Interview Alexey, Dima et Gojko

Hi guys, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. First of all, how was the concert?

Alexey (vocals): It was awesome, really, we didn't expect so much support from the fans.

Dima (bass): the sound was great, the crowd was great; actually, each time that we play in Switzerland it surprises us, because the people here are full of energy.

A.: And they understand our music, our style. Also, I would like to say that the organization was really cool.

D.: Yeah, the atmosphere was great, there was friendship between all the bands, so that was really cool. We don't have that very often.

What's the story of Welicoruss? How did it start?

A.: In 2002, when I was still a student, I wanted to do what a lot of boys or girl do at this age, I wanted to have my own band. Actually, I didn't know exactly what I wanted to play, but I already had a name [Welicoruss ed.] and then I made a few demos, through which I got a good experience with composition, but it was a one-man-band. And then in 2007, I found some guys who wanted to play with me. So we began to have rehearsals and play live concerts. After this, we released two albums, the first one, "Wintermoon Symphony" in 2008 and then "Apeiron" in 2009. We then got to tour in Russia and after five years, I decided to move to Prague; I asked my bandmates to come with me. But they said that they couldn't because of the problems and changes that it would involve. So I moved alone (with my wife) and soon met new guys, with whom I got on really well and that's how the actual band was born.

And where does the name "Welicoruss" come from?

A.: This name actually comes from history. I first read it in a history book from Tchernychevski [russian revolutionary writer, ed.]. It was the name of a part of the Russian territory centuries ago. But the meaning we give to the name is more like "Finntroll".

Gojko (guitar): Yeah, and there's also the fact that, back in that time, the "welicoruss" were revolutionaries and we wanted also to have that meaning you know, like we want to kind of make a revolution in music.

A.: Yeah a cultural and musical revolution. For example, if you listen to our lyrics, you'll hear that we try to put a lot of sense into them.

G: Yes, the name actually has nothing to do with geographical or political stuff, we have nothing to do with any associations; it's just music, you know.

So that's why you choose to sing in Russian, to contribute to this "revolution" you wish to make?

A.: No, no. Actually, it's because it's our native language and we wanted to write in the language in which we are thinking. But actually, we have no real borders: now, with us touring a lot across whole Europe, we want people to be able to understand what we say, and so that's why in our last album, you can hear some songs in english.

Talking about Russian language, what does "Az Esm'" mean?

A.: Az Esm' means "I am", "I exist", it means the state of mind where people realize that they are a part of the universe. It actually has a very complicated meaning, a kind of esoteric, occult meaning and it took me a lot of time to write this text. But still, it's really important for me, because every human being once goes through this in their life and that's what I wanted to communicate.

Quite complex indeed. And all your songs are written that way? What's the process of writing in the band?

A.: At first, I wrote all music and lyrics by myself. Sometimes one of the guys suggested some little changes but that was all. As for "Az Esm'", we wrote it all together and it was really difficult to start. But we finally started to make new songs like: I have something in my mind and I try to make music around it. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Then I share it with the guys and we work on it together. That is why this album is totally different in its meaning and conception.

G.: I think, the main point when we compose is that we don't have a precise goal. I mean, we don't say that it should sound like this or that, it's just something that happens from the inside. Also, on the last album, Alexey worked a lot with his wife, which is quite different from writing everything alone.

A.: Yes, my wife helped a lot with the lyrics and the artwork. The main drawing was done by her.

As for the symphonic parts that are really important in your music, do you work with a real orchestra?

G.: Luckily no!

[laughs]

A.: I dream about it, but you know, it's really expensive and very hard 'cause you're not only working with your bandmates, but with a lot more people.

G.: And also, for my experience, as I worked a lot in studio, working with a real orchestra requires you to be very very experienced. Because unfortunately, most of the time a real orchestra won't sound as good as samples.

A.: Still, I think that in the future we will do this, because, you know, we live in Prague and that's where all famous metal bands that recorded with a real orchestra came. So definitely we'll try to make something out of this.

During the past year, you've been coming quite a lot to Switzerland (eight times since March 2015). Why did you choose this particular country?

A.: Because you have a lot of good fans, you know. We travelled a lot in all Europe, but it's not in every place that people understand our music. But here, in Switzerland, they do understand what we are doing.

D.: Also I think that, somehow, the metal culture is more developed in Switzerland than in other countries, because before I thought that Germany was the one country for metal music. Maybe it used to be. Now it still is but for like, more extreme metal, like pure black metal and stuff.

G.: Also, Switzerland is really well located geographically, so almost each time we travel around Europe we pass through it anyway.

Ok, so now that we've been talking about touring and all, what is your best memory with the band, guys?

G.: Almost every day!

[laughs]

I think, for me, there are two best memories: first of all, the day I met Alexey. I had come to Prague to find a band, because I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. I wanted to study at the Musical University of Prague [AMU, ed.], because it's the best in the world, but I didn't like it. Because the guys were just like robots, you know and it was the first time in my life that I totally doubted that I would ever be a professional musician. And that's the moment I met Alexey and it became the most important day of my life. And the second one, I guess would be... the growls of our drummer.

[laughs]

Because I'm really starting to like him going like "Bwaaaaaaah!"

A.: He's f***ing crazy! Sometimes we think that he's from another planet.

[laughs]

D.: For me, one of the most exiting memory is the Exit Festival in Serbia. It was really awesome, because there was a lot of metal fans there, with a great stage, a good sound and suddenly, we weren't expecting it at all, but they started a fire show onstage while we were playing. So we were like stunned because we were headbanging and suddenly we felt a big heat coming and as I looked up to the audience I saw that there were some flames coming up from the stage!

A.: As for me, my best memory would also be the moment we met each other because, you know, it was some kind of magic. It worked out really quickly, I found all the guys in just a few months and we began really quickly to rehearse and play everywhere. And since then, every day brings something new, I cannot really find something in particular, all days with those guys are amazing.

The final word is yours:

A.: We would like to thank our fans and all the people who support us, because for us it's really important. Playing in so many countries is amazing and we hope that people who will attend our concerts will have fun with us.