PW: Firstly the obvious question about your name Asrai. Throwing it into Wiki I see mention of Wood Elves from the Warhammer fantasy universe. However further investigation brought me to a painting by Malaysian artist Luciole Long, which I believe may be the true source of your name. Can you explain this to our readers?

Karin: We met Asrai through the book fairies from Alan Lee and Brian Froud, two of our favorite illustrators. The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who turn to a puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight. It gives them something unreachable.... in a way we experience our music like that. Especially when we started, our music never fitted in perfectly into any scène. People find it real hard to define our music.

PW: I would like to go back in time as you are a band who formed way back in 1985. I believe you based the original line-up around sisters Margriet and Karin Mol in a group called Twins No Twins. Could you tell us a bit about the early years and the music you originally played?

Karin: 1985, it’s a long time ago and a lot has changed through the years. In that time a lot of our friends played in a (punk/wave) band and it seems that not so many women were into music so we wanted to change that. You could often find us in the rehearsal room of “Out of Order”. (Martin our bass player played in that band). The band never spent the complete time in rehearsal room. There was some time left, so we were able to start up an all girl band. We never played any instruments before so the music was very basic, and straight from the heart. We existed 5 weeks; we had 5 songs and our first gig. Nervous as hell, but we liked it. So a band was born. Margriet started singing and Karin played guitar, although the drum kit was calling to her as well. After our first gig we played very often, and not every boy friend could handle that. So that cost us some band members. When our third drummer decided to quit, Karin changed the guitar for the drum kit. A new beginning and therefore time to change our band name into Asrai. It was 1988 and we played the next eight years with the following line-up:

Margriet – Vocals
Bert – Guitar
Elfriede – Bass guitar
Karin – Drums

Asrai recorded a couple of demo tapes:
The blue tape
So clear that you couldn't tell where the water ended and the air began
Love is a Lie
Live in a Package
Asrai

It became time to think about recording a CD and this proved too much pressure for the guitar and bass players. They wanted to devote more time to their family life. So they left after many years. On very short notice we found new band members in Serge on Guitar and Leah on Bass. And we went into the studio (Het Pand) to record “As Voices Speak”.

PW: During that time you released debut album ‘As Voices Speak’ I believe it was only the twins from the current line-up on that recording. Firstly this came out as a self released album in 1997 almost a decade after you started out. How come it took so long, it must have been really frustrating not having a label behind you all that time?

Karin: Actually we never thought about it that way, I realize that to be honest comparing things now to the former line-ups. I guess we were not ready for this and maybe it would have been so much easier if we were signed back then, that’s true but it didn’t happen. It didn’t stop us from making music anyway and as mentioned before, we made several recordings and promoted the recordings by ourselves. We learned a lot from it. With that as our background we are aware how lucky we are today that we’re signed. We know from experience that’s it a lot work and it keeps you grounded and it’s great that there is still so much to explore and grow, even after so many years.

PW: The album was picked up by a German label Poison Ivy and got a bit more attention. It seems about as easy to find as fairy dust right now, are there any plans to possibly get it reissued?

Rik: I don’t think it will be reissued. This album covers just a certain period of Asrai.

Karin: There are two different releases of that album; one of them was been released independently, and a German version was released by Poison Ivy records. It’s really difficult to find the German release; it’s possible to order “As Voices Speak” though our website: www.asrai.net

PW: Listening to the samples of that album on your website I am reminded of a lot of the older punk bands such as early Siouxsie and the Banshees, Rubella Ballet, Honey Bane, Poison Girls, & Hazel O’Conner. This is a real mix of dark Gothic punk and the sound would evolve into what we hear today. What was influencing you at the time and how would you say you have changed musically since then?

Karin: We were influenced by the New Wave and Punk bands of the eighties. We listened a lot to Joy Division, Siouxsie, Dead Kennedy’s, The Cure and so on... Also the bands we saw from the underground scene were an inspiration, not musically in particular, more the way they played it. It stimulates us to pick up an instrument and start playing. With no musical background the music was plain and straight from the heart. Whilst playing thought the years you learn a lot, playing and watching other musicians. We never stick to one music scene, so you could find us on Metal, Punk, Hardcore concerts. Subconsciously you are influenced by everything around you and new band members give a different impulse to the music. Working with a producer was and is very inspirational. Learning to listen and approaching song writing from a different angle. Also the possibilities we have now add so many more layers into our music by using keyboard and samples..

PW: I particularly like the song ‘Mercy’ it sounds like The Birthday Party, Suicide & Bauhaus throttling Lydia Lunch. Ever expect to dabble with something as feral sounding as this in the future?

Rik: I like Mercy myself too! I’ve played that song several times before Asrai made TITD. Perhaps the next album reanimates this song in a way?

