WINDS
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Winds have released one of the most surprising albums of the year. Listen to the new album "Reflections Of The I" and let the dark atmosphere of the album touch your souls! Andy Winter, the basic composer and the keyboardist of the band contact us and we talked about the new album of the band and so many things that you will definitely think that are very interesting. Just read below |
 Hi
my friend. How are you are? So let’s begin
A: Are you ready? Of
course… A:
Ok then… Well
I have to admit that your new album “The Reflections Of The I” was
really one of the best and emotional albums that I have listened to
lately! A:
Thank you very much my friend. Introduce
us the band. Tell us the latest news. A:
What we’re doing right now is that we’re working on writing
new material. New
material… A:
Yeah, we’re
working on our new album. Since the “Reflection of the I” was
released we have many great reviews and we were very happy, so we’re
writing the new on right now. To
soon I think. When it is going to be released? A:
Do you mean the album that we’re doing right now? Yes. A:
Well in a few
months from now (Interviewers note: the interview was taken in
14/05/2002) in Europe and after Easter in America in May I think?
It’s going to be a very good album. Is
this a full-time band or just a project? Are there any plans for a tour,
or are you just only a studio-band? A:
Ahh, we don’t consider Winds as another project. We're 4 guys
and everyone is dedicated to the band 100%. I guess the difference
between a band and a project is that a project is a one time thing where
people get together and record, but once you have a permanent line-up
with the same people over several albums, at least to me, that is what I
would consider a band. So that’s how we see ourselves as well. I
told you so cause I know that Jan Axel (Hellhammer) is playing in
many… A:
In other bands yes. But for Carl, Lars and I, Winds is our main band,
but Jan Axel has other major bands as well. Basically he is a very
versatile drummer and needs to play different styles in order to keep
himself happy. So it’s only natural that a drummer of his talent
doesn’t stick to just one thing, because then he wouldn’t be able to
develop himself further as a drummer. So
are you going to tour to promote the album? A:
well, we don’t have any offers yet. But if we do something like that
it would be a great show with a live orchestra but it would also be very
expensive, so I don’t know who would be willing to pay for that.
We’ll see. A:
We would love to play there. Maybe next year we can work something out. So
are you gonna look for a bass-player too? A:
No, we have one! But
I know that the singer played the bass in the album. Is that right? A:
Yeah he is our
bass-player. We’re not actually trying to find any other bass player
right now. We have a perfect line up so there’s no need to look for a
bass player. Ok.
Can you tell us how did you get your name? Who’s idea been? A:
Well it actually
came from another project I had worked on with a friend, but that
project never developed into anything. It was a longer name but Winds
was part of it, and so one day when Jan Axel and I were on the way home
from the studio after recording the drums, the name Winds just came to
my mind. I suggested it to Jan Axel and he immediately thought it was
the perfect name for the band and the music we play. So then it was
decided. What
do you expect to achieve with this album? As far as I know you have got
many good reviews from 'zines. A:
We
just hope that people will appreciate the work we have done with this
album. I think those who have a high appreciation for music will be very
impressed with the album. We believe it features some of the best work
we have ever done, as a band and as individuals. I
think that you play (there’s a trick) with the album title. Explain
that to us. A:
Well, the title of the album "Reflections Of The I" has a
double meaning. First of all it represents the lyrical concept of the
album, but secondly the title can also be viewed as this album being a
reflection of us as musicians. Tell
me some things about the lyrical concept…of the album of course! A:
Yes of the album…(he laughs) But
tell me first of all. Do you write the lyrics? A:
Yes. I write the lyrics, yes. And
now can you tell me about the lyrics and if the title of the
album was your idea. A:
The idea for the title was mine. You could say I’m the brain behind
the lyrical concept of Winds, and thus I make final decisions on album
title and songs titles etc. But I often ask the others for opinions and
sometimes they have suggestions as well. We’re talks in our lyrics
