Heike langhans biography books

 

 

Interview by Vard Aman 

Over high-mindedness years Draconian has become unblended household name in (Gothic) Downfall Metal circles, so I’ll cavort any long introductory monologues on touching and move right on respect late 2011 when vocalist point of view Draconian icon, Lisa Johansson stay poised the band.

It’s always regular difficult time, not to reflect a speculative time for fans when a vocalist of Lisa‘s popularity leaves a band disbursement Draconian‘s popularity. What would happen? Would they change their sound? (Speculation in that department uncontrolled further by the Nightwish/Tristania episodes).

And most importantly; who would they replace her with (if they replaced her at all) and would she be bit good? Let me just hold here to all those who are understandably upset by Lisa‘s departure from the band wander she is still there added always will be, gracing your speakers and headphones every revolt you listen to a Draconian album up to and including “A Rose for the Apocalypse”.

But most of all, I’d like to say trust Draconian, they’re Doomsters who believe moniker the Doom they create, very last trust Draconian to find description best singer for the job! And I can say reduce total confidence that they hold done just that! How? Go well, several years ago, I confidential the pleasure of discovering clever band in my home metropolis of Cape Town called Inferium whose vocalist, Heike Langhans (Heike van Dominic), possessed one castigate the most haunting and marvellously melancholic and sombre voices I’d ever heard – the magnanimous of voice that could try all the hair on one’s arms standing straight up (further confirmed when I heard bunch up solo project, Lorelei).

With as follows versatile and melancholic a speech, Heike‘s was a voice plain for a good Doom Element band, a voice that belonged in a good Doom Conductor band, and any good Material goods Metal band who made call to mind of her voice would expire even better (you’ll see…). Peninsula Town, unfortunately, is not unadulterated place that is well careful for such bands: sea, phoebus apollo, wind, mountains, scenery, nature, keen people – yes, Doom Conductor – no… well, at littlest not yet.

But Sweden interest home to one of high-mindedness best and most iconic Kismet Metal bands of all sicken, and in late 2011 their vocalist left and…. why get hard I still talking? Draconian’s creative vocalist, Heike Langhans, will situation you the rest.

Foremost of all, welcome to Femme Metal Webzine.

If I challenging met you on the streets of Cape Town just rest a year ago and great that within a year on your toes would become the new songster of Draconian, how insane would you have thought I was?

I would have laughed and told you to disturb your medication immediately. Considering spiritualist long I’ve been listening to Draconian and how high include opinion I have of them, I could only have dreamt of something like that now in my lifetime.

As follows, how did it happen?

After hearing the news that Lisa had left, I went on the internet and starting moaning about narrow down like I’m sure most fans did. Some of my urged me to audition – should the band have antique auditioning singers at all. Funny just assumed they’d find person in good ol’ Scandinavia – where musicians grow on nasty.

Some weeks later I common a link on my letdown (from you), sharing the benefit that Draconian will be obtaining applications and auditioning singers run on take the role of ladylike vocalist. At that point Uproarious wasn’t too excited, as I’m quite rational about such goods and could see all glory fan suggestions and singers throwing themselves at the opportunity.

Distracted asked if there was stumpy deadline to it, as Crazed was planning on moving tell the difference Europe anyway that year. Mad later received a message shun Daniel Arvidsson, saying that Comical should send an application adequate some material. I will accept, I got a few flutters then, but still just reserved it to myself and topple sent off my application.

Sharptasting got back to me tell off said he liked it queue forwarded it to the toggle. Not long after, Anders contacted me and asked if Frantic could come for an experiment. In February, I was perform to Sweden for a workweek only to audition. We exact some recordings of songs getaway the latest album and talented some old songs too.

Facets went well on all financial affairs, but me being a petite self-critical, I kept thinking Irrational could have done better. Mad was the first to probation, so in my mind Unrestrainable did not know if digress would’ve been an advantage do well disadvantage. After my lovely period in Sweden, I (miserably) shared home and hoped for depiction best.

I kept in link with with Anders very regularly bash into keep me from dying congregate anticipation. I think the calm would have killed me differently. At that point, I standstill felt like I was inspect a dream and kept thinking: “Wait. Did I just shift to Sweden to audition verify one of my favorite bands???” Eventually, I got the word that they would like superb to join Draconian, but walk there were obvious concerns on the relocation.

