RavenzCraft Arts Interview with Eldrim

Interview with Eldrim

Eldrim was spawned by the wishes of five people wanting to play Viking(-ish) music when visiting viking markets all over the world
Eldrim is two bands in one.One for viking/medieval markets and fares - performing acoustic , and one for concerts adapted to amplified performances.

They are now in the process of making our own music , trying to compose music to sound the way we imagine the music our viking ancestors listened to and sounded.
"We build our own instruments based on findings and writings".
Eldrim is: Hilde Midtgaard, Jon Levi Pedersen, Thomas Hallberg and Espen Winther

First off I would like to officially thank you all for doing this interview, We welcome you to the  RavenzCraft Arts interviews project!

 1. So for those of us who dont already know of you, can you start by telling us where you are from, and when you first started officially as a band together?

Eldrim is a Norwegian project, based near Borre and the burial mounds. We are all members of «Borre Vikinglag», one of Norways largest viking reenactment groups.

We started approximately 3 years ago after sitting around bonfires during various viking

markets and listening to others entertain and perform.
We thought we too could do this...

2. So the name Eldrim, does this have a specific meaning? 

can you explain to us what Eldrim is all about? 

Is their a story behind it, and what are you aiming to express with this project/band?

Eldrim, is a made up word.  Built from «eld» (fire/flame) and «rim» that has two meanings: rhyme and (hoar)frost. So it can mean both «Song/Poetry/Rhyme by the fire»and «Frost by the fire»

We try to make music they could have made in that time,

».viking age, with instruments they could have used..

3. I really like the sound and vibe Eldrim creates, it is right up there with the energy of Wardruna and many other of my favorites, you guys seem to be a diamond in the rough so to speak, can you share with us some of the things that inspire your music? folklore? the sagas? 

what is it that gives you inspiration to create this amazing energy and sound?

We are inspired by our Scandinavian history and we have a rich treasure chest filled with sagas, folklore, folk music, archaelogical finds, crafts and art to pick inspiration from.

We use these sources both when composing melodies and when we write lyrics.
Sadly we have no written sources that can tell us what music they had in the viking age, but we think Scandinavian folk music must have roots in that time so we turn to folk music when writing.

Life then must have been hard and we try to show that through the way we perform and the stories we make.

4. The tagelharpa or bowed lyre is one of my favorite sounds, I really like the song Gnaal, I actually like all of your songs so far..do you create your own custom instruments? any favorites or special instruments you enjoy?

Actually «Gnaal» is the name of the instrument ;) Gnaal means a nagging, complaining sound. We've made our own lyres, taglharps, drums and some percussion (so far).
The sound from our different tagalaharps is chillingly beautiful and i think those are favorites for all of us.

5. Do you have any special projects or events coming up soon that you can share with us?

We are currently making songs for our concept album and rehearsing for the coming summers viking markets.

6. Any news you can share about a full length album from Eldrim being created and released soon?

As mentioned we are making music for a concept album. I don't want to reveal too much, but it will be a small, sad and dark «Saga».
We hope it will be finished before summer!

7. I noticed you mention Eldrim is 2 bands in one , one for markets and festivals and one for amplified performances, can you explain the differences to us a bit more?  which do you enjoy the most?

The market version of our band is leaning more to the medieval time period and perform mostly already written ballads and songs although we mix in some of our own songs that fits together with this concept. 

It is more «happy» and suits the visitors at viking/medieval markets and is not depending on amplifiers to «reach out».

The darker Eldrim is more a concert band and could fit any arena i guess.

Here we perform our own music and we are more open to using (non historical) effects to color our performance.

I think we all enjoy both versions, but it has a special kind of magic to it when people react in a positive way to our own music.

8.Do you have any certain places you performed at in the past that you really enjoyed? any places you plan or wish you could perform at in the future?

Last summer we played in the chieftains house at Gudvangen viking village. It was a very good memory. We had no planned gig, but decided to try to play there and after getting the approval we just went around the camp site and shouted people in and in 20 minutes the house was crowded.

