1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?
hi! well, Artisian is currently in the studio recording the 11th studio album out on Tinnitus records, I did a 1 man online live feed gig 2 weeks ago. The artwork is currently being prepared and I will no doubt do another 1 man gig in a few months.
2.In 2020 you had released both a full length and an ep, musically how do they both differ from each other?
well I actually did 2 full length albums and an EPin 2020 lol!! I did Thurisaz which had a lot of black and roll influence as well as the usual Artisian style of songs and I did an unplugged album called 'Lament' not ot be confused with the first album 'lament for the eternal frost' i wanted to experiment with dark heavy black metal feeling but strip it back as minimalist as possible, so i used an acoustic guitar, clean vocals and stomp box. Black metal has always been about feeling, coldeness, solitude, darkness etc a real opposition to pop music, so this i felt was taking my interpretation of black metal one step further, i may or may not do it again, but it was a 1 off idea that i wanted to do, it went well i feel. The EP was a mix of both, it had full band black metal tracks, then 2 traditional Scottish folk songs to finish, clean vocals and a bodhran ( drum )
3.On the new ep you also done a couple of Scottish folk tunes, can you tell us a little bit more this decision?
I felt they were very black metal in feeling, I felt they were so stripped down, minimalist and raw that i felt compelled to do this one time.
4.A lot of your lyrics cover satanic topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Satanism?
Satan means adversary, i think a lot of people into the music will agree that they feel like social opposition, we reject, or should reject mainstream consumerism and organised religion, which are simply multinational corporations too. All the plastic processed world that is force fed to us; plastic music, plastic food, plastic everything. Destroying our culture, our history, our people, ( Our Land on Thurisaz deals with this topic )
I feel an affinity with proper Satanism, certainly not the plastic hollywood satanism of le'vey. I live in a stripped down, natural, dark positive manner.
5.You have also written a few songs that cover Norse Paganism and Runes, how would you describe your interest in this topic?
This is my history and heritage and largely the listener bass of Artisan too, it applies to us, it is being outlawed in certain European countries, i have no idea why they are trying to censor our heritage and history, but no matter our view point, this is despicable and if a small black metal band can help keep our rich and fantastic history alive... then I will do so. I have major issues with censorship and there is alot going on these days.
6.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored over the years with your music?
When i lived in London, i was there when the terrorist attacks happened, i wrote about that in the 2nd album, the 1st album was a learning process but it had things i still deal with today but also issues that i had grown up with in Scotland. I write about what inspires me, there is a repatitve theme but each album has a different set of topics and in some respects, once some of these issues have been addressed they are done, its a bit like self therapy lol!
7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Artisian'?
You are the first person to ask this in 16years so thank you!! it is Artisan with an extra i. When I started the band I knew it was going to be underground and on trade magazines etc so i chose the letter A to be near the top of the list lol! Then I started looking around for words in French, English, Gaelic and Latin, it took some time, but then I settled on Artisian. An artisan is someone who creates something, as I was going to be the sole creator in this work it made sense, then i decided to tweak the spelling a little to make it original!
8.Currently you work as a solo project but have had former members in the past, are you open to working with other musicians during the future?
Perhaps, but it is so stress free working alone, i have no issues, no constraints, it is very free and liberating and lets the band flow in the direction it needs too.
9.What are some of the best shows that you have played with the live line up over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
There have been lots of great shows that jump to mind, lots of people want to hear about the tour supports, which were great, i have toured with Marduk twice, Gorgoroth twice, Mayhem, Nachtmystium, Venom Inc, Obituary, Entombed, Napalm Death and loads of others and some open air festivals, but i have to be honest, since september 2019 i have been performing as a 1 piece, and these shows have really been the most stress free, i started Artisian as a 1 piece, and had planned to play live as a 1 piece from the start. The first few gigs, i didn't have the experience or correct set up to do it properly, so i allowed people in to play with me, which kinda ruined the idea, now i have everything i need and done about 10 shows as a 1 piece, 5 have been live stream gigs. so they have been the best! the last gig is on the bands facebook you can still watch it.
The performance is about a solitary self expression and my interpretation of black metal, but i am also there to entertain like minded individuals who enjoy the work, the art and the performance. doing the 1 man thing has shaped this alot. again, it has given me the freedom to do live feed gigs in places you wouldn't normally play, the last gig was in my barn in the middle of a forest where I live. This is much more fitting for a black metal band I feel and for Artisian in particular.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal and crust punk?
its been good, Artisian has its fan base, they live what i do, so its all good, they are quite crazer fans, i have to say, but very cool people! :D
11.You also have a new album coming out in 2021, what can we expect musically once it is released?
the next album is in 2 chapters, i has songs written and recorded in England and the 2nd chapter is written and recorded in Hungary, they vibe will be a little more lofi and old school, it is a production and vibe i really love, the most, the whole Dark Throne vibe is just pure black metal to me and i feel ready with this album to have a trve cult necro vibe to reflect the feeling of the new material and what inspired it.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
influence wise, it really hasn't changed, i am still listening to the same guys i have for many years as they are still producing great music, it covers a broad range, i always discover new bands in the underground via the labels i trade with and that i am friends with. there is always new stuff to check out and enjoy.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
just to say these questions have been really great, thank you for reviewing the EP and thank you for giving Artisian your time and space on your blog.
if anyone wants to check out the music and live feeds, it can be found on facebook.com/artisian666 and artisian.bandcamp.com
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