Interviews: VARANG NORD

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Folk  Metal band, VARANG NORD from Latvia. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

We wanted a name that leaves no doubt about what kind of music we play. After a short brainstorm we’ve decided that VARANG NORD is most suitable for the atmosphere we want to create with our music, image and live shows.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

All of us were more or less fans of this genre, so it was natural process. Folk/pagan metal is great way to express ourselves, because we feel strong connection with our roots, with the land we’re from, with it’s entire culture and history. Plus it’s very entertaining genre of metal music, not only for fans, but for us as well!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Even though the age difference between youngest and oldest team members is about 14 years, yes we mostly knew each other, because we’re all from the same town here in Latvia, and we all have been a part of a local music scene, just in different periods of time.

4. Each band member favourite band? 

That wasn’t too easy!) Maks, our leader – IRON MAIDEN, Alyona (accordeonist) – TOOL

Dan (bass-player) – BEHEMOTH

Aigars (drummer) – IGORRR

Jev (guitarist) – CANNIBAL CORPSE

Slava (percussionist) – CULT OF LUNA.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Maks: It’s all about transforming fantasies into music forms! It’s always begins with a pictures in my head. I start writing a song already having a detailed visual images, so I exactly know, what atmosphere and what message I want to transfer through this exact song. So when I start working on music I already know what this song will be about lyrically.

6. Where was your last gig? 

We played our last gig in our hometown, Daugavpils, and it was a great show, one of the biggest in a band history so far! It was a big thing for us, because in entire band history, which is more than 6 years now, we’ve played just a couple of small club shows here, so it was really important to play the real, full VARANG NORD show as we see it. Everything went just perfectly: central street of the town, free admission, big crowd, huge stage, lights, fires, a lot of friends and members of our families watching us! It’s all captured in our new music video, that’s coming out with the single in February, so follow the news.

7. Where would you like to act? 

Of course, after tasting a big festivals like Wacken you want to play all the big stages and venues, but we always use the opportunity to play anywhere where it’s possible! Sometimes the gig in the small local club somewhere in Russia, with the tiny stage that barely can fit six of us, brings us so much energy and feelings! It’s all about people in the front of stage, our listeners, it’s all about them!

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

We’re very open-minded, so any type of collaboration with talented creative people is a great joy for us. We’ve had a great experience playing with a symphonic orchestra and choir on the Latvian kind of Music Awards ceremony, and we’re pretty sure we’ll do it again in the future. Also we’re pretty sure, that someday we’ll try to dig even deeper into ethnic part of our music and we’ll collaborate with some kind of a pure folk artists. 

9. Whom not? 

Any kind of hip-hop/rap would sound weird with our music, wouldn’t it? But who knows!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? 

We’re definitely not calm and relaxed before going on stage, but it’s a good excitement, rush of adrenaline that drives us. Mostly we come on stage with “kill or be killed” attitude, and we think it’s right. It’s all question of self confidence. If you’re are confident in your own skills, your gear and your bandmates there’s no room for any frights left. But mostly it comes with the experience, so the only tip for the beginners is play as many gigs as it’s possible, wherever and whenever you can.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Maks: Cornerstone was the album “Battle Metal” by a finnish band TURISAS, changed it all for me! After that there were ENSIFERUM, KORPIKLAANI, FINNTROLL, AMON AMARTH, our local heroes SKYFORGER and also legends of Russian pagan metal BUTTERFLY TEMPLE and ARKONA. So it’s kind of symbolic, that we’re supporting ARKONA on their upcoming European tour in 2021. Also we played couple of shows with ENSIFERUM back in 2019 which also was fun.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for? 

A lot of people, especially in Germany, want to drink some vodka with us after the show! Maybe it’s not too weird, I’d say it’s quiet natural, after having a song “Beer and Vodka” included in absolutely every set we play.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

We think of our listeners as our friends, our army! And we hope it’s gonna grow in numbers!

14. What do you think of our site?

Absolutely love it, so much content to dig! Keep it up! And thank you for this interview.

15. Something add?

Our new album “Pārķiuņa Uomurs’’ is comming out 23.02.2021 via Sliptrick Records, check it out, it’s a definetelly the best record we’ve created so far, epic folk/viking metal! We believe that all this nightmare the whole world been through last year is about to be over, we’re nearly there, so take care of yourselves and your families and wee hope to see you all on the gigs this year!