This week we speak to the Norwegian musician Minneriket who shares their love and passion for creating romantic black metal music.
Artist’s Name: Minneriket (Stein Akslen)
Genre: Romantic black metal
Founded: Early 2014
Originated From: Norway
Discography: Vargtimen (2015), Stjerner, Speil Og Svartebøker… (2016), From The Veins Of A Nearly Dead Boy (2017), Anima Sola (2018) & Gjennom Meg Går Ingen Til Hvile (2022)
How would you describe your music?
Minneriket plays romantic black metal exclusively. Together with inspiration from punk, goth, ambient and orchestral music Minneriket has created a unique and experimental sound, which is rooted in Norwegian black metal but has gone beyond the usual soundscapes.
What is your musical creative process like?
I never decide what to create – the music decides what to bring forth. I listen to the music as it manifests itself, flow with it and forge it, but I never use brute force to bring forth an idea. It’s like carving a statue from a block of marble, it’s there already, willing itself out. So in the initial steps there’s never a plan. Once I start to get enough material, I choose what to keep and what to discard, and have a holistic approach to it, making sure everything fits together well.
How did you start out as a musician?
I decided to create Minneriket when I had a need to make music without limitations or expectations. The success of my previous bands was fine, but I needed somewhere where I could be alone, where I wasn’t collaborating with anyone and there would be no compromises. I had a lot of ideas floating around, and started putting the pieces together in early 2014 under the banner of Minneriket.
How did you come up with your stage name?
Minneriket was originally a print-on-demand book I released many years ago, consisting of my translation of the old Norse poem Voluspå, visual art and other writings. In that book there was a poem in nine parts called Minneriket, which was the foundation for the first Minneriket song lyrics. Minneriket means “the realm of memories”, and is my interpretation of the whispering in the blood.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
As a Norwegian black metal musician there is of course a vast legacy of music to be influenced by. But I’ve always looked beyond the scene and been inspired by composers as Bach and Prokofiev, rock like Phil Collins, Nick Cave and Pink Floyd, ambient music and orchestral arrangements.
What is the best thing about being a musician?
The best part to me is that I get to create. I make music I want to hear and I make it completely without the interference of others. I get to collaborate and work with people I hold in high regard if I wish to and I get to isolate myself and dive deep into the art by myself. It’s a place to create and I am lucky enough that the music also has an audience.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician?
Working with black metal is an uphill battle, as there are a lot of voices that wish to censor you. There have also been problems with the artwork being banned on streaming services and social media, the Wikipedia page being taken down and general gatekeeping from the conformist society. It’s a noisy disturbance, but in the end, it doesn’t influence how I make my art.
What plans have you got coming up this year?
I’m working a lot in the studio on new music. Most of it is already written and the recording and arrangements have begun. The guitars, keys and cello have already been recorded. Right now I’m working on the drums together with the drummer from Gjennom Meg Går Ingen Til Hvile. I hope to be able to share some of it in early 2024.
What is your ultimate dream as a musician?
If I had ambitions, I’d play music in a different genre. I’m content creating music, listening to it, and releasing it so that loyal listeners can enjoy it. I guess the ultimate dream would be to create the ultimate album, but if everything was perfect there would be no need to create anymore… and the music would die.
You can find out more about Minneriket on their website.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
Also, check out my other Music Interview roundups from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022.
