How would you describe Mystic Forest? What does Stefan Kozak want to express through this band?
Hum… listen and you will maybe understand, I don’t think anyone will, but maybe…
What I want to express ? My feelings, nothing more.
Many Black Metal bands try to merge (neo)classical elements and influences into their music, but end with terrible results. On the contrary, I feel that Mystic Forest manages to blend these two musical currents perfectly. What inspired you to create Black Metal? And what made inspired you to write such a (neo)classical influenced brand of it?
The fact is that I don’t want to merge anything, I just play the music I love, so this is a type of neo classical blackmetal (I prefer “Romantic black metal”), but this is just by chance. Yes I love classical music and I love extreme metal with guts, so that’s the only reason my music sounds like it sounds, I don’t want to prepare anything, everything is done in one shot. That’s all folks.
Considering you mastery on execution and composition, one would come to think that you have had some kind of music instruction throughout your life. Could you give a short history of Stefan Kozak’s musical development/growth? How/when did you start to get into Black Metal, what inspired you to become a Black Metal musician?
In fact I learned to play music years after I bought my first guitar. I played during years thrash, death, grind and many other shitty music but I listened to classical music during the same period believing I would never be able to play such music. But one day I discovered that I was skilled enough to master the true meaning of music, so I decided to learn how to really play classical music. And on the other side, all those years of metal had given me this special touch I have now.
Stefan Kozak has several musical projects; what makes them different and what do you wish to express through each of them?
It’s hard to explain. All these project have been created during years, and I don’t really remember why and how, but slowly one by one each entity took it's own form.
Mystic Forest represents all the sadness I have, Eikenskaden represents all the hate and Bolverk represents all the despair I have.
Romances seems to be a very ambitious project. Which is the concept behind the album? What where you trying to achieve with it?
The album start with the end of the “nature” trilogy (our 3 first albums). This is the beginning of the dark romantic era. The concept behind this record is love, romanticism, sadism, prostitution, 19th century era; a lot of dark things in fact.
Baalberith is a tortured artist and he has created a universe full of despair and sadness.
How much time did it take to come up with the concept, write it and record it?
Could you describe the recording process of the album? Could you tell us how many instruments where used for the album? Are the drums real or a drum machine?
Music was recorded in 6 months, then the concept and lyrics took one full year to be written and designed. The recording of the vocals was done in one day. Then a week of mix and mastering. Yep, around 2 years of musical work.
The lyrics were written after the music was finished, so the lyrics are the written representation of the music.
How many instruments ?
1 bass guitar
2 rhythmic metal guitar
1 rhythmic 60’rock guitar
1 solo guitar
1 digital drum (no drum machine)
and then some other instruments such as an accordeon, synths, oboe…
I understand that Baalberith only writes lyrics. Why do you leave the lyrics to someone else, if the rest of the project is yours? What makes him “appropriate” to write the lyrics to your music?
Ballberith and I understand what Mystic Forest is. Damn, his lyrics are incredible. They are poetry written in a traditional way; these lyrics could be edited alone in a book if you know what I mean; I am lucky to have such a lyric writer. He is a book artist and it is not very often that a true poet wants to work with a musician.
Romances includes music written by Chopin and Debussy. Why did you include it in the album? How do you feel it fits the concept and music of the album?
These music pieces were written in the same time period than the album's concept, they fit perfectly with the lyrics and the music. I love these musicians and it was a pleasure to play their works, even if they were hard to perform!
On the back of the Romances CD it says “limited edition”. How many copies of the album are there? Why did you choose to release the album in a limited quantity?
I don’t know, only Debbie (blackmetal.com boss) knows. But why not? It sounds funny.
Which artists inspire you? In which ways?
All classical music writers I love and a lot of modern artist. In fact all musician which understand the meaning of a good melody: From Bach to Muse, from Beethoven to Windir, from Chopin to Obtained Enslavement.
I am not really deep into books, visual art, I love them but I am not a specialist, I prefer speaking of music. Only exception for Cloe Des Lysses which knows how to mix visual art and total extravaganza with her own body (Look at her 2 books named Porn Art).
Are you into the Black Metal “scene” of your country? Are you in contact with other musicians of the “scene”?
Not really, it’s always a pleasure to speak with some of them, only the wisest of them in fact. There are 95% of suckers in the French scene, but some guys are cool. The guys from Antaeus or Anorexia Nervosa are cool for example.
As I don’t really like metal people, I am not in contact with the scene. I prefer the company of men and women which don’t want to prove they exist because of their cloths or "attitude".
Many people consider France to be one of the strongest Black Metal forces at the moment. Would you agree?
I have to say I believed the same as you some years ago, but I am so disappointed by all the new releases of all the French bands. In the other hand, the international scene disappoints me a lot too. Ok, let’s say the French scene is the number one because all the other scenes have gone so low and suck so much. Actually there is one exception, and this is a bit a surprise to me, but the scene from the USA, and especially from San Francisco is really good!
Your compatriots of Blut Aus Nord have stated this in their album The Work which Transforms God: “We charge tradition, with being an excuse for idleness, unpersonality and regression. We praise evolution for being the logical consequence of creation, progression and elevation.” Would you mind commenting about this statement? Do you think Black Metal needs to evolve, or stay primitive?
Haha, since I hate those motherfuckers I won't comment their statements.
Evolution means nothing since evolving is the meaning of being human, but voluntary staying in the same state is stupid; doing that you just do a precalculated thing, so you are pure trendy shit.
By the way, have you heard The Work which Transforms God? If so, what do you think of it?
Well, they learned how to bend a string on a guitar; but a full album of bends is a bit too much for me. If this only trick provides them a legion of fans that’s great, it means humans are still stupid and trendy.
Would you compare Classical Music to Black Metal? How are they similar and different?
Too hard to answer. There are so many types of black metal.
What lies ahead for Stefan Kozak? Any future releases/tours?
Tours ? Haha… I don't play live since 8 years ago, and won’t play anymore; since I hate rehearsals this won’t happen. Maybe with an improvisation-oriented band, a sort of jazzy black metal performance.
My next releases... ? Hum, the new Eikenskaden is on its way; I already
recorded all the music and I'm writing the lyrics during these days. It will maybe be released in September 2005. Then after that I will start to
record the next Mystic Forest album… maybe…
What happened to your ambient project Bolverk?
Not enough time… time, time, time… time has become my only obsession.
If you could meet any musician/composer throughout history who would you choose and why?
In a chair, closed eyes, with a glass of good wine, listening to a Frederic Chopin live performance… Damn that had to be great!
Thanks for your time Monsieur Kozak. The last words are yours.
Enjoy life! Life is too short. And a great thank you to blackmetal.com, the best underground label!