As for places we'd like to play...hmmm...that's not so easy to answer. I think we would like to play anywhere as long as the audience have a historical interest for music.

9.Can you tell us some of your personal favorite musicians from the past that inspired you,, and any current ones you personally follow today?

This is a big question to answer. We are 4 members with rather different taste in music, ranging from metal to folk music, but i guess something we have in common is Wardruna. 

Einar Selvik has made the path easier for others to follow. Even though we are not copying his work it's hard not to be influenced by his beautiful music.

10. During your career so far, have you got to meet any favorite artists or bands? any you would like to meet?

I think i have to answer this personal and not as Eldrim.
I have never had an urge to meet any artist. I have never idolized any one and if i did i don't think it would be a positive thing to meet the idol. It's hard to keep a conversation floating when one part is drooling and stuttering ;)
That said, i am a photographer an have met several artists and had lots of good meetings both through photo and our music.
If i had to choose one artist i think would be interesting to have a conversation with i think it would be Maynard, from the band  (Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer). I love how his lyrics draw pictures in my mind.

11. I actually discovered your music from a friend that posted one of your videos, Danheim, he also creates amazing music like yours, and he mentioned that you were one of his favorites right now, .. would you ever be interested in collaborating with another artist like this, or submitting any content to a collaborative project in the future?

I think we always will be open to collaborations. Anything to broaden our horizon.
And Danheim is absolutely on that list.

(Fun fact: Us three guys from Eldrim performed together with Heilung as part of their warrior quire at Midgardsblot last summer. One of last years absolutely best live performances!)

12. So this last question is for you,,,if you all want to say anything to the fans and followers out there feel free to mention or say any closing words,,we thank all of you at Eldrim for taking the time to talk with us and for creating amazing music!

RavenzCraft Arts looks to help bring awareness to talented artists like yourself, anything we can do we are here to help,,we appreciate everything.

We are deeply touched by all the kind responses and comments on our work.

Keep your eyes and ears open for more. We promise a treasure at the end of the rainbow!
For Eldrim: Espen

.Special Thanks to Espen and all of Eldrim!

We look forward to seeing and hearing more of your amazing and inspirational music!



Also follow Espen Winther on his amazing photography page WinPics Photography



https://www.facebook.com/WinPicsPhoto/

                          Follow and Support Eldrim here at these links 

https://www.facebook.com/eldrimmusic/

http://eldrimmusic.com/

Subscribe to them on youtube here at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERYAGFS65zuMme18J68iog

See the music video introduction we created for Eldrim here at:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5qou-wJ2qA




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Special Thank You to all the followers and supporters out there!
More Interviews releasing soon...




Next up: Interview with 

Svavar Austmann Traustason of Solstafir!
August 15th!

We do not claim any rights to photos and images.

All photos are credited to Eldrim and Espen Winther, WinPics and crew

RavenzCraft Arts Interview with Plemya

The Plemя group started its countdown in 2014, when guys just got together and really did not know how to make out all their crazy ideas in the rhymed lines and consonants of notes.

The project was created with the frontman giving (he is vocalist and percussionist), he owns the idea of ​​an atypical metal band in masks. Since the task was not simple, the first year was spent on creating more specific concepts and images. Each member of the group participated earlier in various musical projects, but since everyone had different tastes, and did not want to become attached to a particular style, much of the original material was discarded, redone, and only by the second year of the group's existence it acquired the current look.

All masks, racks and entourage - this is the work of the frontman of the group (he, by the way, the smith). Each of the guys imagined the picture, and the vocalist's skillful hands materialized all this. In 2016, the group successfully played the debut on the stage and by now has numerous performances at the festivals of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Romania. In addition to playing on stage, the guys also organize shows in their performances: dances, fireworks, salutes. Often at their concerts, you can see the girls from the ethnic plastics studio Ketri. In 2016, the guys filmed their first video clip for the song Totem, which quickly got into rotation on Russian television. The operator and editor was a talented videographer Sergey Buben.

