Interview с Saor : DARKSIDE.ru

Let's start with the most intriguing news. In August, you announced that you finished a demo for the next Saor record. Can you tell me more? Is this a demo for the upcoming full-length album?

Yes, it’s for the upcoming full-length. I’m still writing demos so I don’t have any more information at this time.

Q: How was the songwriting process? You went to a family home in the Isle of Skye again, as with the album “Forgotten Paths”?

I had writer's block but it quickly disappeared once I arrived in the majestic landscapes of Skye. I wrote most of the album there and then recorded demos when I returned home.

Q: Now let's talk about the recent Saor acoustic performance in Antwerp. How did it go, and what are your impressions of the concert? Is this your first such experience?

I was nervous before the concert because I’ve never played acoustic guitar live but I really enjoyed it. It was a bit strange at first because everyone was sitting on chairs and very silent and I am only familiar with crowds banging their heads and shouting stuff. I would really like to do some more acoustic shows in the future, it’s a lot more relaxing than playing with a full band.

Q: The concert was held in the old Church of St. Augustine. Isn’t it strange to play music with such a harsh background in the church?

Not really. It’s a beautiful building and I really admire the architecture and atmosphere of old churches. It’s part of our history whether you like it or not.

Q: Is it possible that you will record an acoustic album with Saor in the future?

I’m focussed on writing material for the next full length but I might consider writing an acoustic album in the future.

Q: This summer, you played at the Fire in the Mountains festival in Wyoming, USA. Tell me about this experience.

It was a really stunning place for a festival and was a bit surreal playing a show in the middle of the Wyoming wilderness next to lakes and mountains. The only downside was the mosquitoes and the heat!

Q: You once said that most of your fans are from North America - descendants of immigrants from Scotland. In this regard, how do you assess the potential of the US music market for Saor?

We sold out half of our first North American tour, so that probably answers the question for you.

Q: You said that you hate playing concerts, but now Saor is quite an active concert band. What’s changed? Why did you change your mind?

The others in the live band changed my mind at first. I don’t particularly like the travelling and was sick of incompetent sound engineers and badly run shows. We have been pretty lucky in the past two years to get to play amazing and unique festivals around the world, so I guess it’s not all bad. I do much prefer songwriting and recording though.

Q

: In November, you will come to Russia for the second time in a year. What is special for you in Russia? What do you like here, and what is not?

I love the architecture and the people who came to our gigs seemed really friendly and passionate. I grew up and live in a cold climate, so the weather is perfect for me. One thing I don’t like is how warm it is inside of public buildings and transport! It’s crazy. We took the night train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow last year and there was no aircon or anything and it was incredibly warm. Pretty funny considering it’s freezing and snowing outside.

Q: You recently signed a record deal with Season of Mist. How did you come to this and what do you expect from this cooperation?

I met Michael Berberian (founder of Season of Mist) at Metal East Festival in Ukraine and we had a long chat during the night over many beers. We discussed the pros and cons of signing to a bigger label and he convinced me that it was the right move. He is very passionate about his artists and only wants the best for them and I can’t wait to see what the future holds as part of the Season of Mist roster.

Q: Earlier this year your fans saw an impressive “Bròn” video. How did the work on this video go, and how deep were you involved in the process of creating it? Are you satisfied with the result?

The video was directed by my friend Anaïs Mulgrew and filmed by Single Cell Films from Ireland. I wasn’t very involved apart from acting in a few scenes. I think it was a success and looks great considering we had a very small budget and time limit.

Q: In general, we can say that 2019 was an important year for Saor. Do you think the album “Forgotten Paths” has become the main reason for this, or is it the result of the work of all previous years?

I think it’s a mixture of everything above and the fact we are playing more live shows.

Q: I know what inspired you to start Saor, but what inspired you to become a musician? When did you decide to become a musician and why?

I got my first guitar in my teens and I enjoyed jamming with my friends in school and creating music at home. It’s probably just a natural progression from that.

Q: You don’t listen to metal very much, but you say that you listen to classic rock a lot. Does classic rock influence you as a composer?

I wouldn’t say that I listen to a lot of classic rock. I like some of it, but I was just giving an example of other genres I enjoy. It doesn’t really influence me. I listen to metal now and again but not as much as I used to when I was a teenager. I mainly stick to the classic albums and don’t listen to many new metal artists and prefer to explore other genres.

