interview with Edenian
What is the name of your band? Max: Edenian
What does the name "Edenian" stand for? Max: We have a song called “When I Gave Her My Eden”, and when the time has come to re-name the band I though it would be cool if the word “Eden” appears in the bandname. It works, good sounding though.
What made you call the band "Edenian"? Max: Firstly the name was Eternia. But soon I figured out that another one band carries this name too. So decision was made to get another name for the band. And Eternia became Edenian.
How was the band formed? Max: I’ve been listening to doom-metal since I was 13/14 I guess. Played in bunch of bands in different genres, but I found myself in a doom-metal. It’s totally mine J And one day jamming out on my guitar I wrote first songs and decided to start Edenian.
What made you form the band? Max: My desire to be dedicated to this kind of music.
Can you briefly introduce your band and who you are? Max: Edenian consists of two main members: Valerie Chudentsova (aka Valerie de V) on vocals and vocal lines, and myself (Max Molodtsov aka Eternal Tom) posessing guitar/bass/keys/drums/lyric writing & composing the songs. Also we have 4 session musicians when it comes to live shows.
Where are all bandmembers from?/Who does what in the band?
Max: We’re from Kharkov, Ukraine mainly. As for the duties in the band:
Me – playing guitar
Valerie de V – vocals
George Muratti – vocals (live)
Alexey Zhurba – bass (live)
Dmitry Koval – guitar (live)
Danielle Gaivoronsky – drums (live)
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? Max: Creating good music, playing live shows, touring if possible and finding new fans I guess.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you?
Max: It’s a Gothic/Doom metal with “beauty & the beast” vocal formula. Emotional, dark and sad. I’d rather give you an advice to check out our albums and make your own conclusion so far.
Val: We are dark romantics who feel love, pain, sadness, fear… Our music is our feelings and that`s what you can hear while listening to it.
Where was your first gig? Max: in our native city, here in Kharkov, in a smal club called “Hakuna Matata”. It was kinda funny to play dark stuff in the place with this name. But, we’re okay with it.
Where was the latest gig? Max: here again in “Agata Art-café” on Sept.17 in Kharkov.
Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music, who writes lyrics? Max: It’s all on me) So if we fail I’m the one to blame)) But I guess from now on Val will share the burden of lyric making with me)
Who has the best since of humor in the band?
Max: Have no idea. I guess Val knows the answer so far)
Val: I think we all are too doomy to have sense of humor)
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? Max: Since the very beginning we have to deal with line-up troubles. People come and go, it’s so hard to find good musicians without “rockstar” syndrome or shit like this.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about?
Max: As I said before I’m so in love with doom-metal, bands like Paradise Lost, Draconian, Swallow The Sun, Katatonia, Lake Of Tears etc. There is no single day that I spend without listening to it. Mainly our songs touch aspects of human being: life, love, hate, sorrow, loneliness, this kinda stuff. Also there myth- and legends-oriented songs.
Val: And as I said before our songs are about our feelings, our songs are about us.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Max: We create our own stuff but we’re up to do some cover songs as well.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Max: By now Edenian has recorded two full-length albums and one single. The firsr one called “Winter Shades” came out in 2012. Then we released a single “Fall The Dusk” lately in 2012. And the forthcoming album “Rise Of The Nephilim” will be out through the Solitude Productions soon!
Do you have any clips on YouTube? Max: Indeed, Check out our official channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/EdenianOfficial
How old are you? What got you started in music?
Max: I’m 26, playing music since 13. What got me into music? I know who exactly got me into metal. My dad, who has a huge collection of metal tapes back in the days. Then my first acoustic guitar was presented to me by my Mom. And then it has begun for me.
Val: I am 20, playing music since 4, I think) My mom always wanted me to play the piano, so I started to play. Than I`ve heard Mozart`s Magic Flute and began playing flute. And metal always was my dad`s passion, so I have grown up on this music and when I was 14 years old I understood that I want to sing in a band so I started to sing (at the beginning it was only operatic singing).