In 2017 the keyboardist came to Plemя and at the moment the group has 7 members: Vadim Shulga - percussion, vocals, Shapovalowa Marina - drums, Alexander Kardymon - guitar, Sylvester Palanevich - guitar, Dmitry Ivantsov - bass, back vocals, Dmitry Duganov - Flutes, backing vocals, Vitaly Borovkov - keyboards. In November 21 band released debut album Enūma Eliš.

1.Well first I really want to thank you all for participating in the RavenzCraft Arts Interviews Project, we appreciate you taking the time to talk with us, and letting us get to know you better..

Can you start by telling us where you are from, and how and why you create and perform music?


Ubuy: Wanted to make an unusual sound, collected from the musical preferences of absolutely different people, ethnical metal, alternative.

Keyboardist: I've been playing for all my life.

It`s difficult to surprise me with something.

I was surprised and stayed

Remained.



Dzmitry Duhanau (flutes): At the very beginning, when we were just assembled, our reference point was a mixture of something similar to Sepultura with the addition of wind and percussion. As a result, everything became completely different. The music came out of our control)

Ivantsov Dmitry: Hmm, for the first time I started to play music at the age of 14 and it was punk rock, it was fun and cool. Then I founded the Autogen group of three people and we played the garage PUNK, after I founded a new band Pepel Sbei it was already more human punk.

But since I was taken to the army at the age of 19, then I moved to another city and so we had to disintegrate. But I'm still on and I was invited to play in the group Diggers, it was a pretty cool and interesting band, but unfortunately it also collapsed. After all this, I decided to stop with the music, but on my life's path I met a great man Ubui Kuvalda who offered to play in an experimental group, that's how all started.

Kardymon Aklesander (Guitar): When I learned to play guitar a bit, I immediately started to invent my own songs.

Silvestr Palnevich: Once I heard the Moonspell`s track «The Southern Deathstyle» and I really wanted to learn how to play the main reef. After some time, my parents gave me the first electric guitar. We will not name the firm, but the stamp at it was shaken very quickly =). After that I had an interest in different instruments. I learned to play instruments such as flute, bagpipe, piano, afro-drums and bass guitar. I played in a few black metal bands on the bass guitar. All of them broked up, and just after the last I was offered to play in Plemя on rhythm guitar.

Marina Shapovalova (drums): I got into the first group in the 7th grade, but as a vocalist) I wrote poetry, I played on mother`s acoustic guitar as a hobby. I tried different instruments, but by chance, thanks to my boyfriend-drummer, i eventually became a drummer)

2.So i have to admit I was quite suprised when we first discovered your music, the high energy and expressive creativity really caught my interest, similar to Korn, Slipknot,  or Marilyn Manson ... do you take interest in bands like these as well?
Can you tell us some of your favorite bands or artists?

Ubuy: Sepultura, Fear Factory, Kreator, In Flames.

Keyboardist: Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Glinka, Scriabin, Vagner, Verdy, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Beatles, Doors, Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, King Crimson , Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Rick Wakeman, Vangelis, Queen, Depeche Mode, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Scorpions, Kiss, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Metallica, Dream Theater, Slayer, Rammstein, Nautilus, Auktsion, Aria and many others.

Dzmitry Duhanau (flutes): electronic music and modern jazz in last time

Ivantsov Dmitry: It was The exploited, Nirvana, Manson, System of a down

Aklesander: Slip Knot, Cradle of filth

Silvestr Palanevich: It all started with Rammstein, Korn, SOAD, Moonspell. Then I got carried away with heavy music from folk and ethno, and also the period Black and Death Metal (Then I got into the first musical groups). And then there was a complete variety.

Marina Shapovalova (drums): I listen to absolutely different music of different styles in a differen mood, although in general I have always been an adherent of the alternative and the cortex. Heavy music for me started with bands like Limp Bizkit, SlipKnot, Korn, In Flames

3.So what are you guys currently listening to and following right now?

What would we find on your recent playlist for music, movies or entertainment?

Ubuy: all the same))) From the films old old school fiction (star wars, old track, old gate, strangers, predator) different concept art (the lion's share comes in Richardsa Gigera, as well as Barlow, Fresetta, Simon biz), manga (Dorokhidro), comics.

