Hails
Here is a interview with the new German duo NYX that recently released their debut cd "Home" through the mighty Agonia Rec. so take a few minutes and read the interview with this great new band and be sure to buy the new release Home.
Regards
Patrick
Interview with NYX done by Patrick
1.Hello when did you two first meet? Was it long before you all formed NYX.?
Blitz: Hello! Oh, we were discussing that lately. I think it was at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. Back then we were searching for a new guitarist for our previous band and Vinterbarn joined. So we got to know throught our former band. We found out that we can work together pretty well. It felt really natural that we created a vision together of what we wanted to do and in 2011 we formed our own project. That's almost exactely 4 years ago now.
2.How did you all choose the name of the band NYX.?Does it have a special meaning? For the readers who have never heard your music how would you best describe it?
Blitz: Nyx is the greek goddess of the night. Born from chaos. We chose that name because we think it fits. I think our music is the result of something that is born from chaos. We try not to put any boundaries on what we are doing. We always want to feel free to do what we want. So when we started we were not thinking about what kind of music or what genre we want to play. We were practically doing what we felt like and what we had to do. Lately we saw that a lot of people describe it as raw black metal. We ourselves would rather call it something inbetween black metal and extreme metal.
3. NYX. is getting ready to release the debut cd "Home" through Agonia Rec. how long did it take you two to write and records these songs? Do you both write the music or does one member usually write everything?
Vinterbarn: It took about 10 months to write the music and we develop it all step by step together. Then we had 12 days at the studio to record everything. But after that it took 2 year until it was released now (the recording took place in 2013) as we had to find a label and arrange everything with them.
4.Who usually writes the lyrics for the band.What are some subjects you all write about?
Blitz: We both do that. We work pretty close together in writing lyrics. For the album there was the idea of what the whole lyrical concept is about. This so called inner home. And we were developing the lyrics around that. It's a longing and a searching for a place within yourself that goes really deep and dark.
5.I believe NYX is a two woman band have you all discussed adding new members for a full band or do you prefer to work as a two piece?
Blitz: No, we already feel like a full band. For live we have a session-bassplayer with us. But to work on music and ideas we are good with the two of us.
6.NYX comes out of the German metal scen what is your opinion of Germany's metal scene?
Vinterbarn: When we are abroad, people tell us, Germany has a strong metal scene with many gig-locations. For me it’s hard to judge, but lately I saw many of that live music-locations vanishing.
7.Who are some of your all-time favorite german bands? Are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out?
Vinterbarn: If I listen to music, I don’t care whether it’s German or Black Metal or Metal. I don’t think among my alltime faves is a German band. But I lately discovered Mantar. They happen to be German and think they’re definitely worth checking out.
Blitz: All-time favorite german bands is a difficult term for me as well. My first look doesn't go to what country the band comes from but well, with some you definitely know. Helrunar I like a lot since years. And also Kreator somehow. And yes, Mantar are definitely worth checking! As well as our colleagues Hyems.
8.Besides NYX are either of you currently working with any other bands or solo projects?
Vinterbarn: I do some other projects from time to time. But there’s no relevance for NYX here.
9.Blitz you handle the drums for the band when did you become interested in playing the drums? Are you self taught or did you take lessons when first starting out?
Blitz: It was always the only instrument I wanted to play. It took some time to convince my mum of that (laughs) but then I started to play pretty early. I can't remember anymore at what age. I think somewhen between 11 and 12. But no warranty for that. Yes, I took some drum lessons in a music shool at the beginning. Later I taught some things myself.
10.Who are some of your influences/favorite drummers? Besides the drums do you currently play any other instruments?
Blitz: That's a difficult question for me. I don't know if any specific drummers influenced me or if I have any favorites. Of couse you are influenced by the stuff you are listening to. But I never had any specific drummers I followed. There are a lot of really good and fantastic drummers but I'm far away from that. No I don't play any other instruments for the moment.
11.Vinterbarn you handle the guitars for the band at what age did you start playing the guitars?Are you self taught or did you take lessons when first learning?
Vinterbarn: I started with 17. Rather late, especially coming from a musicians-family. But then I took lessons and even studied music with e-guitar as main-subject.
12.Who are some of your influences and favorite guitarists?
Vinterbarn: I can’t tell about influences as I learned lots of different songs and styles and probably they all influenced me somehow, but rather subconsciously. I hope I sound mostly like myself and not like anyone else actually. Mattias Eklundh is cool and I visited one of his summer workshops, but I’m far from playing or even trying to play like him.
13. Vinterbarn Besides the guitars you also handle the vocals when did you start singing and screaming? Do you do anything special to keep your throat and voice healthy?
Vinterbarn: No, that’s not completely right. We both scream, but I rather do backing-screams and clean-vocs. Most screamed parts are Blitz‘s business. And hm… she smokes a lot to keep her voice healthy (laughs) and I do that at least at some rehearsals. I did a bit of singing along with my guitarplaying always and screaming was just started for Nyx. Blitz did it the first time when we started to write for „Home“ at the end of 2012 and I tried it some months later then as well.
14.Who are some of your favorite vocalists?
Vinterbarn: Björk, Nocturno Culto, Peter Tätgren, Rob Flynn, Jeff Walker, Chad Gray, Tim Yatras, Dave Grohl, Lizzy Plapinger, Karin Dreijer Andersson. I like it in general when instrumentalists sing, cause they do it often in a very intuitive, natural way with their playing.
Blitz: Quorthon, Peter Tätgren, Peter Steele, Dave Grohl, A.A. Nemtheanga, Chelsea Wolfe and Hekte Zaren, she is amazing for me! She really takes you to other spheres with her art.
15.Thank you Blitz and Vinterbarn for taking the time to fill this interview out.Do you two have any final comments for the readers?
Blitz: Thanks back to you and say "Hi" to the Ether-Peter, guys.
Label Contact
https://www.agoniarecords.com/
