GROUNDCAST well, we’re interviewing Stefan Hertrich, former Darkseed and Sculpture vocalist, founder of the groups spiritual, Betray My secrets and techniques and Shiva in Exile, and religious audiobook creator. to start out the interview, please inform us somewhat about your occupation as a musician, where did the hobby in becoming a musician.
STEFAN HERTRICH If i feel back, there wasn’t an actual trigger or thought for turning into a musician – I even failed to take heed to tune at all sooner than my teenager time. I discovered to play organ as a child – no longer as a result of I was interested by track, however as a result of my parents wanted me to do so. Now i’m chuffed that they cared about my normal musical training.
Then, once I changed into an adolescent, I heard some heavy steel songs in the radio (it was once an American radio station, because within the late 80s we nonetheless had American infantrymen here in Germany, forty years after World struggle 2). This song emotionally touched me, and here a very powerful side why I changed into an artist will have to be talked about: I never was once an individual who simply wanted to be entertained through fascinating things. instead, my purpose always was once and is: If something touches me, i wanted and need to CREATE these interesting things too, as a substitute of simply ingesting them. this can be a persona function of me that when you consider that ever retains me alive… all the time attempting to find interesting things on this planet and when i found something, “melting” with this fascinating factor with the aid of DOING it. So, that is the actual this is why I changed into a musician and now additionally author of religious audio books. If i’d be fascinated by ships, I maybe would start buildings ships, haha.
GROUNDCAST What are your biggest influences?
STEFAN HERTRICH to start with, the object attention-grabbing me, as talked about above. 2nd (and not much less necessary) there also needs to be the right kind power to inspire me changing into creative. This power in my case on a regular basis is the weather. weather modifications (as an instance a pleasant cooling summer rain, or the primary snow flocks, or the nice scent of autumn) or some spectacular mountains/trees stimulate me for changing into inventive. this is a very refined thing that cannot be expressed with concrete words. example: If I sit down at house for days, I frequently can not to find the inducement for beginning to songwrite. however after a nice nature walk, early within the morning, the temper and enthusiasm all of sudden is solely there.
Oh, and much sleep. i am not ingenious when being tired, so on a regular basis I sleep at the least 7,5-8 hours per day.
GROUNDCAST You had been one of the most Darkseed vocalists from 1992 unless 2005. How used to be your experience in this band?
STEFAN HERTRICH It in fact was an important a part of my life, as a result of it used to be my first creative challenge, and except for that it lasted very long and was once successful. except for that all of it took place in a time that was very completely different from these days. Recording and promoting demo tapes to folks on the street, entering into contact with different metal heads from different components of the world (this used to be very exciting, as a result of there was once no web and talking with a person from another continent was once very special), taking part in in other international locations, having enjoyable with the other band individuals in combination with being ingenious. yes, this was once a fab thing. There was an enchanting metallic scene in that time, as a result of steel wasn’t a main movement thing. once we began there possibly were four-5 different gothic metallic bands in the whole united states of america, so finding new song was once an actual journey and no longer just clicking on a few web pages in internet. i’m happy that I may experience this special time and feel sorry for the younger musicians these days who can’t are living this type of inventive achievement in a way I did it two decades in the past (OMG 20 years :S). Anyway, every time has benefits and downsides, so after all, our decade additionally has many good things to offer!
GROUNDCAST Why did you left the Darkseed? Any specific reason?
STEFAN HERTRICH After the late 90s the band didn’t make any development. there have been more and more bands, much less and less gross sales (on account of the web), and the metal scene wasn’t as enthusiastic as in the early 90s… on the other hand, there also have been excellent things, like the computer technoglogy getting better and higher, providing the musicians new potentialities, so i spotted “wow, there are more methods to be creative than just the use of distorted guitars!”. So doing steel for the remainder of my existence wasn’t a pleasing idea for me, and that i began to write down other music as smartly, as an instance my challenge SHIVA IN EXILE. there are so many exciting issues out there, and after having written 7 or extra DARKSEED albums i realized that it is time to uncover all these thrilling things, even if it means starting at zero again, with out fanatics, without give a boost to from the media and so on. i’m not an individual writing track with sales or expectations behind my head. whatever I write is written as a result of it needs to get out of me. So, beginning at zero wasn’t a irritating thing, as a result of for me the “create one thing that desires to get out of me” is most important.
just some weeks ago a guy from Puerto Rico made a remix of a new Shiva In Exile tune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy475fCFySY). a man from some other continent works with my track, in 
a music style I even can’t define, haha (is it dubstep?). that’s what I imply with “there are such a large amount of thrilling issues in the market”. Anyway, I of course nonetheless love each steel album I wrote!
