I invite you to read my interview with a legend behind the “Nemertines” project. One man army; a sharp swiss knife of dark, progressive metal.
How did you manage to create such realistic sounds using virtual instruments – I mean, guitars in early years (before you have bought physical guitars – Monstrum era?) and drums nowadays? There are literally tens of people who believe that you’re full band, not only one person.
I always tried to create own techniques. Most of guitar synthesizers sounded too strong and flat. So I added soft choruses or flangers to make guitar synths more dirty and realistic. It is easier with drums. When you listen to ost-style music it is ok. Because everything needs a good mixing. When I started onemanbands wasn’t popular, so I wrote that Nemertines is a band. Even have drawn a couple of band portraits.
„Child of Korn and Meshuggah” – but most importantly – your child. What are your main inspirations for creating sounds? I’ve heard somewhere that the creators of Silent Hill music would be proud of atmosphere of your project and I honestly agree with that sentence.
I can’t tell Korn and Meshuggah were my main inspirations. But I liked a lot the sound of Koloss album of Meshuggah. I like how the drums sound most of all. All guitars’ sounds of Vildhjarta made me love djent. And of course Tue Madsen’s mixes inspire me a lot. I never met a person who doesn’t like Akira Yamaoka’s music. He is an icon of sad and horror atmospheres. And I’m not talking only about his ambient tracks.
What’s the story behind your recognizable logo?
I love to make logos. Earlier I put the scissors logo on my drawings because I liked a lot the scissors I found. That made my part of a pseudonym. The logo is just all “Nemertines” letters in one. Later finding the centre of it pleasing I cut off the rectangle. And that’s all.
And if we’re already into stories – I’m curious about your decisions with naming concrete songs. Lots of them refer simply to feelings they carry, am I right? But „Kitty”, „Panties”, and others like that?
When I started to make music, I called songs simple, like “my life” or “sadness”. Later I started to call tracks relying on feelings when I listened to the final music. Before the “Panties” track there is a “Wet” tracks. I like associations and symbolism. I don’t say that all the track is about it, but what do you feel when you thinking of sexually aroused girl? And sorry, I forgot the meaning of the “Kitty” song, but I’m sure it’s nothing special. Maybe because of my love to cats.
You’ve been making great amount of music – is it hard to do it all alone? I remember that you released „Ikona. Revolucia” under Subliminal Groove Records label, but then, releasing Teen – you went back to being completely independent, yes? Why?
There are lots of pluses. I don’t need anybody to make some music. No war of tastes. The SGR gave me a great help. I’ve made 2 CDs and a video because of them. I don’t have a time to promote myself. Then the label had died and I had to release the “Teen” album by myself.
What are your plans for next album? Is it far away from being published, or maybe it’s closer than may we think? Can you tell something about it?
I think I don’t have enough stuff to even announce it. I’ll try to make new videos.
I know it’s best to listening to it all alone, in calm way, but have you thought about doing live performance with your music?
You said it right. My music is for listening to alone. That is not the reason I don’t do live shows. I just can’t play what I record. And as always I don’t have a time to do it.
Is there any possibility to buy your albums in physical copies? Not only „Ikona (…)”, but also „Nemertines”, „Mechta O Mechte” and on, and on.
You are a bit wrong. Only “Death, My Love” and “Nemertines” are on CDs. I think the time of previous albums has gone and I have to think of the new stuff.
What are your personal favourites of projects in the genre you’re in?
As you see I like Vildjharta a lot. I like Emmure, they are very nice for me. Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza made me cum while listening to them. Love and Death. I hope Head will continue with them but not with Korn, sorry, I am not satisfied with their new stuff. I like both new and old Suicide Silence music.
Besides, do you tend to expand The Lost Human in the future?
Sure. From year to year Nemertines are becoming heavier. But I have soft ideas to realize. In The Lost Human project or maybe in a new one.
Thanks for an interview.
Thanks to you too.
Piotr Kozioł & Nemertines
POLISH VERSION IS ON THE SECOND PAGE