PW: From that album to its follow up the much better known, ‘Touch In The Dark’ you pulled together the line-up which exists today. How did things take shape over this period, did you all know each other from other bands?

Rik: I was asked in 1999 by one of their former guitar players somewhere in a squatted place in Amsterdam, in a goth-club. At that time Manon was a friend of mine already (without knowing she’ll be playing with Asrai in the future). The first time I saw Asrai play was, I think also in 1999.

Karin: We knew Martin a for very long time, as we mentioned before he was the bass player of Out of Order, we started in their rehearsal room. Martin joined us many times as a crew member. For almost ten years he played together with our brother Henk in the band Vanity 4. When he started together with Johan in the band Popes from Hell, they asked me to join them as a drummer and we played for some years in that band. In the meantime Asrai’s bass player Leah got ill and we asked Martin to replace her. (2004).

A friend of Manon played two gigs together with us after our guitar player broke his leg. (As far as I can remember, this had to be around 1995.) We met her through him and we became friends. When she mentioned that she played the violin we asked her if she would join the band, in the end as our keyboard player, from the moment she said yes, two weeks later she was on stage.

Funny thing is that Manon and Rik already knew each other through clubbing and strangely enough we met Rik later, because we been around in the almost the same scene.

PW: Touch In The Dark was picked up by Dutch label Transmission Records, how did this come about and how successful were they when it came to marketing you as you were only with them for the one album? I have to admit I’m not sure if the label is still going?

Karin: Beer (yes the same one who did the artwork), went into studio to record an album. Talking with Hans Pieters from Excess studio, mentioning our demo-cd we just recorded. There he heard about Transmission Records, we send the demo to the record company and a day later they contacted us and signed us right away.

Rik: this label rests in peace at this time. Unfortunately Transmission couldn’t go for us in 2006 (what was promised) due to financial problems. It became a really sad year (apart from the Mexico tour of course).

PW: Obviously Transmission is a label name that should be recognisable to many of our readers as it was also the launching pad for After Forever and Epica also from your home country Holland. Did you find yourselves sharing concert billing with them around this time and what are your opinions of them and other Dutch female fronted groups such as The Gathering? This type of music is probably one of Holland’s greatest exports after Tulips and weed.

Rik: Don’t forget to mention the XTC! ? We’re not easily compared with the bands you mention. We played several times with Epica and AF. The audience for Asrai are different from Epica and AF audience I think. Just like the Gathering, Asrai dwells more on the shadow side of rock and metal.

PW: Of course I am guilty of that carnal sin of lumping all ladies in together for which I apologise as sound wise Asrai stand strong in a field of their own. This brings me onto the obvious question. I wonder if you have found it difficult dealing with people in the music business due to the fact that you are a female fronted band in an undeniably male dominated industry?

Karin: Yes we did, especially in the past, men tried to patronise us but this mentality has changed. Most of the time, those who act silly about women in music are the bands who have just started out; they have the feeling that it’s necessary to compete. Bands that are established don’t need to.

PW: Moving on, another thing that struck me is the strong sense of artistry within the band. ‘Touch’ is illustrated strikingly with gothic funereal overtones. Your website and new album is dark and cartoon orientated in a way that reminds me a bit of both Tim Burton around his Beetlejuice era. I believe you had Beer Delsman designing the artwork on the new album, tell us a bit about the concept here?

Margriet: Beer also did the artwork of our first album; As voices Speak. He's also our "personal" "Burning Heart Haarlem” Tattoo artist. We all got tattoos by his hand and needle, so it was easy to come out of a mixture between gothic lifestyle, tattoo art with a twist of dark humour. The roses are not only a link to 'Touch in the Dark". Roses have a long history in tattoo art they stand for love and spirituality. Having a deeper meaning than what it’s on the surface.

PW: In line with this you have a video for ‘In Front Of Me’ it’s certainly creepy and kooky in an Adam’s Family, Munsters kind of way. How involved were you in the making process and what’s it like seeing yourselves as cartoons?

Karin: The video clip was made by Marcel de Jong. We met him by surfing on the internet. First time I saw his artwork I was stunned by his qualities and work. I contacted him and he designed a poster for Asrai. Same way I met Maud Mulder, she made the most cute artwork she did most of our merchandise artwork. When we recorded ‘Touch In The Dark’ we really wanted the artwork to be done by Marcel. Transmission recorded work together with another artist so in the end Marcel didn’t do the artwork. Gladly we got the opportunity to work with him on our first video clip; “Pale Light”. Together with Jelle Swetter and Marcel de Jong the clip was made. We gave Marcel a present, a bottle of wine with a label on it, with a drawing from Maud. And an idea for the next clip was born. I was very happy that those two artists combine their artwork and it resulted in the cartoonish video clip: “In Front of Me”. It’s awesome to recognize yourself in those cartoons. There are several “jokes” in it and you have to watch several times to notice them all.

