You've released your third album The Buried Crown with invited 9 classical musicians. I was thinking that it would be a great metal-symphony, but there are more progressive than symphonic elements in your music. Do you agree with me?
Yes I agree with you. But it's very difficult to sound symphonic with only 9 musicians ! The aim was to record real instruments instead of playing them with the keyboard. The Buried Crown is a progressive metal album. We never wanted to make it symphonic but it was more clever to record a real flute, a real oboe… to make it sound better.
Thomas Letscher played all key-solos. Does it mean that Lindsay didn't want to play these ones?
No, of course. Lindsay have a piano player approach. She learned the piano in a Conservatoire but never learn improvisation or making solos. Thomas participated a lot in the composition of this record and composed some parts where he wanted to play solos. When we start to record, he had already left the band but we asked him if he still wanted to play these solos for Elvaron… he said yes.
I mean that Thomas is an only guest on TBC and he won't play and record with you as a normal band's member. Won't it?
No, he probably won't play on the next album because is more involved in playing guitar now in his own band. But it's possible that we work again together for composing songs in Elvaron… but not to play.
Why did Fred Seiler leave the band?
Well, he didn't leave the band, we fired him. His motivation was at the lowest point and we needed someone more involved in Elvaron. Moreover, he had difficulties to play the new songs, it was to hard for him.
What did it happen that you know Lindsay and started playing with her? What was so unusual in this young girl that you admitted her to Elvaron?
We are opened to all young gifted musicians… and Lindsay is one of those ! She also plays with Nico and Fred in an other band.
The lyrical concept of TBC is based on Letscher's story titled The Call Of The Black Dragon but if I am right the same subject matter was told on The Five Shires?
Well, not really. Thomas Letscher wrote The call of the black dragon during the composition of The Five Shires. So the first half of this record is based on my lyrics then we tried to make it possible to deviate on The call of the black dragon concept.
I wonder if you will continue Raistlin's adventures in lyrics?
In fact, we will not make an heroic fantasy concept again. So, for now, we won't continue Raistlin's adventures. We decided to take another conceptual direction for the next album. We will work with a French author.
I'd like to come back to the debut. I had an impression that you played any classical motif in Foredoomed. Could you tell us what it is and why did you choose it to play?
Yes. This is the theme of a Mozart's Symphony. We choose to play that part for fun.
Staying by the question above, I'd like to know if you played any other classical excerpts in Elvaron's music? If so, could you name them?
Yes, in each Elvaron's album there is a classical excerpt. I just told you that in the Mages Battle album, we play that Mozart theme. In The Five Shires we play a Mendelssohn's Lieder arranged for two guitars, bass, drums and piano. It's in the second part of The Elves of Alfheim. There is also an anonym folk song that is played in introduction of this song. In The Buried Crown, I play Zapateado of Joaquim Rodrigo in the middle of Warhead. And if you want to know, this is an exclusivity for Heavy Metal Pages readers : in the next album, we will play the second movement of the Francis Poulenc's Flute and piano sonata.
Satan Laughs consists of more progressive elements than other tracks on the debut. In my viewpoint, it was an anticipation of your third album where are there the most prog ingredients. Am I right?
You're perfectly right on this point. We consider this song as the first Elvaron step into the progressive music. We wrote this song with Julien (first bass player) in his parent's kitchen in 1995. It took maybe 45 minutes ! It's really incredible because, most of the time we need some years to write a good song !!!
Let's move to The Five Shires. You played jazz impromptus in The Northern Reaches. Do you like this genre? How big influence has it on your music?
It's not really jazz impromptus. It's more a joke than a real jazz influence. I tried to play “out” and have some fun to play this part during our concerts. But there is no jazz influence in Elvaron. I personally don't listen to that kind of music except some “Jazz Ladies”.
In my opinion, the track The Orcs Of Thar has a lot in common with death metal. I think that it is a merit of guest playing of Julien Skorka in this composition. Do you agree with my opinion?
Yes. We wanted that The orcs of Thar was the most aggressive song of the album. That's the reason why Julien did all raw vocals. Moreover it's fast, powerful and evil !
Thomas Letscher thanks Nightwish on the TFS, but I don't listen to any similar elements of his style to Tuomas Holopainen's. Your mind?
