Interview Nephente Netherbird

Lineup: Nephente - Vocals Bizmark (PNA) - Guitars, keyboards

10/22/08 Interviewer: Kate Wilcox

“We don't really try to find a sound that's Netherbird, we have rather a distinct idea of what Netherbird is about.”

Netherbird sprang into life in 2004 in Sweden with an idea to play metal without any kind of limitations. Their first single “Boulevard Black” was released in 2005 and their first EP Blood Orchid was released in 2007 both garnering a lot of attention from the media and labels. While they were promoting their second EP of 2007 Lighthouse Eternal they signed with Pulverized Records and began to write record their latest release The Ghost Collector. Lighthouse was still promoted through the internet while writing material for Ghost Collector. They've included session and guest musicians such as Adrian Erlandsson (At the Gates, The Haunted, Cradle of Filth), Brice LeQlerc (Nightrage, Sol Negro, Dissection), and Janne Saarenpaa (The Crown). There are only good things to come to this extremely talented band, hopefully touring will be in their sights soon. For now, concentrating on their music is what Netherbird is focused on. Nephente took some time out to sit down and chat with me!

Kate: Thank you so much for talking with me, how has the feedback been for Ghost Collector so far?

Nephente: I'm quite humbled by it really, we've been living with this album for so long it's not really a new release so we're happy that it's been so warmly received. Far beyond expected really. I'm really pleased with that. Since we've been writing for so long for the next album we feel quite confident that we can top it. But I really am very surprised and of course quite proud.

Kate: That's awesome. Are you going to be doing another video for this album? I know you did a video for “The Blackest Breed” but are you going to be doing another one?

Nephente: No, not really, I don't think we'll be doing anymore videos. We're just focusing on the next album as far as videos are concerned. We might do a video for an “off” track that isn't on this album or the next one.

Kate: So how did you choose “The Blackest Breed” to be the next video?

Nephente: It was really one of the newest songs, that was the freshest one. One of the other newer songs “Carcass Symphony” was a little bit more technical. This one seemed that it might be a little bit easier to get into, that's why we chose it.

Kate: What inspires you for your lyrics?

Nephente: Hmmm..probably life and existence and self. I try to reflect on things that I see and hear. Stuff I read mostly is what inspires me to actually form my thoughts into lyrics. They're kind of everyday abstract observations, the struggle with being and alive I guess as well. We have rather personal lyrics I suppose for being a metal band. But we try to make them as abstract as possible.

Kate: Who came up with the artwork for the album? It's very original!

Nephente: That's probably because of me and Bizmark, we're both pretty picky with the artistic or visual aspects of the album. None of us are are aspiring artists or anything like that but we're into expressing Netherbird and making something as a complete piece of art. It sounds pretentious I know, (laughs) but we try not to limit ourselves to just the music. A lot of the times we succeed and sometimes we fail, (laughs) but we want to make it work.

Kate: Absolutely, you don't want to be limited, you want to express yourselves the way you want to.

Nephente: Also, to include other people. Artists really get a working title and some basic lyrical themes and then they are free to do their own thing. The creative process really involves more people than just us.

Kate: How do you feel you've progressed over the years as a band?

Nephente: Have we progressed? (Laughs) I certainly hope so, I think we have. We don't really try to find a sound that's Netherbird, we have rather a distinct idea of what Netherbird is about. But I think we've progressed as far as composing is concerned, the musicians are very talented. We learn as we progress what Netherbird is not. Sometimes we don't know where we're going but we know when we're headed in the wrong direction, it's a reversed process sort of. The next album will sound a lot like this one but the writing will probably a lot more focused. I think looking back we do more songs that are a little more to the point as far as composing is concerned.

Kate: Are you guys going to be touring anytime soon?

Nephente: We hope, before we had a rather fluid lineup so we haven't focused on putting Netherbird on a stage but now that we have an album out, we need to build more of a following first in order to make touring possible. When we get the chance we are damn ready to deliver live as well and we're looking forward to it. We see that as the most important step for the band.

Kate: Do you feel like your spreading a certain message with your music or are you trying to?

Nephente: Yeah, I mean, we're honest and sincere with what we do, the lyrics that we write. We write to the people that feel out of place to be in our place. The people who feel out of place are the ones we are writing for.

Kate: Definitely, that's how I felt when I was growing up. I never fit in at school or with the “cool” crowd because I listened to metal and I didn't care. It really is like a family, a community. I love being a part of that niche.

Nephente: And it's worldwide, there's no boundaries in the metal scene. It really is a community.

Kate: Future plans for Netherbird?

Nephente: We're really focused on this album and working on the next album. We're taking some time off to be with family for the holidays but besides that we're working on that and hopefully doing a tour sometime in the near future.

Kate: Any words for your fans?

Nephente: Just thank you for being a part of the metal scene. Feel free to stop by our page and download the releases, we want as many people as possible listening to us (laughs). Thank you again for supporting us and supporting metal!

Kate: Thank you so much for talking with me, Nephente!

Nephente: Absolutely, thank you, it was great talking with you!

We'd like to thank the Netherbird camp for making this interview possible!