| There was a nearly seven year gap between the last full-length album, and this release. What took the band so long to compose Navaz and bring it to their fans? |
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SSOGE:
Though it seems it's about seven years from our previous album Relic Dances, it is not like we were working entire time on the new album. Simply we were supporting the previous album for some time and we were living our lives, you know - weddings, divorces, kids, flats, mortgages, earning money...*smiles* So I guess it is about last two years we put brain to composing and arranging the new material. The album was recorded a year ago and then we were searching for an appropriate label. We succeeded, but the first free slot in Season Of Mist was January 17, 2011. So here we are. *smiles*
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| Do you think that such a long pause between releases may have hurt the band in some way? |
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SSOGE:
Of course it may hurt the band, but it's not our case. We were pretty busy, partly working on the new material, partly on some new projects - we had two-hour gig in our national TV, played a few special gigs together with a folklore music ensemble. Simply there was all the time some challenge to work. And doesn't matter if we were on headlines or not. You know, we have passed it once already. Being awarded Czech Grammy in 2001, I kicked off most of bandmembers. Then there were some people who didn't belive in our future, rumoured we are done. But their jaws dropped hearing the Relic Dances album in 2004... What I want to say is - we are just bunch of enthusiasts, and if we enjoy the music still, there's no reason to be afraid.
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| Before Navaz, you also issued an EP in 2006 entitled Osameli. Where does this stand in the band's discography? Was it a release you guys wanted to put out, or just something for the fans because you knew getting to Navaz would take a lot longer then expected or anything like those examples?
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SSOGE:
Osameli is kind of bonus album. Let me explain. In 2004, recording Relic Dances, we were already thinking about using Czech instead of (or maybe as well as) English. But we had no time to realize that as we were pretty busy and had limited time in recording studio. So it came in 2006 and to tell the truth it was kind of break as we found Czech language fits much better our music than English!
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| Much of Navaz feels like it's meant to be more laid back, yet at the same time often emotional through the music and vocals. Do you feel that this approach to the album was significant for the band, as there were fewer tracks that offered a variety of range from the group?
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SSOGE:
To be honest, we don't think about these matters, we simply make music. *smiles* The only what interests us is our evolution. You know, we try to look towards the fusion of our folk music and rock/metal, actually that's what we like and want to do. But yet, there are some things that have changed - our male singer uses clean vocal much more, we used plenty of choirs recording Navaz contrary to our previous albums. And - no doubt about that - we are more experienced once again.
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| Considering that the album felt more emotionally driven then anything else, was there a specific concept to the recording, or were these all songs based on random elements of the Moravian folklore?
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SSOGE:
There is a concept, but only lyrical one. All lyrics were written by Hanka, our female vocalist, and there is a theme that connects them - respect for nature and female cult. As for music, you know, most of material was composed at our home, me playing acoustic guitar and Hanka playing piano and singing, just jamming without restraint. So if there is any musical concept, it is probably our subconsciousness... *smiles*
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| When you were writing the material, were these songs that came naturally to you, such as from pre-existing knowledge from tales told to you by family, or did you have to go and reference things from books that cover that folklore for inspiration to these songs? Furthermore, what were some of the inspirations for the material on this recording?
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SSOGE:
Yes, it came naturally, as always. You know, we go from folk-memory, culture and heritage of our ancestors. You can find folklore motifs as well as verbal folk literature motifs in our music and lyrics. As for making music, it's like I said before. As for lyrics - at first Hanka had to read tons of books, you know kind of legends, myths, Slavic encyclopedias and stuff like that, because she is very conscientious being teacher of Czech language. She uses to write lyrics that result of the oldest ideas of man about the world around. So we go back to pagan times, when man lived in step with nature, revered a female cult and met nymphs in the wood.
