Metal Pulp And Paper: Hello Māra. Thank you for answering some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
Māra Lisenko: Hello Geoff! Thanks for asking us, we appreciate it too.
MPAP: Hello. How Are you? Sveiki. Kā tev iet? Is that the correct way to say it?
Māra: Wow, you’re learning some Latvian! Much respect for that! Yes, that’s a nice way to start a conversation with a Latvian.
MPAP: We’re so glad to be catching up with you. But before we go any further, let’s introduce your band to everyone, because honestly, there is so far there not a lot about you or your music on the internet just yet. That will change soon though. I have a feeling, in a matter of due time, MÃRA will be blowing things up on the metal scene and the social media real soon, and fast!
Māra: Yes, indeed. So far, we have released only one single, it’s titled 'Sell Your Soul'. We are a brand-new death metal band. But when it comes to our musicianship, we are not just starting out- all musicians in our band are world class level professionals. I dare to say that because we all have put many, many years of practice and dedication in developing our skills, instrument playing, songwriting, lyric writing and so on. So, I really hope that you are very good in fortune telling, because we have some really great music coming up and I hope people will be just as excited about it as we are.
MPAP: So, MÃRA is a metal band from Riga, Latvia that’s fronted by you, Māra Lisenko, whom you can pretty much count on after listening to your vocals, you are not going to fuck around and take any prisoners, or anyone’s bullshit for that matter? Your guttural growl will take control and embed into your eardrums without any warning. Care to add anything to that?
Māra: You said it even better than I would! Yes, that’s correct. We are from a small country called Latvia, our hometown is Riga. Our band name is taken from my real name. It is a very traditional Latvian girl name, and, in our folklore, we have a goddess called Māra. So, this word carries a lot of strength rooted very deep in where we come from. For our logo we have used Māra’s cross which is a powerful Latvian magic sign. So, our band name represents the strength in our music very well. About my vocals, thank you for describing them, it’s very hard to do it for myself. I think listener can more precisely describe what musician is doing, because usually, we artists, are too 'zoomed in' in our creative processes. All I can add to what you already said is- I give my all to any vocal performance I do. 100%. All the energy in my singing and screaming is driven by my real-life experiences and emotions, I never sing about fictional stuff. And if listeners can intensely feel what I’m feeling, that’s the best compliment I can have as a vocalist.
MPAP: And backing up for just a moment lets better explain to those that are unfamiliar with the globe or a world map. The city of Riga is over 4,000 far east miles away if you were to be standing in the heart of New York City in The United States of America. To go more into detail, from NYC you would cross the vast Atlantic Ocean, and then over the Baltic Sea for about 10 hours. Land masses surround Riga like Sweden, Finland, and a rock throw away Lithuania. Or if you want to, you could say Riga, Latvia is about 572 miles from Moscow, Russia to sum it all up, right?
Māra: I’m not so good in numbers but you said it very precisely. Latvia is located in Northern Europe and it’s a part of Baltic states (alongside with Lithuania and Estonia). Across the Baltic sea we have all Scandinavian countries (e.g. Sweden, Finland, Denmark etc.). Our biggest neighbor is Russia. Latvia’s population is almost 2 million people and we have our own language- Latvian. The usual things what people mess up about Latvia are:
*not knowing the difference between Latvia and Lithuania, many people think it’s the same country because names are very similar.
*we are not part of Russia. Yes, we are post-soviet country but that’s history.
But usually when we tell we’re from Latvia, people go: “What? Latvia? Where is that?” So, it’s always a pleasure to explain more about this relatively small but special place and people usually are very curious.
MPAP: Do you feel you and your band are in the right spot, or I guess I mean, is your band in an excellent location for your genre of music that you love to be heard by many? Or is it tough to break free and explore your dreams in the music industry from Riga?
Māra: Me and our band’s bassist (also my husband) are now living in Germany. It’s interesting that you asked this question because music is the main reason why we moved here. Germany is well known for its developed metal scene. So, it’s a great place to start from. In Latvia metal is considered underground and opportunities are very limited (just like in any other small country). Sure, there are possibilities to gain exposure in the internet and chances to tour outside Latvia. Our band’s guitarist and drummer still live in Riga. Although it is sometimes complicated to be split up between 2 countries, there are some benefits too- we can organize gigs here and there. Our first gigs are already booked in 3 countries- summer festivals in Latvia, Germany and Italy.
