| |
|
|
|
|
.......................................................................................................... |
|
|
| |
DER ARBEITER |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Stark:
Let's start from the beginning.
When did you find out that you want to be a musician? Was it an
spontaneous decision or long-term process? |
|
|
| |
Juan:
"I think it was a rather spontaneous decision, although I´ve always
had a close relationship with music, understood as an expression
of the soul. To compose and arrange sounds is a sort of alchemical
process, linked to craftsmanship. I like to work with metals…
and sounds, too." |
|
|
| |
Could you tell me few words about your first musical experiences.
Was there something before DER ARBEITER? |
|
|
| |
"I started back in 2001 to use some very basic WIN95 software for
editing and sequencing, first as a sort of “divertimento”, then I
found some results good enough to think of complete songs. At that
time I was very involved with ALLERSEELEN’s music; I had just
listened to
"Neuschwabenland"
CD and found it absolutely brilliant. So I sent Gerhard a couple
of these “songs”, he liked them and suggested some future
collaboration for compilations, etc. This way I was later invited
by him to take part in
"Wir
Rufen Deine Wölfe"…" |
|
|
| |
Why "DER ARBEITER"? Is it reffering to Ernst Junger works? |
|
|
| |
"I just chose that name inspired in the image of the Worker,
understood as a dynamic principle of transformation. From an
aesthetic point of view, the worker also incarnates the idea of
precision, strength, will of order, etc. In short, the negation of
entropy. Later I came in touch with Jünger´s work, and as you
might guess it made a lot of sense…
It is my will to create music that expresses the same principles." |
|
|
| |
What musicians were the greatest influences in the beginnings of
your project? |
|
|
| |
"I was very fond on some of the European dark-neofolk-industrial
scene, specifically the projects related to World Serpent label. I
loved CURRENT 93, DEATH IN JUNE, SOL INVICTUS, all those great
bands which today have achieved the status of “cult” (I even
managed to travel to London and visit WS headquarters…
this was back in 1996!). Other influences were bands like LAIBACH,
BLOOD AXIS, etc. all of them related by the similar aesthetics and
conceptual background." |
|
|
| |
I suppose that in South America martial/industrial music isn't
really that "popular" like in Europe, or am I wrong? How did you
get in touch with this kind of music? |
|
|
| |
“This kind of music” requires a spiritual disposition which is, in
general terms, absent from the average South American. (This
absence increases as you get closer to the Equator line). I came
in touch with some bands like DIJ and CURRENT 93 at the
university. Me and some friends, who were mainly interested in
industrial acts like EINSTUERZENDE NEUBAUTEN, SKINNY PUPPY,
THROBBING GRISTLE, etc, slowly became involved in the
martial-neofolk-ritual field." |
|
|
| |
I haven't heard your two first releases ("Trabajos" and "Nos).
Could you compare them with "Reflejos del Sol"? |
|
|
| |
"Reflejos
del Sol"
is a final compilation of the songs included in
"Trabajos"
and
"Nos".
Before these, I had made some unpublished demos. For sure, they
should never see the light of day! My first attempts were based in
an extensive use of sampling, then I gradually moved towards a
more natural, organic sound." |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
I'd say that the trademark of "Reflejos del Sol" is that (almost
"dance") beat. Did the idea of using it so extensive came
naturally? |
|
|
| |
"My intention was to develop a sort of conservative-avantgarde
posture via music. Beat & Dance technology is a trade mark of our
time, so I chose to walk the narrow edge between tradition and
modernity. This is directly opposed as a mere folkloric, nostalgic
approach to tradition, which leads to more contemplative ways.
Evola v/s Guenon…" |
|
|
| |
I know that in case of lyrics your great inspiration are such
poets and writers like Hölderlin, R. M. Rilke, Meister Eckhart,
and Miguel Serrano. Could you tell me something more about their
influence on you? |
|
|
| |
"All of these authors are linked by the same ancestral spirit;
their words are genuine “Echoes from Hyperborea”. They share the
same solar, aural perspective of life, and the will of absolute
transcendence. Specially Miguel Serrano, an extraordinary man
which I am lucky to know personally. His life is a faithful
expression of these principles." |
|
|
| |
Tell me about your cooperation with Divine Comedy. Will the next
album also be released for them? |
|
|
| |
"Divine Comedy was and is a very good choice for me, serious guys
focused on music. Fabrice has been really kind, so my next album
will probably be released by them. There are other forthcoming
projects, a compilation of DC bands in which I will take part with
a split song made with HOROLOGIUM…" |
|
|
| |
I'd like to ask you about next full-length DER ARBEITER album.
Will it be in the same musical vein as "Reflejos del Sol"? When
can we expect its releasing? |
|
|
| |
“Holzwege” (Wood Paths) has a different taste, it is more
intimate and introspective than “Reflejos…” I am using more
acoustic elements, vocals and guitar, but always combined with a
synthetic rhythmic basis. As I´ve said somewhere else, it is
“music for dusk time”…It should be released mid-2007. A curious
fact is that it will include a cover version of an old AMON DUUL
II song called “Deutsch Nepal”, just like the CMI band. It is a
great song with a heavy martial feeling, originally composed in
1973!. Other song I would like to cover for a next release would
be HAWKWIND´s “Master of the Universe”. What a title, he he…" |
|
|
| |
You've taken part in two fantastic compilations "Wir Rufen Deine
Wolfe" and "Gloria Victis Vae Victis". Could you compare those two
releases? Which one has greater value for you? (Yes, I know it's
hard question ;)) |
|
|
| |
"This is just like comparing two good wines. Concerning the songs,
“Wir Rufen…” is strong and acid, like a Cabernet from Colchagua
Valley (Chile), while “Gloria Victis” is a sweet and delicate
one…a Late Harvest. Both of them have the same importance for me.
