Scorpio: Hello, Yaroslav, how are you?
Yaroslav: Fine, thanks. I'm in the process of composing new poetry, a new song. When you're composing something, you start to seize the day.
Scorpio: Give us a brief history of your band, your latest news, and don't forget to introduce us to your young talent — Tatiana.
Yaroslav: In 1996, Tihon Zolotov and I left the ARIZONA band and assembled our own project called GFM, renamed DIVINA ENEMA in 1997. In 1998, we recorded our debut demo "To wight shalt never SHINE" and released it ourselves on cassette through our label Daemon Inside in 1999. The album was highly appreciated and has since gained cult status within the CIS underground. In 2001, we had our second album "At the Conclave" released through Eldritch Music, which received a broad response. By 2002, we were offered a deal from Canadian label GREAT WHITE NORTH to re-release "At the Conclave" and to put out a new album. In 2003, we released "Under Phoenix Phenomenon" through More Hate in russia and Great White North in Canada. DIVINA ENEMA has recently been a studio project, performing just a few gigs in Minsk. Now we have enough people to play regularly, and we would love to play gigs anywhere. Tatiana has been with us for half a year. She's a talented musician, a great friend, and a lovely girl. We love having her with us. I hope you'll appreciate her talent on our new album and live.
Scorpio: Let's talk in detail about "Under Phoenix Phenomenon". We should consider it a concept album. The music is pretty diverse and the vocal style is very distinctive. Those who aren't familiar with your work might think it's nonsense. What would you say?
Yaroslav: Yeah... there are listeners like that. The writer Bunin was right to say, "I am not a banknote to be loved by everyone." Some people are confused by the schizo vocals, some find hints of sexual minority themes, some simply lack comprehension — I'm not going to react to attacks from unhappy folks. Take what you want from it. We compose our music and lyrics and don't impose anything. The music market is filled with all kinds of music. Make your choice — the choice of your soul and nature. Isn't that fair?
Scorpio: Exactly. So, what was the reaction? I checked your guestbook and noticed friendly posts from the States and even China.
Yaroslav: Yes, DIVINA ENEMA has a lot of friends, and that's good. We receive completely different reviews for "Under Phoenix Phenomenon." Some people just love it; others are bursting with disgust. Either way, we get a reaction, which means we're on the right path. I need to say it again — the market is overcrowded. I'm a fan of metal music, and even I'm not always eager to listen all the way through to many first-rate bands. So what can we say about seasoned listeners? If someone listens to our music and tries to understand it — that's already a lot in itself. I like music that troubles somebody. Troubling ourselves is plenty as well. Without that, there's no point.
Scorpio: As I know, you were inspired by a newspaper article — "Diary of a Madman." At least the front cover reveals the background. Am I right? What's the story?
Yaroslav: You are absolutely right. The article was a catalyst. That's why we placed it on the front cover — to commemorate the tragedy of the character. The article troubled me so much that I made up my mind to base the whole album on it. I hope our efforts won't be in vain. The article was about the tragedy of a schizophrenic with an extravagant suicide method that leaves no body. The article quoted the guy's diary — and yeah, it was truly my inspiration.
Scorpio: How did it occur to you to record a conceptual album? Who was the initiator?
Yaroslav: It happened all at once; there was no deliberate decision to make conceptual music. It might be DIVINA ENEMA's fate, our sacred formula for everyone involved in the project. And everything just correlates.
Scorpio: How long did it take you to compose the entire lyrics?
Yaroslav: A year or so, maybe.
Scorpio: You compose excellent verses in good English. Do you have a foreign language education?
Yaroslav: Thanks for the compliment. I don't have a formal education in languages, but I have a language-related job. So, no problems there. Since childhood I've loved English, and everything works out fine in the end.
Scorpio: Your lyrics deal with demons. Do you really think they surround us? Do you know what a "daemon" is in computing? It's a functional invisible program! Does that correlate to people?
Yaroslav: Exactly. We are surrounded by thousands of things we never see. But the demons we're talking about on our latest album are rather material than ephemeral. There are things that we carry within ourselves. Sometimes by chance. Making dirt and taking it for granted. "Under Phoenix Phenomenon" can be treated as a litter bin... a certain black hole. It was designed that way. I like seeing it work. Created to accept spittle. Yet, I might be talking nonsense.
Scorpio: Many fans say that in spite of cheap prices for bootleg CDs, they lack a lot — first and foremost, multi-page booklets. In your case, it would be a catastrophe — it's too hard to get further insight into your album without one. What do you think of bootleggers?
Yaroslav: It's really bad. Labels and musicians go bankrupt because of them. Unfortunately, even our licensing firms distribute their products in unauthorized territories. We've faced that problem. And it's damn sad to lose trust.
Scorpio: Don't you think bootlegging is a USSR remnant? Back then everything was common, done for friendship or for alcohol. We've only just started to realize we must pay in order to be paid, but normally we don't like to pay.
Yaroslav: I don't know. Things are different. The USSR has nothing to do with it. I don't really remember the USSR years. People are similar everywhere, whether in Germany or Norway. Nobody likes to pay. All in all, I can hardly judge which people I like.
