Nera - NeraNature
Interview by Ed MacLaren
When your day job is vocalist for one of Poland’s premier symphonic black metal bands it can be a challenge to follow your muse and indulge many of your own interests within the structure and dynamic of a metal band. So after 10 years co-fronting Darzamat, Nera has decided to spread her wings with an intense and striking debut solo album, "Foresting Wounds". The project – called NeraNature – explores her own personal and musical maturation outside the metal genre while bringing her sultry vocals front and center. Nera spoke to Femme Metal about the genesis of NeraNature and "Foresting Wounds", the personal nature of the album and working on her own for the first time.
"Foresting Wounds" is a major musical departure for you when compared to your work with Darzamat. What got you interested in doing a solo album in the first place? Was it an outlet for your musical ideas or a reflection of part of your personality that didn’t quite fit the Darzamat mold?
You are absolutely right. Both these reasons made me go further in my pursuit of myself. In some moment of life you just realize that something has changed in you, that your point of view is different and some changes can't be avoided. The thought of going beyond the framework of metal accompanied me for some time. This was a natural way of maturing, both as a woman and as a musician. I felt it was time for something new, more personal, more female, less aggressive. This way the idea of revealing a new face of myself, which is more mature and conscious was born. It was like a sudden perception of other worlds you haven't seen so far. It's like if you suddenly heard so far drowned voices in your head. It probably happens to people who keep in touch with their inside and follow their intuition.
After almost 10 years of working as part of a band, how did it feel to step out with a solo project?
On the one hand, it’s a big challenge because you start from scratch and you cannot follow the beaten paths. On the other hand, you feel that you can go in completely new directions because you don’t have anything to prove to anyone... so it's hard, but also pleasant. (Laughs)
"Foresting Wounds" moves away from Darzamat’s symphonic black metal sound towards more streamlined gothic rock. The album is very atmospheric at times but can turn up the volume when it needs to – a very strong and memorable first solo effort. How did you think the album turned out? Did it meet your expectations?
As already mentioned, the idea of going beyond the metal music sprouted in me some time ago and I had too many different ideas about how this album should sound or what form should it take. Luckily, my friend and the producer of this album, helped me out and took it upon himself the responsibility to embrace the whole material and give it a final touch. I'm happy with this album, but as usual, I think this and that could have been done better. The bottom line is that it saw the light of day, and I already started to think about the next one.
The album is musically very different from what we’re used to hearing from you but the music complements your voice and attitude in a very natural manner. Did you purposely want to record something that would contrast your work with Darzamat?
Yes, this album was made consciously and with a clear idea it wasn't going to be metal, but rock music. The album is a concept of an adult woman who wonders about life, relationships with others, her choices and fears. These are ideas which can't be expressed freely in metal music, so I needed some other space to smuggle my thoughts.
The tone of "Foresting Wounds" is very feminine in perspective. Do you think that comes as a direct reaction to fronting a band of guys for such a long time? Are you reconnecting with yourself with this album?
I feel great in the role I play in Darzamat, but like I said, I needed some fresh air, an insight into the soul, more subtleness ... Maybe all those years spent in the world of metal left some important need unsatisfied? Maybe now I have to balance the light and darkness? (Laughs)
What was your lyrical approach to creating "Foresting Wounds"? Did you have something specific you wanted to say?
I think we're a bit lost in the world that significantly accelerated its pace. Striving for prosperity, not always we hear our own thoughts, not always we act according to our own beliefs, not always we're able to spend quality time with our loved ones... and finally, what I'm emphasizing on the album "Foresting Wounds" – we’re losing our bond with nature, and thus with ourselves – that was the main idea of the album.
You’re an animal rights activist and a vegetarian as well. What impact did your lifestyle have on your writing on this album?
I expect that many people associate music with freedom, especially when it comes to rock music. Therefore, I believe that it’s a canvas on which you paint any pictures. Besides, I think that people loving rock music are a bit rebellious and this means that they don’t live thoughtlessly and, which I hope, they don't uncritically accept what is around them. That's how I see the world, with more likely sensitivity ...
How important was Chris – your bandmate in Darzamat – to the project? How was he able to help bring your vision for "Foresting Wounds" to life?
Chris was the first person with whom I began to work on a new project and most of the material was based on music by Chris. When our paths parted, the greatest support for me was Jarosław Toiffl, who produced this album. I appreciate Chris for his skills as a composer and I’m grateful to him for his contribution to "Foresting Wounds" but our visions were different, so we decided not to continue the cooperation.
