Having a Chat With: LUSTRE

So a week or two ago, I posted about the song “Green Worlds,” by the musician known as Lustre.  I have recently been heavily into this guys work so much, I figured I would try and shoot for an interview with him.  Thankfully, Nachtzeit, the mastermind behind the music, was kind enough to grant one.  So the interview here today is divided up by “General Questions,” and “New Album Questions."  I hope you enjoy what Nachtzeit has to say, because I know I certainly did!

General Questions (Any Bold Text represents Nachtzeit’s answers):

1.) Obviously you have been associated with the genre of black metal since you have been releasing music under the Lustre name. However, unlike most black metal artists, you do not put the emphasis of your songs on fuzzy guitars or blast beat drums. What influenced you to focus on a much more ambient sound that is primarily keyboard driven?

Well, I guess I just like the sound of synths and keys mixed with fuzzy guitars. I think it has alot to do with what you first started listening to and what spoke to you the most. For me I guess it was Burzum, rather than bands like Darkthrone, even if I have always liked them alot too.

2.) Your music creates an atmosphere that makes the listener feels almost like they are on a spiritual journey, rather than just listening to a song. Would you say that creating an atmosphere like this has always been important to you? Or did you just start to shift more towards that style as time progressed?

I would say that it was even more like that in the beginning, with "Serenity”. That is a very spiritual record, and the lyrics are very abstract. Lustre hasn’t been as abstract since then, but still as spiritual in alot of ways.

3.) Since Lustre’s inception, your sound has gradually progressed. More elements from other genres of music have been thrown into your sound. Do you feel like with each new record, you just pick up from where the last record left off, or do you start with a clean slate and just write whatever interests you at the moment?

I’m not sure if I agree with you. I personally think that Lustre has sounded more or less the same since the start, even if there are differences between each record. On the other hand I probably don’t look at my own works the same way as you and other listeners do, so I guess you could be right in a way.  I always just write what interests me at the moment, without thinking of what the last album sounded like etc.

4.) I know that many musicians are not fond of the genre tag given to them, but what do you feel about being associated with black metal? Do you feel like it fits the music of Lustre, or are people just lazily slapping a name tag onto your music without giving more of an in depth listen?

I guess I have called my music black metal myself a couple times, but I have realized that it’s nothing but limiting. My reality isn’t limited to one of a 18 year old any longer, so I guess I have become interested in the positive aspects of life as well, which doesn’t make me much black metal, right? There are lots and lots of non black metal artists and bands that are way more black metal than most actual black metal bands anyway, so I can’t really take the genre seriously any longer. Lustre is light and darkness, the sun and the moon, summer and winter, positivity and negativity. That which is life.

5.) You rarely ever use vocals in your songs, and if you even have any, they don’t generally last very long. Why do you choose to use very little vocals in your songs?

Well, Lustre is more about the music than the lyrics. It’s as simple as that.

6.) Is there any new music nowadays that inspires you as a musician? If so, who are they?

Older stuff inspire me way more than the new things you hear. I think it’s very hard to find new music with the same depth and genuineness as stuff from the past. When listening to music I’m either trying to find something old that I haven’t heard yet, or stuff that I listened to in the past that is nostalgic to me. Of the Wand and the Moon is a good example of newer music that is good, even though his music is pretty timeless really. The song “Sunspot” from his latest album is one of the best songs ever written. The finnish metal band Insomnium is very good too.

7.) Do you have any other projects you do besides Lustre? And if so, please name them. I would love to give them a listen.

I have this new project “Rafnatyr” together with another guy. I have had so many projects in the past that I wouldn’t remember half of them.

8.) And my final general question… Have you ever had thoughts of constructing a live band for Lustre so you can test these songs out live? Or do you feel like the magic of the music would not translate well live.

I have tried to visualize some sort of live concert with Lustre a couple times, but so far it’s just a vision. We’ll see.

New Record Questions.

1.) What was the writing process like for this record? How long did it take?

Every Lustre record has taken two or three days to write and record. When I’m inspired everything happens all at once.

2.) How much time did you spend recording the new record? How did the recording process go? Was it smooth, or did you hit any rough spots along the way?

The actual recording process took about a day or two. Everything went smooth as I know pretty well how to record a Lustre album.

3.) Based on what I have heard from “Green Worlds,” it seems like you are incorporating some darker elements such as the harpsichord (that’s at least what it sounds like). What influenced you to add this new element to the music?

Well, I just wanted to try something new and I thought it sounded good so I decided to use it.

4.) What kind of music were you listening to during the recording process, if you listened to any? And if you do not listen to any other music during the process, why don’t you?

Like I said, everything happens all at once so I don’t really have any time to listen to any other music.

5.) Finally.. What kind of expectations do you have for this record upon release? Any messages you hope this record can bring to the listeners?

I don’t have any expectations at all. I just hope people will enjoy it, and that it will make them feel.

While Nachtzeit said before that he has no real expectations for this new record, I do.  My expectations are that everyone who follows this page will go online and buy this new Lustre record and love it like I will!  The record release dates are September 16th for Europe, and September 23rd for North America.  You can purchase it through the Nordvis Produktions store with the link I will post at the end of this post.  

Once again, I’d love to thank Nachtzeit for being so kind throughout the entire interview process.  Truly a magnificent musician and person!  Best of luck to him in the future with Lustre as well as any other products.