Interviews: Alkonost

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Folk Metal band Alkonost from Russia. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, did you plan it or come out just like that?

The name came as an insight, and we took it because it met all the criteria: it was sounding, well chanted, referred to Slavic mythology, and most importantly - it was on the letter ‘A’. The thing is that in the 90's there were only paper catalogues and magazines, and the groups were usually listed alphabetically, it was important to be at the beginning of the list!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Andrei Losev, the band's founder and guitarist, was impressed by gothic doom and the primary source of this genre - medieval music. He spent a couple of years studying how it was arranged, taking sheet music from the local library (there were no other options in the 90s). Besides, no one had ever played such music in our country at that time.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The only unchanged members of our band are the guitarist and composer Andrei. The singer Ksenia, not being in the band yet, went to Alkonost concerts in her school days. Bass player Vadim and drummer Dmitry had known each other for a long time before joining the band.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

There are a lot of them, in different genres, and they change all the time. For example, Andrei is very fond of ABBA.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Anything can inspire! We live in a time when every day brings a bunch of new events and news, and there is no shortage of sources of inspiration.

6. Where was your last gig?

We played in the countryside at a private event of a famous Russian blogger - our fan, for a hundred of his friends, most of whom, naturally, were not metalheads. But it was fun!

7. Where would you like to act?

We'd like to play at the most iconic metal festivals of our time - like Wacken or Hellfest.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We have recorded a number of hits in our time, including some with the coryphees of our genre, so we're taking a break from it for now. But we wouldn't say no to a fit with some superstar.

9. Whom not?

There aren't any, it's just a question of price, haha :) And seriously, a feat with someone outside of metal is unlikely.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

All of us have certainly had this at the beginning of our careers. Tips would be: perform as much as possible; remember that you are the boss and everything you do is part of the show; and never get drunk before the show!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

There are a lot of them, but we can say that at the very beginning of the way, we were strongly inspired by the Belarusian folk metal band Gods Tower, who played in a similar vein.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Fans sometimes ask to sign in unusual places: once they signed in a valid passport and another time they signed directly on a bald spot. Once, a fan brought a piece of birch bark for signing.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We have the kindest, most understanding, intelligent fans - in short, the best. We love them!

14. What do you think of our site?

It's just beautiful and you guys are doing a great job!

15. Something to add?

Eat well, do sports, spend more time with your family, preferably with metal and, of course, the new Alkonost album! \m/