PW: One thing I said in the review was that every song on the album is strong enough to give it single potential, what was it that made you decide to pick ‘Sour Ground’ and how difficult a choice was it?

Manon: It was very difficult indeed, Sour Ground was the first song of the album which we completed and we knew that it could be a single from that moment on, but than we started to create the other songs and we weren’t as sure about it anymore as all of the songs had something. In the end the choice for the single is made by several people, the bands, our label Seasons of Mist and our producer Sascha Paeth.

PW: You just had a launch party for the single and have one coming up for the album in Rotterdam. What sort of reactions are you getting to the new material at the moment? Have you seen many reviews yet and what have they been like?

Manon: To announce the release of our album “Pearls in Dirt” we did a couple of in-store shows with a ‘tuned down’ session in Plato - The Hague and Sounds- Rotterdam also we did a ‘tuned down’ set in Belgium. And we’re looking forward to start with our gigs going “full blast”. Also from our fan base we get good reactions, most of them like the variety of the songs. Overall this album is getting good reviews.

PW: Of course Pearls In Dirt sees you on French label Seasons Of Mist. How did this come about and how are things going with them so far?

Karin: At first we wanted to release our album at Transmission Records. Plans were made and songs were written. We contacted Sascha to be our producer and we started with the pre-production. After we heard that Transmission Records wasn't sure they would be able to release our next album (which was a shock) we started looking for a new record company.

Our booker Vain Productions contacted several record companies, including. Season of Mist. In the meantime we went to a festival; we met our former label mate Sander. He mentioned that Season of Mist was a good label and maybe suitable for us. (He was right). We furthered our contact with Season of Mist, resulting in a deal with them and releasing “Pearls in Dirt”.

We’re very pleased with Season of Mist; they are doing a good job promoting the album. They surprised us with the nice touch of the package of Pearls in Dirt. They treated all members of the Dutch magazine; Aardschok and members of the German magazine; Sonic Seducer with a free copy of our single; “Sour Ground”.

PW: I noticed listening to the old sound samples on your website that ‘Something I Said’ is a reworking of ‘Something’ from ‘As Voices Speak’ what made you decide to go back to the vaults and do this?

Manon; Because it’s an amazing song and needs to be heard and listened to. Besides that people were asking for that one live so we knew that that was a song that was touching something. First we wanted to make it as an extra on a single but it came out so beautifully that everybody involved decided to give it a place on Pearls in Dirt instead.

PW: Apparently the album is being released in ‘deluxe packaging will include a velvet o-ring and silver hot foil print’, sounds interesting but what exactly is it (a velvet o ring sounds like something someone might discover if they venture into certain shops in Amsterdam)?

Martin: Well funny you mention it because you CAN find it in certain shops in Amsterdam....but also in a lot of other cities haha , it is a nice hard yet soft protection for your precious newly purchased album Pearls in dirt from Asrai ...but I can imagine you can use it in sooo many ways, just use your imagination.

PW: Not sure how many times you have played the UK but I caught you last time supporting Arcturus and Red Harvest, which certainly made an interesting mix. Musically you should really be able to appeal to both the metal and Gothic fraternities but I would envisage that you probably fit in a bit more comfortably with the Gothic crowd. What are your opinions on this and what bands have you most enjoyed sharing the stage with?

Martin: We've played the UK twice (love to come back though) and I think that we (can) also appeal to metal heads because of the energy we expose on stage and though we are not the most brilliant musicians you can hear that Asrai rock your socks off and give you a good splitting loud headache....in a positive way that is.

Yes I liked Red Harvest very much, good mixture of metal and some kind of ...err....industrial, I guess and another band I would like to share the stage with is Dragons, great band.

Karin: The Birthday Massacre was also a good combination on stage, musically and personally.

PW: You have some gigs listed early next year in Holland and Germany. I am hoping that you will be back to the UK. Anything you can let our readers know about more extensive touring plans?

Karin: Our Booker Vain Productions is working on that!... I heard some ideas for doing several UK shows. It’s not being confirmed yet so I can’t say too much about it... So check out our website to keep updated and we hope to be back in the UK real soon.

PW: Well that’s about all I have for you except to say thanks again for a most enjoyable album. Here’s your chance for any final comments!

Karin: We want to thank you for this enjoyable interview and we hope to see you and the readers soon at one of our (UK) shows.

www.asrai.net
www.myspace.com/asraiband

Interviewed by Pete Woods

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