The Lodge @ Profanum Interview

Profanum
an interview with Geryon

Tell us how are you feeling today and what have you been doing recently?
At the moment I feel a bit tired, it's a fucking hot summer evening. I've been tattooing all day long, now I have a lot of strictly philosophical stuff to write, so it's a real pleasure now to answer these questions... What have we been doing recently? Exactly nothing. Profanum is off at the moment, but in the months to come, I'll have a big enterprise to finish, if every thing goes well...

I can imagine that the music you're playing now is a result of a growth process. How is your style different now when compared to what you imagined at the start?
Oh, it is completely different from what I had in my mind nine years back. If at the beginning someone would tell me what kind of sound I would create, I would probably laugh at him. At the start we used to create very obscure, primitive Black Metal soundscapes, inspired mostly by very early Samael... You know, sounds in the vein of Mystifier, Rotting Christ, Varathron, Massacre... Well, maybe not exactly, but something this way. In fact, we've been not able to play anything else, because of lack of any musician skills. The very first rehearsal tapes are so fucking shitty, that one could only smile while listening... Aller Anfang ist schwer. As the time passed by, we changed, grew up, and with the development of personality came the development of music. As a person, I am very curious of everything new, different, strange... I'm very open-minded, one could say, so all the stuff I used to listen to, influenced me in one way or other. When Profanum started, we listened only to Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, you know, bands from the 80s and underground Black Metal from the early 90s. Then I discovered the greatness of classical music, I discovered the underground Industrial, Ambient scene and the experimental, avantgarde music in general and this music changed my life. The same goes for the lyrical context. However, this is a more personal topic, and I couldn't tell exactly what the lyrics are about, it demands personal interpretation and their meaning may be totally subjective. The style of our music is completely different at the moment, we do not use any drums, any guitars, we do not play Metal music at all; instead, we use drum machine, samples, synthesizers, but that is only the 'technical' side. It changed in the meaning of structure and composition and in the meaning of emotions of the music as well.

When you were writing and recording Musaeum Esotericum, did you have a mental image of how the album as a whole would flow, or did you record the songs first and then concern yourself with arranging them on the album later?
You know, while I am making the music, I always "hear it"' in my mind, I have some vision how it should sound like, but that is just some kind of inner energy. I have some expectations towards the sound, but how the final result will be, it is always unknown until the song is done. It is always a new experience; each song is a discovery of a new unknown land. Each time there appears something I would never expect. It would be not possible to have the whole album's concept, each sound and beat in mind before recording, no, however the general shape is always present, as I said, I have the vision and I create sounds which fits to this vision. By the way, the Musaeum Eesotericum recording session was very short, well, maybe a couple of days of creating and recording music, without any rehearsing before of, so...

So it's apt to say there is a lot of room for improvisation in studio while recording the material; does this creative process come easily for you, or is it usually something that you have to struggle with?
Yes, of course. There is a lot of improvisations in our music. The whole process of construction is a bit like an improvisation, nothing is constant, and nothing is sure. During the making of a track, almost everything is possible; every idea can be concerned and accepted. We have no limits. When I start making a new track, I usually have some ideas in mind as I said, but the final result is the effect of free creation and improvisation. Of course it must be coherent with the whole concept. The creative process comes rather easily, however it demands special inner energy, I couldn't just go and record an album at the moment, well, that would be possible, but that would effect in a crapulous album, I guess. Doing something fine demands spirit, inspiration, passion, inner pain to express... When the pain cumulates inside, it must explode one day, and this day is the creative day if you know what I mean.

Are you a critic of your own music? I mean, do you listen on a regular basis to your own CDs and enter the same mood you had back then when they were recorded or written?
No, never. I hardly ever listen to my CDs, mostly they sound boring and ridiculous to me, I see too many mistakes and errors, things I could've done thousand times better. So I am critical towards my music. It never satisfies me completely; shortly after the recording, I feel the thing I've done is 'beyond' me, it does not fulfil my needs and expectations, and that is why I still have something to do better, I always have to make a step forward, to be a better composer, better musician, better as a person. In fact I do not understand how people can listen to the music I make (laughs)!

Profanum's music comes to me as a sort of discharge of energies in the sense it feels you're casting away all these vibes and different moods; would it be safe to assume that the music of Profanum has been somewhat therapeutic for you?
I think I can agree with you, there's some kind of catharsis... When I'm full of different emotions and thoughts, I have to find the way to throw them away, to express them. I can't say it's therapeutic for me, as it never solves the depressions - it is rather some kind of scream.

