2010 marks the comeback of X-Marks The Pedwalk, who returns with all new music since 1996 and seven years since the Best-of-release “Experiences” from 2003. I, together with the label Infacted, thought it was a good idea for an interview with Sevren Ni-Arb and we talked about the new album, what he have been doing during all this time and about the upcoming best-of show at this years Wave Gotik Treffen. Happy reading!
You’ll find the review of the new album “Inner Zone Journey here.
Blackvector: Hey Sevren, How is everything going?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Thanks! Everything is going fine. I am very busy at the moment. On one side I have to manage both of my companies and on the other side there is a lot of promotion work to do – like interviews :-) The new single “Seventeen” is out since a few weeks, the new album will be released in march. I am very happy with the results and the feedback so far. We reached some very good chart positions (like DAC – highest climber this week, GEWC etc. in Germany) with “SEVENTEEN” and even good reviews all over the world – and again we made the people to discuss and compare the new stuff with the older – same procedure as every release. We are back!
Blackvector: The new album “Inner Zone Journey” is upon us. Can you please tell us about it?
Sevren Ni-Arb: “INNER ZONE JOURNEY” is about emotions like desire, fear and vulnerability in a special meaning. How can all these deep feelings change our mind and affect ones life. So it is finally about a very close encounter with a special part of your mind.
Blackvector: With this all new material and compared with the older stuff, do you personally think you’ve changed musically?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Yes, for sure! I changed musically as I did with every release. But this is a main aspect for me in being creative. With every release and every musical engagement I am searching for a new challenge. It is not a desirable thing for me to copy my former music stuff again and again. It is important for me to keep the sovereignty of XMTP.
Blackvector: How would you compare it to earlier albums?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Well, our first releases (e.g. “ABATTOIR”, “FREAKS”) were pure EBM/Industrial style mixed with special sounds and sequences, making XMTP unique. Later “FACER” (with this single released in 1995 I became a founder of Future-Pop) and “MESHWORK” based on techno- and trance structures. Our latest release before leaving music business “DRAWBACK” (1996) turned back to more Electronic and classical song structures.
The new album “INNER ZONE JOURNEY” has not been built on any trends but on different phases of electronic music. I spent a lot of time in sound-design and sound editing to give every track its own dramaturgy and keep its special emotional way and deep atmosphere. So you have a varied and I think fascinating spectrum of electronic music but any track seems to be in line with each other. Songs like “Lifeline”, “Human Scientists”, “Snapshost In A Dark Room” or “Distan Rain” quite bear on our earlier releases with its dark and harsher sound.
Blackvector: Together with the already released single “Seventeen” this is the first all new material since 1996. What made you return and write new music with X Marks The Pedwalk?
Sevren Ni-Arb: When I produced the song “Bloom” in 1997 – that was even my last official XMTP-production and has been released on the best of 2CD “EXPERIENCES” – there already was the album title “INNER ZONE JOURNEY” in my mind. The years after the release of “EXPERIENCES” I sometimes had been thinking about starting new music production – without any conclusion. In the middle of 2008, thoughts and ideas became more intensively and specific. I was wondering if I could arrange things with my business and family – it just figures, that I would have been time-limited! But I did it! In October 2008 I arranged a new small studio in my house. It was a very comfortable feeling just to start music again. When first ideas, sounds and sequences were done I felt “Yes – it will work!” So Raive and I decided to call the official XMTP-comeback.
Blackvector: I think the new album has a very harmonic feeling but yet very emotional, not only lyrical but also musicwise. What was your thoughts when working on the album?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Well the main reason is that the complete album is very close to my mind, to my feelings as the title may suggest. I know that’s something bands often tell about their stuff. But with “INNER ZONE JOURNEY” it was not like producing an album about things you wanna say or you have a special opinion about… it’s like open your heart, open your mind and grant people to take a look at something deep inside, that’s usually hidden… the door is open just for the moment. If you take a look at the artwork and photography you can imagine this kind of process.
Blackvector: How long did it take for you to complete it?
Sevren Ni-Arb: The main production period for the album started in December 2008 – two month after I’ve arranged a new small studio in my house. In the beginning of december 2009 I completed the album and sent out the Master-Cd to Infacted. So we have a production period of twelve month – hard work :-)
Blackvector: What have you been working with during this period when not working with XMTP?
Sevren Ni-Arb: I am a managing director of two companies – that means I spend a lot of time in business. One company is located in Münster and the other in Essen. And there is also my family – especially my two wonderful boys. They are growing too fast – time is running – can´t stop it!
Blackvector: I know exactly what you mean, I feel the same way with my daughter :-) I think all you can do is just to take care of the time and live in the present.
Blackvector: What is your biggest influences – both musical and lyrical – when creating music?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Oh, that’s different – but it’s more or less NOT music! It can be a picture or a deep impression or a special moment… everything, that touches my heart, make me feel that it has a meaning to me. Later I pick up those aspects as a sound or a lyrical fragment or a song.
Blackvector: You are going to play an exclusive best-of concert at Wave Gotik Treffen this year. What can the fans expect from this concert?
Sevren Ni-Arb: I don’t want to tell details, yet. But I think we will perform “Abattoir” on stage :-) The WGT is not a part of an “INNER ZONE JOURNEY” Tour, so you can expect that we also play some older stuff, for sure! And also songs we never played live so far. Even it was hard to find all the material we needed for this. Something is still missing… It’s a long time ago, that we were on stage – so we are very looking forward to this experience. I am sure that it will be a big fun for us and for all XMTP fans, too! Will you be there?
Blackvector: No, unfortunately I will not attend the festival.
Blackvector: Is their more shows in the pipeline? Or will this only be a one-time show?
Sevren Ni-Arb: There are no plans for more shows in 2010. Even we get questions from all over the world. But at the moment we are happy to spare time for the WGT.
Blackvector: I’m a little curious, now when you are back with XMTP, do you planning to continue with the project or was this only temporarily? – Also, what are the plans for the future?
Sevren Ni-Arb: Currently we are preparing our exclusive show on the big Wave Gothic Treffen in Leipzig – even it is a one off show, there is a lot of work to do. Well, hmmm, yes… there are a lot of plans in my mind. But I really don’t know when anything will take place. The last months were very hard. So I am finally happy and proud that all the new stuff is out now! I think later this year I can tell you more about my new activities, musical projects and new XMTP stuff.
Blackvector: That was the last question, any last words?
Sevren Ni-Arb: I think this is another chance to say “thank you” to all our fans. There are a lot of people who believed in us all over the years – spreading the news, the sound and the spirit of XMTP. And welcome to all people getting in touch with XMTP for the first time. XMTP is back, I am back in music, also you made this possible and give new strength to me to go on…
Blackvector: I thank you very much for taking your time and wish you the best of luck. Thanks!
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