ROMUVOS interview

I interviewed Velnias who founded ROMUVOS. 

ROMUVOS was a one-man band but earlier, I announced via the social networks there is a complete line-up for the band now and so, we discussed about ROMUVOS band in this interview and their new album out now.

01. Hi Velnias! Back in 2013, you founded ROMUVOS project. How came the idea ? 

The Baltic tradition is strongly seeded in my family, it was a matter of time till I will let it burst through my music, after participating in few metal bands and as a musician with many years of creation, I finally came to the point where I write the music that is in my veins and blood. 

At that time I was interested in the Romuvan ways, and what a better representing idea for a folk metal music, which is mainly on the Baltic tradition, than the romuvan name and flag.

02. Romuvos was a one man band project that became a full band. How things happened ?

At the late of 2015 I have already finished the Infront Of Destiny album, as a one man operation indeed, before I decided to release the album, I made a choice to record real drums and get session musicians for re-recording the parts with a better resolution and a better production. I have contacted a friend of mine that owns a studio, we sat together all of us and with a lot of passion started to re-record the album, it was demanding and very nice experience, at the same time live performance requests started to arrive and it was very clear that we would continue to rehearse for them. 

03. In 2014 was released your debut album “Romuvan Dainas”. Did you sell good ?

Well, it depends what ones target for good sales, I don’t have the exact numbers to this date though I can say that it sold not bad at all considering it is the debut album of an unknown folk metal band. When I received a lot of feedback from the audience I realized that the album did sell and passed through some metal heads ears here and there, and that is a lot for me, to tell you the truth im not thinking on sales that much, really don’t care, I care for creating the music and having the chance to spread it is more than enough for me. It is my expression and a way to escape the daily boring life, to make something that at least for me is more than important.

04. And now, you freshly released your second album that is entitled “Infront of Destiny”. How’s going the selling by now ?

Honestly I think it is early to say, didn’t get any feedback about it from the label, though I think that we need to wait for few more weeks. The promotion has just started so it can give a boost in that direction, once again, I must say that I am more than happy that the album's released and out there, once it out it will remain for long time.

05. Have you already got feedbacks from the people ?

Few feedbacks indeed, some from people who just encountered ROMUVOS for the first time. and some from my first album audience, all of them having great things to say, always nice to get good feedback, although I have read few that are not as good hehe, as an artist that made a choice to release his art to the public I must face all feedbacks and be open minded about them, i cant expect everyone to love my music.

06. Where can we order the record in digipack and digital ?

From No Colours records : http://shop.no-colours-records.de/ just search for Romuvos, you will find out that the Romuvan Dainas album is being released as LP in the mid June.

You can buy the album directly through me as well, just contact me by email or facebook (I can sell signed copy).

07.  “Infront of Destiny” deals with men from the baltic region, going for a quest, travelling to seek and explore other cultures, and find wisdome and with luck on their side, find gold and treasures as well… Do you have a message to share with this concept ?

Yes, as you might know these days I live in Israel, feeling that I am on a quest myself in a way, longing for my home at the Baltics. The story deals with such emotions and have a very strong impact on my life, making me feel much more connected to the situation I’m at.

As a story teller in my lyrics and music I was thinking that this quest of men can connect a whole album and make a great concept album that dills with one big story, that unfolds in each song.

08. Can you describe each track for “Infront of Destiny” ?

Infront Of Destiny: the start of a quest, we shall all face what’s infront of us with bravery, either death or life, there’s all what we can expect. It is song dealing with inner emotions of one to another while sharing a battle or a big quest together.

We Travel South: The quest begins, the group of men heading south to unknown lands through Brest and Sen, Maria Negra(black sea)real places I used in the story. They get to what we call today Turkey, and what was then a great merchant point from Europe to Asia, containing great explorations of new things to the north men. The song describes all those things that at those time were really new to north men and very fascinating at the same time, perfumes, spices, rituals, written language, women off coarse and many more.

Winds Blow Over Seas: As for traveling with ships and sailing the sea with fierce and no remorse for leaving behind your land and home. what the sea will bring, what the gods will show.

Our Spirits Pass Through The Underworld: A passage to the astral sphere, getting awaken by ritual and binding force, becoming a true group.

Around The Bonfire Our Souls Will Unite: continues to bring the unity of the men, resting arround the bonfire, in any quest the need for rest is mandatory and has spacial moments of sharing nice good meal and a talk. making a bind between the men, by blood.

While The Cliffs Stand Tall In The Horizon: Till the shore will carres our ship we sail on! no cliff shall taste the wooden deck of our ship.

The Return Back Home: True and old Lithuanian folk song that i made my version for, chorus in Lithuanian lang.

For As Long As Enemies Lay In Defeat: Our enemies shall die, suffer and regret their strikes upon us, for we will fight and stand proud on our ground!

Golden Coast Filled With Amber Stones: Home at hand, reflecting on the past while hoping for a future. Nostalgia combined with fatherland longing emotions.

Let Thy Gods Sing Your Glory Hymn: A heroes song, praising the men in battle and making their connection to the gods by glory and might.

09. How happened the recordings ? 

As usual, first we recorded drums session, rented few mics, and had the place ready for the drums. Than we recorded bass, later on came the guitars. All the keyboards, vocals and native instruments were used from my own previous recordings.

10. You are the only composer, how do you create songs ?

I pick up an instrument, most of the time it will be either the keyboards or a guitar, electric or acoustic, start jamming and playing tunes I have in my mind, trying to catch the moment when the melody hits the spot, makes me excited about it, then the lyrics come very easy to me. But I write the lyrics only after I write most of the song’s instrumentations, as drums bass and guitars.

Thank you for the interview, Velnias! 

Thank you very much for your interest in my music! Hails SC