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Interview
Deutsche VersionInterview mit My Dying Bride (17.05.2008)
HH: Can you please tell us some things about the developing process of An Ode To Woe? When did you start to develop the idea of a new live record?
Hamish: Simply there was no developing process as far as we were concerned! We arrived at the venue knowing that there was going to be a live webcast that night, then when we viewed the footage afterwards we found that we were pleased with it, and next thing you know we're releasing it! There was no grand design from us to release another live release, but had no objections when the label wanted to.
HH: What problems did occur during the production phase?
Hamish: Nothing major really, just the fact that when it came to it, it was going to be released in a short space of time, so there were a lot of frantic emails being sent to and forth in regards to the packaging - "we need the logos for your endorsements, in one hour!" That kind of thing.
HH: Was it easier to record this live-document with all the experience you gained while doing your other live-records?
Hamish: The fact that it wasn't so meticulously planned meant that it was a very natural and relaxed affair, and I appreciate that. It is very reflective of a My Dying Bride show.
HH: There are several live-records in the My Dying Bride-discography like For Darkest Eyes, The Voice Of The Wretched or Sinamorata. Why should fans buy An Ode To Woe rather than the other ones?
Hamish: Each live release documents a different period for the band and has markedly different setlists from each other. This means people can get either just the stuff they are into, or get a very different show from each time period covered. There is very little repetition - "Cry Of Mankind" is pretty much the only staple song in our set.
HH: The concert took place in Paradiso in Amsterdam, which is a kind of a special location which fits very good to your music. Why did you choose the Paradiso as location for this recording?
Hamish: It is a wonderful looking venue, as you say, very suited to our aesthetic. Plus, we have some strong connections to Holland with a number of our crew being from there, and a good history with the audiences there.
HH: Are there differences between an audience who watches a "simple" concert compared to an audience who's guest on an live-recording?
Hamish: Certainly not in this instance!
HH: Did the audience in Amsterdam know that this gig will be featured on a live-CD/DVD?
Hamish: I guess not as we didn't exactly know either!
HH: The package of An Ode To Woe is a nice Digi-Book with great artwork. Did you participate in creating this package?
Hamish: We approved the artwork as it was submitted to us, and we loved the idea of the digibook. Peaceville have released some excellently packaged releases.
HH: It's kind of unusual to print the lyrics in the booklet of a live-recording, but here one can find all the lyrics. Whose idea was that, what was the intention behind that?
Hamish: Twofold reasons really; one being that we are fortunate to have gained younger audiences through the years as well as our core audience, so as our live set contains songs from the entirety of My Dying Bride's career, it is good for them to have the lyrics to songs they may not be familiar with, and maybe inspire them to check out our other releases. Likewise, some our older fans may not be as familiar with our newer material and it's good in that instance too. Also, having the lyrics also adds to the lavish booklet within the packaging.
HH: On the DVD one can find the show of the gig in Amsterdam but unusually there are no bonus things like behind-the-scenes-material, recordings of going-on on the tour bus, photo-galleries or something like that. Don't you have material like that or would it have been too much work for this release?
Hamish: We've never really thought that backstage footage was really in keeping with the mystique we like to maintain with My Dying Bride; we have such footage (albeit in a rather amateur filmed fashion) but never thought it right to release it at any point so far. Maybe in the future, but we need to believe in everything that we do, and that just hasn't been right yet - other bands do similar things, and we would want to do something unique and different with such footage. As far as photo galleries go, we had them on the previous dvds, and surely there's enough of our faces on the dvd itself anyway! The show is the main focus, and I think sometimes that extras detract from that somewhat unless it is something very special.
HH: It's been two years ago when you released your last studio-album. What about a new album? When can fans expect it?
Hamish: We have finished the drum tracks already, and myself and Andrew hit the studio next week to start laying the actual guitar tracks - we have guide stuff we recorded already and I can tell you that there is a conviction and sense of purpose that really shines through. This new album will certainly surprise some people. We are really pushing the boundaries once again.
HH: Imagine An Ode To Woe is a country. Which country would that be and why?
Hamish: When I think of our music as a geographic visual, I can only think of the rolling moors and landscapes of beautiful Yorkshire, so I'm going to say a county rather than a country!
HH: Thanks for your time and good speed! The last words are yours!
Hamish: Thank you so much for the interview. We have a great set prepared for the summer with a couple of surprises in it so I hope to see you there. The album shall be out later this year and it shall certainly exceed expectations.