Katanga Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

We have been playing music together for quite some time now, it will be twelve years this year. During that time we had opportunity to share a stage with numerous national and international bands such as Umbra et Imago, Blind Passengers, Knorkator, Scream Silence, Clan of Xymox, and others.
We consider ourselves part of the Goth subculture, but we have a veritable multitude of musical styles between ourselves and make a point of crossing them all over. As a result, we are not easily pidgeonholed, which we do not try to be anyway.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album, and how does it differ from previous releases?

With “Moonchild“ we created a warm, 1980s-like sound, the keyboards gained some more prominence, and we added Doreen's female vocals to the mix.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects, the new release explores?

The lyrics are influenced by movies, books, and our very personal experiences – Metropolis is influenced by Chaplin's “Modern Times” and Lang's “Metropolis”. The title track “Moonchild” deals with solitude. Thus we comment the darker and more unappealing aspects of society.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

The name Katanga is derived from a movie called “Gattaca” which premiered shortly before we named ourselves, we changed the sound of it a little and, hey presto, Katanga was born. We feel that it is a name that is easy to remember and does not pre-label our music.

5. Have you had any opportunities to do any live shows yet, if so what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far, and how would you describe your stage performance?

As we have been in existence for some time now we can look back on quite a number of live shows. We have fond memories of our appearance at a festival in Świnoujście, Poland, as well as the Burgnächte in Rosslau, Germany.
Our stage performance is not too remarkable, three black-clad guys and a girl playing their music... we tend to kick ass, though!

6. Do you have any touring plans for the new releases?

Yes, we do. We managed to cooperate with Mainpoint to do two shows in April, more shows in Northern Germany will be announced soon.

7. On a worldwide level, how has your music been recieved by gothic metal fans?

Exceptionally well, we do have a lot of fans in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and even some in the United States. Most of our fan base is in Germany, though.
Generally Gothic Metal fans tend to like our music, especially if they have a previous inclination towards bands like Zeraphine or Dreadful Shadows. Gothic Metal is an umbrella term for quite different kinds of music, though – people who lean towards bands like Dimmu Borgir, for example, may not be too happy with our music.

8. Do any of the band members have any side projects or is this a full time line-up?

Our bass player Wilko has another project called Burning Alive, all the others are musically monogamous [smirks].

9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

We are going to stay true to our course, not barring detours. Future material will be melodious and catchy, just like our current stuff.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

A multitude of bands and styles: Metallica, Megadeth, The Doors, Danzig, Depeche Mode, Oomph, Rammstein, Dreadful Shadows, The Sisters of Mercy, The 69 Eyes, Nightwish, Loreena McKennitt, Eisbrecher, ASP, or Zeraphine to name just a few. We live for music!

11. What role does Occultism play in the music, and how would you describe your views on those topics?

We are of the opinion that Man cannot be defined by materialistic considerations. People who are, tend to be hollow on the inside and savage on the outside. Man has a deep longing for the intangible and transcendent, for everything that is bigger than visible reality. Arts and music cater to that desire, and our music does so as well. None of us considers him- or herself a member of Wicca or Asatru, though, and we are opposed to Satanism and Neo-facism.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Mario likes to research the Nibelungs and Germanic heroic sagas, Wilko is fond of reading, especially English literature, Doreen and Michael are devotees of fitness and athletics. Still we all like to go out in the evenings to meet friends in cafés and bars.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thank you very much for the interview – we look forward to meeting you or any of your esteemed readers on tour.