NO MAN ISLE – MATHIAS JAMTLI RYE
Art: Niklas Sundin
The lyrics are often based on observations and reflections of actions, mentalities or desires that humanity and individuals suffer the consequences of again and again and never seem to learn from. For the last two releases, we gathered our ideas for songs and travelled to a cabin in the mountains to write the songs with great success. I see us doing that again in the future.
When writing lyrics, the sole thing I can rely on that triggers my creativity is the music we make. What the tracks make me feel when listening to them, and then I take it from there. I put on a finished Haunted By Silhouettes track, grab my pen and paper, write around 30-40 words that pop into my head, and repeat the process twice or thrice. Then I take a look at the words I’ve written, pick some out, and they form the foundation of the lyrics. Based purely on how the tracks make me feel.
As a band, we focus on writing the best blend of melodic death metal music without any other concrete fixation. The philosophical fixation enters more through my lyrics with the blessing of all in the band. The lyrics are mainly secular and are related to humanistic and social studies and observations.
Around 2004, I got invited one day to my friend’s house to watch the latest Iron Maiden ‘Rock in Rio’ DVD, and I got hooked. I wanted to know everything about the band, listen to every record, find similar bands, learn about other metal genres and find the heaviest things out there. It didn’t take long before I discovered Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Angel Witch, Grim Reaper, Metallica, Slayer, Korn, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Helloween, Hammerfall, Ensiferum, Nightwish, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Opeth and the list goes on and on. I entered the world of heavy music worship that day, and I’ve been there ever since. Buying records, going to shows, learning the lyrics, buying posters, admiring the artworks, reading about bands in magazines and discovering new bands constantly.
I can only speak for myself, but the first figure that comes to mind is the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. His fictional works have been with me for the last twelve years. In the scene, I would say Mikael Åkerfeldt, Steven Wilson and Devin Townsend are very much people that seem to have a genius talent for creativity that transcends the norm in the scene.
Music can make creators and consumers feel a certain way that may benefit and stimulate their well-being and state of mind. Especially if the music mirrors your inner life and mood at the time of creation or listening, I will dare say that music that you detest also can have a beneficial and productive effect on your well-being if you reflect on why you don’t like it. Maybe you learn a thing or two about yourself if you do. Music, for me, is inner life yearning to be expressed. Some will surely call it a spiritual experience or simply entertainment. I would say it all depends on the listener’s experience.
I don’t know if it’s that surprising, but I consume a lot of 70’s progressive rock from England, France, and Italy (ELP, Magma, PFM). I also like to immerse myself in Krautrock (Tangerine Dream, Can, Amon Düül II), and I often put on actress Kaji Meiko’s discography.
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