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Hi, Ash! I’m so glad that you agreed to spend
the time for responding to this interview! |
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Zdravstvui, Tomasz! It’s a pleasure time for me again to talk with
Polish people. |
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First I’d like to ask you about the climate which is at your place
in Archangelsk because we’re melting in the 40
-degrees
heat here. I’m currious how the current season in Archangelsk
looks like? |
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As You maybe know, our city, the city of archangel Michael, lies
in the delta of Nothern Dvina river, very close to White Sea. Its
a very specific place, full of unique beauty and strong, pure
Russian spirit. The usual weather here is wet, rainy, - and very
snow in winter. But some last summers we fill the real hot in
Archangelsk, sometimes its about 40 C heat happens here, too –
and, as for me, it is greater problem then 40 C frost.
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I asked that question not without cause because as you have said
you’re very inspired by the nature of Nothern Russia, especially
Soulvetsk Islands. I suppose that they’re indeed a beautiful and
full of magic areas. |
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Yes. This summer I’m visited Soulovki again, and had the great 2
weeks sailed across the arctic White sea. Here, in my region,
there are some ancient forest’s and sea-coast situated Ortodox
monasteries here, too. And, the monks built them in a very
beautifil places, everytime... |
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Ok. Let’s come to the point: to the music of MOON FAR AWAY. Your
beginnings were with two demo tapes „Slovisha’s Songs” and „PRA”.
Since I haven’t heard those materials and I suppose that they
aren’t available to hear already, please, define precisely how the
MOON FAR AWAY face aspect look like on this materials? |
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Well, You may listen most part of songs, included to these demos
on our first CD, “LADO WORLD”. Of cause they were remastered, and
some – re-recorded. 2 or 3 songs from demos was not included on CD
– I was not satisfacted their sound-quality and artistic level at
that momemt. So, I think, You don’t lost to much, if You will not
listen this material. „Slovisha’s Songs” was released in 200
copies, and “PRA”... sorry, I really forgot it. Today the tapes
are not in distribution, of cause, and for me It’s just the memory
about first MFA steps. |
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How was the origin of MOON FAR AWAY? In which circumstances have
you called your group into being and what was your motivation to
create exactly that genre of music? |
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Some years
before MOON FAR AWAY I was a member of number of local bands,
which played post-punk and experimental music. And I learned many
kinds of music from classical, art-rock and different indies to
industrial death-metal and so one. But when I find for myself
albums of some 4AD & Hyperium artists, more folk and gothic vein,
I really find myself. And I understood, that its possible for me
to add something to the music of the world, to birth some new
ideas, to speak some original words... MFA is the best form for my
activity in these fields of sounds and spirituality. I’m going
this way about 10 years – and, - my God! – its the most true way
for me. Since 2002 we going this way together with Anastasia. |
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Your official debut is the „Lado World” album from 1997. You’ve
claimed that this album has been dedicated to the Earth. How (from
the perspective of the time) do you approach this material? |
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At this period I was very fascinated by Antique tradition, ancient
Greek art, philosophy and the view on life and around world. I
learned ancient Greek language and try to read some classical
books in original. So, that’s why You may find some pagan elements
on “LADO WORLD”, and the dedication came from those my passion.
Antique tradidion – it just like childhood of humanity, and it’s
paganism was one of the first steps of spirituality and the basis
of European culture. The Earth, from which the Corn grown. Even
today, when my oun philosophy was really changed, I find thirst
MFA CD very important for our evolution. |
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How is your opinion about pagan tradition? Unfortunately by the
cause of the Church many of that traditions have been erased in a
sizeable manners.
How’s your
opinion about this topic? |
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Its a very
hard question to discuss, because of their ideological aspect. I
think that the Stone Age was replaced by History, Antique period –
by Middle ages, primitive spirituality – by paganism and gods, and
paganism – by Christianity and God. History is a process, moving
the Man to grow from Earth to the Sun, from the animal to God. And
it is just the rule – the new kills the past often. |
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In my opinion your second album
„Sator” is much more mature and much more spiritual album at the
same time. How’s your
opinion about this album? |
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Yes, I think, it is
more mature work of mine, as a composer. And it is much more
closer to my today philosophy, being into esoteric-Christian
tradition, and, musically, in ritual-ethereal style. This album is
integrity os songs, - its the single composition, from the
beginning to the end.
