Interview with OMENLOTH

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• That would be the 90ies rock/metal scene. I feel lucky being part of that era, especially witnessing the birth of the 2^nd Black Metal wave. Moreover, I always had a ‘different taste’ for things from most people at that time, leaning towards the more extreme and ‘taboo’ side. There was also some music background, having attended some piano lessons as a child.

  Unfortunately, nowadays it’s a rare privilege to occupy yourself with music exclusively, so I would again be a teacher!

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• That’s easy, it’s mostly literature, movies and video games. All a great source of inspiration. Lots of other stuff to inspire you out there, from fantasy to everyday issues, human brightness to stupidity and the Unknown. It all comes down to what you make of it.

How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.

• The band is new. The members, thought, are old acquaintances. It’s been thrilling to have the opportunity to create music again with friends that I hadn’t worked with for 20 years. Meanwhile we have all been involved in various bands and projects till the time came to share a vision again. So yes, I believe there is a special dynamic there: A dose of nostalgia, combined with experience and a new vision.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

• We are based in Greece, in Ioannina city. There is a nice little story about that: The name, general concept and some first riffs were born here, some 20 years ago. After a relocation, we essentially resumed that initiative. The city is beautiful, dark and dreamy, if you like. Things you can also find in the music. I think the album would make a fitting soundtrack for someone who would like to take a tour.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• The name Omenloth is an old inspiration. It comes from the word Omen, which is of Latin origin and –loth, which is an archaic form of the word ‘loath’. It means something like “Bad Omen’ and it has to do with a bleak feeling concerning the future of mankind. Or the past. And Tolkien!

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• The band is quite new, so we are just arranging our first shows.

  In the past I had the honor to support bands like Arcturus, Septic Flesh, Rotting Christ and Moonspell. All special in their own right. Playing with Arcturus was a remarkable experience especially, as it was my favorite band at that time. My second show was also unforgettable, playing alongside Rotting Christ. It was huge for us back then, as it was just our second show and quite young.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• The best live experience regarding the place and crowd was supporting Moonspell in Thessaloniki. The venue was called Vilka if I recall correctly. It was the first time I got to know how things should be arranged in order to provide a professional performance. I would love to tour in Northern Europe and Latin America. Both cornerstones of the scene.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• You said ‘any’, so I can cheat and mention bands that are not going to play live, ever! So, it would feature Darkthrone, Burzum, Dissection and Kvist!

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• I would tell him to just express himself. And if they don’t feel the urge, I would advise them to wait, acknowledge what burns inside them and then proceed. Playing just for fame, acknowledgment or w/e, doesn’t bring the same feeling of fulfillment.

  As far as my younger self is concerned, I would tell him not to take breaks, never stop practicing or composing.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• That would be “Tree House’. It has some unique elements in regard to both music and lyrics. It includes some ambient parts which are enriched with some Duduk melodies. It’s a traditional woodwind Armenian instrument. Then, the crescendo leads you to a peak, but you still can’t see the other side of the “mountain”. Lyrically, it brings back some dear childhood memories. You can find lots of stuff about yourself by looking back to that time of your life.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• I am not sure. It’s just grabbing the guitar and trying to capture some feeling. The process is finished only when this is achieved. The feeling can be triggered by anything really. Some minor event that makes you think things differently or come to some realization about how things work. A movie, some melody I have heard, some view of nature. Everything can be expressed with music, magic exists.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• No messages. We just express ourselves, sorry! We don’t support any political side and we don’t claim that we have the answers. No one does. Ok that’s a message I guess.

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

• There are a couple of lyric videos in the works, stay tuned! The process of composing new material is an on-going one. We‘ll be back.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• At the moment, we are trying to stabilize our live-line –up, so there’s that. It is important to perform the material live. As I already mentioned, there are some new songs in the works too. We have also planned some release-events in our country.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• Sure, thank you for this opportunity. We are delighted to hear from people from over the world. Here are some ways:

  https://www.facebook.com/Omenlothband

  You can also find us in Spotify etc.

  Thank you for your time.