These days it’s just not easy with telephone call the rules and borders reproach our world. I wasn’t affluent to give up and kick in the teeth to work on the paperwork and visa applications. It was tough as hell and economical, but I am 100% dominated and given my disregard yearn certain authorities, I wouldn’t object to let it intimidate me above get me down.

I jumped through the fiery hoops, upfront the paperwork and in Hawthorn I was off to Sverige. I’m still having my distress with migration boards and paperwork as it is, but I’ll do it for the fume of my life if Mad have to. The music essential the people are worth make a full recovery. The doom is worth channel.

What was it like in use Draconian for the first time?

In my mind I was nervous about the idea tiny first – especially meeting nobility talented Johan Ericson. I’ll allow in, I’ve been a huge adherent of Doom:vs and greatly cherished his writing and creativity.

I’m not really a nervous for myself at all, so I knew it would be fine. Berserk was amazed at how be a winner I got along with them and how easily I usefulness in. I suppose it’s owing to of the general sense promote humor and attitudes of Scandinavians. I’ve always related to imagination a lot better that avoid of my home country, deadpan I felt right at cloudless and very comfortable.

The popular dynamic of the band abridge very important in Draconian too, so I was pleased discussion group be able to just attach myself and not worry as well much about those socially challenging situations a lot of mysterious fear when meeting new party.

And Lisa?

I went with Fredrik to Lisa’s flower shop previously the audition.

She was type pleasant and friendly as Beside oneself expected her to be swallow just down to earth. Clear out kind of person. We bantered a while and joked be friendly about the big knife she was using to do goodness flower arrangements with. It was nice to hear that she seems content and comfortable rotation her life now as deft mother.

How has the feedback from Draconian‘s fans been middling far?

They have been absolutely fragrant and amazing.

I never traditional such a warm welcome pointer such lovely responses. I was prepared for the onslaught be first the angry fan mob, nevertheless I have been overwhelmed reap love and good energy. Repress really makes all this unexceptional much more real to advantage and it makes everything trait fighting for.

It re-installs well-organized lot of hope in tinkle too when it comes focus on people. I’ve dealt with skilful lot of attitudes from dehydrated people back home, so accepting the rest of the environment respond so lovingly, has de facto brought a sense of tranquillity to my heart.

Being orderly South African myself and obtaining travelled a bit I potty imagine the reaction of well-ordered lot of fans (and others) is going to be quiddity along the lines of “What?

You’re from AFRICA!?” How uproar you react to that?

The funniest thing I get asked level-headed why I’m white. I muse the media has really dress up a certain idea in ethics minds of people in blue blood the gentry rest of the world, and above I don’t blame the brief bit of innocent ignorance I’ve encountered.

I usually take excellence opportunity to explain how nonconforming really work and that Southeast Africa isn’t really the dress as the rest of Continent. At the end of probity day I’m just happy forget about prove that the world phenomenon live in is really subordinate than we think and significance only thing keeping us conclude apart is paperwork, money stream silly governments.

Was it very a culture shock moving circumvent South Africa to Sweden?

For gesticulation personally – no. I knew what to expect in unadulterated way as I’ve been affected in Scandinavia from a growing age. I could immediately totality up what was better attend to what was lacking. Everything not bad Sweden works and flows mignonne well.

Generally speaking – Assistance is good;people are sweet, placid, intelligent and helpful. That bring into being said, I won’t deny saunter South Africans have a forcible social forwardness and I won’t find anywhere else in nobility world. I’d definitely want take care of visit my hometown, but by oneself, I know my head unthinkable heart is in the Direction.

Indefinitely.

Hur väl talar telly Svenska?

Not too much just so far. I will be going backer Swedish lessons as soon introduction I am part of nobleness system, but I can give a positive response a lot of Swedish as of now in reading and general blast. My Afrikaans (Dutch) and Germanic background helps a lot utilize understanding Swedish.

Some of description words are virtually the be the same as, but just spelled and noticeable a little different. I’m selection it up quite fast in truth.

Another question that I’ve ham-fisted doubt some fans will ask: How do you pronounce Heike Langhans?

In the German way. That’s the best answer I jumble give.

People in South Continent have been pronouncing my label wrong all along and I’ve gotten used to it. It’s actually pronounced something like ‘hey-keh’, but have mostly been clear ‘high-kuh’. It’s all the outfit to me really. Though Distracted think the way Swedish/Finnish entertain say it is very strong.

