Interviews: Balt Hüttar

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

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

We came up with the name 'Balt Hüttar' (Guardians of the Forest) in the first few months after we formed. First, we thought long and hard about the concepts and values we wanted to convey with the project and the ideas that could convey those messages, but one thing was decided immediately: the name, to best represent us, had to be in the Cimbrian language. We then submitted our ideas to the then-president of the Cimbrian Cultural Institute of Roana, Sergio Bonato, to help us translate them into the Cimbrian dialect of the Seven Municipalities. When we read the terms 'Balt' and 'Hüttar', we knew that this was what we would call ourselves: they were catchy, relatively easy to pronounce even for those who do not speak Cimbrian and, above all, particularly linked to the Cimbrian tradition, which developed in symbiosis with nature and the forests of our mountains.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It all started with an idea from Mattia, who in 2011 was exploring Celtic music; his passion for traditional sounds spontaneously gave rise to the idea of a new project that would fuse them with what he was used to playing: rock and, above all, metal. Until then, we had all played different genres (mostly metal subgenres), but we all immediately liked the idea of this style and threw ourselves headlong into this adventure! Initially, we mostly played covers and were more oriented towards fairly light sounds, but then we gradually discovered the boundless world of folk metal and fell in love with it. During those years, we also developed the idea of making this genre our own, as it is well-suited to singing about our land and our traditions. So the two paths (musical and conceptual) came together in what we are now!

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

Mattia and Jonathan had already been playing together for several years in a heavy metal band; they only knew Federico and Ilaria by sight, who were directly involved. Initially, Tiziano was on bass, who was then replaced by Nicola, both friends of Mattia and Jonathan, with whom they had never played before.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

We all have more or less different musical tastes, and for (almost) everyone, choosing just one name is not easy: Jonathan is a big fan of 'old school' rock and metal and, of all artists, he loves Iron Maiden the most. Mattia's tastes range widely, from traditional music to many subgenres of metal. He is in love with Northern European folk music and Wardruna in particular. Nicola mainly listens to thrash and death metal, including Anthrax, Testament, Death, Atheist, Fleshgod Apocalypse, with special mention for Gojira, Mastodon, Tool, and Pantera. Federico's tastes are very broad, and his favourite bands include Death, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Tool, and Children of Bodom.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Our main inspiration comes from our land, its long history and rich traditions that have been lost over the centuries. For us, recovering and promoting Cimbrian culture has become almost a mission, in which we can also express our values and feelings about the world today.

6. Where was your last gig?

The last concert was the release of Tanzerloch at Mamaloca, a venue near Vicenza. It was a historic evening!

7. Where would you like to perform?

Festivals, especially historical ones, are our ideal environment; it's difficult to name just one, there are so many we'd like to participate in, especially in northern Europe... perhaps we could go for Midgardsblot or Wacken!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We think collaborations are wonderful experiences and there are many musicians with whom we would gladly share projects or ideas; thinking of big names, we would definitely like to collaborate with Folkstone and Furor Gallico, with whom we have had the pleasure and honour of sharing the stage and who are a particular source of inspiration for us.

10. Whom not?

To be honest, we can't think of anyone we wouldn't want to collaborate with. We believe that unity is strength (in every aspect of life, as clearly stated in our 'Prüdare Liebe') and that opportunities to connect with other artists can always (or almost always) be an opportunity for personal and artistic growth!

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

When we started playing, the excitement before concerts was intense for everyone: the fear of making mistakes combined with facing a new situation still made us tremble, but over time, we got used to being on stage. To those just starting out, we would advise rehearsing a lot so that your mind is freer during live performances, focusing on the music and the rest of the band, not trying to be perfect, but living in the moment and thinking about having fun! Over the years, we've had a lot of fun playing... and that's the key for us: a band that enjoys itself conveys its emotions to the audience, who won't pay much attention to the small mistakes in the performance and will enjoy themselves in turn; after all, isn't that the main goal of a concert?

11. Which bands have inspired you the most?

Each of us has many artists who have inspired us and shaped our style; as a band, we could say that our main influences are Korpiklaani and Folkstone.

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

To be honest, we've never had any particularly strange requests. Once, someone under the stage started shouting at us to play a song by Vasco Rossi... but he was probably joking (we hope for his sake!).

13. What do you think of your fans?

It sounds like a cliché, but it's the truth: those who follow and support us are the main driving force behind the project. Playing in an underground band involves a lot of commitment and sacrifice, which is completely rewarded by the warmth that our fans - or rather, friends - show us. We are very happy with the relationships we have built with each of them over the years, and it is their affection and energy that keep us going.

14. What do you think of our website?

We think your website is a very valuable tool for information and for staying up to date on the world of underground metal. Channels like this are always very useful and important for those who love music, especially for those who love metal! 

15. Anything else to add?

We would like to thank you for the space and attention you have given us, and we would also like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us and continues to support us! We hope that many people will enjoy Tanzerloch, that it will make them think and move them emotionally. We have some big news coming soon, so follow us on our social media profiles so you don't miss a thing!