RavenzCraft Arts Interview Project: Christopher Juul Interview

RAVENZCRAFT ARTS INTERVIEW PROJECT 2019 PRESENTS CHRISTOPHER JUUL

Christopher Juul is a very talented composer and musician with many inspirations, he has been a part of the Copenhagen music scene for many years

and a part of many projects such as Heilung, Songleikr, and is the owner of his own recording studio

Lava Studios Copenhagen

We have been a fan of Chris and his work for a few years now and we never knew he had part in so much awesome music!

We are honored and excited to welcome you and conduct this interview we thank you for being a part of RavenzCraft Arts 2019 interview project !

1.So for those of us who dont already know about your work, please explain to us a bit more about where you are from, how you got started.. and your role in the music industry today ..

Im Danish, born and raised in Copenhagen, from a musicians family, I’ve been privileged and encouraged to make music and art since i was very little. For the majority of my adult life I've been working with the same on professional level, full time. My father is a musician, craftsman and “gode”, which in some ways can be considered a sort of priest in the older nordic believes.

Since childhood, in company with my family, I’ve been traveling to viking reenacting/living history markets all over Europe, which has inspired me until this day in my daily work as a composer, musician, producer, filmmaker and artist.

Im the founder and owner of Lava Studios in Copenhagen, that mainly deals with historical music and arts, and in addition; the bandleader of Heilung and Euzen, and also musician/producer in Songleikr, Stoi, Mykur Folkesange, and the late Valravn.

2.When was it that you 1st were really inspired to create and take part in a music project on your own ?

I cant remember, but it was before I was able to speak. Instruments were always accessible in the house, and it seemed natural to play on them. In my teens I spent the most of my time studying music and art on the school bench, in recording studios, drawing/design studios, at home etc. On a serious level within my own projects, Euzen and short after Valravn, were the first to gain notably attention from the outside world.

3.I always ask this question in all my music artists interviews because i believe early inspiration has alot to do with what you create later on down the road....

What artists or music did you enjoy listening to as a young kid that still sticks with you to this day..?

When I was very young, I was 100% focused on classical music, as this also were part of my education. At around 12 my eyes (and ears) started to shift towards folk/world music and also electronic music.
Ive actually never really been directly inspired by other contemporary artists. dont get me wrong, I do like much music, but when it comes to what I create myself, I gather my inspiration from a completely other place. Very often this place starts as a non-arty-..thing, that in my mind transforms into sounds and images, that I then, as fast as possible and when its still clear, try to recreate for others to enjoy.

4.So obviously Heilung and your collaboration with Maria Franz, and Kai Uwe Faust is what most people know you from and is one of my personal favorite projects of yours as well ...can you tell us how you met up and how this project started to transpire ?

My girlfriend, Maria Franz, and I met as vikings in Iceland. Since then, our minds have been synced in love, music and arts. We both know Kai from living history-markets around Scandinavia. Kai is the owner of “Kunsten på Kroppen” in Copenhagen, that within tattoo arts deals with many of the same aspects from early nordic iron/bronze age that I likewise deal with musically at my studio.

In the beginning Kai and I made a deal: Kai would record some of his poems and shamanic rituals in my studio, and I would get a tattoo. Quickly it became clear that there were a lot more to discover in our collaboration. Poems became soundscapes, soundscapes became music, we were amplifying history. Maria joined inn on some songs and after a year or so, Ofnir was born and Heilung were a reality. However, no ink has to this date been injected to my skin.

5.So tell us more about your personal aspects as a creator...In one article i read about you .. You talk a out being able to "disconnect from what is now" can you explain a bit more about this?

Its not uncommon that many people, artists and listeners, try to link the past to “now”, in order to have it all make sense. In some cases that can result in a rather distorted viewpoint on our history. Dots there never were intended to be linked are suddenly being connected to accommodate a modern political or religious agenda.

This I highly try to avoid in my work. one way of doing so is to completely shot of the present and only look at what actually were the thoughts and lives of the people walking the earth so long ago.
My inspiration comes directly from the source, and it never gets transformed or altered by anything that happens politically on the world stage today. This is because the world, and its inhabitants, were very different from what we see today. It doesn't mean we cant learn from history, of course we can. But the earth has now spun so many times since our prehistory that its meaningless to even attempt to draw direct parallels between now and then. Because its no longer the same.

6.so can you let us in on any current new updates on projects you are working on?

Perhaps a bit more info about working with Myrkur?

Ive just finished producing her first “Folkesage” album. Im looking very much forward to join her lineup live, whenever I have time to do so.

