Can you tell me something about the history of ASRAI? Who met whom etc.? When we started Rotterdam has a very active Punk rock scene. With a lot of new coming bands. In one of them Martin(our current bass player) and Bert (he played guitar for several years in Asrai) was playing. We've met them when we watched a local band. Martin also played for many years together with our brother Henk in a hardcore band before he finally ended in our band. In the meantime that he was rocking on stage with our brother. You could find us also (together) often on stage. We started as Twins no Twins After we had our first line-up change, the bass player quit and Elfriede took her place, We wanted a more serious name and a new start. and changed our name into Asrai At that time we were still a girls band. We've learned a lot in that period. We wanted too be in depended, changed our rehearsal studio. We had in the first few years a quick changing of female drummers and every time Karin was the one who learned the new ones how to play the drum the numbers, so when Connie left us, Karin started to drum (first she played guitar but liked drumming the most. Bert joined us. In the eight years that we played together with Margriet-vocals, Elfride Bass guitar, Bert Guitar and Karin on drums. We recorded several demo tapes: The blue tape, So clear that you couldn't tell where the water ended and the air began, Love is a Lie and the live tape: Live in a Package. We wanted to record a cd, but Elfriede and Bert had to decide leave the band, so for the last time together at the studio and recorded the tape for As voices speak. An intense period. . We wanted to record a cd, but Elfriede and Bert had to decided for personal reasons to leave the band, so for the last time together at the studio and recorded the promo tape As voices speak. We met Serge and Leah and short time after that we recorded our first CD: Äs Voices Speak". This one was notices by Michael Zoller who signed us on his label Poison Ivy. And so a German release was issued. After Poison Ivy sadly went bankrupt, Serge left the band for another carrier. and this time it wasn't easy to find the right replacement. In the end Jos (Grendel) was our man for playing the guitar. We wanted to explore and deepen our music so we where looking for a keyboard player or a second guitar player. Jos knew Rik and introduced him and he came into our lives. Jos became so successful with his other band that was difficult to combine the two bands. He left and with the four of us, we made plans for our next cd. And decided that it would be recorded at the beautiful lake studio with Roman Schoensee. We know him through Kemi, who is also playing in a Goth band from Rotterdam. Short time before we get in the studio Leah became ill and we asked Martin. If he wanted to replace Leah for the time being, so she could recover. So we went to the beautiful lake studio and recorded our demo-cd. At that time Margriet's boyfriend Beer who is playing in a band with our brother Henk.. they where recording a new album at the Excess studio. Hans Pieters from the Excess studio gave the advice to send the demo to Transmission records who might be interested, and they were. Transmission Records gave us the opportunity to record the album with a larger budget and one of the better mixers of this time: Sascha Peath. We wanted Roman as our producer and we made new recordings in his studio and also at the Excess Studio with Hans Pieters. Before we went to the studio for the second time. It became clear that Leah didn't recover and decided to leave the band. We met Manon through a friend Patrick who played years ago for a short time with us to replace Bert, who broke his leg at that time, so he could recover.. She heard our demo-cd and before she even knew it was five of us rocking on stage. And so it stayed, With the five of us (Margriet - Vocals, Rik - Guitar, Manon - Keyboard/Violin, Martin - Bass guitar, Karin- Drums) we went to the studio. And recorded our second cd "Touch in the Dark". How do you compose your songs? Who writes the Lyrics? We make the songs with each other, most of the time it evolves from a jam session. Or someone has a great riff and we work it together. Most lyrics were written by Margriet, but also Rik and Karin write some How long did it take to realise your album "Touch In The Dark"? It took quite some time.. Of course we recorded the demo cd. After that we got the chance to record this album again, together with a producer: Roman Schoensee for a month. As we recorded the cd in two different studios it wasn't a four weeks in a row. And there were other things which delayed the release of our album. There was a fire at our record company and Sascha Peath had a full schedule so there wasn't time to mix the album immediately. But it's the result that counts! What is the message you want to submit to your fans? We want to touch their emotions. What future plans do you have? Playing live, and compose new songs for our next album. What kind of music are you listening to in private? All kind of alternative music, a lot of 80 stuff, old punkrock, Gothic Rock, but of course we have all our favourites. Margriet: Diamande Gallas, because she is a wonder with her voice, Bithday party, Leatherface, Social Distortion, The Swans, Godflesh, etc. Rik: Wumpscut, Feindflug, Industrial and punkrock like the Ramones Manon; Nine Inch Nails, Jack Off Jill, Placebo, Murderdolls, Helium Vola, Faith and the Muse Martin: Stranglers ,Killing Joke, Natacha Atlas, the Bones, Social distortion, Head of David, Zodiac mindwarp, Micheal Katon, ..basicly too much to mention.. Karin ; Nick Cave, the Damned, Dreadful Shadows, Mad Sin, Paradise Lost, And loads more How long have you been playing your instruments? Quite some time now, I guess most of us played their instrument between the ten or twenty years now. What does ASRAI mean and how did you hit on this name? Asrai are small, fragile, female fairies who turn to a puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight. That makes them unreachable and that gives the connection to our music. Where and when will you be playing live again? Making plans for playing live again, We hope that the dates will be announced soon What are you doing along with your band activities (Hobbies etc.)? We all have regular but intense jobs. But our most important hobby is making music. Besides that: Margriet: Through the years mine point of view changed about singing, I try too develop my voice, well that's a hobby. For me there isn't much time for another hobby. I have a intensive job en boy in the age of four, I tried to spent so much time as possible with him. Mine boyfriend is a tattoo artist and has a Tattoo studio in Haarlem Burning Heart Tattoo Haarlem. He worked at several conventions. We do that together. And that I like a lot. Is nice too see beautiful work of different great tattoo artists and meet nice people. Rik: I like to cook (vegetarian) and I make drawings for non-profit organisations. Manon: likes to read a lot and is a photographer Martin: Can be there something else that making music? Karin: Asrai is beyond a hobby, spend a lot of time on it...not only making music but also with making the website...I like that a lot. I try to find some time to read and playing together with Martin in other band is also very much fun. How do you see your chances on the Dutch and European music market? We hope that the market is ready for us. cause we are ready to shake it! Your music will surely often be compared with Within Temptation", not just because they are fellow countrymen, but ASRAI sounds partly like them. What do you think about this comparison? We don't think that our sound is the same as Within Temptation, but I guess that's a matter of opinion. Funny that we now get compared with Within Temptation, Sometimes we guess that's because they are unknown with other Gothrockbands. In the early days they compare us with Siouxie and the Banshees, probably because that was the only singer they know. But there are important differences between the bands. Our roots are different, not only in time but they came more from the Metal scene and we're from the wave/punkrock scene. I think it gives another point of view of making music. Ursula Kohl für GothicWorld |
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