GROUNDCAST all of your bands / projects have an awfully sturdy trail of ethno song, as religious and Betray My secrets and techniques. due to the fact when you are eager about ethno music?
STEFAN HERTRICH since the late 90s when the songwriting potentialities with the computer stronger and i revealed sound libraries in web with heaps of ethnic vocals and instrument phrases. it is attention-grabbing what number of prospects exist for those who begin to get concerned with other gadgets as smartly. Native American flutes or heart japanese flutes – both sound completely different and create completely completely different moods/harmonies, simply as an example.
GROUNDCAST non secular is a mission that puts elements of ethno song in an awfully severe way, escaping from what is frequently named as “people steel”, combining the melodies of heavy metallic with ethnic instruments. How was once the concept of this work?
STEFAN HERTRICH My goal was to create an album that sounds just like the album BETRAY MY secrets and techniques that I wrote 1999. This was once the primary time that I combined metallic with ethnic sounds and folks still find it irresistible lots. So in 2005 or 2006 I bought the speculation to write down every other ethno steel album again and religious was once born J (I did not write the album under the title BETRAY MY secrets, as a result of my pal Christian Bystron of the band MEGAHERZ who took phase in the BETRAY MY secrets album this time couldn’t take part on a big scale).
GROUNDCAST what’s your hobby in other cultures? Is there any person you love higher?
STEFAN HERTRICH It varies lots. 10 years in the past I was once mainly occupied with cultures as a ways away and as completely different as that you can imagine, then 5 years in the past it was the center east and now i am into discovering the roots of my own tradition, this means that: trying to energetically get into the “mood” of the Celtic culture 2000 years in the past + the centuries prior to that (which just isn’t incorrect with the everyday Celtic cliché from cinema or folks steel bands – they primarily work with the Celtic symbols and mythology from England, whereas the Celts in the beginning came from Austria/Switzerland/Bavaria (southern a part of Germany) and likewise Spain/Portugal. this doesn’t suggest that the English Celts are “less true” than the ones i am talking about LOL. i am just talking about full of life nuances right here, just natural variations due to the area and time differences, and i am primarily occupied with what took place right here, in my area. I regularily visit outdated Celtic places within the native forests, although there’s not a lot left (however simply by way of realizing that people lived there 2000 years in the past by some means energetically affects me).
GROUNDCAST When did the idea come to kind Shiva in Exile?
STEFAN HERTRICH actually very early. The band title already got here to my thoughts in 1996 or 1997, and right through that point I already started to experiment with non-guitar track (on the other hand, my keyboard was too crappy and sounded cheap, haha). So I severely started 6-7 later, with better technical prospects.
GROUNDCAST How was once working with the in demand student Christian Raetsch, known for his research in anthropology and historical past?
STEFAN HERTRICH Very cool, because he used to be the primary “freak” I obtained to grasp (bearing in mind that now i’m a “freak” too, haha). He contacted me in 1999, because he appreciated my CD BETRAY MY secrets and wanted to jot down about it in one of his books. So we began to have cellphone calls and conversations by way of letter, and it always was very fascinating to listen to his level of views on things. I knew that he travels rather a lot and likewise did sound recordings within the rain forest, recording animals and shamanic rituals. I requested him to ship me a few of his recordings in order that i will use them for SHIVA IN EXILE. I used some recordings for the album “Ethnic” and also for the track “Soulgate Open” which is the historical past tune of the religious web page and CD multimedia part (and likewise featured as bonus track on the SHIVA IN EXILE “Ethnic” re-free up).
GROUNDCAST The Shiva in Exile’s work follows the identical line as the French groups like Rajna and Les secrets and techniques de Morphée. on the other hand, the Shiva in Exile blends digital sounds, go back and forth-hop and creates its own identification. was once it deliberate? Did you no longer want to sound like another band of ethereal wave?
STEFAN HERTRICH after I wrote “Ethnic” I did not understand some other new age/ethnic bands, haha, with the exception of for dead Can Dance, maybe (a band I nonetheless like so much). possibly that is why it sounds different than other bands. comparable with my non secular audio book (sadly simplest to be had in German language): after I wrote it in wintry weather 2010, I by no means listened to an audio e book earlier than (aside from some chapters maybe, however by no means a full audio e-book). So possibly that is why it sounds very different as smartly.
