THE BREATH OF LIFE have been creating an atmospheric and inventive mixture of gothic rock and dark wave for over 30 years from inside the underground. Their 8th album „Under The Falling Stars“ once more proves that the Belgians have lost none of their edge, while also going with the flow. In the interview with the bandmembers you can read more about their connection to metal, what seperates their latest record from the previous ones and which role the violin plays in their compositions.
Even though THE BREATH OF LIFE have been active since the 80s, most of our readers probably haven’t heard of you yet. So, to get started, please introduce yourself and your band.
Isabelle: We are four musicians and friends who have a real pleasure to make music together once a week in a rehearsal room somewhere in Belgium. Making music gives us a wonderful feeling of freedom. We just express ourselves throught emotion, notes and words. We have just recorded our 8th studio album „Under The Falling Stars“ and we do hope to perform live soon again. Oh, we also have another point in common: Tasting the diversity of the many belgian beers and the rest of the world. (laughs)
THE BREATH OF LIFE is: Isabelle (Vocals); Philippe (Guitar, Programming); Gio (Violin); Didier (Bass).
Your music is mostly associated with gothic rock and dark wave, however, I think I’m also hearing other influences like post-rock. What do you think is the essence of the music of THE BREATH OF LIFE?
Isabelle: I think we do cross the border of gothic and dark wave worlds. We don’t really try to belong to a genre, we play what we feel. We create songs all together. Everyone in the band brings their touches and their own emotions.
There aren’t any traces of metal music to be found in your sound. However, do you still got any kind of connection to metal and if not, what do you think of that kind of music?
Yes, we do love some metal bands:
Didier very much likes Motörhead, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden and The Cult.
Gio: Alice Cooper, Van Der Graaf Generator, King Crimson.
Phil: I listened to a lot of metal bands so there is probably something left you can hear in our music even though it’s not obvious.
Isabelle: I’m a big fan of Motörhead and I’m so sad Lemmy is gone. I also very much enjoyed the Alice Cooper show I saw in Germany in 2012 if I remember correctly.
By which musicians and bands have you been inspired? Maybe also by more modern bands?
Didier: The Shadows, And Also the Trees, The Cult and Depeche Mode and all what my mother listened at home when I was a kid…
Phil: The Cure, Radiohead, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Blondie, The Shadows…
Gio: Paganini, Vivaldi (The Four Seasons), New Model Army, Killing Joke, Radiohead…
Isabelle: Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, The Sound, The Cure, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Lene Lovitch…
What is the foundation of your songwriting and how do you continue from there?
Isabelle: Everything can inspire me. I could build a song based on an image, a feeling, a book, a film, a sound, the news, something I heard, something I read, something I feel.
One of the things that set you apart from many other bands is your use of a violin. Why are strings such an important part of your sound?
Isabelle: I think the violin is an integral part of our songs. Gio, our violinist, creates different soundscapes with his instrument, more than just strings throughout the songs.
Even though your band has already been existing for over 30 years and you have already released many albums, especially in your earlier years, you still don’t seem to be that widely known. What do you think is the reason for that and do you do even consider this a problem?
Isabelle: We did have quite a lot of publicity and shows in the earlier days. However, publicity and business procedures have changed a lot since. It’s not always easy to be visible in this multitude of wonderful bands.
In which way did your being as musician change over the years from then until now?
Isabelle: One of the biggest changes for a musician is that now with all the new technology it’s way easier to record at home with a very good quality.
In the last years you took more time to release new records. Why is that so?
Isabelle: We think it’s very important to explore new sounds and new rhythms. We keep a new song for the album if we really like it. It’s very essential for us not to get bored with our music. We decide to make an album once we are fully satisfied with all the new songs.
Seven years after „Whispering Fields“ you have now released a new album called „Under The Falling Stars“. Where do you spot the biggest differences between that and your previous material?
Isabelle: We recorded “Whispering Fields” five years ago. There are two main differences with this new album. Marc, our previous drummer, recorded a live drum on „Whispering Fields“. We now use a programmed drum on the new album. Phil, our former guitarist is back for the new album for the pleasure of everyone.
Which of the album’s tracks is your personal favorite and why?
Isabelle: It’a very difficult question. I would say „Crime Passionnel“ because it inspired our recent video. You can see this on our facebook page.
Phil: Too difficult, I love all of them, it depends on my mood.
Didier: „A Rainbow Is Fading“ (because it reminds me of the band TC-Matic) and „A New Reality“ (because it’s a nice frustration not to have recorded exactly what I wanted).
Gio: „A Rainbow Is Fading“ and „Higher“ (I love the melody and the rhythm so much).
The lyrics seem quite dreamy and escaping, but the mood often swings. What exactly is „Under The Falling Stars“ about?
Isabelle: A star is a dream. Some keep shining while others disappear. Stars also make me dream. Dreams are very important.
Both the artwork and the production seem quite modern. Was this intended and if so, for what reason?
Isabelle: We used a nice picture taken by Xavier Marquis. Phil, our guitarist, made the artwork for this album. Basically, we don’t really like „cliches“ so I think this artwork fits very well with our music probably because our music is not stuck in a genre. For the production, we once more worked with Gilles Martin who made the first five THE BREATH OF LIFE album. That’s maybe why you see and feel a difference.
What exactly do we see on the artwork and in which way does it fit the music and the lyrics?
Isabelle: I see a beautiful, inspiring picture. What happened to that boat? What happened to the people? What were their dreams? Are their ghosts floating around and teasing each other?
What do you got planned next for THE BREATH OF LIFE? Will the next record again take so long to be released?
Isabelle: We have some shows planned and we hope to get more very soon. We are also looking for a booking agency. Also, the release of our first vinyl is coming soon.
Now that we’ve reached the end of our interview, is like to go through our traditional Metal1.info-Brainstorming with you:
Disco: Public Image Ltd. – „Death Disco“
Politics: The Clash, The Durutti Column
Esoteric: Labyrinth
Best gothic album: Didier: Sisters of Mercy – „First And Last And Always“
Phil: The Cure – „Pornography“
Belgium: One point, Franquin, wonderful beers, frites, wafels, lefantastiquenights.be, humour and self-derision.
THE BREATH OF LIFE in ten years: Still alive and kicking!
Wonderful, thanks again for your answers.
19. Juni 2017 Stephan Rajchl