Thomas is a really prolific composer. He wrote many songs… some that we used in The Buried Crown. But during the composition of The Five Shires, I think he was only listening to Nightwish all day. It was this year when we saw them in concert and hang around with Nightwish after the show.
Changing the ground. There comes and goes the name of Scarve in the Elvaron's history. Do you owe anything to this band? If I am right, Matthieu and Alain Germonville found sympho-black metal band Akroma, but Scarve is a band of Alain? Do you like his music there?
Well, I first met Dirk (Scarve Drummer) in 1995 and buy him the first Scarve demo tape. Then I became an absolute fan. Today I have all albums and rare stuffs. Alain is not in this band anymore but it's been a long time since we decided to work together. I recorded to first demo of a band he used to play with. It was in 1998 and I discovered this incredible voice. I think he is one of the best black metal French singer.
Matthieu and Nicolas play in MoXid. Tell us something about this band.
The band does exist under this name and line-up anymore. The guitarist and main composer does not live in France anymore but in South America. We will decide of the MoXid's future in September.
I know that Matthieu and Nicolas also have their cover-band Harlock Generation that plays songs from manga movies in metal version. It can seem to me to be very interesting. More details?
Nicolas never played in this band. Just me, Thomas and Julien. We had this idea one night to form a cover band playing manga themes. I know that manga songs (as manga names) are different in each country. So it will only interest our French fans… but everybody can listen to all that on our web site in the Downloads topic. Maybe the name of these mangas won't be friendly but the pictures can help you to guess what it is.
What is Nancyphonies? Does it mean The Symphony Orchestra from Nancy?
No, it's the name of the music festival where I work. It's my everyday job. It's a classical music summer festival. It takes place in Nancy from 12 th july to 14 th august.
I know that Frederic and Lindsay participate in The Amal'gamme Orchestra. I guess that you met both them there and invited to play in Elvaron. Was it in that way? Tell us more about The Amal'gamme Orchestra.
Yes. Amal'gamme is a cover band playing for weddings, new year's day, independence day… Nicolas plays sometimes with them to make some money. When we were looking for a drummer, Nicolas asked Fred to play in Elvaron. That's the story. We did the same with Lindsay when we were looking for a keyboard player.
I must admit that your attitude is admirable. You promote metal music in academic companies. Tell us something about your activity on this ground.
I used to work on the influence of classical writing in heavy metal when I was in university. It's really interesting to see how heavy metal integrates the art of composing. In many ways : harmony, instrumentation… I personally think that the best musicians can be found in metal. Most of the time they have a real musical formation. In France, Heavy Metal have a bad image. People fear this music. That's why I try to prove that this image is wrong.
You are well-educated musician, so could you tell us about your adventure in music schools? What did you like or dislike there? What did musical background bring to your life and music?
I think that education is primordial if you want to understand the music. Knowing why you play this note and not another is the essence of music. Each teacher I had bring me a specific knowledge because of their personal approach of the instrument. That's here I learn to play with others musicians and listen to them while I'm playing too. Music is my life, it's my way of life. I think, breathe, eat and drink music everyday and it's never-ending.
Your guitar and classical heroes?
Guitar heroes : Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci.
Classical Heroes : Debussy, Poulenc and all the French music of the 19 th century.
How do you mention concert with Iron Maiden and Helloween in 1998?
A friend of mine was in charge to find an opening band for their concert in Nancy in 1998. That was a great opportunity for us.
I know that you play gigs mainly in France. Have you ever played abroad? Are you going to play promo concerts in the nearest future?
We never played abroad and it's a shame… We would like to play every where in the world but we didn't have any opportunity up to know… If someone listen to us…
Have you composed any new tracks on the fourth album? Could you hide any secrets relate to the next record?
Yes, we have already 2 songs done and 6 others under construction. The next album will be shorter, not more than 60 minutes for 8 tracks. We are working on the concept with a French author.
It was the last question to you. Thank you very much for your time and all answers. What would you like to say towards our Polish readers?
Stay Metal, keep reading Heavy Metal Pages and listen to Elvaron's last album : The Buried Crown. Cheers !!
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