Interview: Dolven
Music takes me to the depths of my soul; to a deeper understanding of what is important and how to create the life that I am striving for.
Dolven have just released their latest album In My Grave…Silence and it is a simply beautiful yet sombre collection of acoustic doom songs. Gavin Brown caught up with Dolven guitarist/songwriter Nick Wusz to hear all about In My Grave…Silence, the bands biggest influences and what Dolven have planned next.
E&D: Your new album In My Grave…Silence has just been released. Have you been happy with how it has been received so far?
Nick: The response to this album has been overwhelmingly positive. I am happy our music is being heard by more people… huge thanks to Dave At EarSplit and Bariann at Fiadh Productions for their help in promotion. I am aware that “acoustic doom” can make people a bit confused, but it seems like people are getting it, and the feedback to the album has been terrific.
E&D: What have been the biggest influences on the sound and the outlook for the record?
Nick; Warning, My Dying Bride, Ulver (Kveldssanger album), Neun Welten, medieval lute music (John Dowland) and Musk Ox.
E&D: What subjects do the tracks on In My Grave…Silence deal with?
Nick: Sorrow, growing older, suffering, joy, and love. All the good ones.
E&D: Did you always want to include a mixture of both instrumental tracks and vocal tracks?
Nick: Yes. I have always loved heavy metal interludes (Morbid Angel, Unleashed, etc.) and though they were so beautiful on their own, without lyrics, so I intentionally do that with Dolven. Sometimes a track is perfect without vocals.
E&D: What are your favourite ever pieces of instrumental music?
Nick: Neun Welten – ‘Valg’, Musk Ox – ‘Sur Une Infinie Route de Terre’, Black Sabbath – ‘Orchid’, Death – ‘Voice of the Soul’, Fief – ‘Dawnlight Warms the Castle Stone’.
E&D: How was the experience of working with Dan Swanö on the engineering and mastering of the record?
Nick: Dan is a personal hero of mine. Growing up, he was a huge inspiration! Edge of Sanity – Crimson is one of my favourite albums of mine, along with his Moontower album. So, of course, it was a dream to work with him, he is an absolute pro and made the whole process so seamless. I am pretty stoked how this turned out!
E&D: Was it inspiring working with Alexandr and Thaumaturge Artworks on the album’s artwork?
Nick: I am obsessed with old graveyards, olden England, churches, and medieval motifs… there are no better artists out there than these two, doing this kind of thing. I have used Thaumaturge for artwork on my Travellers Rest (dungeon synth) project, she is an amazing talent… she is also in a band called Hemlokk and has a solo project called Mylenweard, both phenomenal projects.
E&D: Is choosing the artwork for each Dolven album an important part of the process for you?
Nick: Yes. I put a lot of thought into the artwork. Sometimes I have the artwork before the music is even finished… it guides the tone of the project. I am a very visual person, and I absolutely love the feeling when music and visual art merge into one cohesive project. That is the main reason I love dungeon synth music so much too… there is a lot of emphasis on presentation.
E&D: Does making the music of Dolven act as a form of catharsis for you?
Nick: This music is very therapeutic to me. I have a hard time expressing my emotions in words… it comes out in my music. I seem like a happy person, but inside is much sorrow, pain, and a history of suffering… these things come out through the guitar.
E&D: Do you find that making and listening to music is an important way of handling grief?
Nick: Grief is unavoidable, as we all know. I lost my brother and father as a young person, and am still coping with the after effects, all these years later. What seems like a curse, has turned into a blessing – a lease on life, the awareness that life is fleeting and can end at any moment, like it did with my family members. I am trying to appreciate every breath. If I did not have music as my constant partner, I don’t know what my life would look like. Music takes me to the depths of my soul; to a deeper understanding of what is important and how to create the life that I am striving for.
E&D: This is your third album, how have Dolven grown as a band since your debut?
Nick: More confidence, less caring what anyone thinks.
E&D: What, to you, are the most beautiful but sorrowful records of all time?
Nick: Warning – Watching From a Distance, Anathema – Judgement, Lacrimas Profundere – Memorandum, Musk Ox – Musk Ox, My Dying Bride – Angel and the Dark River, Sigur Rós – Agaetis byrjun, Solitude Aeturnus – Alone, Katatonia – Discouraged Ones.
E&D: Will Dolven be touring in support of the new album?
Nick: No plans to tour.
E&D: How did Dolven start as band and who are the bands biggest musical influences?
Nick: Biggest musical influence is the album Watching from a Distance by Warning. There is no album that has ever affected me more deeply. I was writing music on my acoustic guitar in 2008/9 with the intention of eventually distorting the guitar and making a more traditional doom record. Jason Walton, who has been one of my best friends forever, suggested we keep it acoustic…. so we did. I think it was wise decision. There is a lot of power and emotion in an acoustic guitar.
E&D: With the members of Dolven also playing in Travellers Rest, Agalloch, MoonBladder, Sculptured, Canvas Solaris Eneferens and Hyalithe, is getting together for Dolven a challenge?
Nick: Yes. That is why we have never played live and are strictly a studio band. Everyone is very busy.
E&D: Agalloch recently played the Fortress Festival in Scarborough recently, how did that go for the band?
Nick: As a fan, I can say it that it was fucking amazing. It was a very well-run festival, and I saw some awesome bands, along with my friends in Agalloch… Forteresse, Fen, Akhlys, Spirit Posession and Dodsrit. It was a lot of fun, I am thankful I was able to attend.
E&D: What have been some of the highlights of your time with Dolven so far?
Nick: A new Dolven album is the culmination of years of hard work, I am just thankful we have had 3 albums now…all in the short span of fifteen years! I am happy to make music with friends… Jason, Jori, Hunter, former members Tim Call, Martti Hill, and Haily Lauer… all are amazing people and am proud of what we have all done together. Three very different albums. Thank you!
