Norwegian Love Song: An Interview with Liv Kristine

Vocals

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With only four albums under their belt, it seems strange to think that Leaves’ Eyes are still a relatively new addition to the world of female-fronted metal. It feels like the German band have always been there, existing for as long as more established bands such as Nightwish and Within Temptation. Part of this feeling may come from the fact that many of its past and present members also play for long-running German metal band Atrocity. However, for the most part, the long running familiarity with Leaves’ Eyes comes from Norwegian singer Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull (or just Liv Kristine for simplicity’s sake) . Along with her former band Theatre of Tragedy, Liv Kristine helped popularize the ‘beauty and beast’ singing style, a style that has continued through into the music of Leaves’ Eyes alongside her husband, Alexander Krull.

“We are such a strong and professional team, nobody can tear us apart.” explains Liv; “Alex is a fantastic producer, and incredibly hard-working. True, he is also a perfectionist, but he is allowed to kick my ass sometimes when I need it. I am more the comforting ‘mother’ of the whole band. Caring about everybody. I have very fine antennas for the emotional state of everybody. Moreover, I am watching the time, so we get to places like the airport in time!”

German culture. German culture has a lot in common with Norwegian culture, as both are rooted in Germanic tribes’ expansion and development since the Vikings’ age.”

Liv continues, as she observes the differences between the two nation’s peoples; “Well, in Germany people know how to enjoy a good glass of wine; in Norway everybody drinks too fast and often bad-quality wine, due to the high prices of alcohol there. Germans have much, much longer sentences, and they use the conjunctive forms more often than in Norwegian language. Norwegians use shorter sentences, and talk less. They say things more directly. Germany has their wonderful wine-yards, and Norway has the fantastic fjords.”

Not many would observe the differences in how different cultures speak, but then Liv Kristine seems to have a strong fascination with languages. Whilst the music of Leaves Eyes’ is mostly sung in English, Liv enjoys exploring other tongues; “I take great interest in languages, especially the ancient ones! I studied Old-English, Gothic, Middle-High German, Phonetics, Phonology, language acquisition, next to Modern English and Modern German at the university in Stavanger, Norway, and then following up at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Sometimes I use lyrics existing only in the form of a phonetic string of sounds, if I cannot find an already existing language code to express a feeling. Such a phonetic sequence has an important meaning: it conveys an emotional state provoked by that particular sound of my singing. My acoustic aim is not the words and a certain thematic content; it is the sound and the emotional effect of it in the listening experience.”

“ Being thrown out of Theatre of Tragedy was perhaps bad luck, however, sometimes bad luck leads to good luck ”
- Liv Kristine

Turning the clock back to 1993, and the metal musical landscape was a very different place. The role of a female singer in metal was very different to how it is now. Female singers were often few and far between, quite often either token female singers with heavy guitars, or simply imitating the male style of singing at the expense of femininity. Within the emerging goth metal scene, a few artists had experimented with softer female vocals alongside the formidable male growl. Bands such as Celtic Frost, Paradise Lost and The Gathering had all worked with this formula for the odd song or album, but it would be Theatre of Tragedy that would truly take the idea and revolve a band around it.

“When I was little, I thought everybody was able to understand music and control their vocal chords. The fact that my parents were interested in music (listening to it!), plays an important role: I grew up with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Edvard Grieg and Tschaikowsky, and female singers like Enya, Madonna, Kate Bush, Abba, Tori Amos and Monserrat Caballe. From the very beginning, I’ve followed my musical instinct: I wanted to combine a romantic, female, angelic voice with powerful, impressive music. Then suddenly, when I was 18 years old, I found myself in the middle of writing music history with Theatre of Tragedy, being one of the founders of ‘gothic metal with female voices’ and ‘the beauty and the beast concept’!”

However, Liv Kristine tenure in Theatre of Tragedy wouldn’t last long. With the band’s sound changing towards a more electro/industrial sound, musical differences between the singer and the rest of the band would grow wider. Already living in Germany, 2003 would see a series of events unfold: her marriage to Alexander Krull, the formation of Leaves’ Eyes, and her dismissal from Theatre of Tragedy. In retrospect, Liv summarizes that this was how it should have been; “Being thrown out of Theatre of Tragedy was perhaps bad luck, however, sometimes bad luck leads to good luck. Today I have Leaves’ Eyes, it’s like having a family, next to my own family.”

The rest, as they say, is history. The band’s debut Lovelorn was well received, as was its follow up, the Norse-history influenced Vinland Saga. This album began a love affair between the band and ancient folklore that would continue into the rest of the band’s career.

“I just let the music itself inspire me.” Liv elaborates; “If I chose a theme from Nordic mythology, I would include Norwegian lyrics. It was very intimate to sing in my mother tongue Norwegian, it makes the lyrics even more emotional and personal. Singing in Old-English meant digging my nose in my Old-English grammar books once again. I think that Old-English has a very special “sound” phonetically. You’ll find Froeya, three-headed trolls, vampires, ghosts, witches, Vikings travelling on sea, Viking ladies mourning, and of course many images from the Norwegian harsh weather and wild nature landscapes. I guess there is some homesickness towards Norway in my lyrics actually, it’s more than obvious that I miss my home country.”