MPAP: Are there any radio stations, venues, or concert halls there that will play metal music? Or do you solely rely on the internet for everything to listen to?
Māra: In Latvia there are no metal radio stations, I think at the moment in the whole country there are 4 or 5 metal-oriented clubs where local and touring bands can play. Some of our new local bands gain more popularity and recognition in internet, and I am super happy for that. We have so many great musicians and bands, sometimes I wish there was more industry support to back them up.
MPAP: Now that we know where you’re located at in this world let’s get down into what we’re here to talk about, your bone-crushing music. Recently, back in early February of this year, you debuted your first music video called, "Sell Your Soul," and like just mentioned, it’s a bone crusher of a song. So, tell us about it? What can a new listener expect when they hear it for the first time?
Māra: "Sell Your Soul" is a song about greediness- about people who can walk over anyone and do horrible acts just for the sake of profit. And the consequences are tragic- inequality, wars, human rights violations, poverty, destruction of nature and environment, violence and so on. Song’s lyrics are based on a theme everyone is familiar with- selling your soul to devil. We translate it to- selling anything by all means possible, greediness has no limits. Listening to it for the first time, expect craziness! Starting from insane guitar riffs and solos, intense and machine-gun-like drumming, versatile and fast bass guitar lines and vocals that go in a full range from lows to highs.
MPAP: And when you watch the video for "Sell Your Soul," you’ll first notice it’s all about the glamor, and all the perks of being rich and famous; Rolls Royce’s, girls, and lots of money. But there is also some brutal visuals as well in the video; death, destruction, and so forth. What message were you personally trying to convey with making this video?
Māra: If you’ve noticed, all glamour shots are very vivid and colorful and then there is this 'video error' and it turns to disturbing black & white images. Idea is about an illusion of this wonderful glamorous life so many of us are striving to achieve (all the possessions, fame and status). Not many people really go deep and notice what is the real price for it all?? In the video we’ve portrayed some of the horrible acts that are behind maintaining this highly prestige lifestyle. Let me give you one example: there is an image of young female rhino in a pool of blood, her horn is brutally cut off with a chainsaw. She is still conscious and suffering. Why? Her horn is valued for more than $100,000 a kilo in a black market. Poachers kill many of these now endangered species every year, it’s close to extinction. And even more to the point- buying products made of rhino horn represent person’s success and wealth status. So, in this one tragic image you have it all- greediness, unnecessary violence, suffering, death, destruction of nature and it’s all just to get an expensive, exclusive item. I could tell you similar stories behind each and every one of b&w footages in the video- there are no random shots, they all are directly related to the message.
MPAP: Part of the lyrics to "Sell Your Soul" is: 'Sell your soul, get all you want, but in return, I own your life.' That’s pretty deep wouldn’t you say?
Māra: Well…it’s the very last part of the song and here we are going back to 'sell your soul to devil' theme. The idea here is literal- it’s the devil speaking. Vocals are made very low and kind of demonic for that purpose. And the lyrics are just straight forward- when you read all these stories about someone selling a soul to the devil, at the beginning they’re so excited, they think that a great deal has been made. So, they go wild- enjoying their fame, possessions and riches. And then, when they’ve had enough of it, comes the bitter realization- although they have everything they ever wanted, they feel dead empty inside. They sense that the true riches in life aren’t the material things, it’s these simple things we often overlook and take for granted- love, friendship, laughter, good health, enjoying the nature…At the end of your life all your possessions will be gone, they will make no sense and only at that very last moment many people realize that they have wasted their whole life chasing this illusion, when the real happiness lies in the very simple things right around us.
MPAP: So, moving forward, how long until we can hear more new music? It’s been mentioned that you’re working on an EP? Anything you can specify here?
Māra: For a first time our new music will be heard in following summer festivals:
August 4th: Metalshow Festival, Jekabpils, Latvia
August 26th: Pollo Metal Fest, Bergamo, Italy
September 1st: Reeveland Festival, Markneukirchen, Germany
Currently we are recording our debut EP, the title will be Therapy For An Empath and it will consist of 4 tracks including our first single "Sell Your Soul". Most of recording is already done so we hope to release it this fall.
