.: Elitarian Music Webzine :.

[I’ve been hugely impressed with Svarti Loghin’s second output Drifting Through the Void, and the curiosity to ask them some questions came naturally. Below, the interview with bass player Raymond N.]

According to the band’s own words, the meaning of the bandname itself holds a ‘spiritual’ significance, implicitly meaning that all people has a vein of the ‘Black Flame’ (Svarti Loghin) in them, which manifests differently for each person, and is therefore up to humans to know themselves. What does this ‘black flame’ identify with on a spiritual level and how would you say you’re influenced by the spiritual side of existence in everyday’s life? Through which means you believe self – knowledge can truly be achieved by man?

“This description is not familiar to me (Note of the Editor: I’ve actually taken it from a 2008 interview of the band which can be read at this link. Literal quote: ‘The meaning of the name itself is for us spiritual in the sense that all people has a vein of the ‘Black flame’ in them, but how it manifests is different for each person, so that’s up to humans to know themselves.’). However, we want people to see a deeper meaning behind what we do, that is why we leave much unsaid and open for interpretations. It’s the listeners own feelings that matter, not if we try to tell them what they should feel. Kind of a cliche, I know, but it’s true.”

The monicker was chosen during the early days of the band. Do you still find this bandname to be suitable to the direction you successively took?

“In a way. It’s basically the same music, but with different production and arrangements. If you play the riffs with an acoustic guitar you can hear it’s similarities. But yes, the bandname is more ‘black’ than we are nowadays.”

Though already showcasing an excellent display of Svarti Loghin’s unique style and potential, Empty World sounded somehow restrained, as in some way you still were not completely at your ease with giving vent to your creativity, while Drifting through the Void represents a more accomplished and focused effort. To which differences – if there were any – in the songwriting process or simply in your approach to music between these two moments of your career can this be imputed to?

“The songwriting, arranging and rehearsing process did not differ, but we tried different things when recording it. We wanted another kind of production this time. For Empty World we used distorted guitars for everything and just some clean guitars here and there. This time we used clean guitars for almost all melodies and harmonies and only used distorted guitars for background chords. This way we got a much softer and atmospheric sound. And for Drifting Through the Void we have keyboards in the background on almost every riff. Not audible sometimes but if you remove them you can hear that something is missing.”

You often point out how your music aims to recall the natural, atavistic ambivalence of sorrow and joy that affects human being throughout the entire life. Do you think that this ambivalence might be somehow imbalanced, with happiness being a relatively difficult condition to accomplish if compared to its opposite?

“If happiness comes rarely it just makes those moments more valuable. To enjoy music that you think is beautiful is one kind of happiness, and that is what we try to do.”

Can the cover art of Drifting through the Void be taken as a symbolic recall to this duality, with its depiction of a moth, a generally nocturnal insect that frequently appears to be attracted by light?

“The moth could be viewed as a metaphor, it lives in the darkness but is attracted by the light as we often live in some kind of everyday melancholy, but try to fill our empty lifes with meaning and sometimes we get a glimpse of that light.”

You tend to avoid any in-depth explanation of your symbolism and imagery, motivating this choice by stating that you do not wish the mystery and ‘layers of mysticism’ to be torn away. Don’t you find that this kind of cryptic approach can present dangers, or even simply cause you to be misunderstood?

“It can cause us to be misunderstood, but it also can cause our work to evolve even after everything is done and complete. If you make people think about what it means you have accomplished something. If they already know what it means it raises no thoughts and gets quite dull.”

While Scandinavian countries are known for having played a significant role in the development of extreme metal, your biggest influences seem to come from the USA (Grunge, US Black Metal with Xasthur being listed as one of your main influences, Jefferson Airplane, and so on)… How would you comment this fact?

“That is an interesting fact, but on the other hand those bands play a version of Scandinavian and Brittish music. What comes first, the hen or the egg?”

Are you familiar with your label mates at ATMF? Do you have any favourite band off of the roster?

“I can only speak for myself here as we in the band listens to different kind of music. But Tenebrae in Perpetuum is good, it’s actually one of S.L’s favourite bands. I like Melancolia Estatica, Lantlos (They just left the roster though) and also parts of Arcana Coelestia, Trancelike Void and Lustre.”

What kind of synergy has been established between Svarti Loghin members? Do you think that the band’s activities could successfully carry on in case of major disputes with a different line – up, for example?

“The fact that S.L compose all riffs would make the rest of us replaceable I guess, but we all arrange the music and produce it together so it could take another turn. I do all visual work so that would change a bit if I was to quit.”

You believe that environment plays an important role in the shaping of human psyche and personality, can you personally ever figure out the eventuality of moving from Sweden to settle down in another part of the world?

“Yes I think it does. People living down south tend to have the feelings on the outside. We in Sweden are traditionally more withdrawn and introvert and that makes for some difficult situations with all immigrants and fugatives coming here, so I guess it would be the same if I was to move down south.

I’m to bound to my native enviroment to move anyhow.”

You’re currently working on an Ep release, which – according to what I’ve read – should feature even more diverse material, with the ‘soft’ side of Svarti Loghin taking over the Black Metal influences, what’s the reason behind this further evolution of your sound and what kind of themes are you going to explore in the lyrical department?

“Mostly it just turned out that way… If you follow our song in chronologic order it’s not a step away from the trail. How the album after that one turns out is unknown to us though, maybe it turns with this EP, maybe not.

The lyrics is hard for me to comment though as I’m not involved with them, and S.L seldom comments them either.”

What are your plans for this 2010 Summer? Are you going to travel and visit other countries? Since the record label you’re signed to is based in Italy, for example, have you ever thought about visiting this nation in particular?

“No plans right now. I just had a son so I’ll be focusing on him. The others might travel around some though.

I think Italy is too hot during summer but the Alps is probably beautiful so I would like that if I had the money to travel as I like that is.”

Many thanks for filling out this interview! End up as you please.

“Thank you!

Best regards, Raymond N.”

Svarti Loghin on MySpace Music

Comments are closed.