Interview with Drummer Änder Millim of the band ÆoniK

June 09, 2025

Interview with Drummer Änder Millim of the band ÆoniK

by Mick Michaels

Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.

CV: Do you think modern Heavy Metal music has evolved past its origins? Or are things relatively still the same?

Änder: Yes, Metal has definitely evolved, though its core is still intact. A big part of that change comes from how the music industry has moved away from physical formats and towards streaming platforms. That’s made it easier for bands to release music on their own, and production tools are more accessible than ever.

On the one hand, this DIY approach has opened up a lot of space for new sounds and ideas. But at the same time, the scene has become pretty saturated. With so many releases and such a low barrier to entry, it can feel like the uniqueness of new music gets lost. The spirit is still there, but you have to dig deeper to find it.

CV: Does Metal still draw people to want to listen and engage the music while challenging the audience to imagine becoming a musician themselves?

Änder: That’s a very personal question and hard to answer for everyone. Speaking for ourselves, the drive to make music comes from a deep need to express something that words alone can’t capture. No matter how the scene shifts, that urge stays the same. For us, metal is a tool and an outlet to turn emotion into sound. Whether it inspires others to really listen or even to become musicians themselves is hard to say, but honesty in music always finds a way to connect.

CV: Many believe that success for a band relies on three major components; good distribution, good PR and good booking. In the new modern music industry, all of that is without a doubt achievable by the artist themselves. Do you feel more and more established acts will go the independent route and eliminate the middle man component?

Änder: I think it's definitely possible for an established act to go independent. The tools are there, and many artists today know how to handle things themselves. But it’s not for everyone. People often underestimate how much time and energy go into PR, distribution and booking if you want to do it all yourself. You get full control, but also full responsibility.

Especially for bigger projects or international tours, experienced partners can be incredibly helpful. They bring knowledge, networks and resources that are hard to build on your own. So I don’t think the middle man will disappear entirely, but their role is changing. More and more artists are looking for flexible setups where they still have a say in how things are done.

CV: Do you feel that the idea of a band eliminating those second and third party partnerships; labels, management, bookers, etc., and doing things on their own, is a direct result of artists and bands being misled and taken advantage of for so long?

Änder: I don’t think it’s only a reaction to bad experiences. A lot has changed in the industry. These days, artists can do a lot themselves with digital tools, social media and streaming, without needing a big team behind them.

There’s also a different mindset now. Many artists don’t want to wait around to be discovered anymore, they just take action on their own. It’s about control, independence and making your own decisions. Labels and management aren’t necessarily out, but when they’re involved, it’s more of a partnership on equal footing.

CV: Do you feel there is a need or want for artists of any style or genre to rise above the past and to do more musically…artistically? Or can a level of comfort be reached and maintained as a means to sustainability?

Änder: Some bands just want to stay true to their sound and aren’t interested in playing the industry game and that’s completely valid. For them, artistic integrity comes first. If they’re happy with what they do, that can absolutely be a sustainable path.

But bands who want to grow and find success in the business often need to evolve. The music scene is always moving, so staying relevant means being open to new ideas and creative growth. That doesn’t mean giving up who you are, just being willing to adapt to reach more people.

Both approaches work, it just depends on what a band wants. Sustainability can come from staying consistent or from evolving.

CV: Many critics believe music is irrelevant today... just background noise. As a musician who is out there writing, releasing, and performing, from your perspective, do you still see music relevance in the world today? Is there a connection?

Änder: The connection to music has definitely become weaker compared to the past. I remember buying a CD and listening to it for weeks, really diving into the whole album. Now, we just pick songs on streaming platforms and switch quickly from one artist to another. That often means we don’t take the time to really experience a full record.

The magic of music feels smaller because there’s so much out there. It’s harder to be surprised. That wow effect is less common because we’ve already heard so much.

Research shows that being constantly exposed to content through social media and streaming leads to overload. Our attention span and ability to engage deeply with music go down. A study from the University of California found that heavy multitasking with digital media makes it harder to focus and really connect. In my opinion, that’s how music becomes background noise instead of something meaningful.

CV: Has music in general split into too many genres and sub-genre classifications in an effort just to please an indecisive audience in your opinion? Is it just more of a marketing ploy to funnel buyers to a specific brand?

Änder: I think that development happened naturally. A lot of artists want to create something new by blending genres or adding other elements. With Aeonik, for example, we combine melodic black and death metal with ambient textures and some post black metal influences. We see it like this, we take the basic foundation and give it a different color, expand the genre and add our own voice. That way, we create something individual without drifting too far away or losing the connection to the roots.

CV: What more can fans expect to see coming from the band still in 2025?

Änder: After our final shows in Germany this September, we’ll fully focus on our debut album, "The Roamer of Heaven and Hell." We’ll start recording shortly after. Supporters can expect updates about the album release and upcoming shows soon.

CV: Thanks again for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.

Änder: Thank you very much for having us. It was a pleasure to share these thoughts with your readers. I really appreciate the support and look forward to what’s ahead.

Check out ÆoniK at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aeonikofficial/

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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.