There’s countless epic black metal bands that are basically imitating the genre’s forefathers, Summoning. However, even though FORLORN CITADEL only released two demos up until now, the Australian one-man project seems to be one of the more promissing followers of its Austrian rolemodels. In the following interview you can read more about why mastermind Solace doesn’t think of FORLORN CITADEL as a black metal project, where his fascination for desolate castles comes from and what can be expected from his upcoming first full-length.
The name of your solo project FORLORN CITADEL captures the mood of your music pretty well. What fascinates you so much about abandoned fortresses?
I’ve always been drawn to the idea of something which was once a grand lively thing and is now empty and decayed.
You’re originally from Greenland and now live in Australia, aren’t you? There aren’t exactly many castles and ruins there, are there? So how did you develop this particular interest?
I’m actually from Australia, but Wanderer from Moonlight Drowns was living in Greenland, so that’s where the connection came from. Regardless, seeing as Australia doesn’t have any ruins from the middle ages, the geographical distance probably added to the ‘fantastical’ aspect of old castles and kingdoms to me.
Your pseudonym Solace is rather untypical for a black metal project. Is there a certain reason you chose this name for yourself?
Although I use sounds typically associated with black metal, I do not find either FORLORN CITADEL nor Moonlight Drowns particularly aggressive or negative, a staple of BM. Instead there is a focus on feelings of melancholy and fantasy, of another age, so in that regard I think Solace fits well.
Besides FORLORN CITADEL you have two other black metal projects, Moonlight Drowns and Silence.Cold.Alone, and recently you started a dungeon synth project called Spells Of Fog. What is the reason for you to release your music in different projects?
I am very much ‘aesthetic driven’ when it comes to projects. If I write something that doesn’t fit neatly with my idea of what that project should be, I have a hard time incorporating it. I find it much easier to divide my songs ideas into different ‘style’ projects, than to cram them all together into one unfocused project.
Musically you seem to be very much inspired by bands like Summoning. What started your ambition to make similar music yourself?
It wasn’t a conscious decision, that style of music just naturally came out. When writing ‘bedroom black metal’ it is often easier to writer more ‘epic’ symphonic music as you are generally not limited by instrumentation, other band members or the need to play it live.
Summoning are known for creating their percussions not with drums or drum machines, but with keyboards. How do you approach your percussions in that matter?
As someone who really enjoys using a variety of VST’s and playing around with sounds, in FORLORN CITADEL I try to stick to the basics. It’s very easy to get carried away and I wanted FC to sound quite ‘dated’ and ‘faded’, subtly invoking a feeling of nostalgia. Percussion on the “Songs Of Mourning” EP was just a stock Cubase drum kit, on the new album I am writing I am using a drum kit from the Korg M1 keyboard.
Are there also less obvious influences that shape your artistry?
I am influenced by all sorts of music and sounds, I tend to think every genre has something to offer. Max Martin in particular is a huge role model in my approach to songwriting as a ‘craft’.
In what aspects do you think your music differs from that of your role models?
Hopefully I am taking inspiration from many different artists and moulding it into something new.
How do you approach songwriting – what is the core of your songs?
It usually comes from one main musical theme, and I try to structure a song around that. My songs don’t usually have a large number of sections, so it’s a matter of finding something that I can use in many different contexts and repeat enough while still keeping the song interesting and having momentum.
Which one of your songs do you think is the most accomplished you have written so far?
I think “I: Battle” really captured the overall feel I was going for with the EP, but I think a lot of the newer material surpasses it.
On the first demo with the title „Dusk“ you played pure dungeon synth, on „Songs Of Mourning“ you switched to epic black metal. Why did this change happen?
Originally FORLORN CITADEL was intended to be an entirely dungeon synth project. After I wrote the demo I kind of forgot about the whole project really. After a few half hearted attempts to continue writing I came across a few unfinished demos I had from years ago. These demos became “Songs of Mourning”, and I although the genre completely changed, the atmosphere was still very much in line with what I was trying to achieve on the “Dusk” demo.
Via Northern Silence both demos were re-released as compilations. How did it come about that you chose this particular label for the collaboration?
Northern Silence approached me to release my debut album. I was extremely flattered by this as they are a label I have much respect for and have been a fan of over the years. They thought it would be a good idea to package the demos together and release them as a way to build some hype for the album – have some pre-existing physical content out.
The compilation also includes a new artwork. How did it happen that you chose this exact picture and who created it?
Northern Silence suggested it and I fell in love with it. I think it was a step in trying to differentiate the project from Summoning and every band that uses an Albert Bierstadt landscape painting as a cover.
You are already working on your debut full length. What can listeners expect from it – will it sound more like „Dusk“ or „Songs Of Mourning“?
While I am very happy with how “Songs Of Mourning” turned out, there is no denying it is strongly in the realm of ‘Summoning Worship’. With the album I am aiming for a more distinct sound, while keeping the atmosphere that made people enjoy the EP I feel there is more folk influence in the vein of “Dusk”.
At this point I would like to do a brainstorming with you. What do the following terms bring to your mind?
Best Summoning album: Not a popular opinion, but „Oath Bound“ was the first Summoning album I heard, so that is the most significant for me.
Lo-fi: Faded
Nostalgia: Faded
Current favorite album: Mesarthim – The Density Parameter
Middle Ages: Magical
FORLORN CITADEL in five years: I would actually like to be playing live and am working on making that happen.
Thanks again for this interview. I would like to leave the last words to you:
Thank you for the interest and support.
19. Dezember 2018 Stephan Rajchl
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