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Interview
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #


Darkhaus



We have a pretty unique sound



Prologue
Darkhaus is a young but already quite successful rock formation that could be called international. The band’s line-up consists of Americans Marshall Stephens and Gary Meskil, well-known thanks to Pro-Pain, German drummer Paul Keller and Austrian Rupert Keplinger who’s also one of the inspirers of the project. But the final piece of the puzzle there became Kenny Hanlon, a talented singer with a great voice. So I’ve got a chance to talk to him about Darkhaus, future plans of the band and just about good music in general. So…
Darkhaus
He
Darkhaus
llo, Kenny!

Hello! Do you here me? I can here you.

Hello! Yes! First of all, sorry for my accent.

That’s ok. I have an accent, too.

Scottish?

Yeah. So let’s try to speak nice and slow.

Ok. So the first question. How could you personally describe the music of Darkhaus mostly for those only going to listen to it? What makes your sound so distinct and interesting?

Well, there are many different factors that can help us to form such sound, you know. I think we have a pretty unique sound and as I said there are many factors like we are all from different parts of the world, we have different backgrounds. Well, we have a dark sound. I don’t know, it’s hard to describe. It’s the ques
Darkhaus
tion I’ve not really found easy. I would describe it as a very commercial sound, of course, slightly dark and emotional, slightly pop as well, but definitely it’s a kind of rock at first place.

To understand your music better, it would be nice to know what hides behind the title of the album. So what does “my only shelter” means in your interpretation?

‘My Only Shelter’… well, if you look through the artwork especially and think about the name ‘”darkhaus”, so it’s like a house and if you look closer inside it’s like an artist lives there, imagining dark house being his shelter, his protection from the world, from the dangers that are on the other side of the door. But it could be anything, not necessarily based on any artwork. Music itself could be s
Darkhaus
omebody’s shelter, helping them get through hard times.


Speaking about the release, have you ever thought that your debut work would be so successful or that success became a total surprise for you?

Kind of mixed. We had high expectations because we all believe in this band and believe in this music so much. So there was a certain level of confidence that people would like it. But the overall reaction has been just great and I just wish we’re able to play more live by this point. But everybody so busy and everybody lives so far apart it’s hard to get everybody at one place at one time. But people who bought the album after hearing us live still write messages and often leave comments on facebook and twitter, so the reaction has been awesome an
Darkhaus
d I would say unexpected. And I hope it continues like that.

The album is really great by the way!

Thank you!

And have you ever thought about the influence your music exerts on the people listening to it. For you it’s just a way of self-expression or you want to change something in the society with your songs?

We are not kind of activists, we don’t just try to make a plan and create anything in particular. But of course we have strong opinions about certain things if asked but generally we just try to make great music, have fun and just have a good time. As for the lyrics it’s really personal and at the same time I prefer my lyrics to be a kind of open-ended as I don’t like to be too specific. So each person may find some
Darkhaus
thing for themselves.


The process of recording the album was a pleasure or hard work?

Both. It was a pleasure of course, because we were very proud of this collection of songs. And I’m proud to be in a band with these guys as they are great guys and great musicians. But I’m not gonna lie there was a lot of work, it was hard time and I was surprised that my voice didn’t burn out but lasted till the end and everything worked really well.

Yeah, you have a great voice!

Thank you!


So do you have a music education? And was it your dream to become a musician?

Absolutely yes! As far as education there was nothing on paper. My education started when I was a kid. My dad is a musician
Darkhaus
so I grew up watching him, listening to the music he was influenced by. So my education began very early and I was always singing and dancing when I was a kid. I used to tell my mom and dad that I wanted to be a pop star, I waned to be reach and famous – the usual things the kids say. But then most kids grow up, and I managed to carry that through my life.


Do you think it’s possible to earn one’s living just by making music?

It’s possible but it’s very difficult unfortunately. Even when you begin to move up, you very quickly realize that it takes a long time before you start making money. So anyone who gets into music just to make money is crazy. You must have a passion for it and a support of close friends and family. And they supported
Darkhaus
me during all these years, and when there were very difficult times. But it’s like anything in this world, it doesn’t come easy. So one should just follow their path, keep pushing in and if you have something worth selling one day you will start making some profit.


Fortunately you signed with SPV.



Yes, sure.

And do you remember your very first live performance? Or maybe the most memorable moment onstage?

I remember my very first time singing at front of the audience was when I was maybe 9 or 10. I was at a holiday camp and there was an event in a local town with guests and stuff. And there was a giant stage so that was fun definitely like I said earlier I had an interest in that since a very
Darkhaus
early age and it prepared me more. As far as my most memorable time onstage, maybe in Oberhausen where we did a show with Eisbrecher. There was a great crowd, the great guys as well and that was a great time. I think there was about 2500 people and that’s the biggest crowd we’ve ever played to. And maybe we’ll continue playing to crowds like that and bigger one day.


Alex from Eisbrecher also said about Oberhausen.

Yeah! That was the first time I met the guys. There was a very warm welcome. They just very cool people.


As your debut album has been released already, so what are the plans for the future?

We’re preparing to release our second single and our second video came out last week. It’s for the single
Darkhaus
‘Life Worth Living’, which is the first track on the album. We have a tour with Subway to Sally in April and early May. We have M’era Luna festival in August. Definitely we want to play as many shows as possible and take our music to the people.


Are there any band or musicians you want to work with or share the stage with?

Most of the people I would like to work with or share the stage with unfortunately are no longer with us. As far as the bands, I’m a hige Foo Fighters fan, Queens of the Stone Age, it would be very cool to support a band like that, like Queens of the Stone Age for example or Nine Inch Nails, that would be very cool.


Everything is in the future.

Yes, I’m sure. So we just keep working on.

And have you discovered any bands recently?

Well, so much recently I haven’t really been listening to a lot of music outside, so it was just my own one and Darkhaus. I mean I’m recording a different album for another band so I’ve been really busy with that. As for the music I like to listen to Foo Fighters or Manic Street Preachers, Neil Diamond, T. Rex, Boston. I try to be eclectic especially when you are a songwriter, it makes sense.

Oh, yes you have your own project, Chase Saturn.

Yes. You know, Gary and Marshall are obviously in Pro-Pain, Rupert play bass in Eisbrecher, Paul is busy. Well we’re all busy outside the band. Rupert is always occupied with Eisbrecher, Gary and Marshall with Pro-Pain. So Chase Saturn is my own project, I’m working on a debut album. Pre-production. Everything comes together pretty well.


That’s great! And this interview is supposed to be for Russian fans of Darkhaus, I can’t but ask. Have you ever been to Russia?

Unfortunately I haven’t. I have not been to Russia yet. But definitely I would love to come there. I’m just waiting for some dates to open up. It will be fantastic! In the near future that would be great.

And finally you please say something to our readers and your future fans.

Sure, yeah! Thank you! I’m glad that you enjoy listening to our music. I hope you like it, so share, tell everybody. Like I said our second video ‘Life Worth Living’ just came out. It’s on Youtube, go watch it. The single will appear in a couple of months. Our debut album ‘My Only Shelter’ you can get on Amazon, iTunes, on our website http://www.darkhausmusic.com/shop.html
Check it out! And thank you!
7 ôåâ 2014
the End


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