Shadowplay will be re-release this album in the end of 2006, with
exclusive video & photo section. |
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Since „Sator” many things have changed. There’s no Heleg with us
anymore and Anea was replaced by Anastasie. Especially the change
of the vocal was propably the best thing you decided to do because
the voice of Anastasie is just enchanting. How did it happen?
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First of all, I’m a great fan of female vocal, deep and clear,
especially the folk-manner. I liked very much the Anea’s voice,
she have a uniqie timbre. But, in some musical aspects she limited
me, as a composer. When she became a mother and distanced out of
music, I invited Anastasia to take part a project. Since we are
work together. |
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Exactly, and how are You, Ash? I know you play many instruments
and you compose particular pieces. Are you a self-taught person or
do you have a musical education background? |
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I have not special musical education, and, of cause, I’m not the
professional musician or composer (I think, it is possible to hear
in our music). Anastasia is no professional, too, - I just have
teached her to sing some folk songs some years ago, and her vocal
level today is the result of her excellent talent only. |
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Ok., go further to your latest album „Belovodie”. To me it’s the
one of the best albums of last year and propably the best of
„ritual neo folk” genre.
How long
were you working on this album? |
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I was needed some
years to form the album in my mind before the recording... The
first version of one of „Belovodie” tracks, „Na Zore”, we recorded
during the work on „Sator” yet. We started to record the whole
album in 2003, and finish it in spring 2005. We worked at our home
studio, just doing some breaks for concerts. |
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The most enchanting things in this album are splendid sound and
gorgeous mystical climate since the first second of listening.
You’re propably very proud of this album, aren’t you? Which
feelings were accompanying you during the creation process of
„Belovodie” album? |
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I felt the great duty to make this work to the end… And I was
absolutely devastated when recording and mastering were
finished... Some months later I understood - we created good
music... |
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Mentioned album has been released by two companies – French
Prikosnovenie and Russian Label Shadowplay. How did it happen? By
the way, Brudenia wasn’t interested in publishing this piece? |
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Unfortunatly, Brudenia don’t release new CDs now, the label was
frozen some years ago. Anyway, PRIKO and Shadowplay did everything
in the best way! |
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The very important thing are your concerts as well. You’ve had
quite a lot of concerts so far. I’m currious what do you think
about live acting/playing? How do you treat the concert with a
real audience? |
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Some years ago MFA, from pure studio project, became a concert
band. And we are fills a great power playing the concerts – it is
so pleasure to present people the better part of ourself... It is
like a mistery, in which we try to draw an audience. As said the
Conductor in Federico Fellini’s “Prova D’Orchestra” film (one of
my favorite films): “Music is sacred, every concert is Messa”.
