How Victorian Of Me...
Songs of darkness, words of light is out amongst the metal folk of the world, most regard it as a return to the "good ol days" for My Dying Bride, I had the chance to chat with Aaron... and really does anyone ever read these parts?, just read the dammed thing, you should know who the hell Aaron Stainthorpe is.
NoC – Brent Lockman
AS - Aaron Stainthorpe
NoC: What was it that sparked the return to a more “Swans” style sound for this new album?
AS: I’m not sure anything specific sparked it off, it just sort of happened. We don’t plan the sound of a record before we write it, we just kind of put it together and hope it all sounds right, not meaning it to be either slower or quicker than a previous release. People often comment on a ‘return to the roots’ feel to “The Light...” and yet we never planned that kind of feel, it just turned out that way.
NoC: Could you run us through My Dying Bride’s songwriting process?
AS: It varies and that’s good. There is no set formula for composing a track as far as we are concerned. Sometimes I write the words first and we all create a tune that suits, and sometimes the music can come months before the lyrics, which I then have to fit to the tune. We often simply ‘jam’ too and await the seeds that may fruit from that, which again is a good way to work. We are very democratic and all take part in the song writing process which I believe is essential in a band with a future.
NoC: How were the recording session for the new album? were they at all different from the ones for “Dreadful”?
AS: The main difference was the timing. Normally we book the studio time with 90% of songs complete but with the new LP we hit the studio with only about 4 songs done and the rest needed serious construction while recording. Not the best way to write an LP and it was a frightening time for me as I expected a ton of pressure and therefore mistakes, but as it happens it seemed to have aided us. We have never worked under pressure before but somehow we thrived on it, although I would prefer not to do it again.
NoC: Would you characterize “Songs of Darkness” as a revolution or evolution?
AS: Evolution definitely. We have progressed over the years to a better song writing outfit and that shows on the new LP, but in an evolutionary and natural way not in a revolutionary way. There are certain traits to our music which we cannot (and choose not to) deviate from too much lest we loose our identity which we have spent nearly 14 years nurturing. Of course we could attempt a revolutionary new sound and approach but then I don’t think you could call it MDB.
NoC: What is the concept behind the album’s cover art? is there one?
AS: There isn’t one, sorry to say. We just loved the way it looked and felt that it represented “Songs of Darkness....” very well and also had all the usual My Dying Bride attributes; darkness, mystery, iconography, sinister etc... It was created by Andy Green (also responsible for “Like Gods”...cover) because my artwork was deemed ‘unsuitable’ which I’m not too pleased about but big enough to go with the vote of the band. My art is available to view at www.azzron.com if you want to make your own mind up.
NoC: Is there somewhere special you go to compose your lyrics? do you have a sanctuary or a place that frees up your mind?, or is it just a case of you are walking down the street and things come to you.
AS: Inspiration comes at any time, however actual song writing is something different. I do have a time and a place for writing although it sounds a bit cheesy when I talk about it. I wait until very late at night when I know I won’t be bothered by phone calls or visitors, open a bottle of red wine and maybe light a few candles to aid the mood. After a few glasses the mind starts to wander and the idea’s can come flooding in although from time to time I just end up getting very drunk and falling asleep. How terribly Victorian of me..
NoC: Are there any MDB songs that you have composed that you are particularly proud of? how about ones you never wished you wrote?
AS: There are none that I wished I hadn’t written, although naturally I favor some above others. I love “The Dreadful Hours” and “The Raven & the Rose” and we all love “The Return of the Beautiful” which is why we re-recorded it. “A Kiss to Remember” is another fave, but I think my all time love is “Two Winters Only”. It’s epic and weepy and uber-tragic. A veritable classic.
NoC: Do prefer to be in the studio, or out on the road?
AS: It’s a bit mixed and here’s why. I love touring but hate playing live. There is a difference; touring, you get to see many different cultures and cities and experience a massive variety of ales, wines and rich foods and a whole host of colourful people, but then up comes the gig and my enthusiasm droops. I’m not good on stage because of terrible nerves and would be happy if we never play live again. Studio work is good towards the end but is very repetitive and boring in the early stages and you get a type of ‘cabin fever’ if you’re in there too long. Listening to the finished product is always great though.
NoC: Could you describe My Dying Bride’s live show in a single sentence?
AS: Atmospheric and often intense with lashings of passion and mood.
NoC: Are there plans to tour North American in support of “Songs of Darkness, Words of Light”?
