From the German lands this quite unusual project comes, mixing several elements from styles such acoustic Neo-Folk, Darkwave and Electro Ambient, creates an interesting musical hybrid completely intriguing and vibrating. “Sterbender Satyr” was my first experience with this band and I must admit, the band blows my head of since the first listening, I know this is not the kind of music we include at our pages everyday, but as we say at our main page this site is dedicated to any kind of dark musical expression… and believe me, Orplid completely deserves to be here…   

(Pictures taken from Orplid Official Site www.orplid.de)

BB: First I would like to thank you for giving us this interview; it’s an honour to have you at BurningBlack… It’s really hard to me interviewing you, because I have never interviewed a band like yours… I understand you are pretty well known in the (Post) Industrial, (Neo) Folk and Electro/Ambient circles, but Orplid isn’t much known in the most extreme side of underground… Can you tell us about Orplid’s history?  

Orplid started in 1996 as a duo consisting of Uwe Nolte, who writes the majority of the lyrics, and me, Frank Machau, who is mainly responsible for the music. Now, ten years later, there is still only the two of us, but we have worked with a handful of other contributors. In the beginning, our music was more acoustically based, that has changed a bit because electronics have become increasingly prominent.  We have recorded 3 albums so far and a few EPs.

BB: How you define your music? And especially how you define the sound of “Sterbender Satyr”?

I am not able to define our music but I am pretty aware that it does not fit in any particular genre. Probably our trademark is a kind of atmospheric sound... I guess the sound is very important, more than the melodies. The music we play is definitely sound-based.

BB: Can you tell us about your previous discography? How do you think your music, between “Orplid” and “Sterbender Satyr”, has evolved?

All our three albums have as much in common as they have obvious differences. Certain elements are present on all our recordings. With the years we have learned to use these elements more effectively. The music has become more complex and at the same time much simpler where simplicity seemed fitting for a song.

BB: I was very impressed when I get this Cd from Auerbach Tonträger/Prophecy Productions, it’s not the kind of release I receive everyday… Why are you interested in the Metal-audience?

Thank you. Generally, we are interested in all kinds of audiences, we are trying to reach as many listeners as possible.

 I think our music is to a certain degree  extreme as are some of the lyrics. So there are some similarities with (extreme)Heavy Metal. Uwe has a strong Metal background. Before Orplid, we used to play in a Heavy Metal band called “Rückgrat”. I lost my interest some years ago, but there have been times I used to be very enthusiastic about certain Black Metal releases ( I am convinced there are still some interesting bands within that genre but I have somehow become a bit ignorant – blame it on my age).

BB: I understand “Sterbender Satyr” means “Dying Satyr”, am I right? What can you tell us about this name?

You are right. The song which gave the album its name is about a satyr on his deathbed who looks back upon his life, a life full of ecstatic passion and innocent sensuality as well, and finally dies peacefully, reconciled with his fate...

BB: Your music appears to be very spiritual and mystical… What are your sources of inspiration?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Life itself is certainly the richest source, then all kinds of art; music, literature, painting... Dreams are also important. Simply anything that surrounds us.

BB: I read you have included settings of classical poetry in this work… what classic poet have most influenced your work?

That is really a hard question. I am afraid I am not able to give a satisfactory answer here...

BB: Can you tell us about the “Sterbender Satyr” lyrics? I read you don’t follow particular concepts, but the whole music sounds (at least to me) as a theatrical piece… I can imagine this work as a random collection of songs…

Some of the lyrics deal with mythological and historical themes, some are just reflections on nature. There is really no concept, the album presents songs of the last 4 years, admittedly with often related topics. There is certainly a theatrical aspect to the music which I guess is due to the fact that the words always come first and the song is “built” around the lyrics.

BB: One of best tracks (to me) is “Die Seherin”… Can you tell us more about this particular song?

The song is based on a poem by Oda Schaefer which was written at the beginning of the last century (If I remember correctly). Sandra Fink, who is a great artist in her own right, is rather reciting than singing it, which creates a very special kind of suspense. This is probably the darkest song on the album and one of the most warmly received. There still seems to be some great interest in the irrational and supernatural ( or is our enlightened audience just thrilled by it?).

BB: If the music of Orplid was purely poetry (without music)… what kind of poetry would it be?

In some respect romantic poetry, but I feel a bit uncomfortable with this term because these days “romantic” is often taken as a synonym for “worldly innocent” or, worse, regarded as a mood which is necessary to prepare women for sexual intercourse.

BB: Can you tell us about Sandra Fink? Did she deliver all female voices at “Sterbender Satyr”? I immediately fell in love with her powerful and beautiful voice… Is she a collaborator or is part of Orplid? Will you continue working with her?

Sandra only sang on “Die Seherin”, for which song her voice is perfect. She is not part of Orplid but she has sort of become part of our... I would like to call it “family”. Therefore, I believe she will be heard again on our future recordings.

BB: Your music reflex a wide range of influences…What kinds of music have influenced the sound of Orplid?

All kinds of music and, even more important, noises and sounds.

BB: What kind of music are you listening nowadays?

I have just bought the new album by Scott Walker and it is one of the most original and in fact most extreme pieces of music I have ever heard. At the moment, everything else sounds like nursery rhymes in comparison.

BB: What are your future plans with Orplid?

We have just started playing live, probably we will intensify this in the future. And I would like to release a new album next year.

BB: Thanks again for your time and words… Is there anything else you want to say to our readers?

Many thanks for your interest. If any of your readers wants some further information on us, please have a look at www.orplid.de or www.noltex.de .