Backstage Pass - Garden Of Grief - Interview

ATP

What is the title of your upcoming CD? How did you come up with the name?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

The title is "Endstation" which means "End of the Line" in German. There's an underlying concept of the general idea of a journey, war and occultism.

ATP

Is this your first CD and if not, how is this one different from the others?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

This is the 5th full-length album, 4 split releases have also been published up to now. The new album is different from the previous releases because it took a really long time to finish. I have worked on the music in 2011 and 2012 and the last two years were spent on writing lyrics. Finally I managed to record the vocals this year in the Summer. The sound is much better and balanced compared to other albums because I mixed the songs many times during the last three years and had much time to ponder on which sound I actually want for this album. It is also the most aggressive album so far.

ATP

Did you write all the songs before going into the studio or did you write them as you were recording?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

I have my own home studio so I am able to change plans. I did only adapt maybe some lead guitar parts after I started recording the songs. Usually I do not start recording a song unless I have all instruments written down correctly in guitar pro.

ATP

Walk us thru the process of writing your music?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

First I find some riffs I want to use with my guitar and then write them down in guitar pro. More riffs and additional instruments are added to each part of the song then and in the end I choose how often riffs are repeated and then drums are written accordingly. In the end I have the song written down exactly as it needs to be recorded and the recording process can start. I tend to forget how everything had been played if the writing process of a song takes too long or if I lay some ideas aside and write other songs in the meantime.

ATP

Where did you record and why?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

At home because I have professional enough equipment to achieve the result I need.

ATP

HHow did you pay for your recording?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

As most musicians I need to work in a regular job besides making music.

ATP

Did you have a producer or did you self-produce? If so, what kind of input did the producer have. If your self-produced, why?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

I don't work together with other people in the recording process because I know myself how I want the music to sound. I show some friends to get different opinions sometimes but in the end I want no one to actually be involved in the sound creation. I gave the songs away for mastering because I have no experience with getting a 100% equal volume level on different tracks. Only the volume was adjusted then but the sound stayed the same.

ATP

Did you try to capture your "live sound" or did you go for something else?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

Not at all. Playing live is not really included in the concept of the project so the few live shows which are played reproduce the recorded music and not the other way round.

ATP

Did your record label have any input into the music you recorded?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

No, I run my own label.

ATP

Are you pleased with the final product?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

Yes, definitely. I think I worked long enough on it and in the end I had listened to the album so often that I would have noticed if anything was not perfect for my ears.

ATP

Where will we be able to pick up a copy?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

You can save your copy now on http://igg.me/at/endstation Exclusive merch items are also available along with the CD

ATP

Will you be touring to promote your CD?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

No, I am not planning any live shows at all in the near future.

ATP

Would rather be recording or playing live shows?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

Recording

ATP

Anything you would like to say to your fans?

GARDEN OF GRIEF

Thanks to everyone who has already supported the release of the new album! Without the really dedicated fans a professional release would not work.