The Interview of DoppelgangeR

The answers come from Dmitry 'Flo' (vocals/bass) and Elena 'Vezuka' (keyboards) But the whole of Russian trad Gothsters DoppelgangeR are involved, in spirit. Their ‘Dancing’ album is urbane and cool, sticking to neat melodic manners and vocal clarity, which is why it will make such a strong impression with many of you. The Russian scene promises to be a hotbed of Goth talent over the years to come, and this band are mainstays of that scene, already in the Premier Division of artistic attainment.

‘Dancing’ has a vast, vibrant sound and puts Goth over in a very user-friendly light. That must be the intention, but why?

Flo: Yes, our album sounds rather softly though we planned to achieve heavier sound. But at the moment of album’s recording we had lyrical mood and probably it has affected the sounding. When you compose songs it seems to you that you know that they should sound in a some specific way and not otherwise. But every time you come to a record-studio you have a different mood and you understand during recording that you want something to be changed.

The most intrinsic influences seems the late 80’s – why does that interest you?

Flo: We are very interested by the music of this period as for us it is always very challenging to sit at classics feet and at the same time to create something own in this field, to give a modern shade to our songs. We always liked to experiment and we like to use some elements from other styles.

Similarly, why guitars and drums, why not heavy electronic input?

Flo: We just enjoy guitar sound. We were raised on guitar bands. But nonetheless we use some synthy elements as petticoats and loops. We are not really attracted to completely electronic sound. However we listen with pleasure to some synth-goth and future-pop bands. And although nowadays it is very popular to use electronic sound we reject the idea of complete substitution of guitar sound.

You also like it to feel melodic and loose, rather than tight and hard. Why is that? Is it because it fits with more emotional lyrics?

Flo: Well, it is not connected only to lyrics, it is also natural to our mentality. We have vast distances here and this reflects in subtext of any music. As a rule, in all compositions it is possible to track smooth and slow movement to the song’s culmination and then as soon as it reaches the apogee, it suddenly breaks, leaving the person alone with his thoughts and feelings that appeared during the listening. Russian bands, as a rule, stake on melodics and atmosphere.
Have you ever heard of such a concept as “Russian melancholy”? We are free in what we believe: sooner or later everything will be alright even now everything can be very bad.
But, nevertheless, our songs are very sad, though they and with a light savour of optimism.

Have you ever been influenced by any Russian bands, and in what way?

Flo: The only Russian band that influenced us in some measure is band KINO. Under its influence we also wanted to do such music.:) Also we are friends with the guys from the band THE UNHOLY GUESTS. We exchange music, often play together at the concerts and for sure we have influence on each other not in music certainly, and at a level of subconsciousness. Mainly we are affected by the bands of European and American Goth scene. In particular classic bands of the 80’s: BAUHAUS, JOY DIVISION, KILLING JOKE

In a country where artistic expression was suppressed in the 20th century due to mass political censorship, are there elements which are in Goth elsewhere that have never featured strongly in Russian Goth? When you look at most Western Goth do you see a clear difference?

Flo: Certainly the difference in music is terrific. That is because our scene is very young, there’s no good record-studios and worthy producing. One more difference is that Western goth-bands sound colder and our bands – softer and warmer.

Concerning image, nowadays it is not observed such distinction what was before about 10 years ago. Many different styles appeared here recently: dark-punk, cyber-goth, romantic-goth, vampire-goth and etc., but this is true only to big cities and regarding small towns there’s still a gap but not so devastating as before. So our average Goth practically differs nothing from Western, unless mentality.

If there are clear GOTH images in Russian Goth lyrics what are the most common themes which exist?

Flo: Basically we write lyrics to compositions with attached subtext, we do not use specific images. We are trying to lead the person to think on lyrics.
And themes are the same: death, love, blood.:))))))))):) .
And concerning GOTH images, well you can listen to the song Looser.:)
For example, at the moment I’m writing lyrics for a new album and find inspiration in the books of Gustav Meyrink and Heinrich Boll. So I also add there mystics and a bit of politics.

Do you see things in Russian Goth which are unique to it, and are these things which Goth bands elsewhere could benefit from?

Flo: There are always differences. For example, American death-rockers ASTROVAMPS harshly differs from French goth-rockers CORPUS DELICTI. The first band sounds more aggressive and the second – in European style – cold, but at the same time both of them are driving and dark. Our bands sound more softly. And for sure, it is very pleasant to know that our music is close for somebody abroad.

Vezuka: Russian Goth is a unique phenomenon itself and in my opinion it can be a great source.

Is there a connection lyrically between the idea of Goths as ‘outsiders’ and the fact anyone artistic/underground in Russia was always an outsider?

Flo: There are not many clubs, where you can play such kind of music, however the interest to this music is present. The only thing, producers are not interested to invest in such music and to develop the industry, therefore we are on our own. We are producing and recording our music ourselves. It is great that indie-labels started to appear in Russia. Well, here as a rule the music meets the way of musician’s life. Of course, it reflects on his lyrics and music. Usually, the main idea is loneliness caused by imperfection of society and life. It develops of everyday experiences. We constantly face injustice and a negative in the streets and in our society. Therefore we start to revolt against it. And our authorities and society do not love rebels.:)

Does that also mean there’s nothing rebellious or distinctive about Goth because every artistic band could be seen as having the same feelings and aspirations?

Flo: Our totalitarian system has not done its time yet. And any expression of the sights appears in our society discrepancy to this society. Even nowadays freedom of self-expression is sometimes suppressed. The people still has not recovered from 70 years of wild socialism. In our country not many people are interested in such music. Gothic-rock bands do not have any support in mass media and unfortunately we do not have radio-stations interested in this kind of music besides not only Russian but even European. For our society gothic subculture is so unacceptable that it is better to ignore it than to support and to develop.

