| Interview with Paolo Pieri by: Midknight Damaelle |
Kalki Avatara is a solo project of Paolo Pieri, who is currently in the
bands Malfeitor and Shoreborn. This project embraces the classical
and experimental side of Pieri as well as the concepts of Kali-Yunga.
bands Malfeitor and Shoreborn. This project embraces the classical
and experimental side of Pieri as well as the concepts of Kali-Yunga.
Midknight Damaelle: Despite the many
different sounds that are out right now, your
sound is very unique. Take, for example,
‘Mankind Collapses’. It is unique from start to
finish. If I had never heard this song before, how
would you describe its sound to me?
different sounds that are out right now, your
sound is very unique. Take, for example,
‘Mankind Collapses’. It is unique from start to
finish. If I had never heard this song before, how
would you describe its sound to me?
Paolo Pieri: I think it's more like an entity than a
simple unification of sounds and influences.
Without a unifying entity the many influences in
Kalki Avatara music would have been broken up,
senseless, leaving to the listener the impression
of a “pastiche”. I am very proud that since the
release of “Mantra for the end of times” EP no
one jumped on lacks of cohesion in the songs: it
means that the alchemic process has worked.
Inside the furnace every single substance has
been melted and purified, to realize an holistic
synergy of sounds: unique, strong, coherent. In
particular “Mankind collapses” musically
represents an entity of destruction and justice,
simple unification of sounds and influences.
Without a unifying entity the many influences in
Kalki Avatara music would have been broken up,
senseless, leaving to the listener the impression
of a “pastiche”. I am very proud that since the
release of “Mantra for the end of times” EP no
one jumped on lacks of cohesion in the songs: it
means that the alchemic process has worked.
Inside the furnace every single substance has
been melted and purified, to realize an holistic
synergy of sounds: unique, strong, coherent. In
particular “Mankind collapses” musically
represents an entity of destruction and justice,
accelerating the fall of this sick world. Every song represents a different entity, as still
all of them belong to the One. I would like to specify that I don’t imagine a duality in
music. Kalki Avatara doesn't represent an opposition between good and evil, but the
contrast between infinite entities belonging to the One.
all of them belong to the One. I would like to specify that I don’t imagine a duality in
music. Kalki Avatara doesn't represent an opposition between good and evil, but the
contrast between infinite entities belonging to the One.
Midknight Damaelle: In order to create this music, what is your rig?
Paolo: I'm very instinctive, as I let the inspiration flow. The writing process has been
very quick, in less than 10 days I created more than the 90% of the songs. It
happened more than 2 years ago, during a complicated time in my own life, that’s
why I was so much inspired by negative entities. I wrote down some ideas using
simple midi programs and then I developed them until I felt they were completed and
coherent. Only clean vocal lines are most recent, because I wasn’t sure about which
singing style I was supposed to use.
very quick, in less than 10 days I created more than the 90% of the songs. It
happened more than 2 years ago, during a complicated time in my own life, that’s
why I was so much inspired by negative entities. I wrote down some ideas using
simple midi programs and then I developed them until I felt they were completed and
coherent. Only clean vocal lines are most recent, because I wasn’t sure about which
singing style I was supposed to use.
Midknight Damaelle: Did you always know when this band first started that it would
sound like this? Or was it something that came into creation by “accident”?
sound like this? Or was it something that came into creation by “accident”?
Paolo: Not at all, it has been something really natural. I’ve never sat down thinking:
“I'm going to do something experimental” or anything similar. I just threw out what I
had inside without boundaries, without thinking “It's too extreme, it's too strange, it's
too soft etc”. And as you can listen to, it wasn't anything positive at all hahaha.
“I'm going to do something experimental” or anything similar. I just threw out what I
had inside without boundaries, without thinking “It's too extreme, it's too strange, it's
too soft etc”. And as you can listen to, it wasn't anything positive at all hahaha.
Midknight Damaelle: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and
interests, music aside?
interests, music aside?
