Интервю с GUNNAR и TERJI (TÝR)

I finally have the opportunity to see Týr live (although it’s in Romania), even to interview the boys and to finally convince myself that they are really great guys. And also to forget half of the questions that were on my mind, haha..
Terji and Gunnar and the other members of the band are extremely earthy people, funny, nice and respect their fans. 🙂

Terji & Gunnar

Please first introduce yourselves.
Gunnar: Hello, this is Gunnar, bass player in Týr.
Terji: And this is Terji Skibenaes, guitars for Týr.

So I’ve heard different pronunciatios of the band name. I call you Tyr [Tiar], but I’ve heard also [Tiuir]
T: It’s [Tuir] actually.

Is that Faroese?
T: Yes, that’s the Faroese.
G: But we always say „Tiar“.

So how is the tour going so far? You’re on the road few days now.
T: Yeah, we’re on the road a week now, something like that.
G: We tend to forgive after a while 😀

And you’re playing some of the new songs. How are people accepting them?
T: Very good, actually.
G: Yeah, very good.

And all you’ve heard from fans for the album it’s positive.
T: It’s getting really good reviews.

I really like it. I think it’s brilliant, a great album.
T: Thank you.

Maybe you can tell us more about how long did you record it, how long did you write the music..
G: It didn’t take that long to record it.
T: We were at the studio for a month. No..18 days.

Only 18 days?
T: Yeah
G: But the writing process was two months, I think.
T: My songs on the album were ready long time ago actually.

Are there more already written songs that we’ll hear on future albums?
T, G: Yes.
G: We’ll beat it out all of them.

Do you think of more duets with some other singers, more female vocals?
T: We haven’t thought about that yet. Maybe. Well, we have thought about some, but not female. I guess someone will be on the next album also.

And how did you decide to invite Liv Kristine?
G: We know the band for many years. Heri met her.
T: And they talked about it.
G: We had the right song for this album, so we asked her and she said yes.

Which band would you like to do your cover?
G: Iron Maiden. Or Metallica. Or Dream Theater.

And how did you come up to with concept? You have this written songs some time ago, do you think of the concept while writing them?
G: For the concept.. It think it happened on tour.
T: I don’t know. That’s mostly Heri, you should ask him.

I just got it on my mind. I met Audrey Dujardin /that has shooted your photosession/ few weeks ago. She told me about a naked girl there..
(Both laughing) G: Yeah, we actually had a girl on the photoshoot.
T: A stripper.
G: But we decided not to use these pictures.
T: Maybe they will be used for some promo photos.

Aha. Because I thought of some bonus artwork on the CD 😀
T: No, it’s not on there.

Some kind of erotic edition 😀 
How has the fact that you’ve grown up in Scandinavia has mainly influenced your music? You have this heavy metal influences like Black Sabbath too. And do you think that only people from Scandinavia can make that kind of folk music because they understand it better?
G: The reason that we do this is ‘cuz we our have very rich tradition in singing those folk songs that we have for a long time. You can’t come from somewhere else, I don’t think you can do that.

Yeah, exactly. I live in Bulgaria- a small country but with many traditions. We have our different culture, history and folk music. And nobody in other countries can do the same.
G: No, but you can do the same with your traditional music. It’s all about using that for something.

What about the cover songs you do? How do you decide- maybe you have different favourite songs.
T: Yes. For “The lay of Thrym” Heri and Kari used their favourites, for this album it’s me and Gunnar. Mine was Pantera and his was Iron Maiden.

Very good choice!
G: Yeeeeah 🙂
T: I don’t understand him but.. 😀

Was is hard to record this high notes for “Cemetery gates“ ?
G: No.

Yeah, he has the voice.
T: It was quite easy for him.
G: It was actually really easy
T: But I don’t know how it’s gonna work live 😀 But we don’t play live covers anyway, so..

Why not?
G: Oh, it’s..we just don’t.

Terji, I saw a picture of you getting a new tattoo. What is it?
T: Oh. It’s this. (showing his left arm)
It’s not finished yet. It’s gonna be finished in October. It’s gonna be the whole hand.

Like the other one?
T: Yes.

When did you get your first tattoo?
T: I think I was 17.

Oh, I am 17.
T: Well, it’s time to get tattoed! 😀

Do you regret for any of your tattoos and don’t like now?
T: Yes, my first one. But it’s covered.

I know you also do some tattoos on the road.
T: Yeah, but I haven’t started yet. Hopefully I will start one day 😀

I’ve seen your works and they’re good.
How did you started playing your instruments, why didn’t you choose drums for example?
T: I wanted to play drums, but my parents didn’t allow me. So they bought me a guitar 😀
G: It’s probably the same here 😀

You wanted to play drums? We all do..
T: Here’s the lucky one. 😀 (Amon stopping by)
G: It’s just bass because of Steve Harris, so..
T: I also started playing guitar because of Steve Harris 😀

And what about you? You started playing drums because of Steve Harris? 😀
Amon: Haha, no. Probably because of Lars Ulrich.
T: I also started playing guitar because of Kirk Hammett of Metallica.

And when did this happen?
T: I was 13 or 14.

Do you have any musicians in your family? Have you ever imagined that someday being a musician will be your work?
T: I always hoped so. But in my family there are some; my brother plays guitar. But he sucks 😀
G: There’s no one in my family. Now there are 2 more, but after I became a musician…(thinking) Nope, no musicians. All fishermen.

I always ask some non-sense questions like favourite books, etc…
T: Favourite boobs?

Haha, no. Do you have some?
T: Favourite books or boobs?

Both. 😀
G: Oh, he has some.
T: For books.. I don’t read, so I don’t know.

What about your favourite song? Of all time.
T: “Cemetery gates”. That’s why I picked it for the album.
G: For me it’s “Where eagles dare” 🙂

And you have this Cowboys from hell tattoo. When did you get it?
T: 10 years ago, something like that.

Did you have favourite subjects at school?
G: Science.
T: I don’t know- I didn’t attend school much.

That’s interesting with the Science. What did you wanted to become when you were little?
G: Pilot. And a diver. I became a diver, but not a pilot.

At first I heard a “pirate”
G: Haha 😀
T: We all heard that.

Is there a metal scene in your country?
G: There is no metal scene. There’s a big music scene.

Has it grown after you started?
T: No..It’s been more or less trough the years.

But people do support you there?
T: Yes.

You and the football team.
T: Oh, they get much more treatment than us 😀

(Amon passing by again)
G: This is Amon. He is…

Oh, I know. We already met outside and he signed our Heljareyga CDs. 🙂
G: Oooh, I see 🙂 He’s on this tour and we hope it’s gonna be him. 😉
A: Of course you are. 🙂

What do you do on tour- what’s you daily routine? I saw you do some jogging.
T: Just wait.
G: Wait, wait,wait. Maybe take a walk. And wait again.

How do you feel after signing with the new label?
G: It’s too early to say. We need the album to be out for a while to see how are things going. But it looks good.

Thank you very much!
What are your final words, what would you like say to the Bulgarian fans the readers of Metal Hangar 18?
T: Buy our CDs!
A: Buy our CDs and come to our shows!
G: And rock your ass off!

Tonight?
G: Tonight and every night. 😀

You can see the photos from the show here, English version of the concert’s report will be available soon.