Knight Area has just released their second album ‘Under a New
Sign’, Powermetal.dk has put a few investigating questions together for them…
Answers by
Mark Vermeule (guitars), assisted by Gerben (keys) and Joop Klazinga (flutes).
Hi, first off I
just want to congratulate you on ‘Under a New Sign’. To me this album sounds
like a big step forward for you guys, everything is a tad better…
Knight Area –
Thanks! That’s what we were going for. As you might know, the first CD (The Sun
Also Rises) was a project of Gerben and Joop Klazinga, and some of us didn’t
play on it. After the release of the first CD, the band was put together to do
the live performances. On stage and during rehearsals, we had a lot of chemistry
going and we were very eager to do the second album with this band. During the
gigs we did for The Sun, we also played some of the stuff of the second CD, and
had the opportunity to let it ‘grow’ a little, before going back to the studio.
So, in short, what you’re hearing now are the same good songs by Gerben (our
composer), influenced by the arrangements of the band. Besides, Gerben also has
grown in his mixing abilities, and the mastering was done by none other than Bob
Katz from the USA.
Going back to
the first album, what kind of expectations did you have for it and have they
been fulfilled?
Knight Area –
We
knew we liked it, but had no idea of how it would be received. It all
became very easily because we took the time and we had a lot of fun during the
recordings. The difference for Gerben was that he had to write the songs in a
short time instead of the debut where he used songs from the past. But he is
also satisfied.
Second album,
what hopes do you and the band have for this one?
Knight Area –
It’s
always difficult to do a second album, especially when the first got quite a few
good reviews. We already did some of the songs live and the response of the
audience was great! Since the release in April, we’ve got a lot of enthusiastic
responses, so our hopes are good. Still, fingers crossed...
How has your
new album been received by the media?
Knight Area –
The
webzines and other media have received it well. In Italy, we even have been
nominated for the Progawards 2007 (http://www.progawards.it/default.asp?id=78&opr=5&content=81&mnu=77)!!
If you should
choose one song, which represents the essence of Knight Area on the album, which
one would that be and why?
Knight Area –
Man, that’s a difficult one, because Knight Area consists of seven very
different musicians. That’s our secret ingredient (well, not so secret anymore,
now). Some of us are really into the old school symphonic rock like Genesis,
Marillion, Rush, Yes, etc., while others are more into progressive metal a la
Dream Theater, or good old rock like Queen and metal like Metallica. Putting
these different influences together, and putting up with each other ;) , is what
makes our sound. But returning to your question, we think that a song like
Dreamweaver has everything where the Knights stand for: power, passion, flow
and a great theme.
If you had to
describe your music to a complete musical ignorant – what would you tell him?
Knight Area –
Emotion, layers, heavy riffs, lots of melody, and loving music!
How important
is the lyrically side of Knight Area – and what has inspired you on the album?
Knight Area –
Joop
Klazinga very often uses biographical things in his lyrics, for example, the
lyrics in Courteous Love and A Different man, part 2 are about his
a former girlfriend who ended here own live when she was only 17 years old.
Mark Smit
usually writes about current events or social problems in the world around us.
Tell us a bit
about the album art work.
Knight Area –
That’s a tuff one… We were just a pain in the ass for Mattias Noren. The man
created a few options, but we turned them down. At last our record company came
up with a great idea and Joop Klazinga made some additions to it. After all we
are very happy with the artwork!
How did you get
the name Knight Area, and is there a story behind it?
Knight Area –
The
story is quite simple. One of the founders of Knight Area, Gerben Klazinga,
lives in a small town in The Netherlands. The street he lives in is the ‘Ridderbuurt’,
which translates directly to Knight Area. Brother Joop came up with the name…
What do you
consider to be the biggest accomplishment for you and Knight Area, not
necessarily sales wise?
Knight Area –
To
us, our biggest accomplishment is performing at Nearfest 2005. At the time, we
had only been together for about a year and a half, and we considered it an
honour to be invited over there. We had a lot of fun! It was organized really
well, and the fans were awesome.
Do you have any
touring plans for 2007, maybe on the European Festival scene?
Knight Area –
We’re still planning for a tour in September and hope to be on some festivals.
Let’s speculate
– you have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice – who would be
your ideal touring partners?
Knight Area –
Considering we all have such different influences, we can give you over 7
different bands. In the past, we have played with Riverside a few times. These
guys are doing great, so that would be a name. Other bands would be The Flower
Kings, Marillion, or Pain of Salvation, Saga, Porcupine Tree.
What are the
strengths and where can Knight Area improve?
Knight Area –
Our strengths are our diversity of playing styles, and definitely the fun we
have when we’re on stage. To me, I’ve always been impressed by the professional
attitude of the band members during rehearsals. You don’t have to tell anyone
how to play something, they just prepare and do it. Something to improve on
would be the way we plan our gigs. It’s always very difficult to get all these
different calendars together, when we all have our own lives at home, at work,
in our other bands, etc.
Name an album,
person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and why?
Knight Area –
To me (Mark Vermeule), that would be (believe it or not) The Shadows. Because
these guys made me wanna play in the first place. From there my musical taste
has evolved a bit. I guess Images and Words by Dream Theater got me into
progressive rock music, so that’s the second major influence. To Gerben, he was
together with his Brother Joop influenced by the band Camel. In their early
years.
Which five
albums would you bring on your iPod to a deserted island?
Knight Area –
I
don’t have an iPod ;-) I’d just bring my guitar and make my own music. Listening
can be nice, playing is great!!!
Which album(s)
have put a big smile on you face and has made you bang your head in past year?
Knight Area –
One of the best albums I have listened to last year is Ghost Reveries by Opeth.
There really isn´t an album worth getting a headache over. I really don’t like
MTV R&B music, so pick one…
I thank you
very much for participating in this interview and sharing this information and
your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you. Any final words
you would like to round off with?
Knight Area –
Thanks for the interview, all the best for your readers (specially the Danish
ones) and we hope that you’ll enjoy our music as much as we enjoyed creating it.
See you on the road!
Interviewed by Kenn. | 