MPAP: We’ve obviously only heard the one song so far, and it’s in English, but will the rest of the EP be in English as well?
Māra: Yes, all our songs are written in English. We are still in process of developing our sound. But I have a secret desire to add some Latvian elements to our songs in the future.
MPAP: Do you sing any vocals in your native tongue Latvian or even something in Russian by any chance? Or is English your preferred style?
Māra: I do sing and write lyrics in Latvian and Russian too. English is my preferable language because I want my lyrics and messages to be understood by as many people as possible. Still sometimes I feel that I want to write or sing only for Latvian or Russian speaking people, it very depends on the project I’m working on.
MPAP: Going back to the conversation about your hometown of Riga, it’s considered a cultural center and is home to many museums and concert halls. The city is also known for its wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture, and medieval Old Town. The pedestrian-only Old Town has many shops and restaurants and is home to busy Livu Square, with bars and nightclubs. That’s all well and good, but is your genre of music accepted there at all? Is MÃRA welcomed with opened arms by the good people there, or is metal music frowned upon?
Māra: Thanks for gathering all this information about my hometown. I’m delighted.
I must say metal is accepted well in Latvia. Of course, it’s still a niche and only a small percentage of people can truly appreciate that, not many metal bands get to play in mass events. But overall, we have no strong negative reactions towards metal from society. In our metal scene everyone knows each other, it’s kind of this family feeling. You know who is who? Not always there’s a great relationship in this family but I must say that metalheads are very dedicated! I know many people who are dedicating their time and effort to keep metal scene going, most of them do it just for the love of metal with no financial reward. I have so much respect towards such people. They inspire me a lot.
MPAP: So, let’s play create a scenario. What happens if when you release more new music and a majority of your fan base is from the United States? Will that be frustrating or discouraging to you because it will be difficult to travel abroad to the United States, or even other countries and play music for all your fans?
Māra: The answer is simple- if money is not an obstacle, we will come. Doesn’t matter where. All of our band members share one common dream- to go on long tours. It doesn’t matter how uncomfortable or how long and far, we’re very willing to do this! We want to play!
MPAP: Now that we know a little bit more about your hometown Riga, and a bit about you, how about tell us about who’s in the rest of the band MÃRA? Who else makes it up, and what do they play?
Māra: Our ship’s captain is our guitarist Denis Melnik. He’s the one who put this band together and he is the mastermind behind our music. He is one of best guitarists in Latvia and definitely a world class musician. He always comes up with these super hooky metal riffs, it’s incredible! A very smart guy, very respectful towards all band members- main songwriter but never limits anyone in their own artistic and musical expression. So, at the end music is very versatile, interesting with many different influences. Our bass guitarist Dmitry Lisenko is very famous in bass guitar world, being a pioneer in percussive fingerstyle on acoustic bass. Innovative bass player with his unique approach to playing. Even in metal. Don’t expect typical death metal basslines from him- he’s all over his bass neck! He does so many other stuff- recording my vocals and bass by himself, also edited "Sell Your Soul" video, he knows how technical things are done. Dmitry is not very talkative but when he says something- it’s on the point. No bullshit! Our drummer Alberts Mednis is a mysterious man, he has so many interests in different spheres that I cannot even follow. He seems very calm and quiet, but underneath is a very interesting world to uncover. Besides that, he’s a beast drummer!! I call him a 'gun machine', he fires his beats so precisely. Super technical and musical drummer.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Māra, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what your band MÃRA does to finish out 2018 and beyond. And we hope you make it to The United States very soon.
Māra: Thank you so much Geoff and Metal Pulp And Paper for this interview. It was my pleasure. Thanks for digging deep into our music and where we come from. We appreciate it a lot!!
MPAP: Before we bring this interview to a close, do you have any final words for all your worldwide fans out there?
Māra: Thank you so much for your love and support! Although we’re just starting out, we feel growing interest and support from you guys! Your belief in us helps us keep going. Even just a positive comment or a message, we appreciate each and every one of you. All the positivity you give, adds up to our insanely intense energy and desire to play- to give that energy back to you. Let’s keep the cycle going!!
