By: Azriel J. Knight
Azriel: What does the name “Mephisto Walz” mean and why did you choose that name??
Bari-Bari: We chose that name while forming in Germany. It was Johanne’s idea from reading Goethe in school. I later got familiar with the work and the different translations. There was also a classical piece by that name and a cheap book and movie (with Alan Arka?).
Azriel: You have been in the music industry for a very long time (not to make you sound old or anything 🙂 ) Tell me about some of the most important lessons you have learned as an artist, as a person and anything else you would like to add.
Bari-Bari: As an artist: get good, trust what you do and then let the audience find you. Don’t try to guess what they want, it just won’t work.
Azriel: Tell me about the Immersion Album, please 🙂
Bari-Bari: It is my favorite release because it covers a lot of new territory. I wish my studio was in a little better shape when we recorded it and mixed it but most of it I am quite happy with. A got to play bongo parts and do Pink Floyd thingies and Chris got to sing songs about fish and snakes.
Azriel: Do your parents still bug you to cut your hair? I mean, I am 20 years old and they are still telling me it’s just a phase, so please tell me at some point they give up and accept it 🙂
Bari-Bari: Give it four to five more years… I think they will be out of their phase by then.
Azriel: How has the general popularity of Mephisto Walz been since the Immersion album came out? Did the Gothic Diva’s compilation CD help?
Bari-Bari: Well, it didn’t make much of a splash. I don’t think it was known very widely that it was out I will promote it more by releasing in Germany and posting more up to mp3.com. As to “Gothic Diva’s” I was in the record store down the block, checking through the gothic/industrial aisle when I saw this release right out in front. So I said to myself “well, if anyone would put out a CD with that name they should have at least asked us to be on it”. I was a bit miffed. Then I turned it over and went “Aaaahh!”. Another release with unlicensed Mephisto Walz material on it! This one has gone a bit too far and action will probably have to be taken. Yuk! But all labels have to do is be honest in their dealings with bands.
Azriel: How do you come up with the music that you do? I mean it sounds general but where do you get the ideas for how they are going to sound? Is it already in your head, or is it like writing a poem where you write the first few lines then the rest comes naturally?
Bari-Bari: The sound isn’t anywhere that I know of. It just comes out of my hands and part of my brain is a spectator. The spectator decides whether to continue or jump to force a new thought process. Kind of fun, really. It is the most enjoyable part of making music. The moment of creation…
Azriel: What do you do when you have a difference of opinion with Christianna (vocals) ?
Bari-Bari: We usually don’t have a problem. But the easiest way is to just move on to something else and try again when your frame of mind is changed.
Azriel: What made you decide to separate from the rest of the band and just have the 2 of you? How do you think this will affect things like touring?
Bari-Bari: Not too interested in touring anymore. Don’t know why, but it is not as fun as it used to be. Also, not having a playing band made it hard for Johanne and David. So we agreed that everyone would go their own ways. Also, none of us except Chris and I lived in the same cities so it was rough on everyone.
Azriel: What are some of your favorite bands and why?
Bari-Bari: Lots of different things right now. Classical, Irish, Ofra Haza, lots of new bands, The Coors, Radiohead, Enya, Japan, Smiths, Laura Nyro. Not very gothic really.
Azriel: Do you get a lot of e-mails from fans? What do they usually say?
Bari-Bari: Some are quite interesting, some quite personal as to how our music has helped them in some way.
Azriel: Who was your biggest influence throughout your music career? It doesn’t have to be an artist; it could simply be a person.
Bari-Bari: Strangely enough, U2 helped change my guitar style drastically and showed me how less can be more.
Azriel: How do you feel your music has evolved over the years, and where do you think it’s headed?
Bari-Bari: I think we have one more “Immersion” in us and some other things as well. I am relocating back to Southern California and setting up our studio there. Also, several new projects are being worked on, one of which is much slower and open with multiple vocalists and writers. June is when I hope to have that done.
Originally Published December 2000