_edited.png)
Music could help remember nature
- iuliphotography
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
Eldamar, the project Mathias Hemmingby created when inspired by Tolkien's works, is a living testament to the softer side of black metal that honors natural environment in its multiple forms, it's music being both an escape and a connection to nature.
In this interview, we touch on the origins of Eldamar, its evolution, and the meaningful role the music plays in rising awareness about the environmental themes, as "music could help to remember the nature".
Eldamar suggests an ethereal land, the home of Tolkien’s Elves. What was your perspective when deciding on this name, and what came first, the music, the name or the overall concept?
I was quite fan of Tolkien's works when I looked into making music for a one-man band. When the music started to form, it became a softer side of black metal, yet heavy. And I wanted it to have beautiful melodies and elements of Tolkien themes. So the name came after.
Together with the above-mentioned Alfheimr/Elvenhome, you often mention Northern lands nature’s power as a great source of inspiration and encourage listeners to experience your music as a journey into their own dreams. Would you like to describe the journey YOU take when creating Eldamar’s music?
At the time when I made the first album I got to know more norse mythology and got into paganism. And I saw a lot of similarities with Tolkiens world. And I started to connect it and blend it in with nature. Like nature had an underlying magic to it.
The escapism ideas that come from your melodies seem to be a form of connection to something else/ to nature, in general. (Nowadays people seek to escape into nature, yet when there was only nature, there was no escape – only connection.). Do you see your music as a return to that primordial unaltered state of nature?
Yes, I think many people look for an escape from their daily rutines and seek to nature. And it is easy to romanticize to live in harmony with nature in its purest form the way it was.
What exactly is the force of the Ancient Land? Does it lay in the Spirit of the North found among the Norwegian Woods; is it at the Border of Eldamar and beyond? Is it the regenerative power of a New Beginning?
It is what you want it to be more or less. For me, the “force” of the anciant land is the life force of everything in nature. The energy that was there since the awakening of life on this earth until now.
Your first two albums portray earthlier landscapes, while the last two incline towards a cosmic, astral direction. How would you describe this evolution?
Yes, well that is just a result of me growing and 7 years of figuring things out. I was 18 years when making the first album. Now I am 28. You evolve a lot in those years. I have expanded my music preferances. And from the basis of what was the core of Eldamar, I started to dig a bit deeper into my own head, I guess we can safely say. I started to have questions about far deeper things that no science can explain. So this start to get more difficult to explain. I don’t understand this myself really. Nor do I think I will get an answer for all my questions.
In a context where the natural world becomes more and more threatened, given Eldamar’s approach to nature, do you believe music can raise awareness about our environment’s state?
Sure, I think the music could help to remember the nature. But I don’t see nature as threatened really. It depends on what that means. I beleve that humanity should keep more forest intact rather than rip it down to build even more cities and such. I believe nature does what it feels like, humanity or not.
What is your personal relationship to nature? Do you often wander the endless Norwegian forests as your people are usually imagined doing😊? Also, do you incorporate any eco-friendly practices in your daily life?
I am not so much in the forest as I would like. Mostly because of work related stuff and other things that comes up. Usually I have to drive 10 min from where I live until I come to a deep forest. Other times I take small trip with some friends to the nearby forest (that’s quite small) to make a campfire, hang out, drink beer and listen to music.
As for practices I do regarding a good environment, I think it is important to be respectful and kind twards nature, animals and other human beings. And I think everyone should do that.
What do you think of the sustainability efforts some metal music festivals adopted and continue to promote? Do you see them as a way of nature preservation and how do you think the metal community can contribute to this direction?
I believe it is quite good. One practice we did in Norway was that you would pay less for a drink if you returned the cups rather than leave them to the festival crew after the event.
As an artist who draws inspiration from nature and from mystical realms, what do you wish listeners to take away from your music regarding our relationship with the environment?
I hope people will be inspired to get more outside. I would like to see more people moving out from the big cities and get back in to nature. I believe we will learn a lot about nature if you live in close proximity with a more natural environment.
Thank you very much for this opportunity of finding out more about the mysterious Eldamar soundscape. Wishing you all the best with Eldamar and in your future projects!
留言