Maieutiste Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Hello ! We’re currently working on our second full length album, of which some songs were written as early as 2008. We’re also involved in several other musical projects, such as Caïnan Dawn, Barús, Deinmas, Jambalaya Window, etc.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released inthe past?
Our first demo was very spontaneous. It was recorded a few weeks after the band started, and featured some early versions of songs that are featured in our first album. For the album we had much higher expectations, which is why we took a long time for the project to mature and for all our ideas to take form.

3.This is the first material to be released since 2007, can you tell us a little bit more about the 8 year gap in between releases?
We wanted to make sure we had full control of the creative and recording processes, so we did everything ourselves, staying clear of recording studios. We chose a difficult path, and had to learn a lot of things the hard way. Our sound engineer used traveling recording gear and we recorded in many locations and experimented a lot, and had a high standard of how we wanted things to be played and sound. It took us a long time, but the resulting album is, to our ears, quite singular.

4.You have labelled your music 'Socratic metal', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this Greek philosopher?
The term Socratic Black Metal was a way for us to oppose ourselves to the overclassification in genres, especially in metal. It is a bit of a provocative statement, as we don’t really define what we do, we let listeners make their own opinion. It was also a way to criticize the scene that is sometimes caricatured in its use of Satanism or opposition to any form of one track thinking. We think that evoking antic philosophy could bear this idea of opposing ourselves to dogmas and claiming that we are all beings of reason
and doubt. We were interested in philosophy in general, and wanted to transcribe the process of maïeutics into music and into emotions. It’s a poetic approach, not philosophical.

5.Your lyrics are very philosophical, besides Socrates what are some of the other philosopher's that you are inspired by?
Many thinkers influence in our different works in direct or indirect ways. As for Maïeutiste, we mention Socrates, and also refer indirectly to his disciples. Writing lyrics to this music aims to offer an abstract poetry of this idea.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Maieutiste'?
Maïeutics means the “art of giving birth to spirits”. It argues that certain truths lay innate inside of us, and they can be unveiled by undergoing a form of spiritual journey. We wanted to evoke he who discovers maïeutics and who, through this philosophy, questions his existence and sees the world through new eyes, where questioning is permanent and where knowledge is an endless means of inspiration.The name of the band encompasses this approach. It is very meaningful for us, to the point that we decided not to name the album, to illustrate both the simplicity and the complexity of this idea.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We have great memories of the album release party, organised by Les Acteurs de l’Ombre in Nante, where we played with DELUGE, Moonreich and Regarde les Hommes Tomber. We got great feedback. Our stage performance is more of a collective energy where we, asindividuals, are at the service of a musical entity and atmosphere. It’s not a rock and roll attitude (even though we appreciate that in other bands we play in); we aspire to a more transcending experience. We are considering adding live video projections in future
concerts.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans planned for the future?
We’re preparing our next album and next concerts at the moment, so nothing is completely defined yet, but we’re considering a tour with Mournful Congregation, who are all huge influences of ours.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and doom metal?
We’ve been surprised with very good feedback from all over the world! We know that our music is sometimes difficult to apprehend, with it being very dense and lengthy, so we’re thrilled that people actually stuck with it and were curious enough to really dive into it. We like music that takes a certain effort to appreciate, as they are usually quite deep experiences once they are understood. As for fans of black and doom metal, we’re very happy that they have offered many different interpretations of our work.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
Barús (death metal band in which James and Keithan play) is currently preparing to record their first album, which in a way is the flipside to Maïeutiste: where the former is dense and quite luminous and elevating, Barús is oppressive, unforgiving and raw. Keithan also works in Caïnan Dawn, who are starting to write their third opus, and Deinmas a grunge band who are preparing their first album.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We think the next release will be a continuation of the first album. It will probably be more powerful and cohesive overall. Recording should be a lot easier also, as we have learned a lot since the first release.

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?
If we had to mention our essentials in the metal scene, I would say the first Norwegian scene with Ulver, Emperor, Darkthrone and Enslaved, but also in Sweden with Bathory or Mörk Gryning. There’s also Bethlehem, Nehëmah, Mütiilation, Code, Deathspell Omega, Mournful Congregaton, Ataraxie, Hyadningar, who were all big influences. Pink Floyd, John Zorn, Thierry Escaich, Mike Oldfield, Bethoven, Dvořák, Vivaldi. .. are all names that have influenced us in various ways, in terms of composition, recording techniques and in appropriating a musical genre to make something of our own.Some of our current favourites are Lychgate, Misþyrming, Tim Hecker and the latest New Order.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?
We’re all interested in various forms of art, each of us being sensitive to one or several particular forms. Painting and cinema are a great source of inspiration. We’re also interested in science and new technologies, especially how they imbricate with modern artistic creative processes.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We hope that people will enjoy our album and offer their own personal interpretations.
Thanks for the interview and all the best!

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