7.I did some research and i see you are involved in many other side musical projects as well such as Euzen and STOI_im impressed you have created quite a bit of content ...

Can you tell us a bit more about these and some of your favorite past projects?

Thanks. Yes, its impossible to stuff inn all your inspiration into one single project. Therefore a natural solution is to have many projects. Where Heilung takes inspiration in the past, Euzen takes inspiration in the future. Where are we going? what will we become? I dont have a favourite project. Im just forever grateful to work with such talented minds on a daily basis.

However, projects like Euzen and also Valravn, made it possible that we could present Heilung on a big stage in front of rolling cameras. We didn't have to play a thousand small venues and build it up. that ground work were already made with past projects.
Stoi is a new project between Jonas that also sings live with Heilung and me. Its an attempt to draw inspiration from world music, not limited to nordic, without directly actually playing world music. How to keep, within a modern framework, that exact same feeling. And hence maybe develop a new sort of world music.

8.So the music industry has really changed in the past 10 years ..being able to create studio quality content and share it with the world with a few clicks of a button is an amazing benefit ...

What do you like best about being a creator today ? What is something you dislike about it?

Being an owner of a professional recording studio for more than 10 years I can confirm that the world has changed. Its now possible to get a very long way in your own living room. You basically just need a decent smartphone and you can become recognised all over the world. Physical releases has for the most part been replaced with digital, and often free alternatives.

That also means that all levels of the music industry have been forced to adapt to this new climate. However the reintroduction of vinyl and the fact that many studios still survives, proves that people choose quality when they listen to music. Maybe this is because people, when listening to their favourite music, seeks sounds that are out of this world. If all music sounded like it was recorded in your living room, then it wouldn't be out of this world, but rather “in” this world.
We all need to escape reality once in a while, and recording studios are still the only forum where this, in my view, can happen fully. Probably because, every time advancements happen at the home recording stage, ten times the advancements are being made on the professional level, rendering the possibilities within art greater than one single mind could ever wish to grasp.

9.So Anything new on the rise for you personally or professionally? or any projects or artists that you would like to mention or give a shout out to?

Im pleased to see how the awareness towards the history of my little corner of the globe is rapidly growing. It really feels, for the better or worse, like a movement. New bands, music festivals, films, series, conventions and computer games inspired by our history comes to life, all to celebrate culture and lore of something that have been on my mind for the most of my life. Im furthermore happy to learn that Heilung inspire other artists to create their art. Its working.

10.Can you tell us about some of your most memorable moments in your career? Anything that stands out in mind that you will never forget?

There are many. However, since we are talking a lot about Heilung. Playing our first concert at Castlefest, which later became our live release LIFA, is definitely a moment to remember. Also our ritual for the people over (and under) the mounds in Borre at Midgardsblot needs a mention. These two shows were the ones to prove to the world, and ourselves, that Heilung is a thing. Both festivals is run by people we deeply care about, and it only made sense to launch Heilung among friends and family.

12.so this question is for all the self creators and upcoming artists out there..any info on good software or favorite equipment to use to create or produce with?

For example music editor or video creator or producing programs you like to use?

Try them all. Only then you know which one is the best.

13.so obviously you are big on history and keeping old traditions alive..can you tell us a bit more about why you are creator?

What is one of your goals you want to achieve and express with your career ?

I foremost do it because i wouldn't be able to do anything else. Its a very pleasant surprise that it has gained followers and attraction around the world, and thus making it possible for me to afford food and a roof. But its not the reason why I do this. I do this because I love it. I have no idea where this will lead, but im looking forward to see what path has been drawn for me.

13.Any bucket list adventures or activities or places you would like to visit or travel to in the future ?

Yes, my own house. I wish to have more time at home. But right now we are traveling a lot, its fun!

14.As far as live events what are some of your favorite places or events to return to and perform at ?

Midgardsblot 2019? Any updates or updates about that you can share?

We are very shortly releasing info on the matter. Just follow us on social media and you'll know. I look forward to all of it!

15.So i really appreciate you talking with us here we have attempted to conduct this interview a few times in the past and im honored you are participating in this project ..anything you would like to say or mention to all the readers and followers out there ?

Remember, that we all are brothers

All people, beasts, trees and stone and wind

We all descend from the one great being

That was always there

Before people lived and named it

Before the first seed sprouted

Special Thank You to Christopher Juul for taking part in this project and for sharing a bit of his personal life and experiences as an artist and creator today

Interviews like this give insight and inspiration to artists and fans all over the world!

Follow Listen and Support Christopher Juul and his many projects here below at theses links:

https://www.facebook.com/amplifiedhistory/

Heilung