FOLLOW
HERE
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©metalpulpandpaper
Māra Lisenko: Hello Geoff! Thanks for asking us, we appreciate it too.
MPAP: Hello. How Are you? Sveiki. Kā tev iet? Is that the correct way to say it?
Māra: Wow, you’re learning some Latvian! Much respect for that! Yes, that’s a nice way to start a conversation with a Latvian.
MPAP: We’re so glad to be catching up with you. But before we go any further, let’s introduce your band to everyone, because honestly, there is so far there not a lot about you or your music on the internet just yet. That will change soon though. I have a feeling, in a matter of due time, MÃRA will be blowing things up on the metal scene and the social media real soon, and fast!
Māra: Yes, indeed. So far, we have released only one single, it’s titled 'Sell Your Soul'. We are a brand-new death metal band. But when it comes to our musicianship, we are not just starting out- all musicians in our band are world class level professionals. I dare to say that because we all have put many, many years of practice and dedication in developing our skills, instrument playing, songwriting, lyric writing and so on. So, I really hope that you are very good in fortune telling, because we have some really great music coming up and I hope people will be just as excited about it as we are.
MPAP: So, MÃRA is a metal band from Riga, Latvia that’s fronted by you, Māra Lisenko, whom you can pretty much count on after listening to your vocals, you are not going to fuck around and take any prisoners, or anyone’s bullshit for that matter? Your guttural growl will take control and embed into your eardrums without any warning. Care to add anything to that?
Māra: You said it even better than I would! Yes, that’s correct. We are from a small country called Latvia, our hometown is Riga. Our band name is taken from my real name. It is a very traditional Latvian girl name, and, in our folklore, we have a goddess called Māra. So, this word carries a lot of strength rooted very deep in where we come from. For our logo we have used Māra’s cross which is a powerful Latvian magic sign. So, our band name represents the strength in our music very well. About my vocals, thank you for describing them, it’s very hard to do it for myself. I think listener can more precisely describe what musician is doing, because usually, we artists, are too 'zoomed in' in our creative processes. All I can add to what you already said is- I give my all to any vocal performance I do. 100%. All the energy in my singing and screaming is driven by my real-life experiences and emotions, I never sing about fictional stuff. And if listeners can intensely feel what I’m feeling, that’s the best compliment I can have as a vocalist.
MPAP: And backing up for just a moment lets better explain to those that are unfamiliar with the globe or a world map. The city of Riga is over 4,000 far east miles away if you were to be standing in the heart of New York City in The United States of America. To go more into detail, from NYC you would cross the vast Atlantic Ocean, and then over the Baltic Sea for about 10 hours. Land masses surround Riga like Sweden, Finland, and a rock throw away Lithuania. Or if you want to, you could say Riga, Latvia is about 572 miles from Moscow, Russia to sum it all up, right?
Māra: I’m not so good in numbers but you said it very precisely. Latvia is located in Northern Europe and it’s a part of Baltic states (alongside with Lithuania and Estonia). Across the Baltic sea we have all Scandinavian countries (e.g. Sweden, Finland, Denmark etc.). Our biggest neighbor is Russia. Latvia’s population is almost 2 million people and we have our own language- Latvian. The usual things what people mess up about Latvia are:
*not knowing the difference between Latvia and Lithuania, many people think it’s the same country because names are very similar.
*we are not part of Russia. Yes, we are post-soviet country but that’s history.
But usually when we tell we’re from Latvia, people go: “What? Latvia? Where is that?” So, it’s always a pleasure to explain more about this relatively small but special place and people usually are very curious.
MPAP: Do you feel you and your band are in the right spot, or I guess I mean, is your band in an excellent location for your genre of music that you love to be heard by many? Or is it tough to break free and explore your dreams in the music industry from Riga?
Māra: Me and our band’s bassist (also my husband) are now living in Germany. It’s interesting that you asked this question because music is the main reason why we moved here. Germany is well known for its developed metal scene. So, it’s a great place to start from. In Latvia metal is considered underground and opportunities are very limited (just like in any other small country). Sure, there are possibilities to gain exposure in the internet and chances to tour outside Latvia. Our band’s guitarist and drummer still live in Riga. Although it is sometimes complicated to be split up between 2 countries, there are some benefits too- we can organize gigs here and there. Our first gigs are already booked in 3 countries- summer festivals in Latvia, Germany and Italy.
