their mark on it.
15) Take us into
the future about 10 years. Where would you like to see Man Gremmes
Kan?
MGK:
Playing great
shows and continuing to create interesting music. Touring with bands we like
and living day to day!
16) Thinking
back a bit, I thought you were a one man band....are the members of your band
session players or are they full time members.
I see your
drummer is Vardalv/Skrott from Throne of Katarsis.
How did you end
up with him as your drummer and how is it working out?
MGK:
Vardalv is
one of my closest friends and has always been a great support in any aspect. As
it was his ideas that lead me to the realisation that I can make this kind of
music he needs to take a lot of the blame for this band being created, but he
did not become involved before he told me that he really liked the stuff and
wanted to be involved. He is a drummer that has Black Metal in his bonemarrow
and everything he does has to do with feeling. That is why his drumming is so
intense, it's not the regular "let's do this in 3/4, lets do this in 6/16".
It's "touch and feel". Which in my opinion is what music should be, free of
rules and "norms". So I can't wait to really get the live bit
underways.
17) Well my
friend, it has been a joy to pick your brain apart a bit and find out some
details about the band.
Are there any
final words or information you would like to leave your readers
with?
MGK:
Well, I want
to promote some bands that I really think has a bright future of I'll make a
list.
Sverdkamp:
Awesome pagan band.
Thurs: For
fans of legendary Mithotyn.
Throne of
Katarsis: The best old school BM in the world.
Gehenna: Heard
some parts of the new album, just you wait fuckers!
The Breathing
Process: The best thing to come out of America since Metallica
Vidsyn:
Awesome Folk/Black from Trysil
With this I
leave you for now, untill we meet again!
You can find Man Gremmes Kan on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/mangremmeskan
You can listen to one of their older songs here.
https://soundcloud.com/han-gremmes-kan/man-gremmes-kan-vaar
You can hear their music here as well.
https://soundcloud.com/han-gremmes-kan/man-gremmes-kan-on-a-pulpit-of