I first met the founder and frontman Alexander Krull and frontwoman Elina Siirala when I did an interview/show review last December at the City National Grove of Anaheim. Five months later, it’s great to see them again on a North American tour in support of Sabaton.
In my last interview, I learned about the symphonic metal band Leaves’ Eyes, the type of instruments used the choirs and combining Opera style vocals with metal music. I had the pleasure catching up with Alex and Elina this tour to discuss the upcoming album, to be released in January 2018, the writing process, Elina’s vocal lessons on tour and Alex’s passion with the Viking re-enactment camp.
I’m here with frontman Alexander Krull and frontwoman Elina Siirala of Leaves’ Eyes at the City National Grove of Anaheim. Hello, how are you?
Elina: Good. How are you?
Alex: Great. Thank you.
I’m doing well, thank you. It’s been five months since I’ve seen you last, this time around you are the opening act for Sabaton, what has been the difference in tours so far?
Alex: It’s sold out tour, let’s say, most of the venues have been sold out in advance and, yeah, it’s fantastic audience, we are happy that we came back so early.
Like you’ve mentioned the tour has been sold out show after show, does that change how you approach the performance? Knowing there’s a packed house.
Elina: No. It’s the same show you do for ten people or for 10,000 people. It doesn’t really matter, right? The same.
Elina, now that you have your first tour under your belt, is there anything you’re doing differently this time around? Maybe you’ve learned the tricks of the trade.
Elina: Oh, well. Not really. But, it’s just being more familiar, like knowing how things work with the bus and everything. So, it’s more relaxed I think in every way. Yeah.
Alex: Yeah. This tour is more relaxed.
You also are offering vocal lessons on limited show dates, how is that going? I don’t know how long the sessions are, what can you teach a student in one session?
Elina: I do have an hour (laughs). Well, what can I say quickly? It’s been great, too. I had one lesson in New York and basically, what we did is some warm-up and I explained some of what they wanted to know about the breathing technique quite detailed also. And then, they all wrote a song, they sang for me and then we worked on whatever they find difficult. It’s always different things with different people; so, it could be anything, anything really. It’s always interesting. I like teaching.
Alex, you go to a Viking camp, what drew you to this, besides the love for the Viking era? Tell us a little bit about this?
Alex: Yeah, if I have the time I join events like this. It’s actually the interest into the Viking re-enactment scene. There are also groups in the U.S. like our brothers of Jomsborg Vikings; it’s a thing that’s going on all over the world. Friends of mine, the Vaerjaborg Vikings from our area have been with us in the video clips also the album artwork, and on stage like other groups, too. I do combat training with them. I’m also with the Jomsborg Vikings, which is a very big group of the Viking re-enactment scene. And of course, we have friends of a lot of other Viking groups as well. So, in the case of the band Leaves’ Eyes, they all come together and join us on stage whenever possible, also on this tour. On our special show in Belgium with our Viking ship on stage, we had Vikings out of 5 countries. And they love our kind of music, too. They love that we combine Northern mythology and Viking history, and stuff like that combined with the music of Leaves’ Eyes. So, that’s something that brings people together. There are indeed a lot of rock and metal fans becoming re-enactment Vikings nowadays, for example. Yeah.
So, it’s like a stage performance?
Alex: Is much more than that. Viking re-enactment is like a passion for living history or even a lifestyle. And it’s not only about the battles on medieval events which are always the highlight of such kind of events. But it’s not only the weapons and stuff. It’s also the clothing, markets, camping together and meeting other people with the same passion. It’s like people meeting on events and, you don’t see cell phones there and stuff like that. People even try to reproduce the cooking and everything; from jewelry, clothing, the whole lifestyle to houses, to ships, to replicas of old weapons and everything combined with the medieval markets. You have blacksmith’s and other skilled workers there who are producing all kinds of stuff and people who sell handmade accessories. And most of the time the people trade with each other and stuff like that and even make their living from that. It’s a very, very special atmosphere at such an event. Like a time out of modern life.
Okay, it’s like a town or a city?
Alex: It’s not only at one place. Events going on in several places in Europe or other parts in the world. You can go to Medieval Festivals and also specialized Viking events. They’re in Germany, in Scandinavia, in Poland, all over Europe. Let’s say, where those like Viking groups, they make events.
The new Leaves’ Eyes album is set to be released in January 2018. You were in the studio a little bit before heading out on this tour. What’s next?
