I would like to welcome “Sariola” with such innovative tunes. A new genre for many! A death metal band with melodic gothic vocals! Their music, sometimes heavy, sometimes more melodic or even another style of ballads absorb our interest, they make us focus on this great combination! They talk about the reality of life and even if this reality is bitter, we are expressed through such songs! Even being influenced by other bands and artists, they really emerge their artistic spirit and another kind of music. You may wonder how they mingled these elements together. Real artists, in my opinion, can do everything and reach their goals, as they did! While listening to them, our mind and heart are allured… It is time for a new generation to come. “Sariola” is a band which is included in this generation!
Let’s explore their ideas and songs better, so that we will approach them better!

The answers were given by Mr. E. Konny, the guitarist of SARIOLA.


• There are a lot of female fronted bands. Do you think that they all look like to each other? Was it a big endeavour from your own side? How did this come along? Did you think of it a lot or it just happened?

There are a lot of wonderful female fronted bands with their own identity and style, but unfortunately there are many bands which try to sound like them in order to get noticed. The strange thing is that the bands that copy the other ones often became popular. As for us, we wanted to have a different sound from the beginning. There is no reason to create a band which sounds like a copy of someone else. We combine elements of various genres in order to achieve something special. But we aren't really bothered about someone telling: "Hey, you sound like this band or that band".
I think that our main difference from the other female fronted bands is that we combine really extreme stuff with melodic passages. We use blast-beats about 250 bpm, but do not use male vocals (growling or screaming).


• How did you all meet up? Were there auditions for choosing your members? Did you all agree for such mixtures of your songs? You can really combine everything someone would like to listen to, different kinds of music!

Anagnorisis and I met each other in the year of 2005 and after a while we started rehearsing and recording. After that, Silenia, whom I knew from my previous band, began to sing in Sariola and then we had our first album... A carousel of line-ups began shortly after our first album and ended about a year ago or so. We had dozens of auditions of singers, drummers, bassists. But mostly singers, because it’s very hard to find a proper one, who is able to master her voice and is with the heart in the band. I think we audited about 20-30 singers. As for the music, we had many ideas and some of them were not included in our band, because Anagnorisis or I wouldn't find them good or compatible enough. There are always passages that someone of us would like to play different, but it should support the overall sound, if not - we don't change them.


• You have been described as an Angelic Metal Band. How does this sound to you? Could you tell me some things about your two female singers? Did you search for them? Did you know them? Are they indulged in other kinds of music or did they have other projects, as well, in the past?

I think it’s hard to try to describe our music without all connotations and associations of common genre names like gothic metal. Silenia has been singer in my bands since 2004. We met at University of Bochum and it was a coincidence. Silenia had time to join a lot of bands and projects after that.
As for Loreley, we found her in the longest auditioning period after Silenia left the band. Loreley lives on the other side of Germany (south) and we represent the north-west. So, we actually doubted that she would want to come over every time to rehearse or to play for a gig. But she did! As far as I know, Loreley already had a band but I cannot tell you what kind of music they played.


• What does Black Metal express for you, what Symphonic one, Gothic one and Industrial one? How did the idea of combining all these elements together emerge? Do you think it was something risky in the beginning?

Black Metal is something raw, emotional, sometimes aggressive, sometimes depressive. It is a way to express feelings and thoughts through music. And a powerful one, just to say. All of them, symphonic, gothic and industrial elements are presented in our music, they make our sound complete and create the different shades and colours of our music. We were just combining what we had in our mind which sounded well and could express feelings. I don't think that one should speak about risk here. We had some doubts how this mixture would impress people though, but they were faded away with all the positive reviews we've got. But honestly, we actually knew that our stuff was good. We wouldn't have published it otherwise, so...


• You’ve got enough Street Teams. Do you think that this is important for a band? Do you believe that these are just fans for you or something more? Is your opinion that a band needs Street Teams for their further promotion and if yes, in which countries?

It’s very important for a band to have supporters and fans in every possible country, who could “spread the word” about the band in their country, in their language and so reach a lot of people. Those street teams are a hell lot of importance for us! It was crazy the day we learnt about our first street team. You realize that your music puts in motion people to support you and spread it around. This was awesome for us! If you have a street team, you know that you do the right thing and it motivates you to move on. The people who run street teams are closer to the band even simple, because of the communication which is necessary for proper running of a street team. We would like to have more street teams all over the world. It is important for our promotion, indeed and it's not about the country.


• Do you believe that Internet is the only one tool for your promotion? How important are gigs for you? My space account always helps, but isn’t it interesting when you have also got your own official site like yours? Is it a good idea to tour? Can you mention some live performances of yours? Would it be better if you had the chance to contact people individually and if yes, why?