Paolo: I like knowledge, every kind of knowledge leading to the Truth (obviously not
in the Christian acceptation of the term). I'm mainly interested in literature, from
Indian Vedas to modernism, but also as you can see from the lyrics, in history of
religion, Jung psychoanalysis, philosophy and everything concerning the most
uncorrupted side of our brain, strictly connected with the One and the Truth.
in the Christian acceptation of the term). I'm mainly interested in literature, from
Indian Vedas to modernism, but also as you can see from the lyrics, in history of
religion, Jung psychoanalysis, philosophy and everything concerning the most
uncorrupted side of our brain, strictly connected with the One and the Truth.
Midknight Damaelle: Tell us about the metal scene in Italy.
Paolo: There's not much to tell. There are really few good bands that stay outside
the scene, and “plebeians” talking shit about everyone else for they are envious,
mediocre and ignorant. Time will luckily delete them from history.
the scene, and “plebeians” talking shit about everyone else for they are envious,
mediocre and ignorant. Time will luckily delete them from history.
Midknight Damaelle: What places have
already had the pleasure of your music,
and do you have any plans for the US in
the near future?
already had the pleasure of your music,
and do you have any plans for the US in
the near future?
Paolo: Kalki Avatara has not been
launched as a live project. I think it’s hard
to give the same feeling as the album
does without using an appropriate sound,
which you can only obtain in big festivals.
launched as a live project. I think it’s hard
to give the same feeling as the album
does without using an appropriate sound,
which you can only obtain in big festivals.
Maybe if I receive some interesting offers, the situation will change.
Midknight Damaelle: What would be the ultimate lineup to you? Which bands
would you choose to tour and play with if you had your choice?
would you choose to tour and play with if you had your choice?
Paolo: I'm really satisfied with the actual line-up (even if they are just session). I
think I play with some of the best metal musicians in Italy, I couldn't ask for more.
By the way, I would really like to play with some old legends, like King Diamond and
Emperor.
think I play with some of the best metal musicians in Italy, I couldn't ask for more.
By the way, I would really like to play with some old legends, like King Diamond and
Emperor.
Midknight Damaelle: We all had icons growing up, and I’m sure even more so as a
musician. Who were some of your icons growing up and why?
musician. Who were some of your icons growing up and why?
Paolo: It's strange but I’ve never really had an icon. Obviously I loved some bands,
but no one has been an icon for me. I have always been too individualistic and proud
to look at any other as a god.
but no one has been an icon for me. I have always been too individualistic and proud
to look at any other as a god.
Midknight Damaelle: A message for your fans and new fans reading this interview:
Paolo: Let things flow. Never go against the impending doom we threw at ourselves.
You cannot save the world. Let evil flow free, but stay pure and uncorrupted. We'll
need the purest ones to rebuild human society.
You cannot save the world. Let evil flow free, but stay pure and uncorrupted. We'll
need the purest ones to rebuild human society.
Midknight Damaelle: As always, I have a question that may deviate a bit from the
subject, but here it is: If the day came when the world would become infested with
zombies, how would you rid the world of them? Or would you?
subject, but here it is: If the day came when the world would become infested with
zombies, how would you rid the world of them? Or would you?
Paolo: The world is already infested with zombies: people thinking they are free, that
freedom is the highest value, stuffed with myths of enlightenment used to control the
masses. Everything is functional to money, even anti-system ideologies like feminism
etc. They are only slaves to the wealthy ones, convinced to be free. Yes, you are
free, but free to buy, buy, buy. There is no place for spirituality, metaphysics, ethic,
virtue and all the things that means real happiness for a men. Accept this tragic
historical moment and be strong. Don't fight against it, let this society crumble on its
own, and laugh upon its ruins. In the day of wrath we’ll be victorious. May Kalki
cleanse the earth.
freedom is the highest value, stuffed with myths of enlightenment used to control the
masses. Everything is functional to money, even anti-system ideologies like feminism
etc. They are only slaves to the wealthy ones, convinced to be free. Yes, you are
free, but free to buy, buy, buy. There is no place for spirituality, metaphysics, ethic,
virtue and all the things that means real happiness for a men. Accept this tragic
historical moment and be strong. Don't fight against it, let this society crumble on its
own, and laugh upon its ruins. In the day of wrath we’ll be victorious. May Kalki
cleanse the earth.