Interview with Heri Joensen of Týr

Sometimes unexpected things are going to happen. In this case I received a SMS in the morning before the interview while I was sitting in a train on the way to Lübeck - after I have been on tour since eight days - that my interviewer is sick and has to stay in bed this night. So I jumped in to do the interview - with a big lack of sleep due to tour circumstances the night before and sick as well. But there is nothing to have a moan about in this business.
Without having a fixed time for the interview I talked to tourmanager Mon on the phone just to come to the venue by times. So we did and he woke up Heri, who we met a few minutes later in the buss's front lounge for some small talk and the interview.

On May 29th, 2009, almost exactly one year after the previous release "Land", the seventh long player "By The Light Of The Northern Star" (Review) will show up in the record stores and we asked a few questions about this.


finnbands: You are more or less the only known metal band from the Faroe Islands.
Heri: Yes *laughs* Well, there is another one. But they are not that known.
finnbands: Yeah, SIC are not that known yet. But is there something like a metal scene in Faroe Islands?
Heri: Yes, there are some metal bands. I wouldn't say there is a metal scene as such. There are some metal bands play a few concerts every year. And some of them try to get international attention, like SIC for example. That's how it goes.

finnbands: Your songs contain traditional topics of your home country. How do people react at home?
Heri: That's very diverse. Some, especially those who know the old story and some tradition don't like it so much because they think we sort of destroy or discredit some old relicts. But there are also people who do like it because we make an evil interest in it again - especially young people. And people that are not from Faroers of course that don't know anything about the old traditions. So they have no opinion about that.

finnbands: How important are the old traditions for you personally?
Heri: If they weren't we couldn't do this kind of music. So I am very grateful that it has persisted or survived in the Faroers to the extend that it has and it makes it possible for us to make very authentic pagan viking music.

finnbands: You have been touring US twice. Do you think there is a difference in US audience compared to European audience?
Heri: Yes! I think they seem very happy that we came to the US in most places. And they are very supportive. Because I think bands like us don't get there very often. And when we were at pagan fest last year I think all the bands that played there last year have never been there before. So when they have a chance they come to the concerts and … Well, you know you get really feedback from the audience. Whereas when we tour for example Germany you can tell that you have the opportunity to go to very many concerts and it's harder to impress maybe.

finnbands: You are playing in big venues as well as in small venues. What kind of venues do you prefer?
Heri: For the audience contact small venues are better. But if you want good technical circumstances like very good monitor sound and good room or space you need big venues. The disadvantage is often that there is like three meters down to the first row of people which can make you feel the distance. But than again bigger venues pay more money. So *laughs* both things have their advantages and disadvantages.
finnbands: And you like the interaction with the audience?
Heri: Yes yes, I like that but I also need to be paid.
finnbands: Of course!

Do you prefer to play live or working on new material for your albums?
Heri: I think playing live is the best part of being in a band. After that I'd say the song writing. This is the part I like most. And what I like least of being in a band is being in studio.
finnbands: Why don't you like it?
Heri: Because this is very special. You have to be concentrated of a long period of time and you have to be very … Everything, every smallest mistake you can do is turned over and you are hiding behind any noise like you can do live. You do a small mistake and no one hears it and you just go on. But in the studio every single detail has to be perfect and that's very stressful thing to work with.

finnbands: Last year you released the last cd "Land" and soon in about four weeks you'll release "By The Light Of The Northern Star". How did you find the time to record and release two album within only one year?
Heri: Well, I started writing music for this new album immediately after we released the last album and we had like three month off in which I wrote the album and recorded it. It didn't seem particularly rushed or anything. I mean … And also considering this album it's much simpler than our previous albums it was not so hard writing the music. So it was not a question of finding the time more of just using the time we have. And I didn't feel very pressed for time or very rushed or …
finnbands: And are you going to play new songs from the upcoming album tonight?
Heri: Yes, we play three new songs.

finnbands: What's the story behind "By The Light Of The Northern Star"?
Heri: There is a concept in the album and it's the viking age resistance against the Christianization of Faroe Islands. And of course this has paralyzed to the present and the present day resistance against religion as a whole. And in the album gore the main characters ……….. and some events. That is not the story book it's just an outline of some events and a conclusion in the end with the title track "By The Light Of The Northern Star".

finnbands: What is the story behind the cover?
Heri: I just sent the texts and songs to the artist and he came up with it by himself. The man on the cover is turned to god who is resisting Christianity. There is not a kind of story of the moment what represents what we put on the album it's just to underline the idea of the album. He sort of thought that of himself on the concept that we have.

finnbands: You are doing a kind of viking metal in your very own style. And some of your songs are in Faroese and some songs are in English. What's the difference in the both languages while singing?
Heri: The traditional songs are all in Faroese or some are in English too I think. And they come with their own lyrics. When you use the traditional like in ….. for example it is already there. And I don't translate it. I just sing it as it is. Almost all songs where I have written the text myself are English. Think I wrote two songs in Faroese. So that's how it goes. If it's a traditional fairy it'll be Faroese. And if I have to write the text myself it will probably be English or as I said two I have written myself. So I don't have to choose very much which language I write in.

finnbands: So ok, we are done. Thank you!
Heri: Yeah, thank you!


Some small talk to follow and then it's time for us to jump in the club to check Heidevolk and for Heri to prepare for the gig.

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