On August 8, Colony 5 are playing the M’era Luna Festival in Germany and this year the band have also played at the Wave Gotic Treffen in front of thousands of people. You can watch the clip at the bottom, filmed by the band from the stage at WGT. A new album is in the works, so I decided to contact Magnus to see what’s going on.
We talked about touring, the new album and what made them sign with Infacted Recordings and a lot more. Have you ever wanted to know what happened with the Live DVD that was planned a couple of years back? Well, I got the answer for you.
Blackvector: Hello Magnus, how are you?
Magnus Kalnins: Hi there, this is the last day of work before 4 weeks of vacation. We have bought a fantastic little house. Hmm, hell, I have nothing to complain about. Well, it’s raining outside but that is just nice, besides, you get some music done. Okey, I’m really happy. And you? everything’s fine?
Blackvector: That’s great to hear. I shouldn’t complain, even if this is my last day on my vacation before I get back to work on Monday.
Magnus Kalnins: Ouch, then it hurts a bit extra when someone else gets their time off, hehe.
Blackvector: Yes :) Soon it’s time for Germany again, and M’era Luna. How does it feel?
Magnus Kalnins: It feels good, and a little weird. WGT, M’era Luna and Arvika Festival in 2003. Back then we thought it really would take off, then nothing and now its WGT and M’era Luna again in the same summer…
Blackvector: Maybe they’ve missed you?
Magnus Kalnins: Hehe, yeah I hope so! In 2003 it was extremely hot, probably around 33 degrees and a completely blue sky and we played in the hangar with a roof which made it crowded. People was searching for shadow and there were we! :) I hope on good circumstance even this year.
Blackvector: What do you think of the German audience? Although, you’ve played there many times.
Magnus Kalnins: Yeah, I almost think we’ve played there more then in Sweden. Well, it’s difficult to generalize because it’s different on all places. But for the most it’s really good, even if they are very “german” sometimes. If you play something new, they’re standing still and listen instead of jumping around and dancing, like the swedish audience attend to do.
Blackvector: Maybe that is what distinguish the Swedish audience, or have you experienced in on other places?
Magnus Kalnins: In South America it seems to be even more of that, whatever you are playing it is the best thing they’ve ever heard. Even on some places in Eastern Europe we have experienced the loose condition of love that there are an exotic band with electrosound… That is really seductive. So to speak, you take the love you can get.
Blackvector: Exactly!
Blackvector: You released your latest album “Buried Again” a little over two years ago (time really flies by). Did it turnes out the way you expected?
Magnus Kalnins: Yeah, everything except the mastering, which was worthless. Other then that we are extremely happy with both the sound, heaviness, the lyrics, the artwork. Everything turned out to be really close to what we had from the beginning.
Blackvector: Yes, the sound. It’s a lot heavier then on your previous albums. Was that something you’ve planned before you started to on the album?
Magnus Kalnins: Yes it was. We were almost looking for a reason on doing a new record, and we found it when we stopped seeing us as a Futurepop band and thinking on what made us start doing music from the beginning. Both P-O and I have always wanted to evolve the EBM more in opposite to the pop.
Blackvector: I think it is just like that. Sometimes it feels like some people forget why, or ever for what, they started with music. Ok, you change and evolve and found new paths during the time, but sometimes you have to look back.
Magnus Kalnins: Yeah, exactly! You are standing in the middle of a storm and are looking ahead, backwards and to the side on what other bands do. I guess that is what really makes it so fun. But I also think it’s a lot about pretentions. What are you looking for? Are you in desperate need of great sales record or do you accept a lower turnover in exchange of a stong and almost pigheaded integrity?
Blackvector: Just before the record was released you signed a deal with Infacted Recordings. What was behind that and how did you get in contact with Torben [Torben Schmidt, Infacted Recordings label manager]?
Magnus Kalnins: It was our friend Markus Otto in Germany, our booking and half-manager who knows Torben and tip him about us since Lorenz Macke became impossible to work with. We talked with Torben and got along with him and agreed on a deal and it felt like it was the only choice for us, at the size we are at.
Blackvector: I have experienced that it is a really high quality at Infacted. It is very few that really succeed in such small scene. What is your opinion on that?
Magnus Kalnins: Yes, I can agree to that. Almost every band is great and popular. Besides, we recieved a bunch of mails from them that welcomed us into the “family. It feels like a damn good team.
Blackvector: You and P-O are currently working on your next album. How is it going?
Magnus Kalnins: Yes we are, and it is going pretty well. At this point we have about six songs at different stages. We still miss a “real” single, like “Knives” or “Plastic World but we hope it’s coming :) A couple of them we have finished, I can already count among the ten best we’ve done so that feels great.
Blackvector: That sounds great! Something more you can reveal at this point? A titel or a planned release date?
Magnus Kalnins: I think we have the title set, atleast we have used it as the working title all the way until now and it still feels great in the mouth. Although it’s not ready to be revealed yet. We want to reveal it in a consistent, and regarding a date? I really don’t know. We don’t like deadlines :)
Blackvector: It feels good that something is on the way.
Magnus Kalnins: Yeah, it is a great feeling to have C5 in the back all the time.
Blackvector: Speaking of which… A couple of years ago a DVD release was planned. What happened with that?
Magnus Kalnins: Ah, that one yes. Well, I was going to cut together a Live DVD, we filmed and recorded the audio through the mixing table and everything to it. But the record label bacame more less in being a label and I didn’t really didn’t have the strenght to complete the cutting when not knowing if it were going to be released or not. Then it felt ridiculous to release a Live DVD with old songs, so we were planning on release it like a bonus and throw some up on Youtube and stuff like that instead. Like curiosities or something like that.
Blackvector: Okey, sad to hear. I know that I attended some of your shows, like the one in Lund or SAMA in Gothenburg.
Magnus Kalnins: Ah nice, did you like it? I really don’t know how I’m going to see of us live. I don’t think we are bad, but we are not offering anything extra. We just play, so to speak. No theatre, nothing extra.
Blackvector: Yes, I enjoyed it very much. To me you have always been one of my favorite bands, ever since the “Lifeline” album, just before you joined the band, and have always thought your shows have been good, some really greater then other. But I think it is like that, sometimes you’re getting these great feelings that everything is perfect. Afterall, you have such energy on stage and you always deliver. It’s worser to see those who stand completely still and just sing.
Magnus Kalnins: Oh, great to hear. Thank you very much!
Blackvector: I didn’t have anything more now. I wish you good luck in Germany at M’era Luna and make sure to do a hell of a show.
Magnus Kalnins: Thank you! Are you going?
Blackvector: Not this year, but I’m sure it would be great :) I haven’t attended any of the festivals in Germany yet but hopefully I’m planning on going next year.
Magnus Kalnins: Sounds great, always a great festival. WGT is a great experience. On M’era Luna I’m really looking forward to see Placebo and Sisters to name a few. You can’t be there every year. But we talk later, just shout if there is something you wonder about.
Blackvector: Yes, thank you very much for your time!