Keyboardist: Playlist - greatest hits from the 18th century until today. A lot of diverse music.

Movies - Bladerunner, Bladerunner 2049, The Dark Tower, GoT, Star Wars, Babylon 5.

Games - Fallout

Books - do you really want me to list the entire list of my fantasy collection and fantasy that weighs more than 2 gigs in fb2 format?))))) I got the habit of downloading ALL the products of the author I liked and reading them all in order to have a complete picture of creation.

Dzmitry Duhanau (flutes): Music (again from the last that I liked) - Niechec, Heilung, Bent Knee Films - Den brysomme mannen (the last film that really left a strong impression)

Books- Kurt Vonnegut, different plays by contemporary authors

Marina Shapovalova (drums): In my playlist as always a mishmash) Movies: like deep, with a sense, mysticism, fantasy, drama, documentary. I do not play games, i do not have time, I prefer to play in real life. Books: I like fantasy, study various theories about man and the universe

Ivantsov Dmitry: Fantasy, yes, it's fantastic

Alexander: Books \ Movies - Stephen King, games - Silent Hill, Dead Space

Silvestr Palanevich: Music: Gojira, Wardruna, The Erkonauts, Eivør

Books: I love anti-utopia, fantasy, fantasy. Now I read the last book of Dan Simmons "Hyperion Cantos", in parallel I read books about Buddhism, and a little bit books in English for practice.

Movies: Black Mirror, Documentary.

4.So tell us more about Plemя as a band, what do you want to express or represent with your band?

Ubuy: To express the fusion of different worlds and musical directions, initially decided to focus on the visual component. Our images also cause certain associations among people who are "in the theme". In fact, every image, every object of our entourage is "Easter Egg".

Keyboardist: I came to the group last, everything was already determined before me. Came, looked-listened, liked - stayed.

Ivantsov Dmitry: This group is not of this world as it seems to me, I didn`t hear anything like this yet)

Marina Shapovalova (drums): I wanted to combine different styles and directions and create something new, my own. About Easter eggs .. I do not consider my image is Easter eggs, it`s just me

5.I really like the way you mix the old traditional instruments with the newer age heavy metal sound, it creates a very unique sound and energy, What are some of your favorite genres or instrument sounds to use to create?

Ubuy: Brazilian "berimbau" African jambei, Yakut wargan. The geography of instruments is scattered all over the world.

Keyboardist: I love synthesizers. And analog, and digital, and software. Any.

But with rare exception there must be an inscription Roland.))

Our genre is undoubtedly metal. And the prefixes "experimental" and "ethno" are more suitable.

 I get Enraged when others call it folkmetal.
I want to come up with a special name for the style in which we play more and more often.

Alexander: I would like to call this style ethno metal. We will use a lot of instruments, and the more unusual will be the better)

Silvestr Palanevich: I liked the definition of Experimental Ethno Metal. I want to catch some new moods from the fusion of Ethnic instruments and heavy music.

6.Is there anything that helps you create your music ?...

Can you explain to us any traditional influences or spiritual inspiration you may have?

Ubuy: Music of ancient tribes around the world.

Keyboardist: The influence of the universe. The world consists of music. We must hear harmony. To catch a rhythm. Recognize the timbre. And to embody.

Alexander - everything is torn from within

Marina Shapovalova (drums): it`s somewhere from the inside ..

7.It seems you guys have been to many different places and plan to have more events in the future...Do you have any favorites cities or events you want to mention?

Ubuy: Romania and Moscow.

Keyboardist: Perhaps the best performance of last year I will call a concert in Romania.

Let's see what will happen next.

Ivantsov Dmitry: Romania, yes it is there. It was cool and very fun)

Alexander: I agree with all

Shapovalova Marina (drums): Romania is uniquely at the moment! Thanks to Narcis Muresan that he discovered for us this wonderful country and Celtic Transilvania Festival! For a long time I wanted to go to Transylvania and still could not do it, eventually visited it for the first time with a concert)

8.So what do you all do for fun other then music? any other hobbies or interests you have or enjoy on your free time?