AS: We have been trying to tour over there for a long time now but the deals always seem to fall at the last fence, be it shady promoters or questionable contracts, but we are still trying. No plans as yet but we had such a great time over there supporting DIO back in 1996, that we can’t wait for a return.
NoC: With such a vast amount of material to choose from, how do you come up with a setlist? is there a backstage brawl involved?
AS: We have never brawled thankfully but it is certainly getting harder to pick a set list with the passing of each new LP. Invariably we will upset some fans due to the lack of a couple of their favorite tracks but I think we get the mix just about right.
NoC: As one of the pioneers of this kind of doom metal do you feel pressured to continuously reinvent your sound in lieu of the sheer amount of bands you’ve given spawn to over the years?
AS: It may sound unbelievable but we take very little notice of the scene and the direction it’s heading because we like to concentrate on doing our own thing. We were influenced by Celtic Frost & Candlemass back when we formed but have drawn little or no inspiration from the scene since and therefore have developed in our own special way. No-one can possibly accuse My Dying Bride of plagiarism and so, no, we don’t feel pressured at all about upping the ante and making sure we remain one step ahead of the pack, because we’re simply not that bothered.
NoC: What’s your take on the musical direction of Anathema and Paradise Lost in the past few years?
AS: I always think it’s brave of an established act to try their hand at something a little different because there is a chance that your core fan base may well turn their backs while new fans are few and far between. I applaud both bands for doing what they do and good luck to them.
NoC: Are you satisfied with the response to the new album from your fans, and how about it’s reception in the media?
AS: The response has been better than we expected from both fans and media alike, which makes us feel very proud indeed. We worked hard on the LP and hoped that it would be well received but we hadn’t expected quite the huge positive response it got. We have our critics of course but they generally embarrass themselves and their publication when they turn to previous albums for fault finding because they struggle with the new one. It’s a delight.
NoC: Because you have been together as a band for so long, do you have expectations of each other in the studio and on stage, and are you still capable of surprising each other?
AS: I’m always amazed at the guitarists’ ability to come up with new riffs suitable to our music, which are fresh, interesting & good. We have very high expectations of one another and all parties are expected to deliver the goods when the moment requires.
NoC: What do you think the legacy of My Dying Bride will be?, in 20-30 years down the road what would you like to be remembered by?
AS: I’m not too bothered to be very honest with you. I wanted to start a band to get creative and see the world, which I have enjoyed doing very much and so all my goals and ambitions have been achieved. It would be nice to be remembered as being innovators and part-creators of the doom/gothic scene but I’m not that fussed.
NoC: Do you ever think that you will use a violinist in your music again, such as on "Like Gods of the Sun" and all releases prior?
AS: Maybe. We are not actively looking for another violin player but if someone were to approach us with the skills and affability then we might consider them a member of My Dying Bride. It would be nice to have another violin player but it’s not something we think is currently essential.
NoC: Do you at all regret making "34,788%," and do you ever plan on making a similar record?
AS: I think that LP is one of the best we have done and so I don’t regret doing it at all. We knew it was risky to release such an opus but we still did it because we are artists and believe in what we do. This album is starting to get recognized now for what it is and the fans are screaming for the songs when we play live so I suppose you could call it a ‘grower’.
NoC: Are you as pleased with your newer efforts as you were with Turn Loose The Swans.
AS: Most certainly, yes. Slightly more so in fact because I think we are stronger song-writers now, having matured with age. I’ll always love the early material naturally, but I think the newer songs are better constructed and will ‘last’ longer.
NoC: What is the origin of the band's name?
AS: Nothing too tragic thankfully. When we formed I knew we were going to create romantic/dark/melancholic music and so looked for a moniker that would suit. It was a toss up between Bride and Child but I felt that Child might lend itself too much to the more brutal scene, the like of Obituary, Slayer, Death etc...I have always been a fan of tragedy and most things with a gothic edge and so the name came fairly easily and I still maintain that it fits the style of music we are still creating. It wasn’t inspired by any personal mishaps I’m pleased to tell.
NoC: And I guess that’s it, on behalf of No Official Capacity, readers and staff alike, I just would like to thank you for taking the time to do this, and I’ll turn the last words of this over to you, any final words?
AS: We are trying to get over there but I openly encourage our North American friends to pay a visit to Europe and savor the culture and delights aplenty over here. And if you coincide it with a festival, then all the better.
Cheers
Aaron
http://www.mydyingbride.org/
Live imagery courtesy of Matte Andersson, via the My Dying Bride website.
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