The Symphony of Melancholia – An Interview with DRACONIAN

Zur deutschen Version gibt es hier. 

If there is any band that knows what sadness sounds like then it’s DRACONIAN. The Swedish band also knows what it’s like to be repeatedly booked for Rockharz and not being able to play every single time…What they do know now is what it’s like to be interviewed by me after the festival had been evacuated. Singer Lisa Johansson and guitarist Johan Ericson really took time for me, which I appreciate immensely since there was no obligation for them to do so! Read now why they are part of a personal conspiracy theory of mine, what inspires them and which democratic aspect they might include into their setlist for their upcoming tour.

Due to the circumstances, we don’t have any pictures by lightinmirror.de today. Huge shoutout to the promoters over at Napalm for providing the pictures and working tirelessly to make the best out of a shitty situation! You guys are amazing!

Shieldmaiden’s Voice: You’re finally at Rockharz! On a scale of 1 to 10, how sad are you that you’re unable to play again?

Lisa Johansson: Maybe a 9 or a 10! A small part of me is relieved, because it’s such a big thing to go on stage to play for all these people and it’s kind of scary. Overall, it’s a real bummer though that we didn’t get to perform again…

SV: You’re part of my very own conspiracy theory now! Every time you’re supposed to play this festival, something happens! Last year you couldn’t make it and the time before that, COVID happened. It’s hard not to point fingers here…[we laugh]

Johan Ericson: Well, if we were set to play an hour later, everything would have been fine!

Lisa: I would have really loved to hear the other bands play…

Johan: Three Swedish bands were unable to play!

SV: And that is the next layer to the conspiracy theory right there!

Johan: If it fits our schedule, we will return next year. 

SV: Let’s hope so! So many people deserve to listen to your music which, to me, is so intricate and emotional in a deeper sense. What would you say are your most important themes in your music?

Johan: The music is always based on some kind of melancholy. The music must have that for me. I don’t really listen to happy music or music that is not melancholic in some way, so that is the kind of music I make. 

SV: Maybe we can dig deeper into that! What kind of inspirations do you particularly search for?

Johan: It could be anything, really… It could be a single beam of thought, a movie or even a book! I could be out walking and could be seeing a leaf on a tree. I think of the small things in this big universe and it brings the melancholy to me. We’re so small in this world and sometimes it’s so overbearing to know how little we are. Almost everything I write is based on that realization. 

SV: Is that the message the people watching your performances should walk away with or are there other things as well?

Johan: I would love to have every listener to have their own thoughts and ideas! Everyone responds differently to music. They should just take it every way they want, like a remedy of some kind. 

Lisa: Everyone is struggling in their own way. I can pictures myself very well in the DRACONIAN lyrics and music and I think everyone can. 

SV: It’s very ethereal in a way… I remember when I first listened to Sorrow of Sophia, it reminded me immediately of the first time we see Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, which was weird since it’s not related in any way, but the feeling was so similar to me…

Johan: Isn’t she supposed to be some kind of Mother Nature type thing?

Lisa: I don’t think it’s a bad idea to think that way!

SV: Since your last album however, there have been some years already. Is there anything fans can look forward to in that regard and if you cannot say anything, can you spoil it without spoiling it?

Johan: I’m working on quite many songs at the same time. At times, it’s up to 15 songs, so that’s about two albums! [we laugh]

Lisa: There is a lot of material and I’m excited for you to share it with us!

Johan: I’m letting it mature now and see what will be happening with it and to see what will fit well together. 

SV: It’s interesting that you say that because I feel like nowadays you need to have a lot of output in order to stay relevant. Where you have to release an album every two years and maybe even singles every three months… Do you feel pressured by that at all?

Johan: No, I will never be pressured by that. I think, while these are the times we live in now, things will hopefully change again. People will get their patience back and will wait for an album.

Lisa: Back, when I was first in the band, we made a number of albums in a short time and then over ten years, you made two. These last years have been more about the quality, I think. 

Johan: It’s about letting things mature and having them feel like „This is the way we want the band to sound like!“. We don’t rush things. Of course, I want to do an album every two years, but life isn’t working like that. Many of us have kids and families and day jobs, so making an album takes the time it needs to take! Otherwise, it feels rushed. You can write an album in a week, but it won’t be a good album. 

SV: What you do have time for is a tour you’re going to go on soon. What is something your fans can look forward to with that the most?

Johan: We’re going to mix up the songs a little bit because it’s the 30th anniversary for the band and I guess we’re going to play a lot of older songs. Maybe we’ll do a poll on what fans would want to hear on tour!

Lisa: And visually, we’re working on some lighting! Maybe DRACONIAN hasn’t been that way with the stage presence and we have some ideas with that!

Johan: We have quite the number of shows in Germany, so people can come to that if they were unable to see us here today. 

SV: Going on a 30th anniversary tour is amazing! If you could talk to your younger selves, what would you say to them?

Lisa: I would say to myself that you just have to be yourself. Don’t worry about if you fit this genre, you’re a good singer and just go for it!

Johan: Maybe also relax and have more fun. Don’t worry about the technical stuff, even though I still worry about the technical stuff…[he laughs] The older you get, the more you learn how to relax and have a good time. Everything will work out eventually. Also, be confident with the stuff you write! After 30 years you learn that people actually like the stuff you make.

Lisa: We’re very Swedish about this… There is this unwritten law in Sweden called „Jantelagen“ that says that you shouldn’t be very proud about yourself and not happy about what you do. You could be the world champion in something and you shouldn’t brag about it. 

SV: I can kind of relate to that… In a way, I never think that anybody will actually read the stuff I put out. I’m just doing it because I like doing it and it seems to be the same way with you.

Johan: Of course! You never think that anybody would actually listen to it…but they do! After all these years you realize that it means a lot to a lot of people.

SV: Maybe as a last question, what is something you always wanted to tell your fans but never had the chance to?

Lisa: That is a very hard question! I think, I’m very open with the fans when I meet them and while I’m not very active on social media and may not be very open as a person, I would like to tell them that I do care and I appreciate them immensely. 

Johan: The same goes for me. I’m a very private person too. Our singer Anders, on the other hand, is a very outgoing person, but he is also very good with words!

Lisa: Overall, we just love you guys!

Safe to say: We love you guys too! And who knows, maybe we’ll meet again on their tour in November!

And guys guess what else: That was it from this year’s Rockharz! Insane… But don’t worry, there is more in stock. First of, there will be another day report from our trip to Helmfest and then we also have two more interviews. After that, we’re off to Wolfszeit festival!