Ubuy: Battles on cold weapons, computer games, airsoft, scuba, motorcycle, blacksmithing.

Keyboardist: Books and movies. If I were not a musician, I would become a film director. Or

a film critic.

Ivantsov Dmitry: I am engaged in self-education in business and conduct business, it's just like music

You create what you want by yourself

Silvestr Palanevich: I am engaged in products made of leather. And so different creativity (photography, drawing), books, philosophy, cinema. I would like to have more trips =)

Shapovalova Marina (drums): I like to travel, like nature, photography and photoshop, I write poems, in the summer I like to ride a bicycle, and a lot of things in general

9.If given the opportunity, and when the time is available, in the future, will you be open to collaborating with another artist or creator on a side project? say a short film or music video project?

Ubuy: It would be interesting to try. as the same Daft Punk in HF Tron.

Keyboardist: If someone will show interest, and our vision of the final result will coincides, why not?

Alexander: Yes, in moderation

Marina Shapovalova (drums): I periodically think about this idea...

10. notice you have good quality videos as well, I like the video for the song "Totem" one of my favorites so far,,can you tell us a little more about who was involved in creating them?

Silvestr Palanevich: Our musician is Sergey Buben. His main activity is wedding photography. If you`ll look at his work, you will see, that his works are very worthy. It was interesting to practice in shooting a music video for him, and we needed the first clip, so we found each other. 

While we were shooting, we lived in the forest for several days, and this is a meal by the fire, songs with a guitar and interesting stories. In general, the atmosphere was not so much working, as creative. We were very pleased to work with him.

11.  So, how did you come to meet promoter and event cordinator Antonio Jankových?
he is a friend of ours as well,...

Marina Shapovalova (drums): I am engaged in promotion and affairs of the group, I lead our social networks and one day we found each other on facebook. He wrote to me first, he really liked our work. Before that, I already had unsuccessful attempts to find a booker, and Antonio seemed to me to be quite an enterprising and promising guy, we decided to try to cooperate, actually he also gave your contacts for interview). 
We really hope for a joint and fruitful work))

12.So random question, If you had a choice of any band or artist of today to collaborate with who would it be?

Ubuy: Yes, with orchestra, pyrotechnic, laser show.

Keyboardist: ...not sure most have past away..

Dzmitry Duhanau (flutes): I would like to do something in the style of dark ambient / acoustic black / avant-garde with Devin Townsend. I think it would be something fantastic)

Alexander: It would be interesting to do a show with an orchestra

Silvestr Palanevich: Acoustic concert with ethnic instruments

12.Ok well this question is open for you to mention anything you may want to say to the fans out there .....

Ubuy:

"Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go.

Ere we go, ere we go, cross the Kosmos.

Ere we go, ere we go, ere we go.

Ere we go, ere we go, throo infinity. "))))) (C)

Keyboardist: Be with us!

Alexander: This year we are planning a single and a video for you, and we are already working on a new album.

Shapovalova Marina (drums): Thank you for your support and interest about our work!)





13. So one last request,I ask most musicians and artists this because i know it is a very difficult career to take on full time ...Any words of encouragement for other upcoming artists and musicians like yourself trying to pursue a career in music?

Ubuy: success, pleasure from performances, loving admirers

Ivantsov Dmitry: Listen to music and go in for sports)

Alexander: The main thing is to believe in yourself and your business

Keyboardist: Do not think - do it.

Shapovalova Marina (drums): Believe in yourself, improve and do not sit still, nobody will fulfill your dreams for you

Special Thank you and Shout out to Plemya and all the people supporting and working together to create this unique and awesome music! 

It is inspiring to hear the personal views of artists and musicians.

Music has been a very important role in my life and it is an honor to speak with you all about your career and experiences as creators...

We look forward to seeing more of your work and hope to inspire a collaboration or another project with you guys in the future.

Thank you!

-Tim Raven Rotar

Follow, Support, and hear great music from Plemya at these links below 

https://www.facebook.com/PLEMYA1/

https://vk.com/plemjaclub

https://www.instagram.com/plemya_minsk/?hl=en