Space
Mirrors
It's not often to watch
a woman being the mastermind and the main person pulling the strings behind
a band... Actually I think those women are hand numbered. Space Mirrors
are one of those exceptions having Alisa in their ranks. So, "Memories
Of The Future" is a special album for a variety of reasons. If you want
to find out more, then you just have to read the following interview with
Alisa...
1. HELLO THERE! FIRST OF ALL I’D LIKE YOU
TO POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF YOUR BAND’S HISTORY TILL NOW.
PLEASE ALSO PRESENT THE CURRENT LINE UP.
Alisa: Space Mirrors was formed in Autumn
2002. I was working on some music for a while and about that time me and
Michael decided that we can record some songs together. He liked my ambient
space album “Neutron Star” and I liked his style of playing in his Alien
Dream project so I invited him to join Space Mirrors. We began to record
“Darker side of art” album. I also knew Arjen Lucassen from Ayreon for
some time already and I asked him to participate. He like the songs I sent
to him and recorded his guitars and vocals. His contribution was very important
for Space Mirrors and really gave us new inspiration. “Darker side of art”
was released in 2004 on UK label Dead Earnest which is run by very known
space rock enthusiast Andrew Garibaldi. Our album received lots of good
comments and reviews and some critics thought it was “ground-breaking”
and a new incarnation of space rock music. Well, a good album really. Then
we started to work on the new album “Memories of the Future”, finished
it in 2005 and got a deal with Sleaszy Rider Records – a mostly heavy metal
label. This album is heavier than the first one, it can appeal to those
metal fans who are broad-minded and who are not afraid of new music soundscapes
and horizons. There are such metal bands like Arcturus or Sigh which always
explored the space and psychedelic side of metal and metal market is the
most alive and well-distributed market in indie music now. So it was obvious
for us that we should try a metal label for the new album. Thanks to Tolis
(head of Sleaszy Rider) for giving us this opportunity. Our current line-up
are me – Alisa Coral and Michael Blackman plus special guests.
2. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO REVIEW
FOR “MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE”. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE
AS POSSIBLE?
Alisa: Honestly it’s not my job to review
our album. I am here to create and record this music not judge it. So what
can I say? We are proud of this album. It took a year and a half to create
it, so we can be sure everything is done as we wanted it to be done, it’s
how we meant it to be. Every sound and every note. If I wasn’t satisfied
with it and I didn’t think it’s a great album I wouldn’t release it. I
think every musician who cares about music can say it.
3. HAVE YOU GOT ANY PREVIOUS RELEASES? IF YES,
PLEASE PINPOINT THE MAIN SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM.
Alisa: Our debut album “The Darker side of
art” had more ambient side to it, less vocals, more synthesizer improvisation.
By the way, we don’t use “samples” as you said in the review. Synths are
all played and not sampled or programmed. “Darker side…” album dealt with
some occult and magic themes along with a long finale epic dedicated to
the Star Wars series, it was called “Dark Jedi” and told the story of Darth
Vader. Arjen greatly contributed to it. It was before Episode III came
out, by the way. “Memories of the Future” is our second album. Music has
more structure and improvisations are performed in a different manner.
Sound became heavier, heavier guitars and bass. We have many epic-long
songs there. If you have these two our albums you will definitely hear
the difference. But also you can be sure it sounds like Space Mirrors.
People say we have our own style.
4. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE FINAL OUTCOME OR
ARE THERE THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE NOW? ARE THERE ANY NEW ELEMENTS YOU’D
LIKE TO ADD IN YOUR MUSIC IN ORDER TO ENRICH IT?
Yes, we are satisfied or we wouldn’t release
it. And why to look back? We look forward to new music. It’s interesting
that you say about “enriching” the music. But do you mean to enrich the
music for the sake of enriching it? It’s not our way. We use every element,
every sound when it’s required by a concept of the certain music piece.
Every song, every album has a concept and they require their own arrangements.
The complex arrangements of “Memories…” songs were not easy but I like
the final result. Our new album which we record now has a new concept –
musically and lyrically and will have some new elements like live sax,
flute and violin, different new lead singers. But it will be definitely
Space Mirrors.
5. I THINK THAT SPACE ROCK IS A DIFFICULT GENRE.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW THIS BRANCH OF MUSIC? WHO ARE THOSE MUSICIANS
THAT MADE YOU REALIZE THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO?
Alisa: I don’t really understand what you
mean by “difficult” genre. For me it was always quite obvious that I would
play something like this when I would form a band. Space Rock is a source
for many music styles, it was invented by Hawkwind more than 36 years ago
and it was developing and progressing since. Many bands borrowed things
from space rock, many modern music styles – from electronic music to metal.
It is very deep and diverse style, it doesn’t have any limits really, it
just should be spacey and psychedelic, music is a trip and space rock perfectly
takes you for a trip without drugs. That was the goal of this music as
Dave Brock – leader of Hawkwind – said many years ago. And actually I don’t
brand my music any style, it’s you, journalists, who brand music. Musicians
just follow their hearts and passion. It’s not a question of choice.
By the way, I work also on some metal project
but I’m sure it will have a space touch.
Hawkwind, Tim Blake and Huw Lloyd-Langton
are those who really inspired me to begin play and record music. Also the
bands like Chrome, Helios Creed and Pressurehed. And many metal bands too.