Would you say there's a Black Metal influence to your sound nowadays? It's interesting, because in some ways what you're doing has many ties to the Black Metal genre and your first releases were a living proof of that, but the final product and the latest album comes off as something totally ahead of its predecessors - and in fact quite different. How do you imagine the forthcoming material and would you say the starting point for Profanum derives from Metal music, or rather classical, instrumental ideas?
No, there is certainly no Black Metal (or Metal at all) in our music. Metal is to be played on a Rock set, with drums, plus guitars - it is to be violent and fast. Profanum is completely different from this, so I would never call it Black Metal (even if the lyrical side is closer to this). And the lyrics are the only possible link to Black Metal. Yes, the first demo and the debut album are Black Metal (no doubt), but since the day we released Profanum Aeternum, this hasn't been a Black metal band anymore, musically speaking.

Why did you take three years since your last record to release Musaeum Esotericum and what was the reason behind all this waiting? Did you by any means felt musically speechless, or does this never occur to you?
The band did not exist all this time. Yes, one could say I felt speechless, having nothing interesting to express. After Profanum Aeternum I thought I would never record anything for Profanum anymore, so I decided to put the band to end. I felt empty. I didn't need three years to compose an album, but I needed three years to have time to think of it, to acumulate the emotions... And all that time I was playing in Witchmaster, it was my priority band since then.

I think your music is very visual and provokes great amounts of images on the listener's mind. On a review I did for the Musaeum Esotericum CD, I wrote the following statement: "this is a memory of the pompous and archaic times when the dim candlelight's danced in rouge chambers illuminating the faces belonging to aristocrats smoking their envious cigars. Or even the path to a long stairway that leads to the mysterious underworld where ceremonial preparations are being conceived and still adjusting its amorphous form with the waving of the fire. Then, all of a sudden, a gigantic wave of wind enters the room and makes all the candles burst into flames and set ablaze the entire palace. Other bedrooms are yet to be visited and this could just be a minor and pretty unconvincing image brought to me while listening to these tunes." Does this description correspond in any way with your own mental thoughts about Profanum's music?
Yes, I agree that Profanum's music is visual. Sometimes I think that it could be, just like Wagner's music, an illustration for Disney's cartoon movies. You're not the very first person to whom Profanum's sounds remind a walk through strange palaces lightened by candles, where bizarre aristocrats reside... In fact, that is what the lyrics talk about. Back to the visualization of our music, now I am working on some picture with Profanum's music, but nothing is sure yet, as it is a fucking hard enterprise. Maybe I will fail.

What is the artist or person you most admire and the person you would most like to hurt (state your reasons)?
I respect every non-conformist individual, who's brave enough to live his own vision of existence. I do not worship or blindly follow any person, but yes, there are some people who impressed me much. Well, Salvador Dali, Ludwig Wittgenstein, H.R. Giger, Wien's body-artists, some serial killers as well... I do not know the person I would like to hurt more than other people (sometimes I think all people should die violently, including me). Well, there are some assholes in my life that should be fucked with a knife, but nothing serious, just everyday conflicts...

How is the scene in Poland and to what degree are you known or supported by your fellow country mates? Are there many clubs, Metal shops, or places to play live? Please let me know about some bands you'd recommend and you own overall view on the underground movement over there.
The scene is pretty big, a lot of bands and so on, but you know, not too much innovative ideas, not too much really creative persons. Profanum doesn't play live, so that is not our problem, but the situation with concerts is fucked up; almost every serious gig ends with a big loss of money, and everything is fucked by amateurish organisers. About the bands, check out Behemoth, Devilyn, Hellborn, Azarath, Trauma, Lux Occulta, Umbra, Throneum... You know, as I said, there are a lot of bands, lots of 'zines, the underground movement is big, but something is lacking in this; mainly honesty, since relations are based on money and ass-licking (fucking shit).

Profanum's music could right as well serve the purpose to illustrate a movie; in that particular case, what movie do you think it could be? Are you a person into Cinema and that whole industry?
In fact, I am now working on a movie illustrated by Profanum's music. It will be a surrealistic impression based on my scenario. I am working on it with some artists involved in cinema and TV enterprises, but in fact, I am not that much into this topic. What it will be, time shall tell.

Why do you make use of Latin so much? Is it because of the classic articulation of the words in combination with the music? What interests you, or even fascinates you mostly about classical music?
I can't really say. Latin is just beautiful. Classical music impresses me with monumental structures, perfect harmonies and dramatic atmospheres... It's just classical.

From where does it derive your interest in Magick, Occultism and Esoterism in general and in what ways does it change your life to the point of using these themes in your own music?
I was interested in the Occult since I was a kid, it was so fascinating. "Occult" in Latin means "Hidden", as not everything is to be seen on the surface. Some people search deeper and what they see is "hidden" to others. I do not mean that one could find the "truth" behind occultism, because the truth doesn't exist. From occultism, I learned not to believe in what I see or what things seem to be. I learned that everything is just an illusion. You know, I do not practise black magic, but in a way, occultism formed my point of view of life.

