Ash of Heimataerde: Fighting in 1193 in outremer still put up some more extreme conditions

Ashlar von Megalon, the one-man army behind Heimataerde are back with his fourth album with the project and I got the opportunity to do an interview with him to talk about the new album, get to know why he doesn’t let anyone remix his songs and a lot more. Read the complete interview below.

The review of the new album “Unwesen” can be found here.

Blackvector: Hello Ash! How are you doing?

Ash: Thanks, I’m well! Especially with the prospect of “Unwesen” being released.

Blackvector: Can you please tell us your history up until now?

Ash: Heimataerde was founded in 2004 to create club-orientated dance music. In addition, there was the story of Ashlar the undead templar to be told. This added the sinister feel to the whole thing. The story was written by Pen Tell. Jens came up with the photographic artwork and the rotten look. Since then, Heimataerde released 3 concept albums, exploring the world of Heimataerde.

Blackvector: You have rather a quite unique sound and theme for your music, featuring the medieval setting and structure. How did you come up with it?

Ash: We tell the story of the undead templar Ashlar von Megalon. He is a witness to the grisly sides of the crusades, an unorthodox thinker and warrior. He turns onto a yet darker path by leaving his bigoted order, followed by doubts, desire and despair. He is on his quest to conquer the Heimataerde.

Ashlars wanderings through madness and holy war have of course an audible influence on the mix of elektro, aggressive guitar and archaic sound elements. Like stated before, Heimataerde is not a band of merry pipers on the weekend medieval fair, but brings back a dark time with the instruments of industrial and EBM.

Blackvector: A theme that also follows you on stage. Isn’t it warm? :-)

Ash: Yes, sure. But templars don’t cry – after all, fighting in 1193 in outremer still put up some more extreme conditions.(laughs)
Actually, I considered it very important not only to play the music, but also come up with a show of integrity – meaning the concept. The Heimataerde visuals should be presented on stage as well, creating diversity, taking the audience into the world of the story, be descriptive, dramatical, all the like. Ashlar, the play’s leading figure, as to say with Shakespeare, should tell his own story on stage. We always had the ideals of opera in our heads, reviving ancient times, myths and the plot. Ideally, one should be able to immerse in it.

A video was filmed and cut to the show, supporting the band. The costumes, though warm, were derived from the period, and so on. Heimataerde wants to entertain, and I do not support the economic cutaways of the handy two-guys-electro-act.

Blackvector: I guess you are a big fan of that time?

Ash: Only on behalf of reenactment or „living history“. Wouldn’t like to have lived then, right?

Blackvector: From where did you get the name Heimataerde, and what does it mean?

Ash: The name Heimataerde describes a mythical utopia, a vantage point or focus. It is a place of protection for the vampire. Literally, it means „home soil“, but it is more. It hides the Wiedergaenger Ashlar from the deceiving clarity of light. It provides his reincarnation, and it is the only thing to be sure of in his mad, derailed world of holy wars. His former brethren, the templars seek to control the Heimataerde for themselves.

Blackvector: Who are involved with Heimataerde? If I’ve got it right you are behind all the music and words and then you have several other people joining you on stage?

Ash: Yes. Musically, it is a solo-project. Only the live-shows have formed the band. But everyone has its role to fulfil, everyone’s a firm part of the concept. Without this help we couldn’t have brought Heimataerde on stage.

Blackvector: You have been around for quite some time now with the project, with your first release back in 2004 and two albums and several singles up until now. What is the biggest difference, or change maybe, you have experienced during these past six years?

Ash: In my opinion, Heimataerde has become a bit more smoothed. A waymark of this kind surely was the Dark Dance EP, although tis was the recording on which Heimataerde mixed in the heavy guitars. The guitarist for example, is such a change. Jaques is now part of the line up and fills the battle ranks since the Mera Luna 2009. In general, the sound and the band has developed since Gotteskrieger. Now it’s Unwesen, and nobody would be happy telling to not have evolving during the years. So, naturally, I have refined the thing.

Blackvector: All your songs are in German, but also latin. Ever thought of writing songs in english or will you stick with your current settings?

Ash: Immortals and Leben are songs with english lyrics. But they were exceptions and I rather rely on German as my native tongue.

Blackvector: Do you speak latin?

Ash: No. You catch a few phrases when reading about the templars, and that’s quite enough. Some great choir and liturgic lyrics are from the period, that’s a good source for medieval latin.

Blackvector: You have just finished the work for your third album “Unwesen”. Are you happy with the result?

Ash: I’m quite satisfied with the results and hope, that “Unwesen” will find its way to the listeners. The album has packed a lot of work and care in it.

Blackvector: How long did you work on it?

Ash: About one and a half year. Pictures and texts were produced alongside with it.

Blackvector: The album was announced for the first time over a year ago. Was that the plan from the beginning or is it something behind it not being released until now?

Ash: Part of it was intentional. We wanted to start early and let out pieces to the fans, but some of the unavoidable hold-ups added to it.

Blackvector: You do not let any of your songs being remixed. What is the story behind that?

Ash: Because it’s boring. It’s a sort of interpretation that turns out little new. Instead of this, I rather ask other artists for direct contribution to the original recordings.

Blackvector: Have you recieved many questions about other bands who want to remix you?

Ash: Yes, a lot of requests. Heimataerde has to turn them down, consequently.

Blackvector: Instead you invite other artist to contribute and on the new album we see interpretations from Megaherz and Mono Inc. Your words on that?

Ash: Yes, Heimataerde is lucky to have good guests within the ranks again. Lex of Megaherz has made a wonderful interpretation of the story as well as many samples.
DJ Gillian is already known from his appearance on Dark Dance, and Martin of Mono Inc. has lent hs unmistakable voice to Malitia Angelica.Unwesen will become quite a special album thanks to its range given to it by our guests.

Blackvector: How do you describe the music with your own words?

Ash: Electronic dance music with medieval instruments and a lot of emotions.

Blackvector: With “Unwesen” we see the next step for Heimataerde and the sound feel very fresh as it pushing the boundaries even further within the genre. Was that something you felt that you needed to do?

Ash: Of course. Stagnation would be death to Heimataerde.

Blackvector: When did you start making music?

Ash: I got my first Bontempi-organ at the age of 9. The rest is history. (laughs)

Blackvector: I am really stunned with your visuals. Who is behind all the graphics of cover artwork, photographies and other visual aspects of the project?

Ash: That’s done by Jens. He is a choosy designer and drawing artist. When briefed on the subject, he proposed a photographic look, like old exposures from the crusades. I objected, because that seemed impossible, but he was firm on it: If I wanted to avoid mistaken identities with frilly medieval combos, I had to take this sinister and realistic look, along with a very clean design, he said. As a guidance, he devised a mythical tomb in the holy land, just discovered by archeologists. In it were hundreds of strange glass plates with exposures on it, 900 years old. He invented a story in the Heimataerde story, and it is this photographic stuff we are using. I am curious, what else he will discover on them.

Blackvector: Last fall you renewed your contract with Infacted and considering on the statement from both of you, it was never a doubt not to continuing working together. How is your relation with Torben and how is it to work with him?

Ash: We have a very good relationship. Anyway, I wanted some orientation on the market and led some talks with other possible partners for Unwesen. This was quite thorough and took time, but in the end we were very convinced to stay with Infacted Rec. and will climb a higher step.

Blackvector: What are the plans for the future?

Ash: Making more good music and play concerts. What else should one want? (laughs)

Blackvector: Thank you for your time. That was the last one. Any final words?

Ash: Yes. Thanks very much to all the fans and sturdy followers who support us. It would barely be possible without them.