6. I THINK YOUR LYRICS MUST BE REALLY INTERESTING,
SO PLEASE TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE MAIN TOPICS YOU DEAL WITH…
Alisa: Yes, our lyrics are available to read
in the booklet that comes with the CD. We write about some Sci-Fi, it’s
obvious, also about occult things, ancient myths, civilizations. But also
we do not lose the touch with current world events and we have some political
views in our lyrics.
7. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SUGGEST WITH THE ALBUM
TITLE “MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE”? I THINK IT’S A VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING AND
CLEVER TITLE.
Alisa: This title is closely linked with the
lyrics and concept of the album. I wrote lyrics about ancient civilizations
and ancient astronauts inspired by E. von Daniken and Z. Sitchin books
– it’s the past, the memories. Then about Dune – Frank Herbert’s brilliant
Sci-Fi universe based in the very distant future, so it’s a future. And
about cold-blooded corporations, business and oil wars taking over the
current world – that’s the point from where we see the past and the future.
It’s memories of the future for us. What was thousand years ago and what
will be in thousand years to come is identical to what happens now. The
question is – how to break the vicious circle?
And after all “Memories of the Future” is
the original title of first Daniken’s book in German.
8. DO YOU READ MANY BOOKS? IF YES, CAN YOU PROPOSE
TO US SOME, WHICH YOU LIKED A LOT? BOOKS THAT INSPIRED YOU AND HELPED YOU
FORM YOUR MUSICAL VISION…
Alisa: I read lots of books, many of them
were very good and could inspire me in one way or another. As I said before
“Earth Chronicles” books by Sitchin. Many historical ones like “The Accursed
Kings” by Maurice Druon. And Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I’ll name some favourite ones.
“Amber Chronicles” and “Lord of Light” by Roger Zelazny, Frank Herbert’s
“Dune”, “The war hound and the world’s pain” and “The final programme”
by Michael Moorcock, “Song of Ice and Fire” by G.R.R.Martin and many more.
9. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COVER ARTWORK? IT’S
VERY NICE… DO YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IT TO THOSE THAT HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET?
Alisa: Andreas Söderlund at mtGrave.com
created this wonderful artwork. He also made a great booklet with pictures
to every song. I’m not sure I can describe our artwork…but I think it reflects
the concept of the album really well. It’s Memories of the Future actually.
10. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART
OF YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU?
Alisa: Worst and best? Not sure I understood
you correctly. I don’t think there is worst part in our music. But there
are some really great moments like Genies’ Dance in “Creatures of The Twilight”
or Dark Reign in “Dark Jedi”.
11. HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? DO
YOU THINK YOUR MUSIC CAN BE REPRODUCED IN A LIVE ENVIRONMENT?
Alisa: Yes, as soon as we are able to afford
the live shows financially we will play concerts. On albums in studio we
have special guests and play most instruments ourselves. For a concert
we would have to hire some musicians to have a full band. So there is no
problem to reproduce our music live. We played it in the studio, we can
play it on the concerts. Also we would like to have a great light and slide
show. And traveling also costs money. But it’s our next goal and we want
to achieve it.
12. HOW COME AND YOU’VE DECIDED TO COOPERATE WITH
SLEASZY RIDER RECORDS? WHAT DID YOU FIND IN THEM THAT YOU COULDN’T FIND
IN ANOTHER LABEL? IN OTHER WORDS WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A LABEL IN ORDER
TO SIGN A DEAL WITH THEM?
Alisa: We liked their proposal and their attitude.
What we look in the record label is a real passion for music, a dedication
to its artists and a good distribution along with it.
13. MUSIC IS FIRST AND FOREMOST EMOTIONS. SO IF
YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Alisa: It’s not one emotion. Different songs,
different concepts have different emotions in them. For example our song
“Death Inc.” has some anger in it but it’s mixed with evil irony. Or “Eternal
Search” has some melancholy, some relax feeling. Or “Travelling to the
Core” has some tension. It’s difficult to describe in words, space rock
music is not only about some certain emotions, it’s about the whole complex
of feelings and images.
14. MOREOVER WE OFTEN TEND TO THINK OF IMAGES
AND BRING PICTURES TO OUR MINDS, DEPENDING ON THE SOUND AND MOOD OF EACH
SONG. SO, WHAT PICTURES OR IMAGES ARE CREATED WITHIN YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU
LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC?
Alisa: Yes, and in space rock music certain
sounds help to create images closer to the concept. I think it is an image
of a flight over some distant planets landscapes with ancient and strange
cities, weird ancient spaceships in the desert sands.
15. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO
HAVE? A TITLE THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR SPACE ODYSSEY OF COURSE…
Alisa: Tales from beyond the known space,
maybe.
16. THANK YOU! IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE
TO MENTION AND I FORGOT TO ASK YOU? LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE…
Alisa: Thank you for the interest in Space
Mirrors and for the questions. What I would like to say that it’s not entirely
correct to talk about our music as only about space odyssey in the common
Sci-Fi vein. Space is a much more general word, it describes outer and
inner space as well, not only the things about spaceships and stars but
all the processes in the Universe. Space is infinite, Space is deep…
I hope you will enjoy our music and will follow
us on the trip to new and mysterious music dimensions. You are welcome
at our websites: http://www.spacemirrors.com
http://www.myspace.com/spacemirrors
Christine Parastatidou
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