The song I made for
"Wir
Rufen..."
was praised by ones and criticized by others, because it did not
fit with an standard neo folk tune, due to the extensive use of
drum machines, synths, etc etc. A crime for the folky orthodox!
The song I wrote for
"Gloria
Victis..."
is called “La Espera” (The Waiting), a song full of nostalgia,
built up from a sample taken from an old 70´s Italian song.
Despite of it’s apparent simplicity, it has a lot of occult
meaning..." |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
What 5 albums you'd take with you on a desert island? |
|
|
| |
For those sunny, bright days, FORSETI´s “Windzeit”
For night time, ALLERSEELEN´s “Neuschwabenland”
For dawn, HARVEST RAIN´s “Blood Hymns”
For dusk, DIJ´s “Corn Years” CD
For “abduction time”, INADEs “Aldebaran” |
|
|
| |
Are there any other interesting musical projects in Chile? Or
maybe do you know something worth attention from such countries
like for example Venezuela or Peru? |
|
|
| |
"Sincerely I am not very fond on the South American scene, if there
is any, neither the Chilean one. Anyway, there are interesting
Chilean bands like LUNA IN CAELO, more in the dark-ethereal field,
who signed for Palace of Worms label some time ago. Also KUTNA
HORA from Argentina…From Perú, just a couple of good comrades and
a beautiful, impressive landscape! Venezuela, Colombia? I really
doubt there might be any martial-neofolk band, considering the
cultural substratum plus the warm, tropical weather, as I´ve
stated above…could you imagine a coloured clone of DER BLUTHARSCH
performing in a tropical beach, surrounded by palms, coconuts,
“señoritas”, etc? Kind of surrealistic scene, isn´t it?" |
|
|
| |
I'd like to ask you about standard of living in Chile. I know that
they have hard times in Argentina, but how is it in your country? |
|
|
| |
"Chile is often compared with countries like Poland and others from
Eastern Europe. In macro-economical terms, it shows a great,
steady improvement in the last 12 years, but these statistics are
dissociated from the “real life”. You still find clusters of
poverty, not just in the economical, but rather in a cultural
sense. Despite of this, In the latin American context, we are well
evaluated by the “big brother” EEUU, because Chile is a sort of
“good partner” full aligned with globalism and capitalism…
It´s a pity." |
|
|
| |
Is reign of Pinochet still noticeable after all those years since
its falling? |
|
|
| |
"As you might
already know, he has just passed away. Pinochet was our dictator
for 17 years, as each Latin American country has had their own.
This is due to the fact that these countries are quite young (no
more than 200 years), so it has been a hard task to establish an
organized and structured form of government. This has lead
naturally to military dictatorship, due to the incompetence and
weakness of the civilian forms of
government.
In our case, Pinochet had to re-construct the whole country after
Allende´s disastrous Marxist experience. In this process, many
excesses
were committed. But each revolution has it's price.before his
death, the direct influence of Pinochet was already weak, and will
definitely disappear in one or two more generations (20-40 years),
because the people that lived and suffered directly the military
coup (from both sides, left&right) will all be quite old or simply
dead." |
|
|
| |
What was the most glorious moment in the history of your country? |
|
|
| |
"I wouldn’t mention a specific event like a battle or something
like that. As you might know, Chile is a narrow border of 4000 km
between Pacific Ocean and the Andes, with the shape of a sword.
This configuration generates cyclic events like natural disasters,
floods, big earthquakes, etc, which lead to prove the strength and
braveness of our people. The capability of rising again and again,
after the disaster, is always a glorious-miraculous situation." |
|
|
| |
Do you believe in Eternal Love? |
|
|
| |
"What is Eternal Love? For me, it’s just a couple of images and
ancient memories from a distant past. They re-appear from time to
time, in different shapes: a special place, a person you meet, a
song you hear…" |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
Is there any place on Earth where you especially would like to go? |
|
|
| |
"Although I went to Europe once, I just did the occidental tour:
Spain-France-England. I would really like to visit the countries
of Eastern Europe, like yours. Poland, Romania, Hungary, etc...
Searching for a more in-depth, ancestral experience." |
|
|
| |
If there would be possibility to ressurect only one person from
the past, who is dead for a long time, who would you choose? |
|
|
| |
"The One I would choose is actually “resurrected”…
and he is not precisely Jesus Christ, he he!" |
|
|
| |
What would you like to achieve with DER ARBEITER in the future? |
|
|
| |
"I would like to make of DER ARBEITER not just a band, but rather
an art collective of people sharing similar ideas, using diverse
media (painting, digital media-web art, etc.) This might lead to
wider horizons…" |
|
|
| |
Thank you very much for your time, Juan. Last words are yours. |
|
|
| |
Thank you for this opportunity to share these visions. Hope to
visit your country soon…
Greetings from the Andes! |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
[ Stark ] |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