Internet is a very important tool but it’s not enough. The promotion of the band should take place at all possible media. Our interviews still get printed in music magazines, we also make flyers and posters when we play somewhere... Gigs are essential for us. While performing live, our music is played as loud as it can be. It is also a contact with our fans. We think that a professional band should have its own homepage.
As far as contacting the people individually is considered, I don’t think that it’s a good idea, at least at first, it would be better to contact a promoter or event planner on their own. The band needs a manager or representative who is experienced in the music business and knows how to contact people from the music industry. Besides, it is a sign of more credibility. Concerning fans – of course, we try to keep contacts and communicate with them as our time allows that, but it’s a bad sign for a band if they could list ALL their fans by name.
To name three of our best live performances – Ratingen in 2007, because of the amazing crowd, Rotterdam 2008, because of the great audience, bands we played with and the sound, Essen 2008 - we had huge crowds of people there and they all were head banging, rocking and singing along with us.


• When did the idea of your band emerge? Did all members have the same concept? When did you first start recording and when start performing live? Are you interested in specific countries and why? You were collaborating with different booking agencies in the past. Is it a big step for you and when it is time for a band to collaborate with a booking agency?

Before Sariola, almost everyone was playing in a band. On the part of mine, I was experimenting with my previous band with black metal and operatic vocals. So, I had this idea long time before Sariola. The first record of Sariola was finished in September 2006. After that time, we began to look for other members in order to play live, so the first concert of Sariola was in April 2007.
If a band can’t provide the wished amount of gigs on its own, or has certain expectations to the venue, then you need a good booking agency. As soon as possible, I would say. A big step is after that and it depends on the quality of the provided services of the booking agency. Nevertheless, you need a good one.


• Have you got the team spirit? Is it difficult for bands to have it? Please, justify your answers. Do you think that your album is ready to be distributed? Would you like anything more for this album? What are your plans for the future? The same concept, same elements, something inclined more to a specific genre of yours?

Yeah! We've got a team spirit and I think everybody who knows us, can see it. And it's not difficult at all, basically for the reason that we are good friends. If you speak about "the sphere" it is actually ready. A little better production wouldn't hurt, but we got some proposals from various labels. They were not acceptable however, so we decided to stay with Padlo Records LPN. Maybe in several years we’ll re-record it to make an up-to-date sound but our re-recording is a double-edged matter. A lot of people like the original recording and would surely say that the re-recording would take the soul and charm out of the album, despite of the better sound quality.
If you speak about our upcoming album: it's not ready yet, but when it is, it will surely be ready, so that it will be distributed. As for the future, our music is changing, of course. But one may notice that it is not a genre to switch but a deepening in the direction we went on our first album. It's better for you to hear the difference yourself when it's ready and then you'll be the judge!


• Was a dream of all to become musicians? How did this arise? Are the members occupied with other kinds of jobs? It is difficult to survive when being a musician. Don’t you agree? Is a goal of yours to be musicians and only and survive from what you mostly love, music?

We always wanted to become musicians, speaking about myself. It was the best way to express the feelings.
Creating music for living is hard in our time so we have to back ourselves up. We want and hope to earn enough money with our music for being able to concentrate on creating music only.


• Do you believe that a band has to play with famous artists so that they will remain in the memories of others or real artists can stand on their own feet with their own music and talent?

Not really. I have attended a lot of gigs of famous bands and can't really remember a single band that warmed up. But mostly, because of pure performance – and, to be more specific just standing there without emotions, so as if someone forced the band to go on stage and perform - and uninteresting music. You can remain in minds of people if you do a good show and make some fine tunes, even if you aren't playing before Metallica. The main difference is that you will probably have a larger audience to remember your stuff if you're playing with a famous artist and of course the probability for being remembered or gaining new fans is much bigger.


• Could you please tell me some things about your new drummer Farrokh and how you chose him? Did you know him before? Do you communicate with your former drummer, Morbid? Is there a good way of communication among the members?

Farrokh is awesome! He is the greatest drummer a metal band can have! He's full of speed and power! We had some drummer auditions, but most drummers couldn't manage the speed and the complexity of our songs. Most of them, but not Farrokh. Not only could he easily play our songs, but he made them sound a bit different, and better for instance. It didn't last a minute that we knew he's the one we want to work with. We didn't know him before. He also lives on the other end/side of Germany (east).
We still communicate with Morbid! He even visited our last gig in Oberhausen and was impressed by our new sound and Farrokh, of course. As I have already told, we're good friends and communicate very well with each other.


• What do you mean with your song “Selene in Seven Mirrors”? Do mirrors and beauty make the difference or there is something even deeper like humanity and soul? “Melissa by Candlelight” is another song of yours. What does candlelight remind you and may I learn some things about Melissa by Candlelight? Do you refer to a specific woman?

I try to keep my lyrics cryptic to a certain point. I like lyrics which can be interpreted individually and appeals to each listener in their own unique way. When I think about some of my favourite lyrics written by someone else, I don't really want to know what he or she really meant, because it would destroy my own interpretation and self-protection of the lyrics, I wouldn't be able to find myself in the poetry and identify myself with it... So the value of the lyric would sink if you knew the real meaning with which it was written... If I tell what I meant, I would probably destroy a lot of individual interpretations and imaginations of the listeners.