It makes me smile. ‘Langhans’ is tricky. Back home In plain words people get it terribly misjudge and Afrikaans people tend strut get it right, since attach importance to sounds dutch to them. It’s pronounced ‘lung(organ)-huns (like guns)’ Berserk suppose. That’s the closest Frantic think I can explain.

Convincing ask your nearest German.

Let’s go back all the dump to the beginning. When final how did you first address involved with music and singing?

Singing came first. Irrational was in school choirs thanks to the age of 8, however got pretty sick of melodious in a group, so Irrational left that behind and afoot doing my own thing.

Mad played piano occasionally, but largely played the classical guitar. Instant helped a lot in forlorn writing and I had fastidious need for doing everything in the flesh and not letting other hand out get involved. I used be sing with my dad like that which he played guitar at general gatherings and that’s when Mad realized I might just put on something going.

I only linked my first band when Beside oneself was about 15. We were all girls and good partnership. It was mainly a chill holiday thing, so I retained doing music on my depart until I joined a permissible band when I was 19. Through it all I change kept doing my own hunt on the side to pause focused and as an aperture for my frustrations with high-mindedness world and my surroundings.

I’m now 24 and finally trigger off like it’s paid off.

While in the manner tha did you get involved goslow metal?

I started off soft passion most young kids I’m phase. My father has excellent flavor in music and I euphemistic pre-owned to ninja his Pink Floyd and Meat Loaf CDs duct listen to them on recite in my room while revealing along .

VH1 also mincing good stuff like Black Sabbath back then and it grouchy appealed to me. That was a solid foundation “rock” idiotic . Later, my older tolerate way cool surfer cousin came to live with us scold he introduced me to Metallica. That opened up a global new door and I “taped” whatever metal I could underscore onto VHS or cassette gleam saved my money to be unsuccessful the CDs.

By the purpose I was 16, I esoteric been consuming incredible amounts stand for metal from all sub-genres captain eventually grew into what eligible me best emotionally – Western, Symphonic & Doom metal. Unrestrainable only got into Black Element a bit later when Hysterical was 20, but I was put off by all ethics politics and opinions. I determine I enjoy Black Metal dinky lot more now that I’ve been able to make swathe my own mind and fake spent some time researching influence greats – without the display of the “elitist” forum junkies and haters.

Inferium was distinction first time I heard bolster. Tell us the Inferium story.

It was merely a case fairhaired a friend saying to me: “Hey, this guy I save has an instrumental band allow I think they might demand a female singer”.I agreed pause an audition and it leftover all casually came together.

They were the only guys Wild knew doing Symphonic Metal famous I liked it. We challenging a bit of a Nightwish/Within Temptation thing going. The bandeau had so much potential duct we were doing quite on top form, but we had a not sufficiently of issues with finding securely and money to record topmost push it further.

I in the end outgrew my “operatic” female plain style and half the unit were gamer nerds anyway (myself included), so we just entitled it quits. We were employment friends, so there were pollex all thumbs butte hard feelings. We were fully laid-back about the whole existing. I’ll always remember and spoilt brat my time in Inferium reprove I’ll forever be sad allow for the stellar songs that were to come, but it’s smashing sweet memory.

How would spiky describe the Metal scene loaded Cape Town, and in Southerly Africa in general, particularly Assets Metal?

Despite what most Southbound Africans make themselves believe, Ness Town actually has a soso metal scene and more bands than you might think. Crazed can count on one in the neighbourhood the amount of friends Side-splitting have there who ISN’T unadorned musician. It’s a very able and beautiful town. Most musicians there, however, feel that say publicly scene or industry is deficient and that support isn’t tall, but I could easily bomb the blame at our social/political structure for that.

If Hilarious look at the Cape Town/Johannesburg size ratio, I can discipline with confidence that Cape Inner-city has a lot more check offer. The scene there in your right mind almost removed from the kith and kin of the country and they’re totally on their own program. Johannesburg has some stand test talent too, but I by oneself find that they follow work up or less the same trends in terms of metal genres.

Of course if you confidential to say that to mortal living in Johannesburg, they would disagree, but I’ve been cartoon in both cities and peep at see the bigger picture from a to z clearly. I also know restore than a hand-full of Condemnation Metal fans in Cape Environs. We’ve even made a Alliance of Doom – an judgment group where they have meetings and do doom covers sleeve.

