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final_conference_yupi.jpgInterview with:

Anders Iwers
Johan Edlund





Sometimes you meet people who have interesting stories. I had just that feeling when I met a Romanian couple on the 'Church of Tiamat' board. They had a very nice interview with the band in January 2005 in Budapest. I hope you will like it as well as I did!

- Silvia Deurwaarder -


Interview
copyright Catalina-Aurora Iancu & Paul Iancu

It started with the news that TIAMAT will perfom in Budapest. We both started to search on the internet for available tickets. Luckily, we found even more than that: the partners of the tour organizers (Adi Mihailov from Bestial Records and Varga Balazs from NegativeArt) arranged an meeting. So finally we got a lot more than we expected: a live show AND an interview with the band. Things packed, train tickets purchased and we were on the way to Budapest - 14 hours by train; a piece of cake!

35_Prey.jpgThe show from e-Klub, Budapest, was scheduled almost at the end of Tiamat’s tour, so the guys were quite tired already. But, as long as the fans always come first and the media is the main link between them, they were more than happy to speak with the journalists before the show. Unfortunately, only two of the band members, Johan and Anders (the Tiamat“twins”), were available. While the plates were still on the table where they just finish eating, we sat next to them and we start “shooting”, as usual.

While the opening questions were left to Anders, when we mentioned Crowley’s name Johan opened his eyes and left his “shell”. Despite his own description, “a very nice Swedish guy, very uncomplicated”, it was very hard to make him to open his soul in front of us. Johan is like an open book, but written in a foreign language.

Many answers raised even more questions, but as long as in their schedule were few more interviews before the show we decided to keep those questions for another time. Some of the questions hit their target, taking the guys by surprise. They also made some jokes, like Anders’ statement. According to him, he is “the female vocalist” of the band. And we believed him, of course.


The contract you signed with Century Media mentioned seven albums,"Prey" being the seventh. Looking back, what do you think?
Anders Iwers: It was a good contract.
Will you sign a new one with Century Media?
Anders: That's a possibility.

On "Prey" there is a song called "The Pentagram" (lyrics by A.Crowley). I read that you had to obtain OTO's approval for playing it. How did you manage to obtain it?
Anders: We have a manager! It wasn't hard at all.

On your official site there are (were) links to OTO's website and to other sites concerning the Thelema. Are you interestedby this sort of things?
Johan Edlund: We try to make people to discover the ideas of Aleister Crowley, what he stood for, who he was and what was he saying. We try to show him more objective than before. But we don't want to force people to accept him. We just want to make people to become interested.

Tiamat is the name of an ancient goddess. Now you speak about Crowley. How important are the religion and the mythology in your life?
Johan: There are interesting things.
You said once that Crowley was looking for the questions, and not for the answers?
Johan: We often sing about those things because we have doubts. This reason is enough to make you look for inspiration in that area. The same thing happens when it comes to other sources. For example,love and loverelationships are alse complicated things. There are also a lot of unanswered questions there. We have many doubts, and that is a good reason to sing about it.
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Is it true that you revert your crosses when you record, perform or write new songs?
Johan: Most of my crosses are reverted right now.

Is that just a way to get into the right mood or it is more than that?
Johan: I don't know, I just like reverted crosses. They are a misunderstood symbol.

"Prey" seems to be some sort of returning to your roots. It seems a very personal album.
Johan: All our albums are personal. Each of them speaks about a certain moment in our lives.

At the beginning, your songs, your albums were very heavy (the first song I ever listen was "Ancient Entity"). Now I may listen, and enjoy, of course, songs like "Carry your cross...". What shall we expect in the future?
Anders: I don't know. We didn't change much as a person between those two songs. We try to compose better songs, to perform better. We don't want to change in a certain way. We were "growing up" as musicians and we now have more tools in our toolbox. Singing is much more than screaming.

Johan, how would you describe yourself?
Johan: I'm a very nice Swedish guy, very uncomplicated. I try to do my best to write and to perform, we try to feel as good as possible during tours,being with our best friends.

The "woman" concept evolved in your songs. At first, it was the "Lady Temptress", then the "Sleeping beauty". Then you were singing about the "Best friend money can buy" and the "Whores of Babylon". How come now you're "Divided for love"?
Johan: Always a relationship is complicated. It's very hard for a guy to understand a women. But we try to do our best.

Hanna Stjärnvind was credited on "A Caress of stars". You dedidated to her a song - "Sleeping Beauty". Who was she? I was always wondering?
Johan: An ex girlfriend, long time ago.

Which is your favorite song right now?
Johan: "To have and have not".

There are many songs involving female voices. Moreover, Sonja Brandt is singing "Carry your cross"?. Would you hire a permanent vocal female singer?
Anders (laughing): Well... he has me...
Johan: We never thought about that. Maybe... in the future...


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What do you think about your fans getting your mp3s using P2P software? Your songs might be heard everywhere, indeed, but the sales are decreasing, while everybody can download your songs free of charge.
Johan: All we want is that our fans to listen our songs. We'd like that our music to reach more and more people. That's all that matters for us.

A short message for your Romanian fans.
Anders: We hope to see you soon!




 

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