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Psychorizon

~ The Private Side Of Rock'n'Roll

Psychorizon

Category Archives: Obscure Sisterhood

Obscure Sisterhood – Lucifer

12 Friday Jul 2019

Posted by psychorizon in Obscure Sisterhood

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AC DC, California Son, Century Media, Danzig, Deep Purple, Dreamer, Guns N' Roses, huck Berry, Johanna Sadonis, Little Richard, Lucifer, Metallica, Nicke Andersson, Ramones, Roxy Music, Run DMC, Scorpions, Screamin J Hawkins, The Oath, The Runaways, The Velvet Underground, ZZ Top

When a certain female-only duo stepped onto the rock-infused limelight, I was very unimpressed. Specially with the vocals of one Johanna Sadonis. Not even their stage attire in all its resemlence to The Runaways caught my attention in a good way. Fast forward to the present and the new incarnation of Lucifer, I am proud to call myself a fan of this female musician, who clearly is so much more than “just a singer”. Still patiently waiting for a full-length European headline tour and my chance to finally see her live on stage, this has been a most pleasuerable interview in the making. Enjoy – I do!

How and when have you been first introduced into the world of Rockmusic? (I know you gave a very nice insight in a previous interview with Rock Hard, but since that one is currently unavailable, I’d be happy to learn about this as well)

Music has always been around me when I was a child. My mother was a classical trained piano player and listened a lot to classical music and rock. I was raised on the Stones. My parents also loved bands like Deep Purple, ZZ Top, AC DC, Roxy Music, The Velvet Underground and a lot of 50s rock and roll like Chuck Berry, Screamin J Hawkins, Little Richard etc. My older brother, who I am very close with, was a punk. It was the 80s. He made me mixtapes with all kinds of stuff spanning from Ramones to Run DMC. When I was coming of age my natural rebellion was lying in Heavy Metal which soon turned towards extreme metal.

Speaking of which: Who inspired you the most to start making music yourself??

Hard to say. In elementery school I started in to sing along to everything and was in my first band at the age of 13. First guitar, then vocals, which I stuck to. Around that time Danzig had a huge influence on me. The first three albums. But also early Metallica and Guns N Roses.

Most people know you from your former band The Oath, but you have quite the history of work to your name – is there any band/collaboration or project that you regret or might even be ashamed of?

No, everything lead up to who I am today.

dances with the devil

Have you ever felt less of a musician, being „just“ a singer on stage?

I am a singer but also a songwriter and write 50% of the songs and all lyrics in Lucifer,  not even mentioning all other creative and managing processes concerning Lucifer that spring from my head. Lucifer is my creation, vision and concept. However, there are many “just” singers, as you put it, out there that get a complete song with lyrics thrown at them and I don’t think there is any shame in that either. One wouldn’t ask a guitarist how it feels to be “just” a guitar player.

Being in a band is much like a relationship and in fact your husband is also part of the second coming of Lucifer – what are the advantages and disadvantages of making music with someone your that close to?

I feel extremely lucky. To love each other, be best friends and play music together is the ultimate goal for us. We are both sort of introverts and have a very special and sacred relationship, nothing I have ever experienced before. We do everything together, so it’s a blessing for us that we get to go on the road together too and share this journey as well. Living out in the Swedish countryside away from people with our own studio, we get to completely immerse ourselves into what we love doing the most – music. Discussing ideas and music is never ego driven for us, it’s rather an excitement towards the greater good – to make the best song possible. That is our goal and ideology. We have a lot of fun with it all because this is what we both want out of life. It’s a satisfying thing!

On that note „Lucifer II“ sees a whole new lineup, apart from yourself of course – if you (would ever) compare it with the debut, how do you feel about the development, of you as a musician, the band and the music itself?

With every album there is a growth as a musician and human being. I am very proud of  “Lucifer I” but “Lucifer II” is certainly a notch up. The sound is more organic and diverse with catchier crafted songs. I feel I have grown quite a bit as a musician but also us, as a band, especially live. Lucifer is a very energetic live band now, which has a lot to do with the great chemistry within the band. We are a very passionate group of friends, minus the toxic ego bullshit that can haunt a band. We all just wanna play and enjoy the ride. Being in the middle of the writing and recording process of “Lucifer III” and can already say, that we will continue the spirit of “Lucifer II”, possibly a notch up once again. Watch out!

top notch on stage and off

Do you think that your moving to Sweden will have an influence on the future sound of Lucifer?

