Interview with Andre-Jean-Henri mertens of Cryptex
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.
Andre-Jean-Henri mertens: Hey ! Nice to chat with you!
CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans
in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
AJHM: Oh, that's a good question. I think especially in many European countries metal has become almost a mainstream music style. Which is for me a quite cool thing as I´m a metalhead since the age 7.
It has not been always that way and I think cause of Bands like Iron Maiden
and also more modern bands that came like Linking Park, Avenged
Sevenfold, Ghost, Gojira and more it’s getting more and more attention to
the public. In America for instance I think still Rap and Latin styles and
modern pop music are the mainstream styles. Metal really isn’t Mainstream
in the States, except for Metallica. But I don’t see them as a Metal Band,
more of a rock band these days. No disrespect for them, but that’s how it is.
Especially in Germany where I Live Metal has become really a Arena/
Stadium phenomena. Of course Bands like Iron Maiden are playing Stadiums
everywhere in the world, but it became bigger and bigger over the years and also with other Bands. Ghost also is an Arena Act these days which is a good sign, that Rock and Metal music will never be dead. Despite all the pop and rap music and other stuff that is around. I´m quite open minded and not just listen to Heavy Metal, there’s also good pop music, good rap music and other styles but my heart will always beat for Metal.
CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans?
What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
AJHM: I think its because Metal is not just a music style. It really is a way of life, when you’re a metal head. There's a whole and world wide community that comes along with it. And that's the special thing and I really think, that its just in Metal, that kind of brother hood. I can’t even explain it, but its a fact and I always feel it when I go to Rock/Metal Festivals and when I see my favorite Band of all time „Iron Maiden“. Its such a camaraderie, its
peaceful, no arguing, just celebrating great music, celebrating peace,
celebrating life. Celebrating love. That's all you need. And when you have all
these things you have good health which is of course very important. Its for
the soul when you meet other metal music fans that have a passion for this
way of life, just like you. And of course there’s the music. Despite how you
feel, especially when you feel anger, when you’re sad and have had a bad
time or feeling lonely, Metal is always there for you. You can listen to it on
full volume, crank it up, headbang to it, just let everything go and feel the
connection to the music. Singing the lyrics that mean a lot to you, scream it
all out and let the guitar solos touch you like shivers, there’s just nothing
comparable to metal. And its such a wide and versatile genre. There isn’t
any other genre in the world, that has so many sub genres. That
summarizes it all. Which lead us to the next question, hehe, but that was
really a coincident of mine.
CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus,
making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style
over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
AJHM: No I think not, because its very precise in terms of sub genres. If you’re more into metal core genres, there you have plenty of options to listen to bands with that style of metal music. If you prefer the classic side, you get to see all the classic metal bands. And so it goes on. For me its good to have a clear abstraction with the sub genres. Of course its not easy to make it as a metal band, because of all the different subgenres. But what is easy nowadays? Therefore you have the benefit that there are so many ways and so many possibilities to create different kinds of metal or to hear so many different bands to make you’re favorite out of them.
CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business
considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared
world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given
the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
AJHM: Yes totally. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic was a big big catastrophe not just for the whole world but for the music business especially. I mean even mid seized big bands such as Anthrax had to cancel their postponed tours after COVID The whole industry is fucked up big time. Many clubs and also mid sized venues can’t exist anymore because of all the restrictions that came along to the pandemic. But that's not just cause of COVID but also since the Ukraine/Russian war in February 2022, unfortunately. So it really is not that positive when you think of a future as a musician like myself. Many shows got canceled, many clubs aren’t there anymore cause of COVID and couldn’t survive. The government fucked up big time in many categories in terms of financial support etc. The list goes on and on. But what’s to do? Just keep going, you have no other choice as a musician and when you love what you do, you will never stop, despite the circumstances and no matter how many stones will roll against you. You just leave your head up and go focused and follow your path which you have chosen when you made the decision to be a musician and when you have a passion for it like me, you will never stop.
CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach tosongwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
AJHM: I think that you can’t compare my band „The Cryptex“ to any other band in the world. And I mean that for a fact. Its not self arrogant, but we don’t make ourselves any restrictions in terms of songwriting. If we feel like
adding gospel vocals to a freaked out metal track, we just go for it and do
it. We don’t care about anyone, we do the music for us in the first case. And
when you’re proud of what you create, you will also get followers and fans
for it. That's my opinion. Cause then, you are authentic. We don’t try to write music to fancy listeners and to get into playlists and that kind of stuff. Of course it would be nice to have a hit, yes. But when that's your main reason you write music, you’re in the wrong game when you make metal or rock music. We combine Metal with rock, with alternative, with acoustic, with many different orchestral instruments such as flutes, violin, cello, horns, keyboards. We all sing in the band which is a kind of big The Beatles and Queen Influence. We like heavy guitar riffs and melodic guitar melodies
and solos like the Iron Maiden kind of approach. I also love singing and on
this album its been featured not just for backing vocals but also in lead
vocals in the Tracks "Fall Down" which I wrote for a solo band of mine in
2015 and in other songs like "Son of Fortune" and "Holy Ground." So this
time its a great combination of our lead singer Simon Moscow and myself
combining everything we have in terms of songwriting and singing. You
really have to dive into our new record "Nimbus" which is going to be
released on the 29th of September 2023. I bet you never heard anything
like it before, I promise!
CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and
songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
AJHM: We’re not just another Heavy Metal act, cause we not just do Heavy Metal. I think the music speaks for itself, you just have to listen to it to find the answer.
CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing
as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences
making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists
today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to
pass?
AJHM: No I would not say it that way. Of course you can’t invent metal or rock music. It has already been invented by the dozens of bands out there. But no matter what, you can always put something new into the pop melting pot. With your voice, your instrument, your lyrics. So for me every musician who tries to do something authentic that comes right out of his soul is unique. When you really try to write another "The Trooper" or another "Enter Sandman," then you are just trying to be a copy of something or someone.
CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel
cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
AJHM: Yes. You identify yourself with the music and with your soul. I think since I'm a metal musician I became a better person. And this is for me a very big life lesson. I see many things different since then and I am very open for every kind of person and for me peace, love and friendship is one of the most important things. And through metal and being in a metal band, where you really have ups and downs you learn a lot about life and what is
important in life and what not. You learn that you have to stand up also
when you face hard and difficult times and don’t know what direction you
might take. You can really lean on this kind of music style and way of life
because metal music and especially creating it can be an outlet for every
emotion you feel.
CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star
automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your
opinion?
AJHM: As I am not a rock star its hard to answer this question. Maybe some think I am a tiny little bit of a rock star but I am not. For me a real rockstar is someone like Bruce Dickinson or Steve Harris from Iron Maiden. They
created something that is celebrated everywhere in the world despite the
color, religion and sex. They influenced generations of musicians and have
millions of millions of fans around the world. But they don’t behave like
rockstars and still go in the pub or take the metro and not just celebrating in
big pools with lots of girls and champagne like wanna be rockstars do. That
defines a real rock star for me. And for my definition of a real rock star you
are likewise an icon in that way. Someone you look up to and try to reach at
least 1% of the success he got in his lifetime and is still achieving. Its not
about the money for me but about recognition and to have something to be
proud of. But you know what? I already played hundred of gigs around the
world, we don’t have many thousands of fans around the world, but we have fans around the world and always reach more fans out there, the long we keep doing. And if there is 1 person in our audience who appreciates the
music I wrote and we are doing, that is a very special feeling for me and
more important, then being a rock star.
CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world
looks to surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
AJHM: We just released a brand new track some weeks ago with "Fall Down." You have to check it out! Wild and rough and full on rock banger, with a video on YouTube or on every streaming device of your choice! The next steps are releasing the 3rd single of our new album "Nimbus" which is called "Devils Casino." We also filmed an extensive music video for it, watch out for the 1st of September!
Then we have the honor to open the great Prog Power Festival, Atlanta
USA on the 8th of September. This will be a special moment for us with
great bands such as Kamelot, Doro and many many more. There you will
hear some world live debuts of our new album and we will have it with us
before the actual worldwide release on the 29th of September via
Phonotraxx/Unbroken Silence/The Orchard, which we celebrate with a big
club show in Hanover Germany, celebrating the official release of our 4th
album „Nimbus“ and our 15th year anniversary as a Band. Way to go! We
can’t wait to play many more shows around Europe hopefully at the
beginning of 2024 and a tour in spring 2024 and hopefully many many more
shows around the world.
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.
AJHM: The pleasure is on our side as well. I really appreciate your kind of work and we hope to reach new fans out there, who like what we do. It was a pleasure for me as well and I wish you all the best and much success and luck, love and health! Also to all you readers, keep on listening and supporting Bands and music and celebrate life, love and music!
Check out Cryptex at:
Official: https://www.cryptexofficialband.com/
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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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