Morten Veland: We will start touring Eastern Europe in May, and then we’ll do some summer festivals and tour southern Europe. We are really motivated to tour a lot these days, so we’ll tour wherever we get the opportunity to tour. Hopefully this will include North and South America as well, although there are no specific plans at this point. Nowadays there is not much holding us back so we’ll play whatever show is thrown at us, as long as all practical and financial stuff is taken care of.
You just started using a live bass player. Did you sequence the bass live before, and why did you decide to hire Kristian Olav Torp?
In the past we were using a sequencer bass, but in the future we’ll try to use a session bass player for some shows. We would prefer to have a steady bass player in the band, but so far we decided not to due to financial reasons. Kristian O. Torp did a few shows with us so far, and maybe we’ll use him for some more shows in the future.
How did you get started in music?
In 1992 I started my first band together with a friend of mine. We used to call ourselves ‘Uzi Suicide’ at that time, but never released anything under this name. I’ve always been into music and always wanted to play in a band, but ’92 was the year I finally bought my first electric guitar and realized my dream.
Was there a song or album that inspired you to want to perform music?
In the very beginning I was really into Guns N’ Roses and Alice Cooper. Tthe albums Appetite For Destruction and Trash inspired me to get started. Melodic rock at its best in my opinion. So this was the kind of music we were performing at the start. A few years later I discovered the UK gothic scene, with bands like Sisters of Mercy, Fields Of The Nephilim and The Mission amongst others. I was really drawn to the melancholic and dark atmospheres they created with their unique style, and so I got inspired to take my own music in this direction.
When did you decide music would be your career?
I decided when I was 14 years old, then I began saving up for my first electric guitar. I had an acoustic guitar from before, put it was really crappy and almost impossible to play.
What have been the high and low points in your musical career?
I think the high points must have been to perform at Graspop Metal Meeting on the same bill as: Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith and Heaven and Hell amongst others. Regarding the low point I am not sure, there has been some over the years.
Do you feel any sense of competition or rivalry with your old band Tristania since you’re aiming for a lot of the same fan base?
No, not really. To be honest I am not too concerned with what Tristania or any other band is doing. I focus 100 percent on Sirenia and my own projects.
Are you in touch with any of your former bandmates?
Yes, Bjørnar Landa and Kristian Gundersen are still some of my very best friends. And I see them quite often, especially Kristian who is living in my neighborhood.
Who are some current artists you admire?
Leonard Cohen and Nina Persson.
What’s currently in heavy rotation on your MP3 player/CD player?
A lot of older stuff like The Doors, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and Black Sabbath.
