Liv Kristine of Leaves’ Eyes
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
The international symphonic metal band Leaves’ Eyes has recently released their fourth studio album entitled Meredead to solid reviews. This European heavyweight act consists of vocalists Liv Kristine and Alexander Krull, guitarists Thorsten Bauer (who also plays bass) and Sander van der Meer and drummer Roland Navratil.
Vocalist Liv Kristine has graciously volunteered to answer a few questions for Hardrock Haven.
Hardrock Haven: Hi Liv! Thanks for taking the time to visit with Hardrock Haven.
Liv: Thank you very much! The pleasure is truly mine!
Let me start with introducing my members and myself: I was born and grew up in Norway. Norwegian culture and nature is in my heart. I am responsible for writing the concept of each album, the lyrics and vocal lines. Tosso (Bauer), myself and Alexander make up the songwriting team so far. Alexander, my beloved husband, is the producer of our band and the one who inspired me to write a concept story that was the beginnings of Leaves’ Eyes. Tosso plays almost every string instrument and is one of my long-time friends in Germany. He is also along with Alexander the main composer in the band. Moreover, he’s the one cracking the best jokes! Roland, on drums, is from Vienna, and we got to know each other a few years ago. I had seen him play live and he’s great! We asked him to join and he came flying from Austria two days later! Roland is the practical guy in the band, knowing everything about the right tools, screws and fixing broken things. Sander on guitars is incredibly hard working and spends as much time as possible at Mastersound Studio developing ideas for songs and promotion, driving the whole way from Holland! J. B., also from Holland is our (new) bass player; moreover, he will surely be involved in songwriting future-wise. He’s an amazing musician …. and he even cooks well! The band’s feeling and involvement and trust between the band members has never ever been as strong and deep as it is now! I really enjoy being with my band family!
HRH: Congratulations on the success of Meredead — a solid album all around that seems to be getting good reviews from almost everyone.
Liv: The critics of Meredead have been absolutely amazing so far all over the world. The live appearances we just did were very energetic with a fantastic audience! It feels like something wonderful is happening. If I am able to touch the hearts of my fans and friends with our art, I am incredibly happy!
HRH: Please tell our readers a little more about yourself and Leaves’ Eyes. I know the other members of the band have played together in Atrocity prior to working with you. As the driving force behind the band, how did you get everyone together?
Liv: Leaves’ Eyes was formed in 2003, by myself and my friends and husband from Atrocity. I had to cope with my situation after being kicked out of ToT (Theatre of Tragedy) in the spring 2003, (and I) fulfilled a concept, a story about a mermaid, titled “Lovelorn”. I showed it to my friends in Atrocity and they liked it. We immediately started to compose music for it, and this resulted in the band “Leaves’ Eyes”, a record deal, and our debut release Lovelorn. After my pregnancy and enjoying the first year at home with my family, we started touring and releasing more albums produced at our own studio Mastersound. I am so lucky to have both; music and family — two dreams coming true!
HRH: How do the guys from Atrocity shift gears to the more symphonic and relaxed style of Leaves’ Eyes?
Liv: My guys have different sides in their musical “personalities.” I know all of them really LOVE, for example, Dead Can Dance and classical music. We are different when it comes to interests in music, we are different personalities, but we have the same musical goals!
HRH: It must be interesting working so closely with your husband Alexander Krull in the band? Are you easily able to separate home and work?
Liv: I always dreamt of having my own family, moreover, becoming a singer. Both dreams have come true! I have a very strict plan: when I work I work very, very hard non-stop! When it is family time I am ONLY there for my family. In between I do a lot of sports, especially running, yoga and fitness. Sometimes on stage, I keep singing my lyrics at the same time as I am thinking about my dear ones at home. I know exactly what Alexander is able to do and how he “works”, and he knows how I feel and work, too. That’s a very good basis for honest and creative work. The only thing that bothers us both is that some people tend to think that we always share one and the same opinion because we are married and work together. That’s impossible! By the way, we both have strong opinions about things and I think that a discussion within the band is just healthy every now and then. Anyway, we are an unbeatable team!
HRH: Who would you say are the greatest musical influences to you personally, and to the band as a whole?
Liv: Well, it’s all the experience I have gathered being an artist that makes me the singer I am today. From the very beginning since I was about six years old, I’ve followed my musical instinct: I wanted to combine a romantic, female, angelic voice with powerful, impressive music. Then suddenly when I was 18 years old, I found myself in the middle of writing music history with Theatre of Tragedy, being one of the founders of “gothic metal with female voices” and “the beauty and the beast concept”! I am first of all grateful to our fans and friends all over the world who have been there for me throughout all these years!
