The Art of Prog

NOTE: Greg Hasbrouck interviewed Pagan’s Mind vocalist Nils K. Rue in May of this year.

Greg: Hi Nils, it’s Greg, how are you?

Nils: Fine, Greg. How about you?

Greg: I’m well. So first off, thank you for taking some time out of your evening to speak with me. So how are things going for you guys these days?

Nils: It’s going pretty good. We’re in a phase where we do very little gigs. Mostly rehearsing, writing new songs for the new record. Also, we’re working on the upcoming DVD. So, we’re having one gig in two weeks, together with Kamelot, here in Norway. And after that, I think it’s two or three gigs during the summer. So it’s pretty slow before the tour starts in September. But that’s OK, because we have time to do different stuff with the band.

Greg: You mentioned the DVD. If I recall, the DVD was filmed in Oslo?

Nils: Yes. At a music hall called Rockefeller. It’s a mid-sized venue in Norway where bands like NIGHTWISH and SYMPHONY X play. It’s a pretty good venue. It was a packed house and everything. So we did the main concert for the DVD there and that was the first date of the tour in November.

Greg: That was the tour with SONATA ARCTICA?

Nils: Yeah… it was really friggin awesome, because SONATA ARCTICA has a really good following all over Europe and we’ve started to as well. So there were a lot of SONATA ARCTICA fans which were also converted into PAGAN’S MIND fans.

Greg: Yeah… that kind of tour is a great opportunity.

Nils: Like thousands everywhere. So I think this was the best tour for PAGAN’S MIND so far, concerning how many people were showing up and everything and the feedback and everything. So it was really a boy’s dream come true, to feel the pressure of the crowds.

Greg: So, when you know the cameras are on, when you’re shooting a DVD, is there a little extra pressure to get everything right or do you just relax and say, hey… we can fix it in the studio if we screw up?

Nils: (laughter). No definitely. Definitely a little more pressure, because whatever grins you do with your face, whatever movement you do with your hand, people are going to notice that. Of course there’s a lot of extra pressure, because you just have one take to do it in. At least for pictures, the picture thing, it’s common to handle with care, a little bit on the musical side. Of course there’s a little bit more pressure, but I think we did OK. The video material looks and sounds pretty good so far.

Greg: Very cool. I’m looking forward to seeing it. So you mentioned winning over a lot of fans on your European tour, it was just announced that you’ll be opening for STRATOVARIUS starting in September. That’s pretty big news.

Nils: Yes and we’re really, really looking forward to that. Ever since we played the U.S., the first time, back in 2003 on ProgPower festival, fans all over the U.S. have really been nagging us (mutual laughter) about coming back and doing a full tour. And we have had our chances. Back in 2005 we were really close to doing a tour with HELLOWEEN back there, and there was problems with our label and everything. We have had our share of unluck really. But I think now everything is going to be alright and we’re definitely coming over and doing a pretty decent tour.

Greg: So do you guys view this as a next step in the band’s rise or is it just another tour?

Nils: What you really discover, when playing in a band, it’s one thing putting out records, it’s another doing tours. And what really boosts your career is really doing tours, playing live; because more people get the attention of you when you play live than when you put out records, because there’s so much records out there. Last year we did four tours; one together with BRAINSTORM, two together with SONATA ARCTICA and one with FATES WARNING just before New Year’s Eve, in 2007. So those tours have been really big for PAGAN’S MIND in Europe, I think. So what we’re really anxious to see now is if the U.S. tour can do the same thing for us over there. We have to start at someplace any way, so…

Greg: And that’s a great place to start, opening for STRATOVARIUS, because you’ll be playing some nice venues I suspect.

Nils: Yeah… I’ve been looking a little bit around; I really don’t know the venues personally myself. I checked out the Nokia Theater in New York City and that looked really good. And it seems it’s different everywhere as well. Thinking about how many people STRATOVARIUS will really draw this time.

Greg: Well, just to give you some idea, I went to see NIGHTWISH and VOLBEAT at the Nokia Theater this past Saturday, and I would guess there was probably close to 2,000 people there.

Nils: That’s great.

Greg: And it’s a beautiful venue with a fantastic sound system and a great stage. I think you guys will enjoy playing there.

Nils: Cool.

Greg: So you mentioned the record part of it and touring part of it. I imagine you guys are working on the follow-up to God’s Equation. Are you working by any sort of schedule?

Nils: It’s still in the pretty early phase. But we have started to do demo versions of some of the songs. We’re working on a little more of a different model this time, because earlier on we just rehearsed all songs, finished in the rehearsal room, and then we made a demo out of it. But this time we record the material as soon as it’s fairly ready. I think that it’s better for us time-wise, because we work faster that way. So I guess, maybe, if everything works out the way we want it, we’re hitting the studio probably just after the tour with Stratovarius, I would think. So maybe during winter of 2010 I would say, a new record is out.

Greg: I noticed that each of your last two CDs has placed on the Norwegian charts. So, my first question is, does that surprise you? And second, does that come with any additional pressure? Either pressure you put on yourselves or label pressure?

Nils: Good questions really. Hmmm…

Greg: Well, first do you guys feel any additional pressure following up a successful disc?

Nils: Yeah, of course there is. We’re never going to put out that is something that we’re not satisfied with. On God’s Equation we we’re maybe a little less progressive than on the previous albums. We gained a lot of newer fans, maybe more straight Heavy Metal fans. Style-wise, I’m not really sure which direction we’re going to move along in. I think it’s going to be the same old PAGAN’S MIND sound. Things are going to be even more heavy and even more poppy if you know what I mean. Maybe more extreme in a way. I think also it’s really wrong for a band just to copy themselves album after album and doing the same thing all over again. You just have to try out a little bit, not following the trends, but move along a little bit, if you know what I mean.