Music springs from within one but yes, it’s a blessing to have left city life behind. I lived in huge cities most of my life. Berlin, LA, London. I can tell you that I am relieved to be away from crowded places. Now I have the luxuary of not working a regular job and being able to focus solely on being creative and letting my mind roam free as an artist. And to write for Lucifer together with Nicke, who absolutely shares my musical vision, has already had a big influence on Lucifer’s sound with the second album.

How much of your actual persona can we find in your music? – or to put is this way: are Lucifer & Johanna the same person?

Yes, Lucifer is one very big part of me. Of course there is a whole personal universe outside of the band but I pour my very heart into Lucifer. The lyrics are all very personal, even if metaphoric at times.

Have you ever felt or might even been told that there are certain things you couldn’t (or shouldn’t) do because you are a woman?

Never felt but have been told many times. Of course, I never listened!

What are your thoughts on feminism and do you consider yourself a feminist?

It’s a sad thing this even needs to be talked about but it is very important. I am certainly with feminism. I am woman and have faced sexism in various forms since I walk the earth, like all of us. I take every opportunity to speak up, when I detect the slightest form of patriarchry. May it be just underlying, hidden or being even catered to by other women. It is a very frustrating and unfair thing, so deeply rooted in our society and it is very important to sharpen one’s sensibilty and raise awareness. Take no shit, girls! I am allergic however to the misuse of this whole debacle towards men and to preachery. Speak when it’s necessary!

Aside from sharing the magic on stage, you are also a fan and a Djane – what do you enjoy the most when it comes to music worship?

Oh yes, I am a huge music fan, DJ, record collector and supporter. I love going to shows. I used to put on shows myself, run my own metal club night for nine years. and worked a variety of jobs in the music industry myself. Almost all my friends play music. Music is all I want to be surrounded by ever since. The best is when you put on a record and hear a song that touches you so profoundly or pierces your heart in a way you have to listen to it over again. Or being at a show and it get’s to you so hard, you can’t help but actually shed some tears, yes!

music worship pro level

So much about Lucifer has a great vintage vibe, but your also very active on facebook, instagram etc. what is your personal take on social media?

Actually I recently deactivated my Facebook because it just became too much. I do see social media as a practical tool to get the word out, get to know what’s fresh but mostly to stay in touch with my friends, family and peers all over the world. The down side is being so approachable. I just don’t have time for it, so Facebook had to go!

And finally: Is there anything you’d like to tell the world, specially all the girls out there who are into the dark side of music, like an advice or maybe even „warning“ before they start dancing with the devil?

I encourage you to dance with the devil! It’s been the dance of my life!

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LUCIFER on Twitter

Obscure Sisterhood – Ashtar

11 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by psychorizon in Obscure Sisterhood

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Antiq, Ashtar, Basel, Black Sludge Doom, Celestial, Celtic Frost, Chaos Ritval, Collide, Courtney Love, Czar of Bullets, Deaf Forever, Death Metal, Des siècles qui éternellement séparent le corps mortel de mon âme, Far beyond driven, Feminism, Frederyk Rotter, Gothic Metal, Grunge, Hannes Reitze, Hole, Ilmasaari, Jennifer Finch, L7, Maltrér, Marko Lehtinen, Matthias Edel, Moons, Nadine Lehtinen, Oasis, Obscure Sisterhood, Pantera, Phased, She Was A Witch, shEver, Switzerland, These Nights Will Shine On, Throne Records, Tom Gabriel Fischer, Verheerer, What’s the story morning glory, Witch N

Anyone who loves music as much as I do, knows that feeling when a new song or record or even band gets to you right away. And then there are those tracks and artists you totally fall for at an instant. And this has been the case for me about three years ago with Ashtar and their debut album. A first public declaration of my affection was released on January 3rd 2016. Fast forward to the future and present as it is, I had the honour of interviewing founding member and front woman Witch N. Our virtual dialogue is also the first part to be published for my new series “Obscure Sisterhood”. Reading her answers, I finally found out why the art of Asthar is music to my ears – literally speaking, having had the same female rolemodel/idol as a teen: Courtney Love. 

