The Lodge @ Mortiis Interview

Mortiis
an interview with himself

When we spoke last summer, you told me you were seeking a new label for your main project and that you were about to craft a new video; but for what I have read recently you have a new contract and an album scheduled to be released this summer, so tell me all about your last assessments regarding Mortiis, why have you decided to suddenly leave Cold Metal Industry and if the initiative about the new video has been materialized to some extent.
Well, no video has happened as of yet. And quite frankly, I think it might be a little while before it happens (unless something unexpected occurs).
I decided to leave Cold Meat Industry, basically because I wanted to see if I could climb a few levels, something the label wouldn't be financially able to help out with, unfortunately.
Regarding latest decisions, I'm not really sure, I've made some, but they're not really official yet. Obviously it's noteworthy that I released The Stargate through Earache.

I'd say that your last two efforts have been quite remarkable, judging from the characteristic of their musical progression. Although Keiser av en Dimension Ukjent was previously a step ahead of Anden Som Gjorde Opprør, Crypt of the Wizard really marked a distinction between the 20 minutes-songs of its predecessors, letting possibly the legacy of upcoming Mortiis’ material transpire. So what can be expected from a musical standpoint on The Stargate?
I don't know if you've heard The Stargate yet. I'd say it's a giant step from Crypt of the Wizard. Yes, we did incorporate a whole lot of vocals on this one. I worked together with Sarah Jezebel Deva as a matter of fact, which turned out to be a very fruitful collaboration.

"I've spent enough time in this world. Now I can enter the dimension - still - unknown to all mortal fools (…) I can see the black castle clearer now. I can also see the paths that lead to it." (Taken from the lyric of Keiser av en Dimension Ukjent). Reading the lines above, I wanted to know about your vision of this higher dimension and what lies afar the path that leads to the black citadel (I guess it will be a spiritual continuum and a possible anaemic catharsis, but I yearn you to reveal me your own mental picture).
I think my best answer to that would be for you to read Secrets of my Kingdom, when it gets out. It is the book the world seems to not want. It is always delayed (this time until February). It will be released by Earache, in a box containing the book and also The Stargate CD.
Mortiis is an alter ego; the world/universe of Mortiis sort of functioned as some sort of religious afterlife substitute for popular religions... I really don't always know. At the end of the day, I realized that it is all in my mind and the human mind really is a universe in itself and you cannot expect to find all the answers you seek. I am comfortable with the fact that Mortiis is my alter ego, my essence, we are one and the same and in that sense, Mortiis will always be there, as long as I am there. In a nutshell, however, it's basically all the symbolism and reflections of my earthly self. It took me a long time to realise that.

You alleged that Mortiis (the spirit) came from a different plane and has chosen your body to channel his visions from his world and consequently after your mortal verve would fade, he would return to his realm; when you were an element of Emperor, your alias was Emperor Mortiis, so would I be accurate to say that roughly at about that time (or perhaps earlier) was when the "spirit" started providing you with his own visions from his world, progressing further on your single development? And since you have more than one musical project, would you say that you have moreover different spiritual "visits", in order to distance both concepts and music from each of your individual efforts?
Firstly, I decided to terminate all other projects in favour of Mortiis. I wanted to spend more time with Mortiis, trying to make that the best that I could make of it. I think that for the first time this will be noted on my next release (whenever that may be). The "possession by an alien spirit" theory that I had a few years ago, was just one of many theories I had about Mortiis, back when I was really trying to find an answer to it. I don't believe in that theory anymore, I know some lyrics tend to pan in that direction, but as I said above, I realised that a lot of it was "'subconscious" symbolism from my part, which is bizarre, in that I looked so hard to find that which was always right underneath the surface, right in front of me: the fact that we're one and the same and not two different personalities or beings. The fact that I had more than one project, was because seeing that I saw Mortiis as a very otherworldly creature (and in a way it still is), I didn't want to use Mortiis for topics that for example Vond would deal with (suicide, atrocities, anxiety, etc.). I think that I just really acted out my humanity with those projects and withheld it with Mortiis. These days, I have found ways to bypass a lot of those problems. It's a lot easier too, seeing that I have come to a much larger insight as to whom and what Mortiis really is to me.

I'd say that your first three full-length releases are allied (concept-wise); Born to Rule, The Rebellious Spirit and Emperor of a Dimension Unknown (which are the names of the records translated to English, in chronological order), gave me the inkling of the existence of a certain spirit, as he originally was born to the dimension (or world), rebelled against it and ultimately achieved wisdom and supremacy from that upheaval. Do you agree with this "premise" about your concept? Furthermore, would The Song of a Long Forgotten Ghost resemble the "announcement" of what was to appear in upcoming releases (like if the old spirit was to reborn for the dimension, or world and consequently rebelled in opposition to it)?
Well, I always thought that one of the (if not the) purposes of art (in whatever form you want) was for the individual to interpret it on his, or her own terms, meaning to understand and look at it the way you personally prefer. Having that said, I don't really want to ruin anything by disclaiming what you just said. However, basically, I agree with you! Those records "walk the same lines", so to speak. The demo really has nothing to do with it; the title might be misleading to some, but that's the way it is. The Stargate is more or less a direct continuance of these records also.

