Interview withthe Band Darkest Horizon
By Mick Michaels
The Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us!
CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound
and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
Darkest Horizon: Our style is best described as “a Tolkien adventure with WAY too many orcs”. Our epic orchestrations set the scene and take you into a fantastical universe but before you know it you are being steam rolled by a bombastic death-metal track.
Darkest Horizon: Our style is best described as “a Tolkien adventure with WAY too many orcs”. Our epic orchestrations set the scene and take you into a fantastical universe but before you know it you are being steam rolled by a bombastic death-metal track.
CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience
connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and
if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?
Darkest Horizon: We are constantly chatting and keeping in touch with our fans. If you meet us at live gigs or texting us via social media, you can be sure that we will make time for you. For us it is always heartwarming to see when our music has an effect on people and we get even more motivated to give more than our best in the future. Of course, with the current situation all of this has shifted heavily to social media, but we are eager to meet you guys again in person!
Darkest Horizon: We are constantly chatting and keeping in touch with our fans. If you meet us at live gigs or texting us via social media, you can be sure that we will make time for you. For us it is always heartwarming to see when our music has an effect on people and we get even more motivated to give more than our best in the future. Of course, with the current situation all of this has shifted heavily to social media, but we are eager to meet you guys again in person!
CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the
band’s inner culture?
Darkest Horizon: Definitely! I would say our fans are the backbone around which Darkest Horizon is built. Without you guys, we would have already dried out long ago! So damn straight we make sure that we do not lose you!
Darkest Horizon: Definitely! I would say our fans are the backbone around which Darkest Horizon is built. Without you guys, we would have already dried out long ago! So damn straight we make sure that we do not lose you!
CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?
Darkest Horizon: That is a matter of perspective, don't you think? Obviously you should always think about what you are going to put on social media, but if you are careful you can always have personal talks with your dearest fans without losing your privacy. This is also good advice outside of social media and even if you aren't in a band.
CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently
around the world in your opinion? If so, what do you see as the biggest
difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
Darkest Horizon: Phew... That's a huge topic. I would say within the last decades there has been a shift. Before, music – especially live – has been a special occasion. There just haven't been that many bands, and even less, so bands that were readily available to play (almost) anywhere within a 200 miles radius. Nowadays everyone and their dog are connected, so it is easy to find any group that would play a gig. This in and of itself isn't a bad thing, but the consequence was that the live-market has been flooded with great acts. So the uniqueness of music has decreased for the general audience. This was especially noticeable for us when we visited Eastern Europe or Sri Lanka, where these trends haven't been that significant yet. The local audience's energy was amazing and we really got the impression that “if we don't rock down the venue, they most certainly will.”
Darkest Horizon: Phew... That's a huge topic. I would say within the last decades there has been a shift. Before, music – especially live – has been a special occasion. There just haven't been that many bands, and even less, so bands that were readily available to play (almost) anywhere within a 200 miles radius. Nowadays everyone and their dog are connected, so it is easy to find any group that would play a gig. This in and of itself isn't a bad thing, but the consequence was that the live-market has been flooded with great acts. So the uniqueness of music has decreased for the general audience. This was especially noticeable for us when we visited Eastern Europe or Sri Lanka, where these trends haven't been that significant yet. The local audience's energy was amazing and we really got the impression that “if we don't rock down the venue, they most certainly will.”
CV: Do you feel that a band that has an
international appeal, will tend to connect more so to American audiences? Would
they be more enticed or intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because
of the foreign flavor? Darkest Horizon: I really only can speculate on
this point. Of course America is a huge market and any international band is
well advised to cater to American audiences. But it ultimately is a matter of
style, talent, promotion and luck rather than where someone is from if a band
is well received....
CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone
an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really
is an artist been blurred?
Darkest Horizon: Modern technology has definitely allowed many, many artists who otherwise would have been unheard to reach an audience. I don't think the lines have been blurred that much. You still need some form of talent to be successful. But the question of “what an artist is” has gotten a lot more answers because even the nichiest of niche genres can now reach a critical mass of fans to be considered successful and obviously an “art-form” by those audiences.
Darkest Horizon: Modern technology has definitely allowed many, many artists who otherwise would have been unheard to reach an audience. I don't think the lines have been blurred that much. You still need some form of talent to be successful. But the question of “what an artist is” has gotten a lot more answers because even the nichiest of niche genres can now reach a critical mass of fans to be considered successful and obviously an “art-form” by those audiences.
CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and one who sets them?
Darkest Horizon: Someone who follows trends is a business man. To analyze the market and act accordingly or to let the market dictate your product is not art. I don't regard this as a bad thing because everyone needs to make ends meet, but this person should be honest – at least to themselves – and know that they are providing a service rather than art. And for the other person…it depends. If the new trends are the result of something that they were convinced is the best thing they were able to produce, then I would call them an artist.
CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many
sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan
appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing
audiences?
Darkest Horizon: Like I mentioned above, the splintering is a natural result of the digital revolution and is in and of itself not a bad thing. Everyone can find exactly that style they want to listen to. The music is there and the audience is able to find them. So it's less the splintering but rather the over-saturation of music that has weakened its impact. But I am positive that during the post-COVID era we will see a renaissance of live music and a much stronger energy during live shows. Let's see what the future has to offer for us!
Darkest Horizon: Like I mentioned above, the splintering is a natural result of the digital revolution and is in and of itself not a bad thing. Everyone can find exactly that style they want to listen to. The music is there and the audience is able to find them. So it's less the splintering but rather the over-saturation of music that has weakened its impact. But I am positive that during the post-COVID era we will see a renaissance of live music and a much stronger energy during live shows. Let's see what the future has to offer for us!
CV: What can fans except to see coming next from
you?
Darkest Horizon: This year we will be releasing six singles, the third will see the light on June 25th. We release on Bandcamp and Spotify. To stay up-to-date you can follow us on Instagram. We will try to increase our work efficiency next year. And who knows, maybe there will be something else really special this year happening….
Darkest Horizon: This year we will be releasing six singles, the third will see the light on June 25th. We release on Bandcamp and Spotify. To stay up-to-date you can follow us on Instagram. We will try to increase our work efficiency next year. And who knows, maybe there will be something else really special this year happening….
CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking.
It is greatly appreciated.
Darkest Horizon: Thank you guys…it was a pleasure answering your questions!
Darkest Horizon: Thank you guys…it was a pleasure answering your questions!
Check out Darkest
horizons at:
Official: https://darkesthorizon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkesthorizon
Official: https://darkesthorizon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkesthorizon
Like The Cosmick View on Facebook at:
The Cosmick Voice
Music, Talk & Nothing But Business
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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