Rave The Reqviem

Now, I have heard a lot of great things about the industrial metal/electronic hybrid known as Rave The Reqviem. From critics on various zines including our own, to just word of mouth promotion, there has never been a bad thing said about them in front of me. And for those reasons, along with gaining a fond feeling for them after checking out their music, I managed to get an interview with Filip Lonnqvist, frontman of the group. Read on below to find out more about this band.

Okay, you've been reviewed on the site in the past, but let's just get a quick introduction on yourself. Tell us a little about Rave the Reqviem.

Filip - "Rave The Reqviem is a boundless and chaotic mixture of industrial metal and modern electronics such as dubstep and drum 'n' bass - enhanced with very melodic choruses sung by my own mother. It's brutal, pompous, fast-paced and beautiful!"

Now, you originally released your self-titled debut on your own I think in 2013. When you first released it as a demo, did you expect the tracks you put out to become so hot as they did?

Filip - "Both yes and no. I would be a hypocrite if I told you that I was shocked, because deep down I knew that I had created something very fresh and exciting. But it's basically impossible for a composer to be 100% objective towards your own music, so of course I was very happy and knew for real that I might have a future in music business."

DWA soon enough came across your stuff and was very impressed by you. How did they come across you? Did you send your material to them or did they just happen to stumble upon you?

Filip - "DWA found my music through our mutual friend Fredrik Croona of Cynical Existence. The label boss really liked my music and was interested in signing me, so Fredrik told me to contact him, which I did. My first demo had just been out for 4 months when the business process started, so everything happened really fast. My debut album was later released in April 2014."

And, once they really got a hold of you, you were signed onto the label in no time. How does it feel to be the first act from Sweden and one of the few industrial metal releases on the DWA roster?

Filip - "It felt amazing. Unlike many other labels, the bands on DWA stick together and support each other. I instantly felt welcome. The fact that it's small label with few signed acts, also makes it possible for the label to put more individual focus on each and every one.

DWA is primarily an electro-industrial music, while I would consider myself a metal artist. However, the industrial scene has been a home for me for a while, and it works out really well. The good thing about my music is that it's appreciated by 50% electroheads and 50% metalheads, and that's the way I want it to be. And also, industrial has been a huge inspiration for me in my music making, so it makes sense!"

Your band has a unique mother-son combination. Filip brings forth an electrometal appeal while Carola, his mother, brings out soprano chords. How has this combination and formula worked so far for the band? Any disputes, or has it all just been smooth sailing?

Filip - "Both fantastic and horrible! She's incredibly talented and easy to work with, which truly is a dream situation for any producer during the recording process. We've also been singing and playing together since I was a child, so all of my compositions are tailor-made for her voice. However, since I'm her boss in the band - and she's my boss in real life - sometimes things tend to get complicated. Both of us are very passionate and dominant personalities, but we always manage to work it out.

My mother is also very 'young at heart', so she has always encouraged me to break boundaries and walk my own path. She's very comfortable with being a part of the image and sing my often extreme lyrics."

Now, your debut album has already been critically acclaimed throughout various publications, including our own. Has there been any negative comments made about the band so far?

Filip - "The reason why people love us is the same reason why some people hate us. We break boundaries, provoke and force people out their comfort zones. Luckily, there are still very few people who dislike us. But when you're challenging norms and rules on how to make music, there will always be people who are not ready for that change and get upset about it. Purists and conservatists - much like religious terrorists - always try to shoot down those who think outside of the box. I don't give a shit anymore. I can't satisfy everyone, so I just do what I feel like doing. If people like it or not - it's up to them!"

After the album released, a remix EP was put out for the track Aeon. Do you have any other plans to put out more short remix EPs, or are you done with the album for now?

Filip - "There will most likely be more remix material being released in one way or another. That's pretty much up to my label boss. So let's see what the future brings!"

And, speaking of the track Aeon, your first official video premiered recently. What was your overall vision for the video when you went to go make it? Did you get everything you wanted in it complete?

Filip - "The purpose with this video was to visualize the lyrics and to capture the religious/occult and iconic feeling in our imagery. Whenever I compose a song, I always have a visual idea inside of my head and a general feeling for what I want to say with it, so the transition from audio to video is very smooth for me. I already knew what I wanted to say with this video back when I wrote it. And I did most definitely get what I wanted. We had to get through a lot of trouble - for example having to persuade both church councils and restaurant owners in order to find right setting - but the end result made me really satisfied. Then it was all worth it!"

And what's next for the band? Can we expect new material in 2015? Is there any plans for a new album in the works as of right now?

Filip - "I can't answer that right now, but I can say that I'm constantly composing and producing new material. There's no Off button on my creative mind. There's a constant flow which I cannot stop, and I would never want it to. But I can promise you that there will be new material released sooner or later! This is only the beginning of a legacy."

And another thing that I always like to know is band's touring/gigging schedules. Do you have any live dates set up as of right now? Or is all that in the works?

Filip - "Our first gig in 2015 will be at a metal club in Kalmar, Sweden, in February. After that, we're playing at the Resistanz Festival in Sheffield, England. We're still working on finding gigs, but more dates will be added soon!"

And, at this time, is there anything else you would like to cover that I may have missed?

Filip - "No, thank you. I'm good!"

I thank you for your time on Brutal Resonance, and wish you the best for your future!

Filip - "Thank you too!"