One thing I actually appreciated on Keiser av en Dimension Ukjent was your sampled voice, which adds to the music a more otherworldly sense, particularly on the homonymous track; why have you decided to work that way for the album and in view of the fact that we're chatting about "recording processes", tell me about the "trek" of recording an album - ever since the initial tune you come up with till the finishing master; is it a stressful or a plain usual mission?
On Keiser av en Dimension Ukjent there are no samples. The voices you hear are my own. I did the choir parts live in the studio. We did use samples of my voice on my first album though (but no one seems to notice these things).
The song-writing process varies a lot; I can't even remember how I did it, back in the days of the 25-minutes songs. I think what I did was that I came up with different parts and pieces and pretty much worked them out in my head (I didn't have any recording equipment back then) and put each part down on paper. Since I didn't know how to write notes (and still don't and never will) I called them by numbers and put each sound belonging to each part after the number, in different colours. I even put down what type of reverb I wanted on each instrument, etc. These days I just experiment, since I have equipment to record with now. I basically come up with a lead, or just a part and build up the song, or piece (part) around that - usually the song turns out different from what I imagined it would turn in the first place.

Your whole aesthetic is incredibly imaginative and revealing of your own concept and music; how did you come up with such vision and all its adornments (clothes and the like)? Was it a "divine disclosure", or was it further an unassuming thing? Will your outline remain alike in the future and, just for nosiness, will you ever ditch these grim characterizations?
As I said, I am Mortiis and there is no getting away from that. I do not change with or without the attributes - it really doesn't matter. I don't clearly remember how I came up with it; it's actually very obscure and I think it was a very spontaneous result of wanting to be someone different from the rest. Hopefully it was just a natural thing to do, as I do consider myself to be quite different from others, on certain aspects. Obviously, as I change and develop as a person, so will Mortiis. So there's always room for progress, change and evolution. I think everything about The Stargate is a 'living' proof of that.

Earlier you told me that Mortiis was simply a single development, but you thought of the initiative to incorporate an outside presence in it (if I remember properly, in the vocal area). Why has this not been materialized yet? Is the plan still unbolting?
Whoa, dated question alert! I used Sarah, as well as two other guys on The Stargate and I am touring with Sarah and two newly recruited drummers and percussion players. So I definitely brought other people in. I think it just reached a point where I (luckily) realised that if I wanted to bring it to the next level, I was going to have to add some people to the project.

In your epoch with Karmanik's label, you played fairly successful shows overseas (especially in America), but I presume that they did not turn out as you'd like; so tell me me about the way you'd like to perform with your music and was thorny (or painful) for you to be in front of a crowd?
We just came of a 28-date US and Canada tour, which, in retrospect, I think was rather successful. We do have a fairly cool stage show these days and it went down well with the crowd - especially considering that The Stargate wasn't even out at the time, so no one had heard any of the music we played live. We're currently looking to tour Europe next year and hopefully this should also include Portugal. I think it's really one of those things you need to see. All I can say is that it's really based on theatrics and visual shit (quite bizarre). The earlier US shows and most of the European shows I did "solo" were pretty much bullshit, as far as I'm concerned and we've come a long way since then.

- What would you say about Vond, Fata Morgana, Cintecele Diavolui and possibly other assignment you might have spawned in this interim? Has something happened about your probable musical association with Gunther and Daoloth (from Ancient Rites and Necromantia, correspondingly)? Tell me also about your involvement with Mr. Karmanik.
I helped Roger with a string section for the title track to Necrose Evangelicum, no big deal. It was a simple piece that went along with the Brighter Death Now sound he generates and there's nothing else going on. As I said, all those projects are dead.
The project with Gunther probably never happened. I made some stuff, which, in retrospect, I can't imagine they could work with, it wasn't even music, so I don't see how they could put decent guitars or music on it. Those songs appeared as the last 3 songs on the Cintecele Diavolui CD, with added voices by me.

Last question (in three parts):
- What is your estimation about Armageddon and the new millennium and a possible arrival of a third anti-Christ (are you in agreement that Ragnarok is more a figurative pretext for humans to lay their uncertainties upon)?Obviously, Armageddon will arrive; no planet lasts forever. I don't necessarily think it will be caused by the wrath of God though. Religions have always used fear as their greatest weapon to keep people in check, religious and god-fearing. We're herding animals, man, we need guidance and it's frightening.
- Might the Internet create a probable bond with Dark Dungeon Music? The Internet is a great medium for quick and cheap communication, information and so forth. Dark Dungeon Music is no more active as a record label; however, mail-order is still active, so people can still go and have a look at that, as well as the general Mortiis site.
- What are your plans in a short term (is the book ready to be released yet)? Work on new music and tour Europe, release the book in February and probably more, but that's still not official.

www.mortiis.com

© 2000 The Lodge

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