HRH: Tell us a bit about your song writing process. Obviously your lyrics come from epic literature and mythology, but how does the band set that to music?
Liv: Alexander, Thorsten and myself are the songwriting and production team. Most of the time music comes first, then vocal lines and words, and then we work even more on the instruments. For the production of Meredead it was highly important to us that each song had its own “face”, individuality and perfect, crystal clear sound to strengthen the emotional effect. We just let the music inspire us to add new and interesting “spices” to our music, like pipes, nyckelharpa (Swedish folk instruments), the fiddle, cello, classical orchestra or the flute. That’s what makes the album that diverse and exciting as you discover a different story, different instrumental combinations, and different ways of singing even in various languages in each song. We just started composing with an open mind. Meredead is our fourth album, and in my opinion there is no need to reduce ourselves to a certain style. The artistic development is the basic energy for the survival of an artist, and art as such.
HRH: On Meredead you sing a number of tracks in Norwegian and even add a touch of old English. Are you at all concerned with this impacting Leaves’ Eyes success outside of your native Scandinavia?
Liv: Concerning Meredead, if I chose a theme from Nordic mythology for a song, I would include Norwegian lyrics. It was very intimate to sing in my mother tongue Norwegian — it makes the lyrics even more emotional and personal. Singing in Old-English meant digging my nose in my Old-English grammar books once again, however I am very interested in historical languages, which I also studied. I think that Old-English has a very special “sound” phonetically. It is the music that gives me the inspiration to write in this or that language. So far I’ve been singing in seven different ones.
HRH: What is your favorite track on the album, and your inspiration for it?
Liv: I’d rather pick some from each production: I would suggest “Norwegian Lovesong” and “For Amelie” from the Lovelorn album; the ballad “Leaves’ Eyes” from Vinland Saga, the epic track “Fröya’s Theme” from the Njord album, “Meredead”, “Sigrlinn”, “Sorhleod”, “Empty Horizon” and “Tell-Tale Heart” from Meredead.
HRH: What sets Meredead apart from the band’s earlier releases?
Liv: The press, fans and friends say that Meredead is “the most diverse, emotional and best-sounding production” by Leaves’ Eyes so far, moreover, “Leaves’ Eyes have created their own genre”. Believe me, this warms my heart! We NEVER go with the commercial flow; we only go with the creative flow of the band! I prefer not to force Leaves’ Eyes into a specific musical genre. I would rather say that Leaves’ Eyes’ music combines elements of gothic metal, classical music, folk music, with history and mythology.
HRH: On your earlier albums, Alexander had a more prominent vocal role. On Meredead, his vocal contributions are not as many. Why the change in the vocal dynamics that have worked so well in the past?
Liv: That wasn’t planned at all! I guess that was the result after having recorded the guest vocals from Maite and John (Elfenthal), my sister Carmen (Midnattsol) and my friend Anette. Have a listen to our EP Melusine. There you will find more of Alex!
HRH: So what’s next for Leaves’ Eyes? Any touring plans, festivals?
Liv: We just arrived from tour, and I am now looking forward to further shows and tours. In April we toured with my sister Carmen’s band Midnattsol, and then in May we joined Tarja. Wow! Both tours were full of magic moments when “the ladies” get together! It was fantastic to have my sweet and lovely sister next to me on stage, singing in Norwegian dialect! My heart was pounding, I am so proud of Carmen! Moreover, being Tarja’s duet partner at our final show in Hanover, singing Peter Gabriel’s song “Don’t Give Up” was absolutely unforgettable. Tarja is such a sweetheart! Check out our homepage for news concerning shows in your near surroundings!
We will soon start composing for our fifth album in between the touring. We are also planning to do one Asian and one American tour after the festival season, so watch out for new dates!
HRH: And finally, is there anything else you like to share with our readers?
Liv: Thank you so much for the great times we shared on our US tours, I hope there will be many more to come! Thank you for always being there for me and my band.
HRH: Thanks for taking the time to visit with Hardrock Haven. Good luck and much continued success!
Liv: All the best for you and your family.
For more on Leaves’ Eyes, visit http://www.leaveseyes.com/.
For HRH’s take on the Meredead album, visit:
Hello, i Love all songs of leave’s eyes but i prefer liv kristine solo and i am sure that is wrong when Liv said meredead is the beast album of leave’s eyes, it put me sad to see that liv prefer make publicity instead of tell what it come from her heart. Sorry but Songs like My destiny , Elegy or into your lights made me more good feellings, it touch my heart very much but sorry meredead is not so good but maybe Liv think it really …. We don’t know but it’s not my opinion i prefer the olds albums .. sorry liv but i said what i think .