Introduction
On the 18th of July, Namu released its debut album "Wretched Spawns of Iniquitous Orders". review for more on that check out the review I wrote for that (it's linked at the end), I Was very impressed with it. Below is an interview with the sole member of the band.
In Conversation with Namu
Hey Namu! Thanks for doing this interview.
Namu: No problem, thanks for having me.
How did Namu start as a project?
Namu: It started as its own entity around two and a half years ago when I had lots of leftover demos that I’d written and produced from previous projects. I was listening through them and had an overwhelming compulsion to finish and release them. They needed a lot of re-recording and reworking, and Namu was ultimately born of my desire to finish this music, and explore a part of my creative mind that kept rearing its head whenever I went to write something new.
The name Namu sounds very alien/scifi. Where did you get the name from?
Namu: It’s actually a play on the spelling of part of my name. It used to be my stage name from a previous band too. It now represents a whole other side to me, a side that enables me to effectively channel a vein of cosmic creativity.
What first drew you to black metal, and how did that evolve from being a listener into creating your own music?
Namu: I’ve always been more into progressive rock and metal. Black metal was something I got into while studying music at college and university. At the time, I was playing drums (and then later, guitar) in a band that originally played a more traditional second-wave style of black metal, so I had to really immerse myself in all the nuances of the genre to fully understand it and be able to write and perform it proficiently. Since then, there’s really only a few black metal/extreme metal bands that stuck with me, like Winterfylleth, Coldworld, and Portal.
What have been your biggest creative influences over the years? Are they mostly other bands, or have books, films, philosophy, or other forms of media also shaped your songwriting and the themes behind your music?
Namu: Over the years, it’s been mostly other bands and artists. There have been many (too many to count), but if I had to name a few that have influenced me, it would be bands like Rush, Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah, and Steven Wilson. I’ve always been obsessed with science fiction and all things space-related anyway, from extraterrestrial concepts to cosmic horror, and those interests/experiences all play a huge part in the imagery and themes that I try to convey through my music and lyrics.
Are you working on some new music, any other projects or a new Namu album?
Namu: Wretched Spawns of Iniquitous Orders took nearly five years to create in total, including a considerable hiatus from music. I consider it a major relief and weight off my shoulders now that it's out, as it frees me up mentally to start working on new music for Namu. I always want the writing and production process to be as natural as possible, which, for me, means not rushing it. I plan to release two or three tracks towards the end of this year, or the beginning of next, to keep the momentum going.
I’m a musician so this is sort of a personal musician to musician question: how do you approach getting inspired to compose a new song? Plug a guitar and play until something comes, listen to stuff you like, what inspires you?
Namu: Inspiration comes in waves. I can go for months without writing anything, and then all of a sudden I’ll start something and get really caught up in it, to the point where it’s my sole focus. I’ve skipped meals and completely obliterated my sleep schedule on many occasions just because I’ve been so in the groove of writing and producing, and completely hellbent on finishing it.
When I am feeling inspired, I’ve noticed that my sporadic bursts of inspiration can come from more or less anything, including a melodic motif in a film, a new piece of gear, or a freshly restrung guitar. I am constantly experimenting with equipment and effects to try and achieve what I consider to be “alien” sounds. To me, that’s what it's all about: creating something I consider to be new and totally unheard of, to the point where it’s either beautiful and galactic or totally unnerving. That kind of thing inspires me.
Your Bandcamp has the phrase "a collection of deeply personal experiences recounting the brutal and torturous abductions by beings not of this planet." Would you be willing to elaborate on what you meant by that? Were you speaking literally, metaphorically, or leaving it open to interpretation?
Namu: I’ll leave that open to the listener’s interpretation.
To wrap up the interview, do you have any final words?
Namu: I want to again thank you for interviewing me, and want to express my gratitude to all the people who have purchased and listened to the album. I still can’t quite believe the response I’ve had to it so far - I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’ve had a lot of messages asking about CDs and vinyl, and as such I’ve decided to put out some physicals in the very near future. As I don’t have any social media, I will keep my followers on Bandcamp apprised of any updates with regards to physical media.
We would like to thank Namu for it's time and answers, you can find the review of the album Wretched Spawns of Iniquitous Orders here:
Wastrel
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