WITCHCRAFT - Atmospheric witchcraft

20. January 2016

Witchcraft

WITCHCRAFT - Atmospheric witchcraft

Witchcraft's singer/mastermind Magnus Pelander is sometimes considered difficult. He is an artist and a freethinker in the best sense of the word, but he is not very willing to provide information when it comes to his thoughts or his nature. It's just stupid that they're both closely intertwined with his art. "No questions about the past, just the new album. No questions about personality", is the motto in the run-up to interviews, which Mr. Pelander likes to burst from time to time. We are lucky: Pelander is on time, some of his answers are even longer than a sentence. Nevertheless, we remain perplexed rather than enlightened.

eclipsed: Magnus, is this the worst time for you as an artist?

Magnus Pelander: Why?

eclipsed: You give a lot of interviews.

Pelander: (long break) I'm not exactly thrilled about that. (laughs)

eclipsed: Then why are you doing this to yourself?

Pelander: Well, it would be a shame if Witchcraft was forgotten.

eclipsed: Isn't that a bit of a masochistic attitude?

Pelander: Maybe. Of course you can also call me a pathetic coward, because that might be me then, but my whole life revolves around this band, and of course I don't want to give that up.

eclipsed: Paradox, that's definitely it.

Pelander: Sure, everyone wants to be successful, but for me creativity comes first. It's not my job to talk about it or analyze my art. I'm an artist who creates things. I don't really care if people like it or hate it, talk about it or ignore it. If someone feels inspired by our music, then it is probably the greatest thing we can achieve. Of course we're talking about entertainment here, but if you want to dig a little deeper, you'll surely find what you're looking for.

eclipsed: With your last album "Legend" you switched from Lee Dorian's independent label Rise Above to the industry giant Nuclear Blast. Isn't this a self-selected dilemma: greater reach, more attention, more commitments?

Pelander: There are contractual obligations like this interview that I have to fulfill. I work well with my record company because they are very professional and well organized. I like that, but we have different goals and visions, that should also be clear.

Lesen Sie mehr im eclipsed Nr. 177 (Feb. 2016).