Webzine
By Jaime Amorim
With their new album being released here in Brazil by Hellion Records, we decided to collect some opinions about this Gothic band. With you, Asrai.
1 - I know I'm far from being original by asking this, but please introduce Asrai to Metalvox's readers. Tell us a bit of your history.
Karin - To introduce Asrai we have to go back in time. When Karin and Margriet started an all-over girl band in June 1985, we played somberly and intensely, that was the roots of our music. Nowadays the music has developed more and more and in 1988 we decided to change the name of the band into Asrai (The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who turn to water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight). And shortly after that our first male guitarist entered our and for eight years our line up was: Margriet - Vocals, Bert - Guitar, Elfriede - Bass and Karin - Drums). We recorded several tapes and by the time that we wanted to make our first album, the guitarist and bass player had decided to leave. Happily, we found new band-members, and with Serge on guitar and Leah on bass we recorded our first cd As Voices Speak. With this line-up we played for four years and made plans for recording our next cd. But the guitarist decided to leave because of other opportunities he couldn't resist. This time it was difficult to find another guitarist and it took some time before we found Rik. Looking for more ways to explore our music, we wanted someone on synth. In the meantime, we were now able to realise the dream of recording a second album. When we recorded the demo cd Martin (who we knew for years, he often went with us to gigs etc) joined the band on bass. After hearing the demo Manon had to join us. So now Asrai's line-up is Margriet - Vocals, Rik - Guitar, Manon-Synth, Martin - Bass and Karin - Drums. Signed by Transmission records, we proudly presented Touch in the Dark, and hope that we will play in this line-up till the end of days...
2 - Reading the band's release, I could notice that some of its members started their path on the world of music through Punk Rock and New Wave. This background for a Gothic Metal band is very interesting. How did Punk Rock and New Wave helped you to consolidate Asrai's musicality?
Karin - It was a very natural process. When we started, the Punk scene was very much alive.. Specifically, the no-nonsense spirit gives us the change to play even when we hardly had any musical experience. The New Wave and Punk rock has also their own way of expressing their emotions (Punk more in a aggressive way and New Wave more in a tormented way). We we're attracted to several styles of music, but it had to be alternative. Every kind of music has own charm and expressions.
3 - The band released several demos between 1989 and 1994 and could only release the debut album in 1997 through Poison Ivy Records: As Voices Speak.. Was it too hard to reach this deal and what were the repercussions of this album?
Karin - Our music was always a bit different than other bands, maybe because of the female logic of making music, I don't know.
4 - Unfortunately I hadn't the chance to listen to As Voices Speak. Are there any differences between it and Touch in the Dark?
Karin - Yeah, of course there're differences between the two albums. Both albums are recorded with a different line-up. The only steady members are Karin (drums) and Margriet (vocals). And everybody had his own style of playing. As voices speak was recorded in three days and for Touch in the Dark we had a month of working together with a producer, which is a big difference in the process of making an album. As voices Speak is much more raw and a bit faster with two very nice ballads. But the intensity of our emotions in the songs on the two albums is the same.
5 - Nowadays, bands that play Gothic Rock and Gothic Metal get an easy spot in the Metal scene. However it wasn't always like this. I can speak for my twenty years inside the metallic scene, almost always paying a lot of attention to Gothic Rock. After all, Heavy Metal has always been far more intense than any other musical style. How was it in the beginning of the band? How did you look at Metal when you started your career? Do you listen to Death, Black Metal? Is Iron Maiden welcome in your cd-player?
Karin - The Heavy Metal scene is a very solid and big scene, I don't think that that will ever change. Gothic Rock and Gothic Metal is more of this time, I guess it's a music style that had to develop through the years. Every "generation" needs its own identity, mostly based on an existing lifestyle but with a new face. Because Metal is one of the most solid scenes, so it was the first scene we where confronted with, when we first started going out. We liked the hard and heavy sound, but when we first heard The Cure we fell in love with this emotional, full of frustration, wrapped up in a song way of music. Shortly after that we got in touch with the Punk scene and liked their ideology and their straight in your face way of making music. We're not listening to Death and Black Metal often, but sometimes it's nice seeing this kind of band on stage. This music is more something for seeing live than for relaxing on your sofa. It's hard to find any Iron Maiden in our cd-collection, but to say: it's not welcome..?
6 - Touch in the Dark was mixed by Sascha Paeth, who is a very required professional by Heavy Metal bands, the more melodic ones that is. What was the reason that led you to choose Sascha to mix the album? Would it be the fact that he indeed has such experience and Asrai's musicality is full of melody?
Karin - When we signed at Transmission Records working with Sasha was part of the deal. Transmission Records works a lot with Sasha and his team. And when you hear anything from him you understand why! For Asrai it was a very good experience to work with him. He really understands the intension of our songs and he was the finishing touch for our album.
7 - I can notice that Gothic bands in general have a musicality that constantly approaches Pop music, and that you usually add electronic elements to your songs. Is this proximity to Pop music something natural or just a way to get more widely into the market?
Karin - I understand what you mean, but making a song for us isn't just a matter of choosing something in a particular direction. But more a way to express our emotions. We never made a song while, in the background, thinking 'Will it be popular enough?' So it had to be something natural. And of course we're influenced by every kind of music that we like, and the electronic element gives a contrast with the guitars, and added something to the music in a non-expected way.
8 - Touch in the Dark was released here in Brazil through Hellion Records. What's the band's expectation about this release here in Brazil? Did you have any contact with the Brazilian Gothic scene?
Karin - It's difficult to expect something, that Touch in the Dark was released in Brazil was much more than we ever expected. (That's great!) We hope that we can touch some emotions of the Brazilian scene. We didn't have any connections with the Brazilian Gothic scene, but that's something what we can change!!
9 - The band's line-up is almost totally composed of female musicians, is there a special reason for this?
Karin - When we started as an all-girl band in the beginning it was very important to play with only female musicians. But later when making music became a great part of our lives, it was more important to play with musicians. But with two female former-members of the band, it looks that the line-up is almost comprised of female musicians. But it's true there were always more women in the band than men. It has to be destiny!
10 - I thank you for the time conceived to answer this short interview and leave you the space for any final comments of your own.
Karin - Thank you for the interview and we hope that there will be a chance to meet the Brazilian Goth scene. Of course we hope to be on stage in Brazil one day..!
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