Interview with Big H from Diggeth (Netherlands)
By Mick Michaels
Cosmick View; Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.Harald, aka "Big H"” Hi folks!
CV: Tell us a bit about your band and give us a brief rundown on your releases, touring activity and any latest news.
Big H: We are Diggeth, a three piece from The Netherlands. We have been playing for many years, in different line ups. We toured Holland, Belgium, Germany & UK for many years, playing club shows and festivals. We did a couple of albums on our own and with a different lineup, before (21st Century Nomad 2009 and Kings of The Underworld 2014) before we released "Gringos Galacticos" on the Dutch based PT78 label. By then we had Casper, aka "The Chief" on drums, which improved things dramatically. We switched labels during the tour for that album and signed with No Dust Records in Europe and Qumran Records for the US. "Gringos Galaticos" got re-released on vinyl in those territories and did very well. By then we had the single "Worship the Sun" out which is our most successful single and video to date. We had a tour planned for May 2020 for the US but then COVID-19 came to town...That grounded pretty much everything in the music bizz for quite a while. We sat down and started writing a new record. By then we had the new line up with bass player Natasja, aka "Pebbles". We finished the new album by beginning of 2022 and started playing festivals again, mainly in The Netherlands, because of all the different Covid regulations, at the time. We just recently released "Wuda Cuda Shuda" and "Soultwister" of the new record as the new singles for the upcoming album "Zero Hour In Doomtown". There is of course more to tell, I have been active for many years, playing in many bands and also acting as a studio engineer. The band current line-up is the strongest we had so far, everything is gelling and we also have much fun playing. We are gearing up for a European Tour in November and will hopefully tour USA in May 2023!CV: Given so many major changes over the last decade, do you believe the music industry is a practicable and stable enough environment for new artists to even consider making it a valid career choice? Can a level of sustainable success really be achieved in your opinion?
Big H: That is a hard question to answer; I have seen many, many changes over the last 20-30 years in music. The Music business has changed considerably; The CD kinda came and went. Also, music seems to have a different status as when I was a teenager. To me, back in the day, there was nothing else then buying vinyl and discover new bands thru underground mags. There was no internet and no Spotify. I was the days of demo's and sending them off by mail to fans, radio and record labels. As for the question to achieve a level of sustainable success...I never thought in those terms, I just love to play and make new music. I think and read a lot, so my mind is on a buzz all the time. I put my emotions and thoughts to notes and lyrics, to get things out of my system or to put them in perspective. It is great to see that people pick that up or...hear something completely different in it than maybe intended. I think the best thing is to stick to your stuff, be true, be yourself and see if it sticks.CV: What do you see as the biggest change in the music industry since you first started out?
Big H: In my lifetime the whole industry made a big circle. I remember the introduction of CD, buying my first CD player and how the prices of CD's where insane...That ruined a lot if you ask me. Now it came full circle; vinyl is completely back and maybe even better than before. The quality of vinyl has improved a lot, in my opinion. Another big change is that bands have to rely on touring. There hasn't ever been much touring going on, everyone seems on the road. The bands have much more longevity than before. Who would have thought that metal bands play for over 30, 40 or even 50 years? Another giant change is the ability to record much cheaper than back in the day. Digital recording may have its downsides but it is possible today to have an affordable, proper home studio and make great recordings, if you have the knowledge.CV: How do you see your music separating itself from your peers and avoiding just being another cog in the wheel?
Big H: Well, first, playing music is a way of life to us. So, something comes out, just to feel right or get emotions out. Everyday a new riff or idea is born. After a while we look at what we have and see if we still feel special about it like the first-time we played it. If so, it stays. I don't think we are re-inventing the wheel because we stand on shoulders of giants. What, maybe, sets us apart is that we regard Diggeth as this giant melting pot of styles, bands and music from many eras. For instance, I am very much into old Westerns, the ones I used to watch with my dad when I was young. A lot of this film music was so great and it made its way into our music. There is part on the new album; the middle part of the song "Stetson Hat", that part is pretty "cinematic", if you like. It has this classic western vibe to it, which fits the lyrical content of the song very well. I remember that we had the main riff to the song and I was searching for something different for it. That middle part had a life of it's own but in the end blended with the main riff in a very satisfying way. On the new album is also a song called "5 Stages of Grief" which is another very personal song and deals with sickbed and the death of one of my family members. I read about 'the five stages of grief" which apparently ones goes through while having such experience, being denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. We took that concept and put music to these stages. We ended up with a 10 minutes long song, the longest on the new album which, to us, goes through that cycle both musically and lyrically. That's our way of doing things. That's Diggeth. Has it been done before? Surely, but maybe not so much in heavy music…. I like the way The Doors or Supertramp structure their songs and lyrics, I get a lot from those bands and put in the blender with heavier sounds like Sabbath or early Metallica. 
