Interview withMarkus Bär, Andi Grundler & Jan Bertram of Lost Area
1.5 years after their album 'Man-Machine', the German project LOST AREA returns with their newest strike 'Memoria' on their new label home Echozone Records. We asked Markus, Andi & Jan of LOST AREA a few questions, concerning the new album release and a couple other little things. Here's what they had to say:
Reflections of Darkness (RoD): How did the collaboration with your new label Echozone come about? Weren't you satisfied with the work of your former label anymore?
Markus: In order to progress you've got to allow changes. We see Echozone as perfect partner for our plans. A good working environment was top priority for us and Echozone had all we're looking for.
Andi: Jojo (More Sign), whom we're working with for quite some time already, and who does and manages promotion for us, established the contact with the label. He directed label head Jörg Tochtenhagen's attention towards our music and he liked it.
Jan: We were satisfied, but we couldn't achieve more with the collaboration than we already did. We received offers and we checked them. That's how it came about!
RoD: The time span between the new and the last album is comparatively small. Did you already have ideas for a new release stored somewhere?
Jan: I had an idea already. It was to be more ambitious than the last record. Also we started working on the new disc directly after the release of 'Man Machine'. But generally I don't deem 1.5 years all that fast.Markus: Why short? We're aiming to put out one album a year, just like many other bands. I personally think it's quite a long time span. 1.5 years have passed after all - deliberately by the way.
Andi: Well, we had a few ideas up our sleeves we expanded on. But we also have put a whole lot of time and hard work into the making of the album, and we were working constantly. And if 3 people are working simultaneously on one album, usually one or the other useful idea comes out.
RoD: How long did it take you to produce the entire album?
Jan: The production of the instrumental took about a year. Until all the vocals were recorded and everything's been wrapped up by Gerrit, another 6 months passed. Adding to it was that Gerrit was very helpful with all his ideas and the tips he gave us. You shouldn't forget how much experience he has and so the one or other things took a bit longer than initially planned.
Markus: We were working approximately a year on the album, meaning that when 'Man Machine' was completed we started working on the next record right away. Another reason was that ideas were implemented with the new team. Songs for 'Man Machine' were already written when the line-up came about.
RoD: You called the new album 'Memoria'. What's the meaning behind the title?
Markus: For me it's the summary of a life. Just as if someone's looking back on their past! Listening attentively to the album reveals that the songs piece together like an entire life.
Jan: The song 'Memoria' stands for an experience, moving me deeply. The song's supposed to do the same with the listener. That's my reason for choosing this title.Andi: It's supposed to be an attempt to make people pause for a moment in our rushing times; to make them think about the past as well, instead of the ever same manner of thing about what's coming next. To stand still just for a moment, close your eyes and get carried away by your memories. Not many people are able to do that anymore. Sometimes I get the feeling that those kinds of thoughts are being filed under reveries. But we all are what we are today because we have our memories, may they be positive or negative.
RoD: Is the album following a certain concept and do the respective sings tell a continuous story correspondingly?
Jan: No, for the first time in band history it is not a concept album. With our previous albums we tried to tell a story. It forced us to work with fantasy themes. 'Memoria' is real and every song is a little story on its own. Every track finds its conclusion and stands alone. It brings the listener much closer to us. This third album is meant to be something special for us, not just a successor to 'Man Machine'. Thus, it was pretty obvious that it would become very personal.
Markus: As mentioned before, the songs are constructed like an entire life, telling its experiences and dreams. We'd like the album to accompany people and that they can identify with the experiences and dreams. That's what we want to achieve! We don't want to simply sell them an imaginary story. No, we want to convey real dreams. Dreams with a story!
Andi: For the first time, 'Memoria' I snot a concept album, but still the listeners will recognize that, even though every song stands on its own, there's a golden threat permeating and connecting them all.
RoD: How's the album cover connected to the songs or the overall theme of the album?
Jan: You can give yourself the answer by dealing with the artwork or by making an interview with Annie (Bertram) and get explanations from her *g*
Markus: Only someone who lived a life, that is, an elderly person, is able to look back on it. That's why the person on the cover is depicted in a geriatric way, standing for what the album's got to tell.
Andi: We've always tried to create a total work of art and we're very lucky to have a fantastic artist on our side with Annie Bertram to give our albums a proper visual appearance. The cover and artwork show the world we want to drag our listeners into with the music. RoD: One characteristic the songs on the album have is that they're permanently alienated and pitched. Why did you choose that stylistic device for the album?
Jan: There's no pitched song on the entire album. Markus vocals and chant have gotten extremely better and he also tried new techniques. Would be pretty boring if every singer sounded exactly the same wouldn't it? Come to one of our shows and convince yourself everything's for real.
Markus: We certainly used some effects on the vocals like a delay here or some chorus there. But I can't follow your question regarding the pitching of the vocals. The only thing I can tell you is that god (If god exists) gave me this voice. Well, it might be a bit unusual compared to 'Man Machine' I used my voices in higher pitches. As Jan said already: Come to one of our shows and convince yourself! We don't work with false bottom *laughs'
RoD: Why was the title song placed as the opener of the album?
Markus: That's because 'Memoria' is the basic theme. As mentioned before, a life is revealed in retrospect in the different experiences told and explained by the songs, just as though an index would be lying in front of you.
Jan: There's no particular reason for that, except for 'Memoria' being the album theme. Let's say it was intuition.
RoD: Who's that 'Guardian Angel' of the eponymous song?
Markus: It's based on a true story, but I'd like to express my personal thoughts here. As we know, not all angels do the same jobs. Sometimes it's merely a word and other times there's much more to it. I mean we all should question certain situations a little more and not take them for what they are. Maybe it sheds an entirely different light on them in the end.
Jan: I'm not much of a fan giving explanations to songs myself. Every listener should be getting their own ideas and every person experiences songs and contents in a different way. I don't want to take that liberty away from them by giving any explanations.
RoD: The thought of an opposite world, lying behind a mirror isn't new. What made you pick up that belief for the song 'Mirrors'?
Markus: Let me put it this way: How often are you standing in front of your mirror, recalling your day. Aren't you naturally asking yourself those questions then? The topic isn't new but more current than ever. More and more people are forced to think about their existence and at this very point you're scrutinizing your life and a possible opposite world. RoD: How about plans to present the new material live?
Jan: There are plenty dates for us this year and maybe some more will be added. We're especially looking forward to November when we'll have the honour to present our new album live with PROJECT PITCHFORK.
Andi: We're working on it already. On 24th April we'll have the official release concert at Contrast in Konstanz and more will follow. You can find all dates on http://www.lostarea.com/ or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/lostarea
RoD: Anything else you'd like to get off your chest?
Jan: Thanks to all the people for having faith in us and thanks to those who didn't. Doubts are motivating and can set free amazing powers.
Markus: I'd like to thank all fans for their support and I'm very much looking forward, also reaching the last fan live soon. I think 2010 is going to be great. I'm curious!
Andi: We'd like to thank all fans for the great support and we'd be happy to see you at one of our shows.
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