Listen to Darkness Arena 2008
Interview with FOX IV Lead Guitarist on “Darkness Arena 2008″
How and when did you first heard of Aesma Daeva?
It was the period when I first met Tenebra. She was (and still is) great singer. I invited her to sing in my new born gothic/symphonic band. During the casual chat with her I found out that there’s a whole universe of music I’ve never heard of and never listened to. Thanks to my adventurous nature I started listening and discovering that universe and one of the brightest stars was the Aesma Daeva. When I first heard Darkness I was like “wow! Great song! But.. Why would someone remove the guitar parts?” I listened the song over and over but each time I could hear the guitar clearly. That was it.
How long have you and your band been performing your version of Darkness?
I think we started performing it just few days after you and I made contact. It was some time in november or december last year or something like that. But the thing is… The version of Darkness that I’m playing with my band is different than the one I’ve recorded and sent to you. For example: vocal parts are sung by male singer and the feel of the song is something like good old hard rock ballad.
Why did you decide to perform or play this song?
Well, my band plays enormous variety of genres since we started as a cover band and played absolutely everything we found interesting but each song, no matter what genre it is, we play hard rock style. So, imagine, for example, Voodoo People of the Prodigy with all the special fx played on the guitar and all together played by standard rock band. Yup. That’s us. We are all differently oriented by genres but all opened to new ideas and flexible to experiments. So, needless to say, I showed up one day at the rehearsal with the Darkness song in mind and two hours later, we had one more song on the list of covers.
Where do you live?
I live in the city of Novi Sad which is in the province called Vojvodina. Unfortunately, that province is part of the fucking Serbia but people of Vojvodina are waaay too different from the rest of the country.
Maybe you’ve heard of the EXIT festival. It’s the largest festival in southern Europe and the second large in the whole Europe. That festival takes place in my hometown each summer and I’m working there as a sound engineer on one of the 25 stages. It’s pretty interesting to see something like 200 thousand people from all over the world on the ancient Petrovaradin fortress where festival takes place. You should come once and check it out. I’m offering totally free accommodation to all of the Aesma Daeva band members 
When did you begin playing guitar?
I begun playing when I was six. My mother and grandpa were both guitarists and they influenced me most to start playing. Later in the school, I met a friend who also was the guitarist and other friend who was the drummer. Soon we formed a band and played for about five years together. The interesting part is that the drummer I first played with ever is the drummer in my band now.
How many languages do you speak?
I speak english (fluent), old and mid english (my fiance is the professor of english language) and also interested in norwegian (norsk) and other scandinavian languages. Also, I know a few words in elven (elvish).
What is a recent influence you had or found?
Well it’s not just the music that influences me. I found music as a tool to express my creative side and feelings but influences are very various. For example, I’m pretty interested in alternative religion, magic and all the stuff that comes with it. That’s probably the strongest influence in my creativity but sometimes even the smallest drop of tear in the eye may inspire me to make the complete symphony.
But when I consider who influenced me the most as a musician I’d say that Steve Vai and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance were the strongest ones in musical and other ways. Those two persons really know what the creativity is and how to use the enormous wideness of the music universe and are not afraid to use it in the weirdest possible ways.
What influenced you in the beginning of your career?
As I said before, my mother and grandpa were the first to influence me and when they “initialized” me I started discovering the fine art of music. The career came by itself and I don’t even knew I have a career as a musician ’till recently when I started thinking how much time I spent doing it and how much money I made by playing and recording.
How many hours do you practice a day?
When I’m not on the road or in the studio, I’m trying to practice as much as I have free time. Sometimes it’s 4 hours and sometimes it’s just half an hour but at least I’m trying to practice every day. I don’t have military discipline when it comes to practicing but when I practice I’m doing it effective. For example, I’m using metronome to practice speed and I’m trying to make my fingers play as precise as they can. Sometimes it goes fine and sometimes don’t but I’m not worried as long as I have my creativity and inspiration with me. The rest is just the tools.
What have been your best experience with music?
I must admit that one of the greatest experiences was working with Darkness song. But also I must mention something I call “the stage orgasm” or the feeling while playing in front of thousands of people who are here just to hear you play. You know what I’m saying.
Any terrible experiences you would like to share?
Ah.. Terrible experiences… Who’s to count those… Much more than good experiences… but I must admit that most of those experiences became somehow funny as time passed by. Unpaied gigs, broken van in the middle of nowhere, playing in front of the bar tender and waitress ONLY, having string broken in the middle of solo in front of two thousand people… You know… But if you’re asking me, those are just the usual experiences and I believe, every band goes through all that crap sooner or later.
Do you prefer instrumental or vocal music?
First, I prefer good music whether it’s vocal or just instrumental. If it feels good to my ears I don’t care what it is. It may be just some noise but if that makes my emotions running and my heart singing I don’t mind. Lately I’m all about perfect harmonies. Therefore I’m spending time listening to pieces of Wagner, Orff, Vivaldi, Shostakovich, etc and when on the move, the list on my mp3 player is something like Symphony X (copious amount), Haggard, Tristania, Mourning Beloveth, My Dying Bride, and few others.
What have you been listening to lately that is guitar oriented?
John Petrucci and the whole Liquid Tension experiment is the masterpiece I always like to listen. There… I’m just listening to it right now. Amazing!
What have you listened to lately that is not electric guitar oriented?
Hmmm… I should say Atrium Carceri and Raison d’Etre is something I like to jump into and dive for hours in the dark industrial waters lately. Especialy when I’m frustrated or something like that. It’s so relaxing to me.
Listen to Darkness Arena 2008
Marc