It’s my point of view, too. |
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Few months ago you
were having concerts in Poland – in Poznan, with DESIDERII
MARGINIS and HOROLOGIUM. What do you think about that show? I was
standing speechless during your concert – like the others there. |
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Great thanks to all of Polish, Italian, German and Russian people,
who visited our Poznan live, again! And special kisses to Johan,
HOROLOGIUM, and, of cause, Szymon and Iwona from Wrotycz. It was
an outstanding experience for me and Anastasia. DM and HOROLOGIUM
did great performances, I like their kind of music very much,
DESIDERII especial. I hope, they liked our songs, too... And we’re
spent our time great in Poznan, its very interesting place. |
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I know it wasn’t your first visit in Poland. I’d like to ask you
what do you think about Poland then? I hope it wasn’t your last
visit in our country... |
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We are very hope so, and ready to visit and play in Your country
again. |
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I hope so. I’d like to ask you about your clothings which you wear
during concerts. I suppose that this question has been asked
hundreds of times but why do you wear these masks and white
outfits? What does it represent? Which meanings and symbols do
they carry? |
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...I remember, once, after our concert in Vjatka city, we had met
one of the listeners, who very want to talk with us. Don’t know
why, but when I looked to him, I thought: “it’s disguised
black-metaller, or, may be, the guy from FSB” (today’s name of
KGB) - he was dressed very well but had very long hairs, and was
very serious. So, he ask me: “Please tell me one thing about Your
masks and clothes: is it some analogous to Ku-Klux-Klan?..” It was
rather strange to hear for me, and I begun to explain him some our
artistic ideas. But he interrupted me and resolutely said: “Ok, I
will ask You this question in another way: what do You think about
niggers???”:)))
Our masks and clothes symbolize, what the real artist is
someone who forgets his face, private
life, and, as medium between people and God, let to higher
language to speak through himself. Almost like a monk, may be... |
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Ok., changing the topic a bit, not so long ago the second part of
compilation „Colours of Black” has been released. This compilation
represents Russian underground stage very well. I know you were an
initiator of making this compilation so please decribe the musical
stage in your country for us.
What would
you recommend to our readers? |
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Well, I
think, Russian scene is one of the most progressing in the world.
I have to say, even some bands are not so professional or good
recorded, but really charismatic! – unfortunatly, I may find this
thing not so often in the European scene today. If to speak about
dark-folk – the best are NEUTRAL and, especially, ROMOWE RIKOITO.
Also, I’m very like beautiful dark-folk of BLOOD & SAND from
Saratov, but the band still haven’t CD (You may find one of their
tracks on “Colours Of Black Vol. I”).
I will
recommend to You my favorite goth-neoclassic LACKLUSTRE MIRROR
band and their ethereal sub-project called DECEMBERED, of cause,
CAPRICE from Moscow with their outstanding „elven” and baroque
music, and a charming girls band from St-Petersburg called
R.REFUGEE (ex ANNO DOMINI). There are some good electro/ebm bands
here (like intelligent and patriotic music of T.3.R., and also
NECRO STELLAR or PURPLE FOG SIDE), and dark-electronic vein – SIX
DEAD BULGARIANS from Archangelsk. Another great band called
THEATER OF POISON, they play unique music between gothic,
post-industrial and wild experiments with sounds and words.
Sometimes I listen old Rissian rock and pop-projects, like PIOTR
MAMONOV and INNA ZHELANNAYA and, of cause, many of Russian true
folk-groups (actually, its my favorite music genre). But I think
its not so interesting for You. |
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There’s one more thing which I must to ask about. What is the
meaning of the upside-down „A” letter in the name of your band? I
know you reveal this thing unwilingly but maybe I could take this
information from you out?;)) |
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Yes, its hard to “translate” any symbol to human language, but
I’ll try... Upside-down
“A” in the center of MOON FAR AWAY name is just the element of
MFA’ Symbol, in which that latter is like the Gate, the Funnel,
transferencing immortal Ideasand Spirit from Higher One (first Sun
of the Symbol), to the Lower One (the second Sun). And the process
inscribed to Year Circle, which may be understood as Eternity
symbol... Hope, my thoughts are clear for You. |
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How about your beyond-musical interests? I know you write things
to Shadowplay magazine.
What else
then? |
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Please, no
questions about our out-of-musician interests, job, etc. The music
is the more important thing, You don’t need to know anything more
about our persons. MFA music will say You everything. |
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Our time is nearing to an end. So tell me when we can expect the
new album of MOON FAR AWAY? And of course – the last word is
yours. Thank you very much for your time and greetings from
Poland! |
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First of all, excusme
for my terrible English – of cause, I prefer to talk in
Russian. No concrete info about the new MFA albums – just wait,
and You will hear it! Anyway, it’s no time to say last words now!
All the best to You, our Slavonic brothers and sisters!
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ASH, MOON FAR AWAY
september 2006
Archangelsk, Russia |
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[ Tomasz Lewicki ]
Photos:
Janina Nowak |
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