Would you agree with me when saying that occult knowledge is something that one acquires as being very personal and by that reason always works differently from person to person, by having each individual its own interpretation of things?
Yes, that is what I think. The Occult is for individuals and open-minded persons. There is no limit and no scheme, if you know what I mean. The Occult is a different interpretation of the Universe, one could say.

Are you pro or against the use of drugs in order to enter and induce altered states of consciousness? Even if one can do it without the use of drugs, it's always a different perspective to be under the influence of it, since it may contribute to the enrichment of perception or even the confidence of one's own inner-strength, don't you think?
Well, it's up to every person. Personally, I use drugs quite often; I use all the hard drugs available, with the exception of heroine. Sometimes it allows entering another reality, to see what others can not see, but sometimes it does not. Undoubtedly, there are levels of consciousness that one couldn't reach without drugs. You can't imagine Hell before you'll see it; especially big amounts of hallucinating mushrooms and LSD are helpful, but you know, I can't use them without some special inner state, being spiritually prepared... I've been dying too many times.

How do you see your childhood years and infancy to contribute to what you are today? Did you have any paranormal encounters or an unusual growing?
Yes, obviously: childhood is something which has so great importance in questioning who we are now! We are formed in childhood and we will remain this till death. I have so many lacks and wounds in my personality and now I am aware they come from things that happened in my childhood... Well, I wasn't raped or kidnapped, but anyway some facts from my childhood years made me the one I am now (and I am, for example, into S&M, drugs and self-destruction). Now we all compensate the lacks from those years.

I really like your logo and the layout of Musaeum Esotericum: it's quite simple, yet effective and it goes along very well with the music. Who was responsible for that design and were these directions given entirely by the band?
Thanks. I am responsible for the logo design and the whole layout concept. I collected all the quotations, thoughts, I did some of the photos and other photos were taken by miss Elizall, from the Ambient project Umbra; it is always me who decides about the graphic side of things.

Do you like to travel? Are there any particular country you would like to visit by its historical, cultural reasons, or simply by interest?
I simply love to travel. I would like to visit Romania, because of its beautiful desolate landscapes, as well as Mongolia and Tibet... Not only because of landscapes, but mostly because the people there have a strong primitive spirituality. I would like to travel deep into Russian Siberia - primitive life conditions are what fascinate me in these parts of the world. And to South America...

Imagine if you wouldn’t have Music to express what you feel: what other devices would you use to discharge your thoughts and energies? Is there a special reason why you choose music to express yourself and not any other vector?
I do so many things besides music... Now I am very much into Painting. I wanted to study Painting after I finished Philosophy, but unfortunately I was late for the exams, so I will try next year. I am mostly into Impressionism and Surrealism. Besides, I am into Artistic Photography, Tattooing, Writing... Mostly Post-Modernism and stuff. Music is just one form of expression. Art has no limits.

Your music seems to be a manifestation of your inner thoughts; I would describe it as being pompous, classical and also very intimate (almost misanthropic). How are you as a person? Do these adjectives fit your own personality?
It's not up to me to talk about this, but I believe I am a pretty normal person... Pompous? Rather not; but misanthropic (in a certain way).

May I ask what you think about the events that took place in New York on September 11? Did the terrorist attacks have any effect on you or your country?
Not at all. The terrorist attack... Well, for me it was a great performance. One could say it was Art. To spread such great destruction and death... Most impressive art is creation through destruction. I do not remember what I was doing on that day, I was probably drunk or on drugs (just as always).

What is your opinion on the Internet as an utensil to promote ideologies or even Music to the masses? Are you much into the Internet, chats, e-mails, etc.? What are for you the pros and cons?
Well, the Internet is just a device, just an object in the hands of humanity. How it will be used it depends on the people, so I can't say if I am pro or against it, but I can be pro or against people's activities within it. I am not much into chats, sometimes I write e-mails to friends worldwide, but in my point of view, the Internet is very helpful with a free access to information and I think the world would be poorer without it (but not less interesting).

In continuation with the above question, how do you view nowadays civilisation of Consumerism and excesses and how do you deal with the commercially-orientated society we live in? Does it worry you to be surrounded by superficial needs and persons?
It's worrying, yes, but remember that kingdoms rise and fall. The civilisation of today is developing in some directions, but forgets about the other directions - it is always like that; something in plus and something in minus. We cannot fight with McDonalds and globalisation, because it has no sense. I won't change the world. We can only live our own lives and fuck the rest. In my life, money is not the most important thing, but freedom.

Tell us about your future projects and what does the future holds in store for Profanum - any new material written or ideas you want to reveal? I hope you enjoyed this interview and please feel free to address anything else you find suitable.
A brand new song is ready, but it will be released along with the movie I am working on. It will be not so soon. It was a real pleasure to answer these questions and this has been one of the most interesting interviews I've had these days. Thans for the support and may Legion be my name - for we are many!

© 2002 Abyss

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