Alex: Well, the studio work. We prepared already a lot in the studio with Elina. We worked on the vocal lines already and most of the songs are prepared and ready to go. When we come back, we’re going to write some more material. And then there will be the recording sessions with everything like from drums to vocals, guitar and of course choirs, natural instruments and the symphonic instruments as well.
The writing process, Elina do you contribute to the writing process or are lyrics written around your phenomenal voice?
Elina: Oh, well, it’s the way it is. Tosso and Alex always have been the main writers, so there have already been a lot of songs done. And, like Alex said, we worked on the vocal lines, of course, I need to know that so it fits my range and that’s comfortable. So, in that way, I’ve been involved now in the demo phase. And everything can still change. That’s the thing. Even the last minute, something can go, “Oh, let’s try this,” and, you know. It’s not set in stone.
Alex: It’s like how we say it, a very good teamwork working together…
Collaboration?
Alex: Yeah. It’s really cool with Tosso we did all these concepts and the music together, and we have Elina, a vocalist who is also giving us opportunities to try; like she’s had already some other stuff out. We take care of the vocal range, first of all. But, also how I could be, like a different tone or something like that. Of course, we keep the spirit of Leaves’ Eyes. We keep everything we’ve done before. So, we don’t make a break and start over with everything. And some people were like, “Oh, will you continue on the start there?” Of course.
In our interview the last tour, we spoke a little bit about the lyrics, writing about ancient history, Norse Mythology or the Norwegian Viking age. King of Kings released in 2015 via AFM Records was a concept album, centered around the saga of Norway’s first King. Will the new release be another concept album or are you going a different direction?
Alex: Yeah. that’s a good question because it’s not like we always release concept albums. So, I think with the next one coming up, we try to reach out to other shore’s legs, let’s say; not combine it on only one storyline, which I find very interesting, to bring in maybe some stuff even connected to King of Kings. Yeah, so that’s like a lot of ideas are on the table. We’ll see how we sew them together.
Tosso does all the musical writing?
Alex: We do it together. Tosso is from the guitar side, of course; he’s guitar player. But he also writes most of the instrumental melodies, choirs, and classical arrangements. So, a lot of stuff. I’m there for the vocal lines, song arrangements, lyrics, rhythm stuff, sound design, and production.
That helps, right? (Laughs)
Alex: Yeah. Well, the good part is here, that everybody has their swings in the team. And then we put them together and that’s like, teamwork, right? And, that’s how it was going for the other albums as well. And we are always looking for some input from the other guy or also Elina; when we sit together, we are doing vocal ideas and vocal recordings, we also speak like “How do you like that?” and trying out other voices and melodies and stuff like that. It’s something which grows and develops during the process.
I know we’re in the early stages. How many songs are you looking at to put on the upcoming album?
Alex: It’s a good question. But, I think it’s around 15 songs or something like that. We have an election. We think they are very good. And then, the strongest ones we pick and additionally, we write others on top. I really can’t say how many will make it on the album. We have also started with some ideas, where we find, “Okay, maybe this is not the right time for that song at the moment.” We keep it and do another one. It has to have that feel for the overall record. Because you shouldn’t do all the same on one album, for example. So, we try to keep a variety within the music, which is also important I think for Leaves’ Eyes.
It’s fascinating to hear how it’s done. I struggle writing an interview (laughs). I have a lot of respect for the songwriting process.
Lastly, your label AFM records. Originally Leaves’ Eyes was with Napalm Records 2004 – 2014. King of Kings was the first album to be released under AFM in 2015, what did AFM records bring to the table that suited you?
Alex: Well, I mean, we had been with Napalm Records about ten years or something, and it was just time for a change. And, I know the owner of AFM Records since my teenage days I think. And we worked together in the business also a long time ago. When I was working for a record company, he was working for the distribution company; so, we had like experienced a lot with other stuff too. He was managing also a band and stuff like that. So, when, let’s say, the time was right and they’re getting in touch with us, we decided to go for a new refreshing and they did a really, really good job, I must say. Now, it’s even our second North American tour supporting us for King of Kings, and we made video clips. Everything is running really, really cool.
It’ almost show time, is there anything else you would like to add?
Elina: Just, a huge thank you to everyone who’s organized this tour. It’s been a really great tour so far and enjoyable. And great audiences.
Yes, sold out! That must be an amazing feeling.
Elina: Yeah.
Alex: Yeah. It’s something, doesn’t happen every day, such a tour. And really appreciate touring together with Sabaton and Battle Beast, fine guys, all of them.
