Interviews: Fretting Obscurity

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Funeral Doom Metal project, Fretting Obscurity, from Ukraine. Check out the interview and follow the project on his BANDCAMP PROFILE.

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

The band name reflects what concerns me the most: the aimlessness of human existence, the absence of understanding who you are and what it's all for, the impossibility of grasping the truth, the fragility of our beliefs, and the utter relativity of everything we call "knowledge", the insurmountability of the tasks facing our minds. So what depresses me the most is the fundamental uncertainty. That's why the word "Obscurity" is in the name. Reflecting on these themes can sometimes be a source of intellectual pleasure. But if you see and FEEL this every day - then all these things eat away at you from the inside. That's why the first word in the name is "Fretting".

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

This music perfectly resonates with my mood. Moreover, it can be incredibly beautiful. No other genre, except perhaps Dungeon Synth, affects me so profoundly.

3. Each band member's favourite band?

My favorite band is undoubtedly Mournful Congregation. I also appreciate the Funeral from Norway. Among other favorites are Evoken, Esoteric, Mourning Beloveth, Ophis, and Saturnus. Most others are almost impossible to listen to. In the funeral doom metal genre, there are many mediocre bands. This is less true for other subgenres of doom.

4. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Music is beautiful. And beauty needs no explanation or justification. I do it simply because I can. As for the content of specific songs, I use excerpts from literary and philosophical works for the lyrics. The same goes for titles. For example, the title of the second album is a quote from Hegel. The title of the first album is from Faulkner.

5. Where was your last gig?

My last performance was... at home in front of my smartphone camera. I played the song "I Long" by Saturnus and uploaded it to YouTube. You won't find this video because the title is in Ukrainian, and it has nothing to do with its content. It was a 'gig' specially for my godson, who turned 4 years old. I'm nurturing in him an appreciation for beautiful music.

6. Where would you like to act?

There's this one spot in Victory Park in Kyiv that I see on the bus on my way to work. It's a small outdoor stage surrounded by green lawns and trees. I've never seen anyone perform there.

7. Whom would you like to feature with?

Probably no one. A solo concert! But I'd gladly shake hands with all the members of Mournful Congregation and other bands whose music I appreciate.

8. Whom not?

Most of the bands that are not on my favorite list.

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

Oh, yeah. There was this one incident. Once a guy from Lviv, I think, wrote to me. He wanted to buy my album. Seriously. Well, cool, I sent him the disc. It was a strange occurrence.

10. What do you think of your fans?

I think they exist somewhere. Especially in Argentina. I'm not a fan of Argentine doom, but I know some people like Fretting Obscurity's music there. Someone from Germany even created a Wikipedia page about my band. I don't know what to think. The article is written in German. Sending regards to that unknown German dude who did it. To be honest, of course, I treat my fans well. Better than most people.