about the history of our country and about other countries history. Yes,
I understand. Are you interesting about Ancient Greece History? A:
Well I have been to Greece, and I know some things about the history of
your country. I think that the history of your country is very valuable
for the whole world! (Interviewers note: I think the same thing too
my friend…) Well
I know that you play the keys on the album… A:
Yeah So
did you make the orchestration? A:
Yeah I made
it… I
think that is brilliant A:
Yeah, we also kept this in mind when we wrote the orchestration, that
everything needed to fit in and compliment the different parts
perfectly. I’m very proud of how it turned out in fact, and everyone
in the band thought it ended up being better than we could ever have
hoped for. Was
your idea to invite those members from The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
and to participate in the album? Many bands nowadays prefer to do such
things from the synth. You know they play all the instruments and
that’s not very expensive for them. A:
Yes, I think about that and we didn’t want to write some parts
just to make them understand how they must play in our songs. The
different thing that we’ve done is that we wrote everything, so the
musicians knew exactly what they have to play. We talked about
integrating strings into the sound after we recorded the MCD, because we
felt that the new material we had really needed it. So we called them up
and they were immediately interested, because they’re used to doing
studio jobs with artists all the time. We wrote all the parts as you
mentioned, so they only had to play the notes which we told them to, and
they thought the music itself was really innovative, and a few of them
even mentioned that this was much better than any metal music they had
ever heard. Which is a great compliment to us of course, coming from
them. And
how would you characterize your music style of your band? A:
It’s really difficult for me to characterize our music style. I
generally like music, and our music has elements from many other music
styles so it’s really hard for me to characterize it. As
you know many journalists like to put the groups in categories and…(I
don't mean myself!) A:
Yeah (he
laughs). I know that they like to categorize every group! Something
else that I want to ask you is about the production of the album. Did
you make the production? It’s very good. A:
Yes, I made the production and… Nice
work my friend. A:
Thank you very much, I’m very happy with the production as
well, and it was really necessary for us to find the balance between all
the instruments considering the complexity of our sound. There’s a lot
going on at once, and we can’t have something drown under something
else. To
tell you the truth I was surprised very much when I’ve listened to the
album for the first time! It was so good that I couldn’t believe it!
And I like it most from the new Arcturus album (I made the reviews on
both albums and I can tell that the new album of Winds might reminding
you the new Arcturus album BUT only as a feeling – their music styles
that they have as bands are quite different.) A:
Really? Yes
I like your new album very much (you can see it if you’ve read the
review) A: That’s very good to hearing that you like so much our new album. I like too the new Arcturus album and as you said we have a quite different music style from them, but I can tell that both Winds and Arcturus are great bands.
A:
I don’t really know but when I asked him how happy he is with
Arcturus, he said quite happy and also he said that he is really
exciting with Winds! So… I
understand…also it is very good for a band to have such a great
drummer. A:
Yeah, everyone in the band is very happy with Jan Axel. We really like
him, and except that he is a great drummer he has also a very good
character. A:
We worked with Travis Smith for the artwork. He is a
very talented designer, and I was very impressed with what he managed to
do for us. We had a very specific feel in mind, and it was very
necessary for the art to compliment the feel of the music, and I think
he managed to recreate that mood perfectly. I could not be happier with
the artwork. What
are your favorite songs of the album? I like most “Realization”,
“A passion’s Quest”, “Continuance” and “Existence”. A:
Well I don’t
really have any favorite songs from the album. It’s more like I have
favorite parts. Since this is a concept album it’s also difficult for
me to view the compositions as individual songs. Whenever I listen to
the album I always have to listen to the whole thing, and I think
that’s the thing about this album, there is no one songs that really
stands out from the others, and there are no songs that are not as good.