MPAP: Are there any radio stations, venues, or concert halls there that will play metal music? Or do you solely rely on the internet for everything to listen to?
Māra: In Latvia there are no metal radio stations, I think at the moment in the whole country there are 4 or 5 metal-oriented clubs where local and touring bands can play. Some of our new local bands gain more popularity and recognition in internet, and I am super happy for that. We have so many great musicians and bands, sometimes I wish there was more industry support to back them up.
MPAP: Now that we know where you’re located at in this world let’s get down into what we’re here to talk about, your bone-crushing music. Recently, back in early February of this year, you debuted your first music video called, "Sell Your Soul," and like just mentioned, it’s a bone crusher of a song. So, tell us about it? What can a new listener expect when they hear it for the first time?
Māra: "Sell Your Soul" is a song about greediness- about people who can walk over anyone and do horrible acts just for the sake of profit. And the consequences are tragic- inequality, wars, human rights violations, poverty, destruction of nature and environment, violence and so on. Song’s lyrics are based on a theme everyone is familiar with- selling your soul to devil. We translate it to- selling anything by all means possible, greediness has no limits. Listening to it for the first time, expect craziness! Starting from insane guitar riffs and solos, intense and machine-gun-like drumming, versatile and fast bass guitar lines and vocals that go in a full range from lows to highs.
MPAP: And when you watch the video for "Sell Your Soul," you’ll first notice it’s all about the glamor, and all the perks of being rich and famous; Rolls Royce’s, girls, and lots of money. But there is also some brutal visuals as well in the video; death, destruction, and so forth. What message were you personally trying to convey with making this video?
Māra: If you’ve noticed, all glamour shots are very vivid and colorful and then there is this 'video error' and it turns to disturbing black & white images. Idea is about an illusion of this wonderful glamorous life so many of us are striving to achieve (all the possessions, fame and status). Not many people really go deep and notice what is the real price for it all?? In the video we’ve portrayed some of the horrible acts that are behind maintaining this highly prestige lifestyle. Let me give you one example: there is an image of young female rhino in a pool of blood, her horn is brutally cut off with a chainsaw. She is still conscious and suffering. Why? Her horn is valued for more than $100,000 a kilo in a black market. Poachers kill many of these now endangered species every year, it’s close to extinction. And even more to the point- buying products made of rhino horn represent person’s success and wealth status. So, in this one tragic image you have it all- greediness, unnecessary violence, suffering, death, destruction of nature and it’s all just to get an expensive, exclusive item. I could tell you similar stories behind each and every one of b&w footages in the video- there are no random shots, they all are directly related to the message.
MPAP: Part of the lyrics to "Sell Your Soul" is: 'Sell your soul, get all you want, but in return, I own your life.' That’s pretty deep wouldn’t you say?
Māra: Well…it’s the very last part of the song and here we are going back to 'sell your soul to devil' theme. The idea here is literal- it’s the devil speaking. Vocals are made very low and kind of demonic for that purpose. And the lyrics are just straight forward- when you read all these stories about someone selling a soul to the devil, at the beginning they’re so excited, they think that a great deal has been made. So, they go wild- enjoying their fame, possessions and riches. And then, when they’ve had enough of it, comes the bitter realization- although they have everything they ever wanted, they feel dead empty inside. They sense that the true riches in life aren’t the material things, it’s these simple things we often overlook and take for granted- love, friendship, laughter, good health, enjoying the nature…At the end of your life all your possessions will be gone, they will make no sense and only at that very last moment many people realize that they have wasted their whole life chasing this illusion, when the real happiness lies in the very simple things right around us.
MPAP: So, moving forward, how long until we can hear more new music? It’s been mentioned that you’re working on an EP? Anything you can specify here?
Māra: For a first time our new music will be heard in following summer festivals:
August 4th: Metalshow Festival, Jekabpils, Latvia
August 26th: Pollo Metal Fest, Bergamo, Italy
September 1st: Reeveland Festival, Markneukirchen, Germany
Currently we are recording our debut EP, the title will be Therapy For An Empath and it will consist of 4 tracks including our first single "Sell Your Soul". Most of recording is already done so we hope to release it this fall.
