Cronian pour l'album "Terra"

1. Hi! At first, can you tell us how is born this project?

Mr V: We have to go back about six years in time to '99-'00. It was then I and Øystein learnt to know each other on a personal level though mail and phone calls. We realised that we shared many musical aspects and also had a similar view upon life. So we talked about creating some music together, inspire each other in a dualistic process. Some time went by and we kept our friendship going and growing, and the collaboration came natural. We're both into film scores so we wanted to have some element from expressive and emotional sound scapes incorporated into our music. As we did it for the right reasons, the artistic, we didn't rush with the composing. Finally we had gathered our thoughts and inspiration into a frame and after that the music just floated into our minds. But it wasn't until last year we started to work on the album seriously. Still when we started to work we didn't stop until we had the album completed.


2. What means "Cronian" and what is the concept behind?

Mr V: It's based on the "Cronian sea" and the music gives you a hint that we deal with that type of lyrics, lyrics about the harsh and at the same time beautiful regions of Arctic. It deals a lot with isolation in several aspects, both physically and mentally. Being attracted to explore these glacial fields of life, reaching for the untouched areas and their organisms. The explorer-theme is also very present throughout the whole album. It's not typical metal lyrics I guess, it digs a bit deeper. But at the same time as some scientific approach is there the lyrics are also very emotional and personal, adventurous and inspiring at the same time as thery're cold..a nice equation.


3. Your music is very original. How would you define it and who composed this first album?

Mr V: Our style is very diverse as it contains many different musical rudiments. You can find ambient sound scapes, black metal parts, eerie segments, progressive vibes as well as some more "digital" emotions. We liked the idea to have this blend of analogue and digital atmospheres present. Not doing it like many industrial bands do instead focus on the coldness, and with coldness I mean the wintry atmosphere of our own habitat. The mix of analogue and digital creates something that suits Cronian, we didn't want a warm and cosy feeling. The most important for us is to set your mind into an emotional state, that's the goal we have while composing and arranging the songs. Let you mind travel free over ice scapes etc..it sound very cliché but as I told you before we're into film scores. Øystein compose the basics and the structure of the songs and do some of the keyboards and programming. Then I do vocals, bass, programming and keyboards..it works perfectly.


4. What can we expect from "Terra"? Do you have a favorite song?

Mr V: You can expect something fresh, at least how I see it, and unique. It may take some time to get into it, but if you give it a serious chance I think it's rewarding. Today my fave song is "Arctic Fever" but that may change tomorrow, I think that we've mannish to do an album that has a good standard throughout the whole album, no fillers.


5. What do you like in it and what does Cronian bring you more than your
other projects?

Mr V: It's much more focused on the whole atmospheric planes and eerie emotions that we invocate inside our musical frame. We don't have any given formula over how the song is composed, just go by heart and try to make great songs. It's liberating for our minds, with that said I don't mean that we don't feel free in our other bands but Cronian takes a more cinematic approach. That let us to be without references while composing.


6. How spent the writing process and how long did it last?

Mr V: We work separately and mail ideas and themes to each other for consultation, we take decisions from that platform. When we started to work seriously with the album it took some months to program and record, but it was a very natural process even if it was challenging. We enjoyed it very much and had a great time, and when we teamed up for the mix it was very relaxed and inspiring.


7. Was it hard to lead this album to an end?

Mr V: Both yes and no. It wasn't really hard when we had composed the frame of the project but it took us some time to understand what we aimed for. It's like with many things in life: before you've analysed your own visions and ideas and made them into something touchable it can be a bit hard to express what you feel. It was a great journey and we're looking forward to take the trip again!!


8. Is there a chance to see you on tour with Cronian?

Mr V: No, I don't think so. We're a studio project and a location where we can express ourselves from another perspective of things. We'll keep it like that it, at least that's how I see it.


9. Perhaps it's quite precipitated but do you know if there will be a second album?

Mr V: yes, there will be a second album. I'm almost sure of that. We've started with some new ideas already and it sound very promising so far, it's sheer joy working with Cronian;


10. What are you listening to these days? Any good metal (or not metal) albums to recommend?

Mr V: I listen a lot to progressive and symphonic rock from the 70's and band like Yes, Nektar and Gentle Giant are always in my CD player. But also more obscure bands like Galadriel and The Enid. When it comes to metal I listen to the promos I get and some other bands as well.


11. Thanx for the interview and we wish you the best for the future. The last words are yours!

Mr V: Thanks for the chat. Check out the Terra it's something fresh and innovative as we see it. It may take you some time to fully grasp but it'll give you an album that you can live with for a long time.