GROUNDCAST there is a very large difference between “Ethnic” and “Nour”. How was the process of designing every album to sound like Shiva in Exile, however nonetheless were reasonably different from each different?
STEFAN HERTRICH i think every ethnic non-guitar album will sound like SHIVA IN EXILE, just because it is written by using me and i am not a very good all-spherical musician, haha. a lot of my songs sound very identical, simply because it’s what i can do best. Why should I make songs sounding very completely different from eachother if individuals then simply hearken to the most effective 1-three songs, because I knew how you can do them neatly? So, most of my songs have a identical “temper” and an identical components, however still sound completely different (as an example your comparison “Ethnic” vs. “Nour”), because the cultural historical past is totally different. “Ethnic” was a very, smartly, “ethnic” album, while “Nour” is all in favour of the middle east (and therefore features heart japanese devices/melodies), and the next one “origin” will likely be utterly different as smartly however nonetheless sound like SHIVA IN EXILE, simply because it is written by me.
GROUNDCAST How did the theory of inviting Yana Veva, from Theodor Bastard, to sing at Shiva in Exile?
STEFAN HERTRICH A Russian file company recommended her, and after I listened to a few samples of her band Theodor Bastard I knew “she and no one else” LOL. She sang on 2 songs of the religious album (on the music “Nahash” and “Nowhereness”) and since the cooperation ran very smoothly, we made up our minds to make a whole album collectively, which then was once SHIVA IN EXILE “Nour”. We wrote some other track together some weeks in the past, you will discover it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-t5UEZPRaM
GROUNDCAST The musical scene in a couple of segments (metal, rock, goth, etc.) has skilled a perfect lack of creativity, with bands doing precisely the same sound. How do you fee this downside?
STEFAN HERTRICH i believe it can be no longer a problem in any respect, just because in our instances, with all the just right laptop applied sciences, everyone can write song. you don’t want to learn an instrument for 5-10 years but can start to write music in an instant, just being impressed via the bands you like. So, most artists will not be experienced enough but to create something that sounds totally distinctive. Their favorite artists someway “information” them via their own creative process, and i feel that is lovely tremendous. sure, most bands do not sound distinctive, but extra important is that we are living in a time where everyone has the chance to be inventive, to spend the time with arts as an alternative of wasting it with alcohol or other issues. this is a fantastic characteristic of our modern instances! every person is able to create a excellent piece of track, be it distinctive or now not. it isn’t important as long as the creator creates this piece of music as a result of it is what he desires to create! it is still sincere and pure arts J
GROUNDCAST Do you observe or practice any religion?
STEFAN HERTRICH My religion is finding myself and discovering the truth by using being inventive, by discovering all components of the world which can be attention-grabbing for me, transforming them energetically with my arts. i like studying spiritual books though, usually written with the aid of free thinkers like Neale Donald Walsch, Eckhart Tolle, Esther Hicks and others, simply to say essentially the most famous ones. however I don’t observe a undeniable religion and that i additionally do not predict any resolution from any faith, and likewise now not from any religious e book. My answer all the time is to roll up my sleeves and clear up my problems via appearing. now not by using considering or trusting in what others say.
If there’s a non secular or religious idea that’s closest to my own thoughts, then it can be Anthroposophy (not to be incorrect with Antropology!).
GROUNDCAST One query that I always do within the interviews in regards to the sharing of mp3. what’s your opinion on this? And in international locations like Brazil, whose CDs can value four occasions its authentic price? i personally best received to grasp your jobs with the aid of the web.
