Robex Lundgren - Interview with AUTARKEON
avril 29, 2015
What´s the name of your band?
AUTARKEON
Can you tell about your band?
AUTARKEON is a one-man-band. A metal band (Death Old School) All I need is my guitar, my bass, a mic, my computer and Logic Pro X.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band?
I live in Blois, in France.
I sing, I play the guitar and the bass.
Logic Pro X is my drummer.
Spike is my sound engineer : She performs mixdown and mastering, edits videos. In short, everything that is technical. Except recordings that I do by myself.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? What are your goals with your music?
I need for audience and acclaim.
And if you mean what is my goal right now? To get 1000 likes on Facebook to prove that I really exit, without having to pay for that. (https://www.facebook.com/autarkeon)>
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you?
This is a metal music. More specifically : Death Old School first. Thrash or Black influences on some songs.
“ETERNEL CONFLIT” is downloadable for free at http://lc.cx/GLM
Where was your first gig? Where was the latest gig? No gig at all. I don’t think I ever will.
Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? Very simple : I do.
Who has the best since of humor in the band? Who do you think: my computer or I ?
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are?
There is no conflict except when my guitar breaks a string or when my computer crashes !
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about?
Since I was a teenager I have been fond of metal music. It fits to each emotion I feel, to each state of mind I have.
I sing in French, my native language.
There are lyrics which denounce dysfunction, violence, injustice, indoctrination in the world.
There are more introspective lyrics, with multiple meanings sometimes. It’s about duality in each person.
The last song online “La mort tu sèmeras” talks about terrorism and fundamentalism.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Yes.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they?
“ETERNEL CONFLIT” is downloadable for free at http://lc.cx/GLM
The best way to feel what is it … Is to listen to !
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
Yes. There is a channel on YouTube, called AUTARKEON. You can access to the playlist there
There are the full-length album and five individual videos from this album.
How old are you?/What got you started in music?
I am from the Slayer and Metallica generation. Music has always been in my environment,even though my parents weren’t musicians.
At what age did you start playing?
I’ve started singing at 23. In a certain way Rob Halford (Judas Priest) was my teacher ! You won’t believe it by hearing me now ! I sing more like Chris Barnes (Six Feet Under) now.
I’ve started playing the guitar as an autodidact in 1993.
What year was the band started? In 2011
Witch band is the best you´ve seen? What do you feel is the best live band you've seen?
I can’t choose between Immortal, GRIP inc, Behemoth… The staging of Behemoth is impressive ! I loved them because of the pleasure for my eyes, my ears, my body !
What are the plans for the rest of the year?
A new song (“Seuls”) should be ready for April, it depends on Spike now ! I mean the mix is almost over. A video will follow.
I’ll go on like that, releasing one song, one by one. I wish I could make a video for each.
Where do you usually play?
At home, I have a special room. I live in an individual house, my sound isn’t too loud to preserve my hearing, then I don’t bother my neighbors !
What are your sources of inspiration ? Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? What's the first step when making a new song?
Sometimes, it starts with a riff. A melody comes to my mind. I go further by playing on my guitar.
Sometimes I have fun by playing anything. I play dreamily. I improvise. And something interesting comes : then I go further too.
Or, I get an idea while listening to music. I imagine another version of the song I am listening to. So I work on this digression to create my own song.
And last, this is stuff I’ve heard that I rework.
About bands or albums that inspire me ? More or less consciously : Slayer, Sodom, Kreator, Coroner, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Death… Death old school in general.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?
I cared for physical support as an ethic issue.
But nowadays Mp3 are a good way to discover new songs, new bands. I still buy CD for the pleasure of getting the music I love on a durable material and to support the bands.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?
Metal only. Vallenfyre in particular for now.
What do you hold most dear? My health : to keep moving, running, practicing sport. To travel around the world.
What would be your greatest fears for the future? Disintegration of society, the spread of conflict in the world… I am reading the last book from Michel Houellebecq : “Soumission” (A fiction, about presidential election in 2022, Islamic Party against National Front…)
How important are your fans? They are the most important thing ! I am nothing without them. What is a musician without audience ??
How often do you rehearse? Where do you rehearse? Everyday, 5 or 6 hours a day. In my special room at home.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment?
The last two songs : “La mort du sèmeras” and “Seuls”.
About “Seuls”, that’s the first time the final mix sounds that great ! I am looking forward to its release.
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Passion.
Do you have any webpages?
My music is downloadable for free at http://lc.cx/GLM
Or you can listen at www.autarkeon.fr
or https://www.facebook.com/autarkeon
On YouTube
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Diffusion for sure !
Do you have anything to add? AUTARKEON can only exist through your support !
I only have social networks or YouTube to spread my music. I let my work for free on Internet. I need you support to going on (each “like” or “comment” or “share” is important to me !)
Thanks you very much!