Q: Maybe I'm wrong, but at times it seems to me that by the beginning of the 80s rock music stopped developing in the artistic sense. T

he bands stopped exploring new possibilities of sound and forms of musical expression. All the next evolution of rock and metal (with rare exceptions) basically walked the path of heaviness - the louder and more extreme, the better. Extremeness became an end in itself, and not an artistic means…

There were some great bands from the 80s and 90s who experimented with sounds. The more extreme and heavy bands are just a natural link to those rock bands from the 70s onwards in my opinion.

Q: Do you need special conditions for creativity?

Peaceful surroundings.

Q: Saor always remains your personal project. You create all the music yourself, but you involve session musicians in the studio and at concerts. Tell me, when you work together, do you have a feeling of community, or are these people just doing their job?

It’s both. They must enjoy the music and be able to “feel” it but they are also getting paid to do a job. I am friends with most of the session musicians I’ve worked with, so it does feel like a family in some ways.

Q: In an interview you said that nature and landscapes play a bigger role in your music than culture. But there is an opinion that the formation of culture is primarily affected by the environment - climate, geographical location. I’ll tell you more: I believe that the country and its essence are really identified not by patriotic propaganda or political ideas, but only by two things: the spirit (those feelings that are born from the surrounding landscapes and nature) and the way people live. This also largely depends on the natural habitat. What do you think?

You’ve hit the nail on the head.

Q: History is one of the main sources of inspiration for you. Do you know that Walter Scott is the founder of such a genre as a historical novel? He was a Scot. Robert Louis Stevenson was also a Scot and contributed to the historical novel and even neo-romanticism - this feeling is also inherent in your art. It seems to me, in this context, your thirst for history is quite natural. There is some kind of connection here. As a Scot, you continue to do the same as the eminent Scots of the past, but at your own level. What do you think about it?

I wouldn’t put myself in the same category as Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson but I understand what you mean. Scots are naturally curious people and we are very passionate about our history.

Q: Do you think Saor music is escapism?

That’s the intention. I feel it’s escapism for me and I hope when people put a Saor record on the music can transport them away from their day-to-day lives.

Q: Please tell me about your worldview. On the one hand, you say that you were never really interested for all pagan stuff. On the other hand, talking about Christianity you say that you are much more interested in pre-Christian pagan beliefs…

I think all religion is bullshit but I’m interested in them from a historical perspective. Paganism is very close to nature, so that’s why I said I’m more interested in it.

Q: Do you believe in fate?

No.

Q: What are your most important character traits?

A good sense of humor. It’s healthy to not take everything seriously.

Q: According to official data, 43.7% of Scotland's population - atheists. Is it true? What do you think is the reason?

Yeah, it’s probably close to that figure. One of the reasons is that Scotland (especially the West coast) has had religious violence and bigotry for hundreds of years due to the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. I would classify myself as an Atheist but I don’t like tags or being associated with the radical atheists. I prefer to call myself “none-religious”.

Q: For most people, Scotland is associated with kilt and the highlander clans. But this is only part of the country after the notional division of Scotland in the late Middle Ages between two cultural areas – lowland and highland. Even the languages were different. Are there any traces of this division now and how are they reflected in modern life?

It feels like the lowlands and Highlands of Scotland is way more connected today than it was in the past. This is probably due to better transport links and modern technology. Most of the lowlands spoke Scots and the highlands spoke Gaelic. Not many places still speak Gaelic as their first language but it has seen a revival in recent years.

Q: In addition to kilts, tartan and bagpipes, one of the lesser-known symbols of Scotland is the traditional Scottish knife - Sgian Dubh. Has this item retained its symbolic significance today? Do you have your own Sgian Dubh?

The only time you will see one of them is at a special event such as a wedding. I don’t own one myself.

Q: You are a supporter of Scottish independence. How do you feel about Brexit? What do you think awaits the country in this regard? As far as I know, Scotland is a supporter of the European Union. But without Scotland, the meaning of Britain as a kingdom is lost. After all, Great Britain as a kingdom became possible after Acts of Union with Scotland in 1707. A difficult situation …

I’m indifferent. There’s benefits and negatives of leaving the EU but whether we leave at all remains to be seen. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU but as you probably already know, our votes don’t really count in the grand scheme of things. We are controlled by elites and our votes are meaningless. I think we will have another vote on Scottish independence next year but I wouldn’t be surprised if the “Yes” side lost again.

Q: I’ve had information that you are a descendant of Robert the Bruce. It's true?

My family tree leads back to Robert the Bruce through my grandmother. He is my 23rd great grandfather.

Q: Those were all my questions. Thank you for taking the time to answer them. Do you have any wishes regarding your upcoming visit to Russia?

Thanks! I’m looking forward to returning to Russia and drinking all of your beer! See you in two weeks.

Interviewed by Alias
6 ноя 2019 the End