At what age did you start playing?
Max: I’ve started my first band when I was 16 if I’m not mistaken. We play pretty straight-forward heavy-metal back then)
Val: I was 15 years old. All the members of the band thought I was 17 years old and I didn`t tell them how old I really am)
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage?
Max: 18 I guess
Val: I was about 4 or 5 years old.
What year was the band started? Max: Edenian started in 2010.
How old were you the first time you saw a live band play?
Max: I guess it was 2003 if we talk ‘bout real live show in the club, not concert video on DVD.
Val: I was about 8 years old when my dad took me to the show with him.
How old were you at your first gig?/Best/worst gig you've played?
Max: I was 18. Don’t recall such stuff. I guess everyone had bad days and good ones on the stage. Depends on many thing, you know.
Val: At my first gig I was 15. I can`t notice best and worst gigs. Every show has its good and bad moments
What places will you be playing in in the immidiate future? Max: We’ll go on stage Oct.31 on Halloween night. Then we have Doom fest on Nov.24
Where have you played from then till now? Max: Edenian has done 10 shows already, mainly at our city
What songs are in your live set's? Max: Our setlist consists of 8 songs for now. In generally they are from the first album.
Is it always the same set's live? Max: Nope, we try to refresh out setlist, mixing songs, adding new ones, etc.
What has been the best/most promising gig so far?
Max: I’d say it would be “Autumn Solitude Evening II” in Kiev, 2012.
Val: I agree with Max.
Have you had any bigger tours from start till now? Max: Nope yet, maybe some day we’ll make a big tour through the coutry
How big crowds do you usually play for? Max: From 20 to 100 people.
What are the plans for the rest of the year?
Max: We gonna do some live shows and put out one more offcial lyric-video for one of the new songs from upcoming album.
Val: And we are thinking about creating some new songs and playing some more covers.
Where do you usually play? Max: In the small (and not so small) clubs, sharing stage with local and touring bands.
How do you get psyched up for a gig?
Max: As for me I need to get a rest and healthy sleep before the show :)
Val: I`m trying not to think about something else except music.
What are your goals with your music?
Max: To reach as many fans as we can with our music.
Val: To play live as cool as it`s possible and to share the stage with our favourite bands.
When did you decide to go all in for the music?
Max: Since I’ve heard my first metal tape and picked up a guitar. Music is my life, my air and passion. It’s the way to express myself.
Val: When I started to sing and I understood I can`t live without singing.
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern?
Max: I’d say: you never know where you can find a masterpiece. It can be an oldschool band or a new one. I’m open to all genres of rock-music so I’m more like: “It’s Uriah Heep time now” and in 5 minutes I’m headbanging while listening to Trivium J
Val: It all depends on my mood. There are too many cool old bands and more modern bands to choose)
What are your sources of inspiration?
Max: My life generally. My feelings and experience. Movies and books also make their work.
Val: Atmospheric music, books, nature, travelling, my feelings.
What's the first step when making a new song? Max: The guitar riff or melody. It appears first usually.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?
Max: I always try to support the bands I like and but their stuff. But downloading music for free is a cool way to face the band you’re not familiar with.
Val: I think it`s normal to download music of unknown band first to find out if you like it. But if you like the music and you want this band to create new songs you have to buy their album.
What would be your dreams for the band?
Max: To be something big like Metallica)) Not gonna happen anyway)
Val: To create really good music and to play on the biggest stages of the world in front of crowds of fans)
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?
Max: Except for doom-metal I prefer thrash, heavy, power, death, modern metal, mdm, nu-metal etc. As for the bands it would be: Metallica, Slayer, Iced Earth, Kamelot, Amon Amarth, Death, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Godsmack, just to name a few.