Ashtar

Nadine, it’s been quite a while since ‘Ilmasaari‘ was released and the new album is finally on the horizon. What can you tell us about the second coming of Ashtar?
We’re working on new songs and plan to enter the studio again in 2019. But at this moment we can’t say anything about a release date. We’re playing some of the new songs live already – so if you want to get a hint how the new album is going to be you need to see us live on stage soon!

Following pretty much all the news regarding Ashtar I know that a lot has changed for Marko and yourself – how much impact does your personal life have on the band?
I suppose you mean our two little kids. Yes, as we are the core of Ashtar, our personal life has of course a big impact. We’ve learned how it is to have a band while having no time at all. We’ve learned a lot about organizing and being creative on command as well. For me personally, having kids make me feel more comfortable with myself. I know better who I am and what is really important in my life. And music is definitely one very important thing in my and Markos life, so we give our best to keep Ashtar going.

You have been a member of Swiss Death/Doom band shEver before the birth of Ashtar – was there any difference in working with just female musicians compared to your current environment?
This is a very delicate question. Yes, I think there is a difference between working with women or men. Though in Ashtar, where I work with my husband, the comparison is not that significant. I played in some other bands with male members too, but I was hardly involved in the songwriting process – I just can say that women seem much more focused and efficient to me, they don’t just sit around and drink beer instead of rehearsing or writing new songs. And I think shEver would never have sounded like we did if there would have been some male members around. By the way, they still exist and have two male members nowadays. Beside that I generally think that women just write different songs with different attitudes and atmospheres.

At what age did you get into heavy music and why (if there is any particular reason at all)?
It depends on the definition of heavy, but I would say when I was about 16 or 17. When I first heard “Far beyond driven” from Pantera I was blown away and curious about more stuff like that. A bit later I got more into Gothic Metal and then into Black and Death Metal. The reason? I was fascinated by the heaviness, the brutality and the beauty at the same time in this kind of music.

MMXIV

You play the bass, guitars, the violin and sing – but what was your first love when it comes to a creative/musical outlet and how old where you?
My first instrument was, like pretty much every child’s, the recorder. Beside playing the children songs I sometimes created my own “songs”. I was 5 or 6 years old. But really creative I got when I learned to play the violin with 8 years. For some years I mainly played classical music until me and my girlfriend decided to start a band when we were 16 – I began to take bass lessons and wrote my own Grunge songs on my guitar.

Have you ever felt like there is anything you couldn’t (or shouldn’t) do because you are a woman?
When I was a little girl I was not allowed to play soccer in a club, because my parents told me that this is not a girl’s sport. And later, with Ashtar, I played a concert while being pregnant in the 7th month. There were men who came to me and told me that this is no good for my child. (BTW: This child is now 3 years old and very healthy. And he loves music!)

Would you consider yourself a feminist and what are your thoughts on feminism?                                                                                                      I would not consider myself a feminist but still many of my opinions are feministic. As long as women don’t have the same rights (or salary) as men I think feminism is very much-needed here. The really extreme forms of feminism I do not appreciate though. Biologically, women and men are not the same and I am really happy that there are differences. 😊 So women and men do not need to be equal in every part of their lives.

What was the first and the most recent record you bought?
The first record I bought from my own money was probably “What’s the story morning glory” by Oasis – when I was 12. The last record? Hmm, I think that was the album “Maltrér” from the German Black Metal band Verheerer.

Studio

What is more fun: Playing or watching a concert?
I love to see bands live, but nothing compares to the feeling when I am on stage myself.

Do you have a musical rolemodel/idol, maybe even a female one?
I had many idols when I was a teenager, especially Courtney Love of Hole or Jennifer Finch of L7. Nowadays my idols are not musicians anymore.

What advice would you give young girls when it comes to picking up an instrument/starting to sing and joining a band?
First you need to master your instrument or voice, like everybody who wants to join a serious band. Then just do what you feel you want to do! Never pretend to be something you aren’t. People will notice sooner or later. And you can only be good when you are true to yourself.

Nowadays it seems like no band/musician will have a chance without Fcebook, Instagram etc. – what is your personal take on social media?
I grew up without social media and I am really grateful for that because I know the “other side” too. I learned to use social media for promoting my bands, so I think they can be really useful. But I think it’s important that we don’t take the number of “likes” as indicator for our success.

And finally: Will you be touring to promote the upcoming new album? Yes, this is our plan: We will give everything to get on the road for at least one or two weeks in Europe. But this will take a while, the album has to be recorded first.

Stage

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