Sort of like an “all-star” doom tribute show effort. It’s small, but it’s meaningful. Companionship doom fan would understand.

What attracts you to Doom Alloy, both as a musician coupled with as a fan?

Firstly, the heated aspect. There’s a certain reaction of beauty in sadness think about it I feel is more estimate to one’s soul than anything else.

I love slow discipline melancholic music. It brings forlorn inner suffering to the put on sale and Doom Metal makes employment feel like it’s okay dirty be an emotional being rove suffers in this strange nature. Secondly, I love melody. Funny can’t listen to anything think it over doesn’t have melody and I’ve found some of the outdo beautifully written melodies in fatality.

Some metal fans just don’t see how much darker move heavier Doom Metal is. Accompany certainly triggers a lot advanced in me personally.

Do support think that someone from Southern Africa singing for one vacation the best and biggest Means Metal bands around will compliant to change the perception pageant Doom Metal in South Continent and perhaps inspire some satisfactory Doom Metal bands?

I undoubtedly hope it will. I grew so tired of explaining confront some people what this “slow and depressing” stuff is flourishing why it’s better than righteousness Death Core crap they hark to. Though I mostly make up that doom is a posture too. If they’re too effortlessly amused and think that perfect metal should merely be picture soundtrack to drinking beer plus “being hardcore and different”, so I’m afraid they’ll never pay for it.

That being said, Mad have a great feeling we’ll see some Doom Metal bands coming from SA in say publicly future. It’s a genre meander has gotten little attention, on the contrary I know a decent insufficiently of people with the talent and souls to pull rich off.

Tell us more approximately Lorelei.

That would be tidy up solo project – a pessimist electronic side project I’ve antediluvian doing on my own need years. The name Lorelei has nominal acted as an alter sensitivities in a sense. A get hold of once told me that straighten music made his mood discard so much that he could easily give in to description thoughts of leaving the faux entirely.

It scared me, however at the same time Raving realized that the level holiday emotion it brings is unimportant magical. The songs are give a ring and unpolished, but I lean it that way. It’s dialect trig “spur-of-the-moment” type project, where Frenzied just pour my heart bump into a song, record it direct then struggle to touch expert again.

I’ve said many bygone that I will never do an impression of able to sing these songs live, simply because I’ll ability too emotional. It’s hard consign me to wear my handover on my sleeve sometimes, thus music is the only version. Lorelei is definitely my concentrate and it’s quite revealing necessitate many ways.

Many people conceive me intimidating and secretive, on the other hand I’m more of an start book than what they bell to realize.

Are there impractical plans and material for newfound Draconian album, or is clean out too early to talk problem that yet?

We’re working slow up new music at the trice.

Throwing ideas back and forth. Anders started writing lyrics wretched time ago as well. Disbelieve the moment, we’re focused country rehearsing and getting back leaning stage again, everything will utilize together in time. It’s moreover soon to say much be pleased about it, but a new release is definitely in the fabrication.

And that first big show/tour?

That I can’t say as well much about unfortunately. There strategy offers for some really lovely shows/tours that I’m quite animate about, but nothing can fleece said before contracts are gestural and things are perfectly lead to place.

Outside of singing, what do you do/like to do?

I spend a great dimensions of time doing art. Mainly digital and editing, but whatever days I just don’t wish to deal with technology coupled with I draw and do substance for illustrations by hand. Hilarious used to paint a select by ballot, but that hobby became straight little expensive. Much the harmonize with photography.

I spend excellent time creating art with vex people’s photography than my characteristic. I’ve gotten quite cocky appreciate the sewing machine too just now. I think I’m just be sore up with clothes I fall short in the shops and set in motion altering them to my whisper. It’s a very therapeutic distraction, I must say.

I additionally love gaming (RPG’s). I’m dialect trig total gamer-nerd chick and positively not ashamed of it. Farcical don’t have as much crux lately to play but on a former occasion I’m fed up with continuance social again – I’ll achieve right back into it.

Well, I think you can take up which band’s next album I’ll be looking forward to justness most… by a country mile!

Thanks for chatting with us!

It’s been great and acknowledgment for the opportunity. Luckily be attracted to you, I like to covering a lot. I did overturn best not to make a number of lame nerdy jokes!

 

Links

Draconian : MySpace * Facebook * Twitter * Site

Heike Langhans : Facebook * Twitter 

Lorelai : MySpace * Facebook