Was your working relationship any different on this album than on a Darzamat project?
The idea for the band was mine from the beginning and throughout the working period I tried to control the situation. But I have to admit that I wouldn't have made it without some advice and help from my friends and I’m very grateful to them.
Your vocals on "Foresting Wounds" are so haunting and the subtle melancholy in your voice will draw listeners directly into the music. You used your voice much differently here than your vocals with Darzamat. Was this album an opportunity to experiment and expand your vocal skills in the same manner you’ve stretched your personal lyrical and musical boundaries?
Apart from expressing my thoughts, that was exactly my intention – to experiment, to get lost in a completely new world. Doing something in the same set and atmosphere does not give you a great opportunity to spread your wings. Therefore, leaving the well-known place is a great challenge. You can stumble and fail, but you have to expose yourself to new experiences if you don’t want to trot on the spot and if you want to give yourself a chance to explore your own possibilities.
It’s great to hear your voice up right up front in the mix for a change. Did you learn anything making this album that you’re going to take back to Darzamat?
Probably all the experiences that we carry in ourselves make up our personality, so who knows! (Laughs) Darzamat has a different style, so it requires other means of expression, but as I said: there are things that are elusive to our consciousness.
"Foresting Wounds" experiments with a lot of different styles and tempos. Tracks like "Woman’s Soul" and "Someone" tug at your emotions while others like "Shattered", "Precious Now" and "Oblivion" showcase a more aggressive musical posture. Because this was a solo effort, did you want to show listeners as much of you as possible?
I didn't record the album thinking about listeners. I only listened to myself to convey the thoughts and emotions accumulated in me over the years. The music was the beginning and then the idea of what the lyrics were going to be about appeared. The song "Someone" was made just a few days before the deadline and I wanted it to close the album, as the song brings a new quality compared to the rest of the music. And it is a new opening for further development, I hope.
Is there a track on the album that you think best represents your intentions as a solo artist?
I think my favorite one is "Precious Now" - it's about how fast and in a slapdash manner we live. After my dad's death I just realized how fragile we really are and how often we're too stupid to enjoy our lives. We usually look back or plan the future while the moment we live can be the last we have.
You do an excellent cover of Garbage’s "World is Not Enough" on the album. What was it about the song that made it a good fit within the context of the other songs?
Actually I wasn't looking for a song to fit the rest. I just decided to deal with something completely new as this is the first time I’m covering someone else's song. I'm not a big fan of the band Garbage because it's not quite my favorite style. Still I think that "The World is Not Enough" is simply fantastic.
Shirley Manson of Garbage is one fiercely independent and outspoken woman. When Garbage first came up there weren’t a lot of strong female front women and role models in rock music. Was there a similar situation in metal when you joined Darzamat in the early 2000s?
There were already well-known names like Doro Pesch, Sabina Classen and Anneke van Giersbergen. But it was more or less in 2000 when the number of women on the metal scene began to grow and another great names were brought to light: Cristina Scabbia, Sharon den Adel, Angela Gossow and more.
How do you think the environment has changed since then? Are women in the metal scene more empowered now? Are there any more biases or stereotypes that still need to be broken? (I notice in all your stage pics you’re wearing pants – no corsets and skirts for you)
I think that the fundamental change is probably the fact that women in metal found their place and I hope that the so-called "true metal heads" will also take note of this diversity of gender in the heavier genres of music. And as far as pants, I must admit I love comfort more than anything – in this respect I’m not a typical woman – I don't need to be a shiny girl to feel good and feminine. What's more -the little scout in me allowed me to survive many difficult moments for a woman on the road ...
Do you have any advice for young women who want to step behind the mic and front a band?
First of all they should give it a try and not only sit in front of the screen commenting on others lives. There is always the first step and you need to take it at the beginning of any journey.
Are you planning on touring behind "Foresting Wounds" while Darzamat is on hiatus?"Foresting Wounds" would translate very well live.
I’m not going touring, but definitely we would like to appear here and there with our music as I would really like to present it live.
How about a quick update on Darzamat and its activities right now?
We decided to have a break until our projects (NeraNature and Mastiphal) are out. They're out now, so we can start returning to Darzamat. We've got some new ideas, so probably the band will be back soon with a new album.
(Famous) Last words?
"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" - Elvis Costello
Latest Multimedia
Photo Credit
All Nera's photos by Stanley McNoley
Links
NeraNature : MySpace - Facebook - Site
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