STEFAN HERTRICH It used to be a vital step for the world, even supposing it hurts the artists. Why? as a result of artwork is the pioneer of a new existence concept with a purpose to be: I do what I want to do, what i am skilled to do, for me and OTHERs to enjoy it. no longer for any subject material benefit. If there’s anyone who wants to pay for it, fantastic, but when no longer, I do it anyway, as a result of it’s what I want to do. look at our world: an increasing number of folks get unemployed. In some southern European countries just about 50% of the under 25 years old persons haven’t any job. Why? as a result of our thought of “go to work for 8 hours a day and then go house and buy things” does not work anymore. we are living in 21st century and we’ve got so many technological innovations – machines who can replace us and do the work – that we don’t want to work much anymore (the reason why we still do it is that our financial device is unfair – however theoretically we wouldn’t need to work quite a lot of hours). So, how will the sector seem like in two decades? much more folks will sit on the road. they usually best have just a few picks: begin to drink, die of boredom, or start to DO something non-subject matter that does not involve a lot cash. And there are two cool things they might do, two things that by no means get boring and don’t cost much: it is arts and spirituality, which means that being creative and discovering your self and life. There will probably be much more artists than now, and who shall purchase all these hundreds of thousands of products? So, on the longer term, spending money for arts would not make much feel anymore, sadly (from the point of view of an artist).
Now you could ask: “ok, and how shall people continue to exist then?” the sector needs a brand new thought then, which is called “unconditional common earnings”. It manner that you’ve the birthright of getting enough cash to live on. it’s possible you’ll ask again: “Why will have to everybody get money only for doing nothing?” My resolution: “As compensation for not having any land”. seem to be how big our planet is and seem to be how few folks in fact own land, only a SMALL piece of land. And if they own it, they need to work their ass off and pay again debts for the rest of their existence. i’m not speaking about a huge villa, however the general public even don’t personal a bit flat with 1 or 2 rooms! that is totally ridiculous, as a result of if you happen to compare it with nature: every animal has a nest or cave or whatever, a place to live. but the majority of all people does not (any other person owns it and you pay the month-to-month employ). it is a condition being absolutely un-natural and it’s going to have to alter.
you still might say “unconditional general earnings is an utopic idea”, but I say there is no various. more and more individuals get unemployed as a result of there simply is not work there! Theoretically we might live in a paradise. The for the reason that we do not is that we’re nonetheless stuck in an outdated device. however the cash, the wealth theoretically IS there. it’s simply no longer shared in a simply means.
So, back to file sharing LOL: that is already part of this idea: Do what you need to do, what you understand you do very best, and let others revel in it. supply, what you need and may give, and receive what others provide. And not “work XY hours in a job you do not like and get XY cash for it”. but: i believe individuals mustn’t simply take, but additionally supply. the general public doing filesharing simply take and eat, and don’t create and give. both is important 😉
i’m already residing this concept to a few lengthen: i am working some hours per day (as a recreation translator) for protecting my bills (which are not so high – I do not need a automobile and in addition not essentially the most up to date cell phone or iPad or no matter) and spend the remainder of the time with my non-profit-arts, putting it on YouTube and being happy if people like it, and being satisfied only for having the ability to do what I want to do. And if folks pay for it – particularly for my German audio ebook (for the reason that audience is older and has more cash) – then i am satisfied too J most people who buy it on my website even pay more than it prices on amazon or different structures (my price machine on my website is “give what you want to give”). The non secular scene already begins to live this idea to a couple lengthen and gives what the product is value for them or what they are able to afford to provide. a few of them do not need so much and just supply 5 Euro (however then tell me “sorry, i am handicapped” or “i am unemployed, I can’t give extra”), but there even used to be an individual who paid 200 Euro for 3 audio books!
GROUNDCAST Are you now working on some new undertaking?
STEFAN HERTRICH i’m working on the threerd SHIVA IN EXILE album with the intention to be called “beginning”, then slightly on my 2nd German audio book “Wenn der Wald spricht” (“When the woodland speaks”) and test a bit of with different song genres only for enjoyable.
GROUNDCAST are you aware any band from Brazil, in any style?
STEFAN HERTRICH sadly not, no, sorry :S Brazil is a ways away, haha.
GROUNDCAST When will we have now a brand new album from religious and Shiva in Exile?
I possibly is not going to do another spiritual album, and that i don’t know when the threerd SHIVA IN EXILE album might be completed. however, i’ll submit every new tune on YouTube as soon as it is written, so take a look at my YouTube channel here after which: www.youtube.com/stefanhertrich
GROUNDCAST thank you very so much for the chance, Mr. Hertrich. Now it is with you, leave a message for the readers of Groundcast.
i am hoping you failed to go to sleep as a result of my long answers, haha. Anyway, perhaps some of my thoughts inspired you for becoming inventive as neatly! each person is an artist
associated hyperlinks
http://www.myspace.com/ethnogothic
http://www.shiva-in-exile.com/
http://www.spi-ritual.com/spi-index.phtml