CV: Has the industry’s many changes affected how you write music? Has it influenced your songwriting style in any drastic form?
Big H: No, it never has and it never will. Like stated earlier, I started playing music at the age of 14, I always played in bands and the music evolved like I did. Playing with different people also shapes the sound. Our new bass player, Natasja, plays with her fingers instead of using a pick, which gives a different sound and feel. I like playing a bit of bass too as I compose a lot. So, over the last year I practiced playing bass with fingers too, just to get that feel and it gave me so much different ideas where to go with a song. Another game changer for me was becoming a singer. I started singing because I was done with having a lead singer in the band and not singing it the way I envisioned lyrics and how to breathe life into them. The voice is an incredible instrument and changed my entire view on songwriting. Also, our drummer Casper has a more prog-rock approach which sometimes turns my riff-ideas around. He has this amazing feel for counterpoint and rhythmic figures. Maybe over the years I feel freer to let all kinds of influences sign thru more than before. I like a lot of "non-metal" music, ranging from music from the 40ties to a lot of new-wave and electronic music. I like many of the old new-wave bands from the early eighties and use some of their songwriting approaches in Diggeth. I like simplicity, the right riff with the right vocal melody and the groove!CV: Has digital technology led the way for almost anyone to be a musical artist in your opinion?
Big H: No. There a two-ways to look at this; Digital recording is affordable and, in the right hands, gives amazing results. It also gives you the opportunity to turn shit into gold because of the endless options. That is huge difference, compared to the, let’s say the 70ties. The musicians from that era were amazing. Back then you had to record it right in just a couple of takes because of the tape deterioration. A lot of nowadays recordings sound pretty lifeless and won't stand the test of time. Good music will prevail, always. It is still possible to make great records if you know what you want and put effort it. We don't edit our stuff to death, we rehearse it and play it. We want to sound lively and digital recording is just a tool. On the other -hand we love old gear. We use a lot of tube amps and stuff from long ago. They have that big sound and are very LOUD. It moves your body if you hit a note, it moves air, it is very real!CV: Has music in general been broken into too many sub-genres? Why do think there are so many classifications of music types? Can this be confusing for an artist who is looking to build a brand? As well, can it be confusing for the fans?
Big H: We never gave that much thought. We do get the need for people to do some kind of categorization; we all do that, in a way, in many aspects of life. It can be confusing indeed but I stopped thinking about it, a long time ago. We sometimes read reviews where we get compared to such and such. If that is what people think they hear, then that it is. If we get compared with an artist who is already well-known than it is a compliment and we regard it as such.CV: How would you define “iconic” when it comes to being an artist or musician? What do you think makes an artist iconic?
Big H: Well, some music just survives time, that makes it 'iconic" or timeless. Some musicians are now up in their seventies or even eighties. They saw the dawn of rock' n roll, so to speak. People like Lemmy, Ozzy or Paul McCartney, they saw it happen, where part of it, they shaped the sounds we like today. Some albums have songs that are picked up by new generations, music played before fans were born and it resonates. Music is a powerful thing. To every mood there is a song…music for weddings or funerals, music to feel good or to dance and headbang too. To me the concept of music is iconic. Sometimes I am tired or a bit moody and the band comes in and we start to jam. After a couple of minutes, the 3 of us are on fire and you forget all your sorrows. That is an incredible thing.
CV: Who would you consider to be a modern day “rock star?” And is being a “rock star” something to aspire to?
Big H: Dave Grohl, I would say, he has an amazing career and charisma, coming from Nirvana to Foo-Fighters and everything in between. He seems to be all about music instead of imagery. If that kind longevity and inspiration is what makes a rockstar, I am fine with that, haha.CV: Does music need to have a message to convey to the world for it to be worth listening to in your opinion?
Big H: Music comes in shapes and forms. The good thing about music that is free to use the form you like. It doesn't need rules. Sometimes it is a melody that gets you or a groove or lyric. The message it conveys can alter, as the listener maybe hears something the writer never intended. So, does it need a message? It's more about a feel I would say. When I was young, my English knowledge was limited; I misheard lyrics, made my own language out of it. Even to this day there are songs from long ago, I sing the wrong lyrics to, and still they mean something.CV: What's next for the band? What can fans expect to see coming?
Big H: Well, the album will be out in October, at least for Europe. USA will have digital release and CD and vinyl a little later. After that we do a European Tour as support act for The Skull. We have festivals coming in Europe and in May 2023 we hope to tour the USA, as we were supposed in 2020. We are booked already for the fall of 2023 for another Euro-Tour so...lots of live playing ahead. Meanwhile we are working on new songs as well!CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Big H: Thanks a lot for giving us the opportunity to do the interview and spread the word…"Keep On Diggin'," we know we will.Check out Diggeth at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diggethmusic
Instagram: https://instagram.com/diggeth
Official: www.diggeth.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj2tG07rrx6L-YcRVmGDLJQ
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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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