Interview with Gudrun Snake (the vocalist of Hieros Gamos and Lahka Muza) by Mesaja for Gothic.pl

M: Hello! Nice to speak with you again. Lately we talk about Lahka Muza, your main music project. Today I would like to talk with you about your new child. Hieros Gamos. When he or she was born?

G : Yes,I remember very well for our interview about Lahka Muza at August 2004 . Hieros Gamos is parallel band of members of Lahka Muza and this band has this short history....Sometime at 2002 I have received from my friend Martina from great Czechia agency Ars Morta Universum special offer for unique festival “The Other Sex” in Prague with special direct for woman in art....Martina wanted from me some special solo show... And this offer was a little appeal for me and 677 . We decided that we prepare special woman `s live show ....and because we wanted to present our interesting about art kind of performance and our interesting about electronic music and fetish&cybernetic look , was determined that we will play on this international woman festival like Hieros Gamos . We thought that this will be only one special show....  

M: Why did you decide for a new child?

G : I think that we already have answer...  

M: We know that children are different and similar in some way. Could you say what is similar and what is different in Hieros Gamos project from Lahka Muza? Who is creating Hieros Gamos?  

G: After great response of audience we decided that we will continue outside Lahka Muza also with Hieros Gamos . And what is the same and different ? Lahka Muza is band with long history and she combines guitar and electronic sound...She plays on biggest gothic&darkwave festivals where is not real to present some special performance...Hieros Gamos is pure electro/industrial band with strong female performance now...Hieros Gamos is special band for electro/industry/fetish music&art scene....For scene where has audience more understanding for deeper elements of art....Lahka Muza has on stage Gudrun like singer& player on percussions , 677 like player on guitar&machines , Cora like player on notebook for grooves and Moon like player on second notebook for sampling&etc...Hieros Gamos has on stage Gudrun like singer&performer , 677 like player on keyboard&machines and 2 Black Cats – female performers....

M: Do you work on an album? When could we expect debut album of Hieros Gamos? What could you betray about this album?

G : Yes,You are right... After great response of audience also for music we decides that we will record music from Hieros Gamos. We are finished our work in studio now and we are waiting for response by some labels...we would be glad for publishing of this debut album at 2005 .  

M: What could you say generally about your music and text in songs?

G: Debut album will be a little special...You know, we have a lot of albums with Lahka Muza and old albums are sold...So our fans which discovered Lahka Muza in this time are disappointed that they can t to buy older albums....also we have got some offer from one label at 2003 for publishing of select of the best songs from 1-4 albums of Lahka Muza . We prepared select 12 songs for this album “ Of the Best “...but after some times wrote our publisher that he has a big problems with his label and we must wait for publishing a long time...therefore we decided that for Hieros Gamos we prepare great select of older songs of Lahka Muza but in pure electronic sound and with a new remix look...Therefore will heard our fans on debut album of Hieros Gamos – ”Fetish Remix” remix versions of 8 songs from 1 st-4 th albums. Only last track – “E Splendor Animae” is a new track...Also this album will be like CD-EXTRA form – like last album of Lahka Muza – with special data track...in this cause it will be special Fetish Remix Gallery with 160 art pictures of Hieros Gamos !

M: Sex is really important part of your art...e.g. the name of the group is connected with ancient Sumerian magic religious ritual in which the high priestess ( acting as the avatar of the goddess) had sex with the candidate for new king to show the goddess's accept him as a ruler of her people. Why sex is so important in your art? Could you say that your art is based on sex theme? And why did you choose for the band the name of this ritual? Is this name and this ritual connected in some way with this witch you shows during your performances?

G: First , If I can a little repair Your first line and word sex...I think that “ erotica “ will be better sense for us...And Yes, erotic artwork is for us important...Yes, You are right about Hieros Gamos in Sumerian magic....but “Hieros Gamos” also means in latin language something like “ Games of Gods “. And this reflexion is better for our meaning...So maybe I disappoint some fans but they can t wait some special sex`s ritual by Sumerian way...we will present dark art&fetish woman`s show with strong music&voice...I think that this will be interesting too !  

 M: I know that you are fascineted by fetish and I heard that your Hieros Gamos shows are fetish-shows. Is it true? What is exactly attract you in this? Is it a kind of art for you? I mean about clothes and all stuff...why? Could you explain this for people who aren t fascinate by this yet?

G: Yes,You are right...we have like very much fetish&cybernic look...When we started our music carrier in 80th, we loved punk s image...and I was really wild punk lady ! And from this theme was very near also for fetish look with nice lack&leather&cybernetic wear...All the time I had like singer my own models because I feel very good in this look...This all is not for me only some occasional things for live shows, but this is very important thing for my live style... and for 677 too...we have in this theme the same taste&feeling.. Therefore I was very glad for co-operation with Your great metal fashion Lederstahl – which made special for me my own model from metal...we have done for album Hieros Gamos special photo session – and result You can see on our album in Fetish Remix Gallery on gallery – ‘Metal Dreams” . I think , that is not real explain this passion for other people....it is very simple...or You feel this voices from Your inside or You don t feel....this is all...nothing next explain...  

M: Your first show was in 2002 in Prague on Female Avantgard Festival "The Other Sex" in Akropolis Palace. What could you say about this?

G : Like I wrote some lines above , this was great one day` s festival with woman` s artist...I think that that 677 was only man on stage....All festival was one celebration of woman` s power and their magic.... All audience – women and men was in great atmosphere from artist and great atmosphere was also on midnight after-party with special mode show and Dj-ing...It was really very charming night !  

M: Than you appeard after 2 years break in Bratislava on Festival of Tatoo and Piercing and also on X Prague Industry Festival. What was the reason of this long gap and what could you say about this performances.

G : The reason is very simple ...We had a lot of work with Lahka Muza and is not easy to play with so special band like Hieros Gamos is...This wants really right event or festival ! For understanding audience with passion in heart....and like You know very well , here is East Europe is not easy to have this kind of events....also we had to play already 2 times in Poland , but promoter cancelled this festivals ( Vampiria at 2003 and Excalibur Party at 2004 ) . Also we wait for publishing of debut album of Hieros Gamos and we will more play also on West....

M: At 29 of April 2005 you will play in Warsaw . It will be first show of Hieros Gamos in Poland . What could you say about this? Could you prepare something exciting and surprising specially for this?

G: After 2 cancelled events in Poland we are glad that Gothic.pl will present by Dark Theatre 4 our special show on Fetish Party Edition . I think that premier show of Hieros Gamos will be sufficient surprising for audience ! I can t betray more now ! Secret must to be !

M: Do you think that it is something magic in this date of concert? Hieros Gamos were also marriage between gods, symbolized extraterrestrial happiness and was celebrate in ancient Grace during Large Dinizja Orgy exactly in April. Also day after your concert is Walpurgis Night, one of the biggest witches sabbath. What do you think about this coincidence? Do you believe in coincidence and in supernatural power? What about magic in your shows? Do you believe in magic or that exist things without rational explanation?

G: Yes, this special date before Walpurgis night was my personal wish ! Because I can t imagine better time for this special dark rituals with strong female energy like Hieros Gamos are . And because we know that at Saturday 30.4. will be a lot of events and we don t want to do some problems for audience , we negotiated with organizer that this show will be at Friday at 29.4. so all goths can celebrate with us from Friday and continue at Saturday on next events ! Yes I think that exist very strong power of magic in Universe but I believe in the most strong magic and this is Love& Friendship...and by all our rituals we wanted support this magic ribbon between this feelings , us and audience...we hope that this night will be witching ! See You in Warszawa again !