EMYN MUIL – the bandname already shows that the solo-project of Nartum is dedicated to Tolkien. On his second album „Elenion Ancalima“ the Italian solo-musician takes us on a journey to the mystical world of Middle-Earth, by playing black metal inspired by Summoning. In the following interview you can read more about Nartum’s five musical projects, his musical role-models, the link to the „Silmarillion“ on his new record and his opinion on the „Hobbit“ trilogy.
Nartum is your musical alias, you are a solo musician. Many of our readers might still be unfamiliar with you, so please start by introducing yourself.
Well, actually there’s no much to say… ever since I discovered that Falkenbach was a solo project ten years ago, I wanted to create something on my own and devote myself to my favourite musical genres. It all started with Ymir project, that was my first experiment which was about composing atmospheric black metal with folk influences. I chose Nartum as alias because it means “absence” (however, it can have several meanings of interpretation) and it comes from the black speech of Mordor.
Which bands, musicians and artists in general have influenced you the most?
Well, for EMYN MUIL, of course, there are Summoning and Lord Wind, for all the other projects I also got inspired by the music of Vratyas Vakyas (Falkenbach), Moonsorrow, Burzum and Wardruna.
Of course, I get my inspiration also from other sources such as video games (first of all the „Elder Scrolls“ saga and „Dragon Age“ – concerning some art design) and movies such as colossal fantasy films (the first „Conan“ with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the most recent „The Lord Of The Rings“ films by Peter Jackson).
What, in your opinion, are your strengths and weaknesses as a musician?
Well, I cannot say that I’m a “pro” musician, I just play the guitar a little bit, just good enough for my purpose, but I really like composing, that’s my strong point. On the other hand, I have many difficulties when writing lyrics. I’m trying to improve myself with each release.
Under the title „Nartum Art – Music Projects“ you plan to create five musical entities, each of them stilistically and thematically different from one another. Why is it necessary to create so many different musical projects?
Because each project represents my favourite black metal subgenres, viking, epic, space doom, old school and ritual ambient. I always wanted to explore and dedicate myself to all these musical styles because they are part of my personality and all of these projects are connected to each other.
Three of them – Ymir, Valtyr and EMYN MUIL – already exist. How would you describe them in a few words?
Ymir is the project where I explore the most introspective part of my mind, it’s a kind of primordial space travel, because I have always been keen of sci-fi horror movies.
Valtyr represents my passion for norse mythology and that historic period, so it’s my personal homage to that culture and world.
EMYN MUIL represents my love for Tolkien’s lore and his epic stories, it is connected to Valtyr in some way, and also with my yet to come ritual ambient project, so that’s why actually all my projects are very important to me.
Can you already tell us something about the outstanding two projects?
The final two projects will complete “Nartum Art – Music Projects” since they represent my last two favourite musical genres: old school black metal and ambient/neo-folk. I already chose the band names but there’s nothing composed yet since I’m still working on EMYN MUIL, so I don’t think they will come to life that soon…
On which factors did or does it depend when these projects were or will be realized?
First of all, time and energy, with my current job I can only dedicate my time to EMYN MUIL for now. Of course, when a particular inspiration for a melody arrives, I’ll try to record it and put it aside for better times.
„Nartum Art – Music Projects“ seems to suggest that you are also creating something apart from music. Is that true and if so, what is it?
Actually, yes, it is true, I like to dedicate myself to other arts such as drawing and leather crafting, I’d like to set up a real “arts & crafts” studio one day, which would be called Nartum Art Studio and I’d also like to be a tattoo artist, create music, graphic design and leather craft. That would be my ideal life in an ideal world, but unfortunately I have to face reality and keep that idea as a dream. But sometimes dreams come true, right? So we’ll see…
Let’s talk about EMYN MUIL. With this project you pay hommage to the works of Tolkien and the music of Summoning, Caladan Blood, etc., right? Why was it important to you to follow their example and in which way is your music different from theirs?
I can’t deny that my main inspiration comes from Summoning, their music totally enchanted me and opened my mind and creativity to the epic Middle-Earth. I immediately thought that this was the better way to musically tell and express the darkest part of Tolkien’s lore.
I found Caladan Brood to be a very good project with a stunning debut album, I really enjoyed their music which helped me explore some elements I did not consider before.
Honestly, I never wondered in which way to be different from that band or another since I consider it just my hobby and not my launch pad for being successfull in the metal scene. I simply like making music as I conceived it, that’s it, and I’m happy with my little fanbase.
„Elenion Ancalima“ is the new album of EMYN MUIL. The biggest differences from „Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga“ are probably that the songs are much longer and that there are female guest vocals to be heard. What are the reasons for these changes?