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| Out of all the tracks, "Slava" and "Dva Stíny Mám" really seemed to be the ones that changed the formula of the album around, though the second was clearly heavier and more dynamic. Why is that? |
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SSOGE:
As for "Slava", in the beginning it was just fun kind of "we can do easily what those Korpiklaani styled folk-metal acts do" and it was funny how quickly it became a hit playing it live. To tell the truth there are people, especially here in Czech Republic, who think we should never use this song for the new album. But who cares! *smiles* As for "Dva stiny mam", arrangement was completely different at first, but when I heard that guitar riff played by my new guitar fellow Mirek Petrek, I just said "ok, let's do some metal". I really appreciate his work and look forward to our co-operation and his contribution in future.
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| After listening to Navaz from start to finish, it really feels like much of these songs are just tracks that one may literally hear being sung by a campfire in the time the folklore they are based on occurs. Has the band ever given thought to doing an unplugged release, such as acoustic and time period-sensitive instruments, live or in the studio? I'd Bandally love to see a live recording of some of the band's more powerful material captured. |
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SSOGE:
As I said before, we use to compose most of songs just playing acoustic guitar and piano, so it is quite easy to make arrangement for complete acoustic performance. Actually, we are in the process just now as we prepare for the special live gig in Czech public radio in May. Completely acoustic, with dulcimer and all other folkish instruments. If it's possible, we will shoot the performance. We are looking forward!
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| Are there any actual plans for a DVD or CD, even both, of a performance by the band, especially since this is now your fifth full-length release? |
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SSOGE:
Why not? But as we are pretty ambitious concerning the artistic side of view, we have to make it a point to do a really good DVD. So, we are not in a hurry actually. |
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| The band has appeared on a few Tribute albums, such as to bands like Led Zeppelin and White Zombie. Has the group been approached for any newer tribute releases? |
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SSOGE:
Actually not. You know, it was a fine experience, especially Led Zeppelin 'cause I love the band, but to be honest, I'm glad that "tribute hype" is over. Nevertheless, we play "Kashmir" live as bonus from time to time. Or Dead Can Dance's "Cantara".
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| The band has also won two "Award of Czech music academy" awards in the timespan of it's career. Do you think Navaz stands a chance at winning a third?
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SSOGE:
To tell the truth we don't expect anything. We do music for we love music. If there is any award for us, fine, but it means nothing comparing with we recorded another fine album and finally found a big and respectable label like Season Of Mist.
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| Do you think the music recorded was in any way influenced by these prestigious awards? |
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SSOGE:
Nope. You know, these awards helped us very pleasantly. We played at the biggest Czech open-airs, had gig in a national TV, lot of inties in a major mags, but you know what - all flesh is grass. We simply still go our way, not looking out for what others do or say.
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| What do the touring plans to support Navaz look like for the band is any exist? Are you planning to make a trip out the United States for it? |
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SSOGE:
Of course we would like to support our new album live as much as possible, I guess Season Of Mist are negotiating with some booking agencies just now, so we'll see. We'll keep you updated through our myspace/twitter/facebook profiles and our website www.ssoge.com. Stay tuned! |
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| Are they also any plans to do a music video for anything on this release? If not, what track would you like to see be made into a video and why? |
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SSOGE:
Actually yes, just now we are in the process of making a video. We chosen "Skryj hlavu do dlani" song. As its length is about more than seven minutes, we have to make an edit version of course, so I'm in contact with Roland Grapow and we discuss that. The storyline is connected with the lyrics, so it seems to be magical and atmospheric, I'm really looking forward to see that! |
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| With Navaz out on store shelves for a brief while now, are you happy with the album, and the response that it is receiving? Is there anything now that you wish you did different back during the recording sessions?
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SSOGE:
Yes, as always, with the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say "I could do it better", but it's simply done... And that's right, we did our best and I will always love the album like my child, with all its beauty and deficiencies. As for responses, they are pretty fine. To tell the truth we were little bit tense as Navaz is our first album released worldwide, so for most of fans and journalists it's the first contact with our music. But they like it what makes us very happy!
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| Thank you for your time, and hopefully all goes well in support of Navaz. |
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SSOGE:
Thank you for the support. Dive into the stream, listen to the elegy!
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