Scorpio: The atmosphere of the album has much in common with Goethe's "Faust" and Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita." I'm guessing you like both of them.
Yaroslav: Oh, so many compliments. Yeah, those books are marvelous — I totally agree with you. I've read "Master and Margarita" no less than five times!
Scorpio: How do you feel about Mayakovsky? I remember his verse — "Could you play a nocturne on a drainpipe flute?" — it had no rhyme. I was a schoolboy and thought I would never learn it by heart. It turned out it went easily into my mind. How do you think he composed such verses? Do you like his poetry?
Yaroslav: I believe Vladimir Mayakovsky was a rare genius. Such verses just occur in the mind. We cannot influence them. These are voices we follow and hardly control. I adore Mayakovsky. He is my favourite poet.
Scorpio: Let's get down to the music. Your multifarious style suits your concept perfectly. Is it hard to compose music after the lyrics? Or do you compose the music first?
Yaroslav: Actually, we work simultaneously. Each poem contains a melody; you just need to hear its sound. Some poems emerge like songs, right on the spot. Sometimes the music brings the words — you just need to figure them out.
Scorpio: What music do the DIVINA ENEMA musicians listen to? I'm guessing there are no limits!
Yaroslav: Right! We listen to everything. Jazz, black metal, pop music, heavy metal. The main criteria are the sense of structure, composition, and inspiration. Such music will always be interesting. Even if the people are not professional or write simple verses. They might play any music — EMPEROR or PET SHOP BOYS.
Scorpio: What's up with your first track — that weird noise? I thought my speakers had gone wrong. Or maybe someone just spoiled your song?
Yaroslav: It's done on purpose. The album's opening is too pompous, and then something hurts your ears. If you're craving pathos — plug in MANOWAR. We follow a different path; we perform plays. We perform farce. Grotesque is our style. No pathos. Laughing through tears.
Scorpio: So, tell us about your live activity.
Yaroslav: Oh... we're getting prepared. I suppose it'll be worth something. We haven't played much recently.
Scorpio: How do you form your setlist? I imagine if you're going to play "Under Phoenix Phenomenon" tracks, you need to play all of them!
Yaroslav: That's not possible. The album is too long. And we'd love to play other songs as well. And to survive! Our current setlist includes Of Day and Funeral To Come, Iron Megaira, No Corpse - No Funeral (brilliant metal version — the album version is also good but too hard to perform live. It's one of the core songs and we just have to play it!), Fee Nicks Fen' Omen On'... maybe something else. Long songs like A Handful of Hay are exhausting for both musicians and listeners. We'll see. For now, we're going to be more energetic on stage.
Scorpio: What about my favourite, Demon Mastery Top Level?
Yaroslav: We thought about it recently. We'll see — keep checking.
Scorpio: Why are there so many extraordinary bands in Belarus — VICIOUS CRUSADE, ZHICH, DEADMARSH, DIVINA ENEMA of course? Their music is original and doesn't fit any particular metal genre.
Yaroslav: Every land has many talented people. And Belarus is no exception. The main reason is a craving for expression. I could go on about the Belarusian climate, but that's nonsense. England and Norway have produced more phenomena.
Scorpio: Are there new talents in Belarus we can hear soon?
Yaroslav: Of course there are! SANATENA, WEEPING TWILIGHT, SERDTZE... I suppose there are some we haven't heard ourselves. Unfortunately, Belarus is economically unstable, and most musicians have ordinary jobs — sometimes several jobs. It's very hard to work and be a musician at the same time. But that's another story.
Scorpio: Would you agree that extraordinary things attract steadfast attention? For example, NIGHTWISH with female opera vocals, FINNTROLL with lively humppa, APOCALYPTICA with cellos?
Yaroslav: That's true. Attention is one thing. Another thing is when singularity becomes the main feature — a production line with 10 NIGHTWISH-clone bands or 48 similar FINNTROLL-clone bands, while more original bands like ATROX or VIRUS remain unknown. What we see here are original musical visions, and not all listeners are ready for them. I consider DIAMANDA GALAS a great phenomenon — they're gaining some popularity.
Scorpio: I mentioned three Finnish bands. It seems like the Finnish are quite keen on experimenting.
Yaroslav: Definitely not. I think the Norwegians are more original and miraculous. Just look at them — DODHEIMSGARD, VED BUENS ENDE, ATROX, VIRUS, CADAVER INC., EMPEROR, LIMBONIC ART, MADDER MORTEM, FLEURETY, RAM-ZET, and more!
Scorpio: Give us your final hails — I'm sure all our readers would appreciate your English verses!
Yaroslav: We never try to reach the bottom Or suffer under barrel-gun For those who scared as not to run Into infernal door wide open Behold the sun ascending high Forget the pains, abandon cellars Which night provided for the child Who can neither peruse nor cry All of the hidden lamentations Among which chaos pressed 2 dwell us! ;-)
Scorpio: Thanks a lot for your grandiose poetical final words! We wish you good luck!
Yaroslav: Thank you for your attention towards DIVINA ENEMA! We appreciate your friendly support! Hope to meet you soon in the concert halls!