Such themes continue into the band’s latest effort, Meredead, though the influences of Norwegian culture are perhaps less pronounced than they were on both Vinland Saga and third album Njord. The band’s creativity has been set free on this particular record, making for a much more diverse record than any other record in the band’s career. Even the title can be seen as a rather creative work.

“The title is my own word-creation: To my grammatical knowledge, ‘Meredead’ could mean ‘dead by the sea’ or ‘the deadly sea’.” Liv explains, as she imagines its meaning; “Poetically, we could add some imagination and lyrical sound and say ‘Sea of Death’. Secondly, the word Meredead sums up some of the themes rooted in my lyrics on the album. I grew up by the fjords, and I sense pure luck every time I return to my birth-place. You know, water is the giver of life. Again you find a whole palette of contrasts in our music, which has always been a feature for both Leaves’ Eyes and Theatre of Tragedy.”

On the album’s growth from prior records, the singer carefully elaborates; “I’d say it was an organic outgrowth of the process. We just started composing with an open mind. Meredead is our fourth album, and in my opinion there is no need to reduce ourselves to a certain style. The artistic development is the basic energy for the survival of an artist, and art as such.”

“ We NEVER go with the commercial flow; we only go with the creative flow of the band ”
- Liv Kristine

“We NEVER go with the commercial flow; we only go with the creative flow of the band!” the singer asserts; “I prefer not to force Leaves’ Eyes into a specific already existing settled musical genre. I would rather say that Leaves’ Eyes’ music combines elements of gothic metal, classical music, folk music, with history and mythology.”

Aiding the band in incorporating so many different areas of music are a series of very different guest performers on Meredead. Some need no introduction – most Leaves’ Eyes fans will already be familiar with Carmen Elise Espenæs, singer of Midnattsol and also Liv’s younger sister. Her appearance on the album marks the first collaboration between the two singers; “I had wanted to sing a duet in Norwegian with my sister, Carmen, since our debut Lovelorn! It feels so good having her next to me. I think our voices complete each other perfectly.”

Another guest people will be familiar with is Victor Smolski, the Belarusian guitarist who has found success playing in Rage, as well as founding his own Lingua Mortis Orchestra; “We met Victor Smolski some years ago at a festival with Leaves’ Eyes and Rage in Greece. It’s an honour to work with him and the Lingua Mortis Orchestra from Minsk. Victor is a genius, moreover, he understands the musical goals of Leaves’ Eyes.”

“Anette is a long-time friend of mine,” continues Liv, discussing guest singer Annette Guldbrandsen; “Moreover, she studied music and singing. She had some brilliant ideas for the folk songs, and she has a unique voice.”

Completing the series of guest musicians are two less famous individuals, though certainly no less talented; “Some days ago, we had two visitors at our studio, Maite Itoiz and John Kelly from the band Elfenthal. I love their music, both of them are outstanding musicians and composers. There is a deep friendship between Elfenthal and Leaves’ Eyes. It is my deepest wish to sing with Maite on the next Elfenthal album. Her voice is such an inspiration to me, and it was such an honour and pleasure for me to sing with both Maite and John on Meredead.”

With the album now out, Leaves’ Eyes have been focusing once again on touring, having already done a successful tour leg with Midnattsol. Coming in the Autumn are a series of UK shows with label-mates Visions of Atlantis, followed by a return to the Metal Female Voices Festival in Belgium; “I am really looking forward to the UK shows this year! I wish we could play more, like we did with our friends from Paradise Lost a few years ago. That was great! Our UK audience is killer, every time!”

The singer is likewise enthusiastic about once again playing MFVF. When asked what keeps Leaves’ Eyes returning to the festival, Liv is quick to reply; “Meeting all the ladies again! We are all so busy, we hardly ever get the chance to meet! Moreover, meeting our audience, fans and friends!”

“I am amazed by the number of female-fronted metal bands that are actively going their way.” admits the singer, as she reflects on the scene; “I hope for everybody, that those who really do their own thing, and who have struggled the hardest, will be able to be around with great success for a long, long time. Music business is not always fair, unfortunately.”

“ My acoustic aim is not the words and a certain thematic content; it is the sound and the emotional effect of it in the listening experience ”
- Liv Kristine

All being said, the established singer was kind enough to offer some advice for any aspiring singers wishing to follow in her footsteps; “From a private point of view, you need a good plan in your daily life, you need your own studio not far away from your home, moreover, a family who is there for you. Being a mother even works very well that way.”

“From the business point of view, find the right people to support you, honest people.” she adds; “And speak out if you have an opinion. Money can be such an evil means to make you forget about your inner voice.”

Ultimately, though, what makes Liv Kristine a likeable figure in the female-fronted metal world is her surprising humbleness and gratefulness; eager, perhaps too much so, to express her gratitude for her fans for continuing to follow her over what is nearing twenty years in the business; “I am very, very grateful to have been given this possibility. It’s a true gift. I always wanted to become a singer. Singing is a part of my nature. For me two dreams have come true: I am a full-time singer, and I am a mother. Thank you to all my fans and friends who have always been there for me. I’ve experienced a lot, ups and downs, and I am still here! Thanks to all of you.”

Written by James Donovan
More: Interviews, Leaves' Eyes