Everything holds the same quality standard, which in my opinion is
rather high. Yes
I understand, it’s really difficult for you to choose… A:
Yeah, it’s really hard. Ok
then, can you tell us how did you get your name? Who's idea been? A:
Well
it actually came from another project I had worked on with a friend, but
that project never developed into anything. It was a longer name but
Winds was part of it, and so one day when Jan Axel and I were on the way
home from the studio after recording the drums, the name Winds just came
to my mind. I suggested it to Jan Axel and he immediately thought it was
the perfect name for the band and the music we play. So
then it was decided. I
think that’s the best name for the band according to your music of
course. A:
Yes, I agree with you cause it’s so close related to the music. Do
you play in any other band? This is the band that you spent all your
time. A:
I have another
project called Age Of Silence together with Hellhammer and a few other
guys who are exceptionally talented musicians. And
what is the music style of the band? A:
It’s difficult to describe but I’ve come up with the fancy word
sympho-thrash to explain it. It’s quite different from Winds, heavier
but not as intricately arranged. And
now we go on with the “Weird Questions”!!!… An I must warn you
that they are really weird! A:
Well let’s go on! If
your wife were selling your half album-collection just to buy for her a
good and expensive ring how would you react? A:
To buy what? An
expensive good ring… A:
An expensive ring……..(hahaha he laughs loudly!). How do you
know that I’m married?! (Laughs from both of us!) I
don’t know…. well I guess so! A:
That question was very good…(he laughs!). Well first of all I
don’t really have many albums (he still laughs!), and if you
sell them you won’t become rich. But my wife wouldn’t do that anyway
(he laughs again!) Are
you sure? A:
Yeah, I think so… well I don’t know! (He can’t stop laughing
– me either!) So
since you are married the next question is not for you but just tell me
anyway, If you were dating with a very beautiful woman and you knew that
she hates extreme music and you were on a loft at evening with a
beautiful view …which 5
songs would you choose to play to make her feel comfortable, to break
the ice…and why? A:
How many songs? Only
5 but you know that she hates extreme metal music A:
(He laughs) Ok,
well I will actually choose to play….play…play….Winds! (Laughs
from both of us) Nice
answer… A:
Yeah, I hope that she will probably like our music, as long as she hates
extreme metal, because our music is something that can be appreciated
even by people who don’t like metal at all. Otherwise I think
classical music would be a better bet if she didn’t like metal. Those
who don’t like metal tend to not change their mind about it, and just
hate it the more they hear it. Hopefully we will change that after they
hear Winds… And
if you were dating with your wife (before you get married of course) A:
Before we get
married? Well maybe I would play a couple songs of Winds and then some
classical music. She likes that kind of music very much. And maybe we
were talk about it! (He laughs). Do these questions come from the
fans of your site? No
my partners and I thought those questions and we think that it will
be great if we asked everyone that we interviewed something that he does
not expect! A:
Oh, yeah there
are really great my friend! Thx
very much Andy. So tell me is there something that you love so much,
that you could leave Winds and generally music for dedicating only to
it? A:
There is really nothing I can think of now that would make me have to
choose, so this is a difficult question to answer. I haven’t thought
about it enough to give an answer. So
are you composing music for living? A:
Well I actually try but it is… Really
hard, I know. A:
I’m writing music all the time and this is my life. Also I write music
for many different things, such as cartoons! That
is very good. Can you remember when did you get your first metal album
and what was it? A:
Yes, I was about 12 yeas old when I get my first metal album. It was the
“ Master Of Puppets) from Metallica. I think that they were a very
strong band in the 80’s. I also like many other kinds of music except
metal music. Me
too. But do you see nowadays a band so strong like Metallica used to be
back in the 80’s? A:
Well I don’t
know, there are so many bands that may deserve to be that great but I
can really tell you right now. Ok,
just tell me 5 albums that you wish that you had written them. A:
I don’t really wished that I had written any album I like very much
the music that I write so can tell you any album. Maybe
“Master Of Puppets”? A:
No not really. You know that I like them very much but I don’t wish to
have written this album. They make their own music and I write the music
that I like most. I hope that you understand. Yes
of course. Well those were my questions. Add anything you want for the
end. I hope the best for you and Winds. Take care my friend… A:
Well I don’t
have really anything else to say, I think that we said many things. Thx
for the support on the band. Check more about Winds on our website: www.winds.nu (Interviewers note: In this point I'd like to say a great thx to Andy who is really one of the best musician that I have talked with and he has also a very good character. Andy thx for your help and be sure that we’ll meet when you come here in Greece for a show.) by Thanos (Mc) Aggelakis |