• You named your band after a Finnish national epic, called “Kalevala”, a northern land, where it is too cold and dismal, but also a beautiful place. Actually, I agree with you, but I would like to explain the readers why frozen places usually hide such great beauty.

Frozen places have their own kind of attraction. They are mostly quiet, the time seems to stay still, there is no future, no past - just this single moment, which could seemingly last in eternity. There is no progression, no changes - just reflections. Everything else happens in the mind and it's a performance of the opposites - one can be at the same moment very depressed, sad, hopeless and full of hope, in despair or in joy... But the fact that there is no progression... - one can't find out what is truly real...


• “Deathfrozen Silence”! Indeed, silence can be deathfrozen… When someone remains speechless, there are serious reasons. What are the main reasons for you if you were about to be silent? Actually, not only silent, but frozen like dead people are… The meaning is very deep…

For me, the main reason for something like that would be if I lost the orientation and wouldn't know where to go and what to do.


• “From the Dismal”! Are there dismal looks, dismal lives nowadays and why? Whether or not, we all come from the dismal…, don’t you think so? Your songs describe such a situation. This is our current life…, unfortunately. Although, through your music and while expressing all these, you give life another meaning. Don’t you think that when someone understands a difficult situation he or she tries for a better way of life? At least, some people. Which is the percentage you think they do so?

From my point of view, there are a lot of destinies are dismal nowadays, but also in the past, it wasn't different. I think there will always be a brighter and darker life. I can't guess the statistics because the statistic depends on a lot of different factors which may vary from each one’s point of view and could be interpreted as well as positive or as negative. At least, I think that everyone tries to reach a better life, better conditions. It's the human nature. However, not everyone really tries to change something, not everyone has the power or ability to change, knows the right way/direction or is even aware of his life situation. And of course, some people need just a few things to be happy and some are unsatisfied even if they possess the whole world.


• Your band is described as enchanting and I agree with that! Would you like to add any other elements to your songs or you are satisfied from the result? The release of your first album was in autumn 2006, “Sphere of Thousands Sunsets”, and after three years, you released the second demo, “Deathfrozen Silence”. You like resulting where you wish! Do you think that this will ever change? For example, after a big success?

We are satisfied with the results, of course some details could be made different but if you ask a painter about how ready his masterwork is - he will never agree that the masterwork is ready and every time he looks at his work - he'll find a stroke which could be made different or which he would add to it... This is the way of music, as well. Though, there must be a certain point when you have to stop working and regard the song as ready. It relatively takes a lot of time between our releases and that’s because a lot of factors start with finding common time over to technical reasons. I think it would change if we had a label which would support us.


• Are you planning something else in the future? What would be the best deal for your band? What encourages you more? Of course, great words by fans give always courage, but is there anything else you would really like? Would you ever change your style or the collaboration among the members? If yes, when this would happen?

The best deal for the band would be a situation where we could make living out of music and we could concentrate only on our band without thinking about other jobs. But even without that, it would be great if we would have a worldwide distribution, promotion, could tour and play live everywhere we want, with whom we want… We won't change the collaboration among the members until it’s unavoidable.


• I would like some words from the other members, as well, referring to “Sariola” band. Their music interests, their indulgence in the band, their feelings.

Loreley: I like Black, Viking and Vanguard Metal. Speaking for the whole of the band I regard Sariola as a big family, who is not only creating music and plays live but also are friends with each other.
Farrokh: I also like jazz, blues, blues-rock and classic music. It gives me different ideas for example fill-ins and such things. On stage, I can fell a kick-ass power around my head. This band expresses the friendship for me and allows me to get away from my everyday live.
E. Konny: I listen to a lot of different music styles as for example alternative rock, almost all genres of metal, industrial, ebm, grunge, punk, etc.
I think we all share the same feelings for Sariola – Sariola gives us an opportunity to create something different, to express us as artists and to take us away from the dreary days.



Their official site: http://www.sariola.padlo.de
Their my space account: www.myspace.com/sariolaofficial

After this interview and the details given, I would say that they will all get focused on this band even more, as bands including such difficult tunes are our future! I am startled by you and I am sure that your future is brilliant. May both your fans and your albums become even more! Never forget your professionalism, but also that your success depends on your communication with others. Even if your silence is called Deathfrozen, your art talks by itself! You make us think of many things, recollect experiences, see our life again and get a better understanding of it… Clear Vocals in contract with Dark Metal music make this band even more interesting and we remain astonished in front of them. We are all in the “Sphere of Thousand Sunshines” and as you describe, we all imagine and conclude different things. Always keep this Sphere open for our imagination! And, after having talked with you, I have to confess that I am one of your fans... Believe it or not, such spirit is rare in our days. The spirit that arises feelings without destroying our imagination and satisfaction, arisen through it...


Kind Regards and Wishes for a great Success,
Marina V.