Gothic subculture exists only by virtue of altruism of musicians, concerts and parties organizers and people who release such music. So frankly speaking it is possible to achieve here any commercial success only if you are a pop-singer.

As the album shows you doing very relaxed Goth is this normal for your sound or have you also have tougher styles in the past?

Flo: Not really. Our previous album '…Desire lost forever?' sounds much heavier but it happened to be ‘mainstream’. One song from this album you could hear on the compilation CD 'Colours of Black'. And such a soft sound is not typical for us, and at live-concerts we play heavier. Sounding on the album ‘Dancing’ is just an experiment. :)

I gather you have lost a member since this album came out, does this mean there will be changes coming?

Flo: Yes, it’s true. One of our members has left the band as it is very difficult to be engaged in music in our country. But changes were good for us. The band became more close-knit and we got many fans. Our sound also changed. Now we are closer to death rock e bat cave. Regarding the lyrics, we became more inclined to mystics and occult but we do not preach diabolism.

Vezuka: Yes, certainly, there will be changes, more truly, they have already come, and we like them.:))

You’re obviously survivors, but how many of you feel like original members as it appears the two founders are both gone?

Flo: Before 2000 the band was left by people who played in it from the very beginning. And the music had a bit different sounding. In 2000 I joined the band, later came our guitarist Nikniki and keyboard-player Vezuka. Also starting from 2000 I compose all the music for the band, and I never left the band.:) So I am the oldest member and the youngest is our drummer Borman :)

Vezuka: For me personally, the band exists from 2000, and not 1994. So for me the founder of the band is Flo, and in my opinion now we are having the best membership.

How great is the difference between an indie and major label from your experience? Did they interfere much with your ideas before? Do you feel more naturally inspired now?

Flo: Our major labels are not interested in producing. If the managers of the label like the material and they are sure that it can bring profit, they release your album. But this does not mean that they will promote you. Besides that they harp you constantly that your album sells badly and interesting to nobody. Whereas indie label releases only the bands which they do really promote and support afterwards. And also you are not tied down by enslaving contract according to which nothing belongs to you as in case with major labels. We can create and experiment, the only condition is to meet the format of dark scene.
And then, only due to our new label "SHADOWPLAY RELEASE", about us began to learn in Europe.

What most excites you about ‘Dancing’ and do you each have a favourite track which excites for a specific reason?

Flo: I like the atmosphere and conception of this album in comparison with previous«…Desire lost forever?». My favourite songs are 'Leaves', 'Killing Machine', '10 Years', 'Bloody Solution'.
Borman (our drummer) - 'Looser' and '10 Years'
Nikniki - 'Looser', '10 Years', 'Angel Song'.

Vezuka: It is difficult to say what exactly I like in 'Dancing', probably it is general atmosphere…. And my favourite tracks are 'Angel Song' and 'Slavery Moon'.

Are things building up in terms of a scene there and can you take advantage of it, elevating your status, and are you recognised as a big part of the scene, or have you been around for so long that people take you for granted?

Flo: We get some money for our concerts and small percent from the albums’ sale, but obviously it is not sufficient amount for living. But, nevertheless, we have many fans and we can say that our band is rather popular in Russia. Recently our label began to cooperate with Austrian label STROBELIGHT and they asked some quantity of our albums for realization in Europe. So we are moving slowly, but sure. As it is said ‘Russians slowly tackle up, but ride fast!’ :):)

We have changes in the band all the time, we don’t stop. Therefore people always wait surprises from us and do not take us as self-evident.

Russia should, logically, be a place of great excitement, where bands can harness the Net to express their art in a way their older relatives never had. Is this just a theory or is it working, and are you finding a strong enough audience and media outlets?

Flo: Oh, yessssssss!!!!! Internet helps us a lot. We can place our songs for introduction on a website, and a great amount of people worldwide can listen to them. Besides that our label is in the other town and sometimes we discuss some points by internet. Also we have an opportunity to give interviews and chat with our fans online. Now there are a lot of visitors on our website and that’s pleasing. People worldwide learn about our existence.

Vezuka: Well, it works in some way, but now the emission of different stuff in the net and mass media is so huge that you can hardly find something worthy among all this abundance… On the other hand, in scales of our country, the net is sometimes the only way to bring our music up to the potential listener …

Russia’s past is rich in historical tradition, and presumably a fair few mysteries – do you explore any of these themes or do you concentrate on modern stories and moods?

Flo: We reflect the events in a real time, and a depressive view on some contemporary things and events is peculiar for us. Sometimes reality annihilates and we are trying to express this in our music. And the history is a vicious circle, all events sooner or later repeat. Historical mysteries – it is food for historians and we want to get over a person everything what should excite him and what he can’t accept in his ordinary life, but can do it with help of our music. And if it will be so that means that torturing of our instruments wasn’t for nothing.:)

What does Goth mean for you, and how do you view what it means today? You say “WE CAN IMAGINE GOTHIC ROCK WITHOUT US BUT WE CAN’T IMAGINE OURSELVES WITHOUT GOTHIC ROCK!” So what does it mean to you personally?

Flo: Goth – it is just a term. And that what was meant by this word for us is some kind of reality where we can express ourselves. For me personally it’s a lifestyle. And also it is a cultural layer that is more that 20 years old. It is the most comprehensible form of expression of my ideas and feelings. We do clearly realize that without us all this can exist, but we can’t exist without it.

We would like to thank you, Mick, for these interesting questions!
Also we are grateful to Svart Lilja for help with translations.
Good luck!

Author Mick Mercer
www.mickmercer.com