Val: Melodic, symphonic, power metal, rock, classical music. As for the bands: Kamelot, Epica, Halloween, Iron Maiden, Avantasia, Arch Enemy etc. Besides classical composers my favourite are Grieg, Verdi, Mozart, Khachaturian.
What do you hold most dear?
Max: My beliefs and feelings.
Val: People that I love.
What would be your greatest fears for the future?
Max: If Justin Bieber conquers the world.
Val: To wake up one morning and understand that I have nothing to live for.
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then?
Max: Oh…to forget my parts I guess)
Val: To forget where I have to start singing)
What songs and what years were they released? Max: All Edenian albums include 10 songs. “Winter Shades” released in 2012. “Rise Of The Nephilim” will be out lately this year or in the very beginning of 2014.
Have you been part of any other projects?
Max: For now I’m focused on Edenian only.
Val: Nope)
Have you been in any other bands?
Max: Yes, I played in a few local bands before Edenian.
Val: Yes, I played in a few bands too.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? Val: I`m studying in Law academy and University of arts (operatic singing) now.
What would you do if there was no music?
Max: I’d create some!
Val: If there was no music – there was no me too)
How important are your fans?
Max: If you like our music – we like you. If it’s not your cup of tea – just pass away without bitching around. We do it for ourselves mainly and if someone else loves what we do – it’s great then!
Val: Our fans are what we play for.
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you?
Max: some fan made a photo with our album and a hand with a razor-blade. Inscription said: “Why to live if U no have Edenian album?” It was kinda funny)
Val: one man asked me to do autograph on his chest)
How often do you rehearse? Max: Once in a week.
Where do you rehearse? Max: In a reahearsal studio called “RockBox”. We like it.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment?
Max: “When I Gave Her My Eden” and “The Departed”.
Val: “Nearer My Love To Thee” and “The Departed”
What do you feel is the best liveband you've seen?
Max: I’ve seen not so many foreign band live. But I recall I was really impressed by Scorpions show I’ve been to.
Val: I`m lucky, almost all the bands I`ve seen live were awesome)
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there?
Max: Play for passion – not for fashion!
Val: Go home and practice!
Would you like to add anything else?
Max: Follow your heart, stay true to yourself and do what you gotta do!
Val: Do what you feel you have to)
Describe your show, visually and musically Max: We try to do our best at shows and play as good as we can. We have no other special effects for now.
How do you view the music industry of today? Max: Pretty tough question. I guess it all changed a lot. And not in the good way.
What advice would you like to give to other bands?
Max: Put your soul in what you create!
Val: All you need is practice)
What are the biggest obstacles for a band?
Max: Line-up issues and lack of foundings
Val: Lack of time and people who really wanna play
What is best/worst with playing the clubs?
Max: Atmosphere is the best in small clubs. And the worst point is that the stage is often too small for 6 people)
Val: The worst – people who smoke near the stage. The best – usually sound is pretty good.
Tell us about upcoming gigs and why we should be at them?
Max: Halloween night, Oct. 31 at Hakuna–Matata club and DOOM Obscurum Festos, Nov. 24 at Churchill’s Music Pub. And you should be there so we can bring a doom upon your soul!
Val: Because we`ll do everything for these shows to be awesome!
How would you describe your sound in one sentence
Max: Gothic/doom metal with some sympho vibe to it.
Val: Sometimes lyric, sometimes agressive gothic/doom metal
What is your favorite crappy instrument? Max: Crappy one, huh?) Don’t even know am I getting you right, but I vote for…sitar))
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? Max: It’s better not to mention it. Let the past be past.
Whats your Pre-show ritual?
Max: Doing a little arm and muscles stretching
Val: I need to sing a little before the show)
What won't you spend money on?
Max: On Justin Bieber album.
Val: I`m a girl so I’m not sure what comes to mind next))
What do you feel a band/musician should spend their money on?
Max: Instruments, recordings, videos, costumes.
Val: Rehearsals, recordings, costumes