Elina is off to change for the show. Alex tell us a little bit more about the Viking re-enactment and the battles, I find it very interesting, I’m sure the readers would love to know a little bit more?
Alex: A lot of people out there are interested in the battles of such events, but it’s very important the fighters are prepared. There are rules to follow in the battle and aware if someone gets hit where it’s allowed and when somebody has to go out of the battle and stuff like that. And of course, the way you work with the weapons on the battlefield. And that’s very important because to prevent injuries and things like that can happen. Of course, you get bruises and stuff. Well, yeah, it’s more like that if you go to a competing extreme sports event with historical background. But it’s not the people are aggressive or out for fighting only, it’s more like a martial arts thing – a competition. That’s for the side of their advancements when people go to battle and they have formations. They must follow orders by their commanders and Jarls. A Jarl is a leader of a Viking group and so they have also orders and strategies how the battle goes on etc. and of course they all want to win [laughs]. It’s like when you have groups of people and you have like a tournament.
So, like fencing?
Alex: Something like that, yeah.
There are rules.
Alex: Yeah, absolutely and it’s trained and they’re experts out there training others. Also, joined the Viking groups and train with them and it’s a hard workout, I can tell you, especially with the armor on. It is like a quite heavy stuff and yeah, it’s a hard work out [laughs].
[laughs] Is there like levels, like Karate has different color belts.
Alex: Well, kind of, yeah, if you join for example a certain group or event, you must take a test before you join a battle, they control, are you able to be on the battlefield yourself?
Wow!
Alex: Yeah, of course.
So, you must pass the test before you go to battle?
Alex: Yeah, yeah. And there also judges and they take you out if you are just got hit and you still continue to fight and things like that.
I see your pictures and find it very interesting and something different.
Alex: It’s something different and the very cool thing, here we can connect it with our band and I’m always into that stuff and it’s sometimes a little bit of a tricky situation because, in the summer time when we have this open-air festival for the metal music, you go there with the band. And of course, it happens that some of these events are at the same time.
Okay.
Alex: So, I cannot go everywhere I want to and also be careful you don’t want to get hurt and lose a gig.
Can’t get injured!
Alex: Exactly and it happens very fast and then you cannot cancel the show because of stuff like that. But anyway, for me, it’s very cool to meet all the Viking groups on tour, to have them on stage with us, to meet them. There are guys coming from Texas, we had guys from Canada on stage, yeah and exchanging some ideas and to hear where they’re going in North America to Medieval events. Some guys come over to Europe and some guys come here even and train with Vikings here. The Viking scene is global, even people from New Zealand or Chile are in the Jomsborg Viking army, isn’t that great?
Wow!
Alex: People from England like I said from all over Europe. And it’s big coming together, you can compare it a little bit to the global heavy metal scene as well. Like people have their special hobby or passion. You know for something in doing it and living the lifestyle and like I said there are metal fans nowadays joining that kind of lifestyle because through the music they get to know with that.
Are their certain areas, I mean I haven’t seen it here.
Alex: Well, I think you may have some other kind of re-enactment groups also about the North and South, you remember?
Oh, yes. (laughs)
Alex: There was something (laughs). And they do the battles as well like Gettysburg – or whatever and you can compare with that but there are also re-enactment groups of Roman times, gladiators and that people who like medieval stuff with knights and horses. There’s always like period of times where people prefer to do the re-enactment.
Okay.
Alex: Some compare it to the LARP scene with all kinds of subgroups. But the LARP scene is different in general. It’s more about fantasy, about all kind of role games and maybe inspired more by fantasy art, movies or books, although there is live action role plays with historical backgrounds or time levels. A re-enactment is about the real side of history, authentic clothing, and weapons or living the history – bringing it back to life. Some pictures you saw of me online are taken at the Wallmuseum Oldenburg, North Germany and the event over there is called “Slawentage”! My brothers and sisters of the “Jomsborg eLag Starigard” Viking group are in the organization team. It’s a very nice event and place! A lot of people go there, there are historic built houses like the Viking village, the museum, ships, hundreds of tents…a place you can go and camp there yourself and do the lifestyle at this special event in the summer-time. A lot of families go there, too.
Wow, that is interesting.
Alex: And I think, it’s showtime [laughs].
Thank you very much, I look forward to the show!!
Check out these Viking photos on Leaves’ Eyes‘ Facebook page from The battle of Starigard.
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