I totally agree with you when it comes to summing up what we've done earlier. Tiamat is Tiamat’s biggest influence. When we're in production we often go back to little details that maybe we have been part of in inventing…you know, a bit more monotone clean electric guitar picking like you did on that album.. What about a drum pattern like what you did on Whatever That Hurts... Stuff like that. In what way did the writing and recording sessions for The Scarred People differ from previous experiences? It's just life, isn't it? I think we lived the album more than recorded it. One day you might wake up with a hangover and a new tattoo. It's all part of life, and life changes. We've never had any great masterplan for doing an album. The album’s stunning artwork is made by Johan Edlund himself. Can you tell something about the making process and what it represents in lieu with the themes and subjects tackled on the album? I love contrasts and I love symbolism so I got a bit influenced by Crowley who also loved to mix contrasting things into something on his own. I know I might sound a bit abstract here, but that might also be part of the concept. I leave the rest up to the one that is willing to take his/her time.
Tiamat has evolved quite a bit musically over the years. How important is it for you as a person and a musician to evolve and keep on pushing creative boundaries? I live here and now. I have no interest whatsoever in the past or in the future. I'm happy it's still pretty hot here, and I'm thinking about going out for a cold beer once I've finished this interview. When you start working on new material to what extent do you keep the wishes and expectations of the Tiamat fanbase in mind versus fulfilling your own creative needs? We don't think at all. We work on instinct. If anybody would follow, that's a nice bonus. Tiamat has been around since the early nineties. What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed over the years and how did they affect the band? Today’s bands are sissies. Cool in the way that they don't take as much drugs as we used to do, but they really have to step up against the business. The younger bands destroyed a lot, doing everything for free... like prostitutes, and some of these bands sell like hell, but they're still not being fairly
treated, and they don't dare to put some demands cause someone else might steal their position. I understand it, but it's sad to see. I would never ever in my life crawl up someone else’s ass. Fuck no! Recently you guys changed labels. What are the biggest differences between working with Nuclear Blast and Napalm Records and how would you like to describe the partnership so far? We're happy on Napalm. I just can't see why this is interesting. I also changed from Citibank to Eurobank. We changed cat food from Friskies to Whiskas, and we changed washing powder 'cause my t-shirts started to itch. Which records did really resonate with you this year and why? Lana Del Rey - Born To Die. I got so happy to hear it, even though I got tears in my eyes. But it sounded like a proof of that the Crazy Frog days are finally over in music. Love her for bringing music back to music. Finally, what is next in terms of touring and other possible musical projects? We have a boat cruise in Sweden next week, and then one in the Caribbean in January. Nothing else booked as of now. www.facebook.com/tiamat
I live here and now. I have no interest whatsoever in the past or in the future. I'm happy it's still pretty hot here, and I'm thinking about going out for a cold beer once I've finished this interview.
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