Greg: When you guys write, do you do so together or separately?

Nils: It’s together, collaborative, because we all live in the same city. I’m actually going to rehearsal now, in an hour or so. We rehearse two times a week, so most of the songs are being created in the rehearsal room, with all five with us. Lately, we have done one rehearsal day and then we move on to Jorn Viggo’s place where we have our studio here and maybe record ideas and so on and we clean it up a little bit. But it’s seldom e-mail correspondence with ideas and stuff life that, it’s always face to face.

Greg: Although it seems the band grows more popular with each release, as I understand it, you still work a regular job as a Graphic Designer. Is it completely bizarre to go from playing in front of 2,000 people as a rock star one day and working 9 to 5 the next?

Nils: It’s a very strange thing to do. I also got to pinch my arm sometimes when I’m up on stage. In my life, it’s a really big contrast. It’s funny because, this coming weekend I’m visiting a friend of mine in Gothenburg, in Sweden; the bass player who use to be in HAMMERFALL, Magnus Rosén. He’s going to this gala evening at the Chinese embassy Saturday and he wanted me to go a long. So on Saturday evening I’m going on a gala evening, for really picked guest, if you know what I mean, prominent people going to the big dinner. So that’s me in a nutshell. One day I’m at work and everything is really calm and next day… it’s the “rock star” thing. For me it makes a good balance in my life. Of course I want to do music 100%, all the time if I can do it. If the opportunity is there I’m definitely going for it. But at the same time I would not mind the more structured time in my life.

Greg: I’ve noticed when you perform live you often drag one hand across your chest as you’re singing. Is that some sort of vocal technique or is that just a habit you have?

Nils: I think it’s just a bad habit. I don’t think it does anything for my voice, it’s just a tick, a gesture or something. I think it’s the same thing when guitarists do a solo and they make a big grin on the face, they clench their face, because they are in the moment with the music. And it’s the same thing I do, because I’m imagining pushing more air out of my lungs. It’s just bullshit really, there’s nothing happening there.

(mutual laughter)

Niles: It’s just when I’m concentrating my arm goes up like that.

Greg: Speaking of your voice, you have a very wide range, and you do a lot with it; everything from the occasional growl to the covers you’ve done of KING DIAMOND. I would imagine that range would allow you to do a lot of different things with music. Is there anything you plan on doing outside of PAGAN’S MIND?

Nils: Yeah… I still have a record I had promised to do together with Magnus Rosén (ex-HAMMERFALL) and Andy La Rocque from KING DIAMOND, the X-WORLD/5 project. I did a record with them earlier, as well. I wasn’t too satisfied with that and it didn’t do very well. So we’re trying one more record and… I’m doing that within half a year or something. If you’re talking about do other stuff besides Heavy Metal I’m not sure. I’m kind of a sucker for operatic stuff as well. I was playing a role in the play of Mephisto. I’m sorry, the play “Faust”, where I played the part of Mephisto. That was in the Norwegian Opera three years ago. I was doing theater and vocals at the same, and that was pretty exciting. And if I get a chance to do that again I would most definitely do that.

Greg: That’s very cool. And you also did an album with EIDOLON, “The Parallel Otherworld”. Can you tell me a little about how you got hooked up with them? Do you plan on working with them again?

Nils: There’s nothing happening there really. I talked to Glen [Drover] just a few weeks ago and we talked about doing another record. He said it’s up to Shawn, when he has the time between touring and stuff. The thing is, they really have some old songs, which they never did record back when they started up. I’ve heard some demo versions of that and it sounds pretty cool. So I think I’m going to do a record with EIDOLON, as well. But I would say, one and half, two years from now.

Greg: So you guys will be playing ProgPower for the third time. This time you’re appearing on the night dubbed “Returning Heroes”. Are you surprised at all by how the audience here has completely embraced PAGAN’S MIND?

Nils: (laugher) I really have no words to describe that feeling. It’s such an enormous pleasure to come back every time. I feel there’s something in the music of PAGAN’S MIND that triggers a lot of Americans fans even more than it does with the European fans. You guys are more warming towards us than European fans, of course they are heartfelt and everything. It’s more a brother-like situation with America really and I don’t know what it is. I think maybe, and that’s why I’m excited about this tour as well, coming up in September, I think there is something in the music of PAGAN’S MIND that has something to do in the American market. I think maybe we sound more American than most European Power or Prog Metal bands.

Greg: I think that’s true. It seems that you guys have a darker vibe that is more typified by American bands like NEVERMORE or ICED EARTH and less… I don’t want to say “happy”…

Nils: More rawness to it I think…

Greg: Yes.

Nils: So to conclude with that, I think Glenn [Harveston] has done a fantastic job for us all the way and we’re so pleased to be welcomed back again.

Greg: And we’re thrilled to have you. Is there anything from your previous ProgPower appearances that stands out in your mind?

This ends Part One of Greg’s interview with Pagan’s Mind vocalist Nils K. Rue. The complete interview can only be found in the official (printed) ProgPower USA program given to all attendees. If you want to read the entire interview, you have to come to the show!

Final Note: All photos/images used to illustrate this interview are used in compliance with the principles of Fair Use. They illustrate reviews, opinions, and interviews with the band members who created the albums and on whose official web sites and MySpace pages some of these images reside. The photos of the band are borrowed from the band’s official web site. No copyright violations are intended.