Here is a new interview with the Polish Pagan black metal band Varmia who recently released their debut cassette Z Mar Twych through Folkvangr Rec.If you are a fan of well written and performed black metal then don't miss out on Varmia's debut release
Regards
Patrick
fiendformetal@live.com
Interview with Lasota vocalist and guitarist for Varmia
1.Hello Lasota when did you first become interested in writing and playing music?
Slava! That was something that came out naturally. I remember writing my first "piece" when I was about 12 years old. It was ridiculous of course but since then I was trying to express myself through the music.
The first instrument and the only instrument that I officially learned to play was keyboard and later the piano. I learned to play the guitar myself. In the future I will take some hit on the drums but only as a hobby. I enjoy playing all instruments to be honest. The guitar is my home though. Learning piano helped me to develop general hearing and listening to all the instruments in the whole arrangement. I also sang a lot in a choir back in the school.
2.What were some of the first instruments you learned to play? Did you take lessons or are you self taught? Are their any instruments you would like to learn to play someday?
3.Who are some of your influences and favorite musicians?
The artists that I respect the most are David Gilmour, Mikael Akerfeldt and Ihsahn. I also like Polish piano player Krystian Zimmerman, composer Matt Uelmen and Howard Shore, Darkthrone. A bit of everything I guess.
4.Lasota you formed Varmia in 2016 what gave you the idea to start this band? And how would you describe Varmia's music to the readers?
That's true. It came out naturally revealing itself to me piece by piece. Literally. When I wrote the first piece I just had the idea of using folk vocal on that single track. Then I had another piece and changed the language to Polish for the vocals. It sounded perfect to my ears so there was the idea to make the whole album. Then the name Varmia started to haunt me. Then the idea of recording it in the barn came in. And so on and on till this very day. The sound of Varmia is a combination of an old school black metal with our traditional Slavic music. Everything is bounded together with the vibe and spirit of Polish village. That is because we recorded the whole thing in an old barn at the lake somewhere in Warmia. You can hear that on the record.
5. Z Mar Twych is the debut release how long did it take you to write the music for this release?
I think about it was less than a year. But it's really hard to date those things. Some riffs are very old, some brand new. I have my own library of the ideas that come to my head on a daily basis.
6.Lasota where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics on the debut?
My main inspiration is a sight of a Warmian field, scent of its forests and taste of the water from the lakes. It sounds terribly pretentious and cliche but that's how it is. Those things and memories of them trigger my artistic powers.
7.Besides the cassette version will it be released on any other formats? Besides Z Mar Twych do you have any other releases planned this year? What about merchandise is their anything available?
Yes the debut release of CD form took place on 28th February by Polish label Via Nocturna. The album is also available on digital forms. Check the youtube, spotify, deezer, bandcamp and you will find it! No further releases are planned currently. If the CD album will sell out then we will think of a second press and maybe a vinyl version. Merchandise is something that we are working on right now.
8.What does black metal mean to you?
9.Besides working in Varmia do you currently work in any other bands or projects?
Yes, we are. Maybe one day we will reveal some of them. Right now it's irrelevant.
10.Varmia comes out of Poland's black metal scene what is your opinion of the Polish black metal scene?
It's in a reinessance stage right now. Mgla, Furia, Batushka, Odraza, Morowe are right now very well-known bands not only in Poland but abroads as well. It's good to have our culture noticed outside our country.
11.Who are your all-time favorite Polish bands and are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?
My Polish band number one is Vader from our hometown Olsztyn. Doc (R.I.P.) is in my opinion the best drummer in all the extreme metal scene, period. I must say that I like listen to Mgła and Furia from time to time.
12.When not working on new music or band business what do you like to do in your free time?
13.Thank you Lasota for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?
Sure thank you! First of all thank you all for supporting Varmia. We have a tough tasks ahead of us. We plan to put together the promo tour in the fall so keep the track of what's going on and maybe we'll see each other on the stage one day. Slava!
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