Indeed, a point of criticism on the previous album was that the songs were too short… Before I started composing, I remember doing a sort of poll with my fanbase where I asked if they prefered more and shorter songs or less and longer songs. That was useful to me in order to understand which way would be the best to proceed.
I always planned to work on my own because all my projects, as I said before, are strictly personal and, in some case, introspective. But for the second release of EMYN MUIL I needed female vocals and I was lucky because Hildr Valkyrie already asked me to collaborate, and I’ve been very happy to involve her in the process, she really surprised me and exceeded my expectations.
Is there anything else that, in your opinion, sets the album apart from its predecessor?
Well, yes, there is a general improvement concerning the synth parts and drums.
The title of the record derives from Tolkien’s „Silmarillion“. What exactly are the title and the lyrics about?
It’s clear from the band’s name, the album’s title (meaning “the brightest of stars”), the songs’ titles, the artwork, the fonts and pretty much everything, EMYN MUIL is pure Tolkien worship. The lyrics are about the tale of Akallabêth, in a time when the last light of man’s purity in the eyes of the gods, the Valar, was darkened and then extinguished from the world of Arda. It tells how Elenna or Númenórë, the “Land of the Star” and the “Land of Gift”, was scratched from the annals of Middle-Earth’s histories. Akallabêth is a short story originating from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s „Silmarillion“ and his earlier writings. It chronicles the 
downfall of the once great isle of Elenna and the realm of Númenor (later known as Westernesse in the Common Tongue of Middle-Earth), a realm inhabited by the Edain, which was shaped like a five-pointed star. The Númenóreans, the Men of Númenor, were also known as the Dúnedain; making them ancestors to characters featured in later works of Tolkien’s such as Aragorn. The account is fictionally written by the character Elendil the Tall (father of Isildur and Anárion; ancestor to Aragorn), with Akallabêth itself being a translation for the native Andûnaic term for “the Downfallen”. A modern-day Atlantis myth, the story takes place at the height of the Second Age wherein the Númenóreans, those “Kings among Men”, in their pride and under false counsel betray the Ban of the Valar and ultimately lead to the island being swallowed by the sea. Those that survive the downfall of Númenor leave for Middle-Earth, founding what would be named the realms of Exile: Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south.
Summoning don’t write their lyrics themselves but quote Tolkien directly. Is that also what you do or do you re-tell Tolkien’s stories with your own words?
I try to tell the stories with my own words, but I often quote his poems and books. Since I compose music first, I’m forced to write lyrics that merge perfectly with the rhythm of the songs.
The compositions on the album are really fantastic, but the production might get some criticism. Everything sounds clean and balanced, but especially the metal elements are low in the mix. Why is that so? Don’t you think the album is missing some punch?
The guitars have a lower sound because I wanted to emphasize the orchestral parts but yes, maybe a more balanced sound could be better in some points. I’m working to improve it on the next release, which will have a totally new sound I’m testing now, darker and more atmospheric, slower, but more epic and deep. The result seems very good for now!
Did you create the orchestration on a keyboard or another way? Would you like to record with a real orchestra?
Yes, all orchestral parts were made with a keyboard, surely I would like to record those parts with a real orchestra! Even though the sense of homemade production would be lost.
You are collaborating with Northern Silence Productions. How did you get in touch with the label?
I had my first contact with Northern Silence Productions after the first limited handmade release of „Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga“. They contacted me by mail and wanted to publish EMYN MUIL for three studio albums and other stuff such as EPs, splits etc… so that’s how all started!
What will be the next steps for EMYN MUIL?
With „Elenion Ancalima“ I put an end to the current sound system to devote myself to the new one.
As I said before, the next third album is now in progress and it will once more be based on the „Silmarillon“ universe. I’m also recording some extra songs for eventual splits with Caladan Brood or other bands (maybe Eldamar).
Alright, we are reaching the final questions. Let’s now go through our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming:
„The Hobbit“ trilogy: It disappointed me, since it wanted to be a link to the „Lord Of The Rings“ trilogy, but did not keep the mature and solemn spirit (also because it is a children’s book that Tolkien wrote for his children), resulting in a poor marketing operation that did not hit fan’s heart, in my honest opinion.
Most interesting being in Middle-Earth: I would say Treebeard!
Black metal: ist Krieg!
Italian metal: We have many valid and too little known bands.
The sea: Just at sunset, I love mountains!
Politics: Every nation has the government it deserves.
Thank you once more for answering our questions. The final words are yours:
Thanks for giving me this space and the opportunity and thanks to all readers!
11. September 2017 Stephan Rajchl