interviewpage
Parakletos - interview September 2004 |
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I had the honour to meet the Parakletos' guys for a afternoon chat. Victory: Hello what's up? Parakletos: [Silence] Victory: Well, you don't seem to talk much but now you have to! This is an interview and in an interview you Have to talk!!! Smaelek: Ok! Ljungeld: I guess so... Victory: Interesting... Well, please share little about the upcoming release of your band, Parakletos! Smaelek: What do you want to know? Victory: *sigh* Well, tell us how it all started! Ljungeld: One day we deciced we wanted to compose something different for our Sauna evning with you, Mr Victory. Victory: Yeah, I remember that... Ljungeld: First we borrowed a quite good digital synth from a good friend and just started. We just have a couple of riffs that we did put together with a bit improvising and that turned to be our first song, Äktenskapsbryterskan Smaelek: ...and I had written all the lyrics already. I wrote them early 2004. [Suddenly Victory's phone starts to ring] ...and after a moment or two he returns. Victory: Excuse me, that was just some business! Well, back to that particular song, Äktensskapsbryterskan, it's quite familiar to those listening to Cradle of filth. Have you taken influences from them, if not from which bands? Ljungeld: That's quite intersting because I've never been into Cradle of Filth.We never wanted to sound like something else we just wanted to create something different. Smaelek: Antestor and Crimson Moonlight, nuff said! Victory: Ok. That's cool. What then happend? I mean after that song how did you progress? Ljungeld: We thought that our style was quite intersting so we decided to continue making songs. Victory: "Offerlammets makt" is a concept album, when did you decide to make a concept one? Smaelek: I've always wanted to do that since my lyrics were story telling. [Smaelek's phone starts to ring] Victory: Ljungeld, while Smaelek is talking(I didn't know you monks owned advanced technical items), could you tell us more about the progress of Parakletos? Ljungeld: First I was thougth it was going to be an EP but in the beginning of June I realized that "Heck, this could do a whole album!" I had a lots of free time to spend in my own studio. [Smaelek returns] Victory: Smaelek, can you tell us about the lyrics. First of all, why on earth in Swedish? You live in Finland... Secondly, what do they tell? Smaelek: Swedish is my mothertongue, then it's quite natural to write in it. For a while back I wanted Saviour Machine to make an album about the life of Jesus. But since they didn't I thought "I've to do it myself!" I prayed that Jesus would show me how He felt here on earth and I started to write. Victory: Amen. Ljungeld, you have lots of guitar harmonies and melodies in the songs. How do you compose them, do you follow any structure when making them? Ljungeld: Well, first I create the melody and sometimes I just hear in my head what kind of harmony could fit in there. But somethings I also use music theory to try things out. I've read, and I'm still reading, a lots of music theory. The most catchy melodies just pop up in my head. My friend Smaelek has made about half of the melodies. Victory: I have to admit that I really love the melodies on this album...! What would be the best thing to happend with Parakletos? Parakletos: (shouting out loud)To get a whole band and some gigs...!!! Victory: Finally, what do you say to a nonbeliever that's reading this? Ljungeld: Jesus opened my eyes and He can open your as well. It's worth it!! Smaelek: This is not just a catchy story, this is a thing that really happend. Victory: Thank you guys, it was a pleasure talking to you... Smaelek: *returns to the forest* Ljungeld: You're most welcome... 
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