MPAP: We’ve obviously only heard the one song so far, and it’s in English, but will the rest of the EP be in English as well?
Māra: Yes, all our songs are written in English. We are still in process of developing our sound. But I have a secret desire to add some Latvian elements to our songs in the future.
MPAP: Do you sing any vocals in your native tongue Latvian or even something in Russian by any chance? Or is English your preferred style?
Māra: I do sing and write lyrics in Latvian and Russian too. English is my preferable language because I want my lyrics and messages to be understood by as many people as possible. Still sometimes I feel that I want to write or sing only for Latvian or Russian speaking people, it very depends on the project I’m working on.
MPAP: Going back to the conversation about your hometown of Riga, it’s considered a cultural center and is home to many museums and concert halls. The city is also known for its wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture, and medieval Old Town. The pedestrian-only Old Town has many shops and restaurants and is home to busy Livu Square, with bars and nightclubs. That’s all well and good, but is your genre of music accepted there at all? Is MÃRA welcomed with opened arms by the good people there, or is metal music frowned upon?
Māra: Thanks for gathering all this information about my hometown. I’m delighted.
I must say metal is accepted well in Latvia. Of course, it’s still a niche and only a small percentage of people can truly appreciate that, not many metal bands get to play in mass events. But overall, we have no strong negative reactions towards metal from society. In our metal scene everyone knows each other, it’s kind of this family feeling. You know who is who? Not always there’s a great relationship in this family but I must say that metalheads are very dedicated! I know many people who are dedicating their time and effort to keep metal scene going, most of them do it just for the love of metal with no financial reward. I have so much respect towards such people. They inspire me a lot.
MPAP: So, let’s play create a scenario. What happens if when you release more new music and a majority of your fan base is from the United States? Will that be frustrating or discouraging to you because it will be difficult to travel abroad to the United States, or even other countries and play music for all your fans?
Māra: The answer is simple- if money is not an obstacle, we will come. Doesn’t matter where. All of our band members share one common dream- to go on long tours. It doesn’t matter how uncomfortable or how long and far, we’re very willing to do this! We want to play!
MPAP: Now that we know a little bit more about your hometown Riga, and a bit about you, how about tell us about who’s in the rest of the band MÃRA? Who else makes it up, and what do they play?
Māra: Our ship’s captain is our guitarist Denis Melnik. He’s the one who put this band together and he is the mastermind behind our music. He is one of best guitarists in Latvia and definitely a world class musician. He always comes up with these super hooky metal riffs, it’s incredible! A very smart guy, very respectful towards all band members- main songwriter but never limits anyone in their own artistic and musical expression. So, at the end music is very versatile, interesting with many different influences. Our bass guitarist Dmitry Lisenko is very famous in bass guitar world, being a pioneer in percussive fingerstyle on acoustic bass. Innovative bass player with his unique approach to playing. Even in metal. Don’t expect typical death metal basslines from him- he’s all over his bass neck! He does so many other stuff- recording my vocals and bass by himself, also edited "Sell Your Soul" video, he knows how technical things are done. Dmitry is not very talkative but when he says something- it’s on the point. No bullshit! Our drummer Alberts Mednis is a mysterious man, he has so many interests in different spheres that I cannot even follow. He seems very calm and quiet, but underneath is a very interesting world to uncover. Besides that, he’s a beast drummer!! I call him a 'gun machine', he fires his beats so precisely. Super technical and musical drummer.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Māra, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what your band MÃRA does to finish out 2018 and beyond. And we hope you make it to The United States very soon.
Māra: Thank you so much Geoff and Metal Pulp And Paper for this interview. It was my pleasure. Thanks for digging deep into our music and where we come from. We appreciate it a lot!!
MPAP: Before we bring this interview to a close, do you have any final words for all your worldwide fans out there?
Māra: Thank you so much for your love and support! Although we’re just starting out, we feel growing interest and support from you guys! Your belief in us helps us keep going. Even just a positive comment or a message, we appreciate each and every one of you. All the positivity you give, adds up to our insanely intense energy and desire to play- to give that energy back to you. Let’s keep the cycle going!!
FOLLOW
HERE
©metalpulpandpaper