Uten Håp is a norwegian depressive black metal solo-band which tries to explore and show the feelings behind the depression and anxiety, hopelessness, despair, the monotony of living without purpose, desperation... That's why I chose this particular sound, with this big reverb in all the instruments, to show how the world is going away from you when you are in this hole, as well as the absence of lyrics , because when you are suffering this disease no words will help. It's a lonely fight, long, very long and hard to win.
2.Recently you have released your first full length, how does it differ musically from your previous ep's and splits?
I try to improve in each release, since ANIMA, my first EP, I tried to focus in make less tension in the music, and center myself in the melodic aspect to transmit the feelings of the songs. I'm very critic with my own work, and I can say that “Life Obliteration” has achieved it, is the best album of Uten Håp at this moment: powerful, it transmit the idea behind Uten Håp perfectly.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
As I said the songs do not have lyrics, only one of them. The intention is to show that when you are falling in this disease and it strikes you hard no words matter. Nothing can be said to help, and no word will go out of your mouth. It's a hard sensation to explain in a song lyric really, so nothing is better than the screams you want to shout out of you when you are feeling that.
But let me say that the songs which Uten Håp will use for live shows will have lyrics about all this disease so people that are suffering from this can feel they don't are alone.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Uten Hap'?
Uten Håp means “Without Hope”, a band with the purpose of showing what is and how feels depression needs a proper name, the worst feeling a human can suffer when is under the attack of depression: hopelessness.
5.With this project you record everything by yourself, is this project more personal to you than the other ones that you are a aprt of?
Yes, is one of the more personal that I have. I try to put a bit of me in every project I work in, but Uten Håp connected me with lot of people, teaching me that you can help people with music, turning it in a very special project for me.
6.Since 2017 you have put out at least 16 releases with this project, do you feel you spend a great amount of time, writing and creating music?
Abolutely, my friend, I use my job to keep my head busy and avoid to think in some things, at this moment I work in 20 different musical projects and a few more as a session musician. Every day I try to study and write something new, so almost 24/7 hahaha.
7.Can you till us a little bit more about the split's you where a part of earlier this year?
I released 2 splits: one with 000 from New Zealand and Apothecary from USA, and then another one with Apothecary. They are very nice people, with great talent, was a big honour for me to share an album with them. John, the man behind Apothecary, is an amazing guy, and wants to keep working with me, so more splits will come in the next months, I'm trying to work with Entardecer and will attack with a proposition to Bitter Lake very soon too.
8.The new album was released on 'Cult of Osiris', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Is a new label from England dedicated to black metal. One of the problems we, as musicians, are having this days is the absence of labels that want to support the bands personaly, taking risks, getting involved, and that's the better point of “Cult Of Osiris”: is a very brave label, with energy, and the intention to help, support and motivate the bands under the same flag, if you work hard to do your music, you need a label in the same level of commitment, and this label isn't afraid to do it.
9,On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of depressive black metal?
Incrediblely good. I couldn't expect the awesome reaction people had, and have, to Uten Håp. Almost every day I receive messages of people who wants to show support to the band, or from people that want to thank me for what I'm doing, because they use my music to feel they aren't alone in this disease. The comments in the social media and YouTube are just amazing, people love Uten Håp and I only can thank them for everything.
10.Can you tell us a little bit more about the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?
Sure! Right now I'm in 20 musical projects, without counting bands of my work as a musician. If you are into black metal, aside from Uten Håp, you can found me in Rive doing dsbm (depressive suicidal black metal), and in Ov Mhurn (black ambient), Stormgaze (black metal), Wintercrown (black metal), and very soon will hit with IÄ.
In the death metal genre you can listen to me in My Own Demise (death/groove), Helhest (melodic death), Sepulcration (total old school), Krovork or Nekrose (brutal technical death metal).
I also play in Costra (goregrind), as drummer in Sporocysts (noisegrind), brutal technical death metal in Brutal Castration, slam in CPJ, crust in Inkrust, even doom/funeral doom in Frostvein and Anhelo, piano in the pop band Lys, etc.
And more projects coming soon! :).
11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I'm always working trying to give my best, so in the future I hope to continue doing that but I have an objective, I want to keep doing live shows with Wintercrown and visit some countries, but also I want to go with Uten Håp as a live band.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I try to consume and study all the music I can, but here you have some names: Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, Willie Nelson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Robert Johnson, Yiruma, The Rolling Stones, Nobuo Uematsu, Bud Powell...
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I want to thank you for this opportunity, for supporting Uten Håp and the underground scene, was an honor to have this words with you!
Thank you so much!!!
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