Alisa Coral
interview
- January 2010 -
Alisa Coral is a Moscow-based multi-instrumentalist
and song-writer who is most-known for her psychedelic space
rock/metal project Space Mirrors. She is a big Hawkwind fan but
also likes ambient music, industrial sounds and even extreme metal,
which all shows in her quite unique music. She has recently
released a couple of CD’s (Space Mirrors: Majestic 12 and Psi
Corps: Tekeli-li), so it was a good time to find out a bit more
about this interesting lady.
When did you first get interested in music and what
were your early influences?
I think it was when I was 12. At that time I first
seriously got interested in music. Before that it was just part of
the background for a kid. But at the age of 12 I really began to
choose what I wanted to listen to myself. It was mostly rock music
like late Genesis, Queen, and some techno music. But only with the
discovery of Hawkwind it became an influence. I was reading
Moorcock books and found out that he played with the band called
Hawkwind. So I went to a record shop and bought Griffin deluxe
double CD edition of “Live Chronicles” with a small
pocketbook of “The Dreaming City” inside. It was a real
luck that I chose to buy this album because I think it’s a
perfect choice for a Sci Fi fan who is into rock music to start
acquaintance with this band. I was instantly charmed by the
Huw’s guitar leads and by cosmic unearthly synth sounds. It
was like a revelation, like a discovery of the whole new world in
music for me.
How did you start playing music? Have you had any
schooling in music?
Since buying the first Hawkwind album I decided
that I wanted to become a musician. But at that time I wanted to
play a solo guitar. It’s kind of funny to recall now.
Actually I sort of fulfilled it – I like to play guitar-like
solos on a synthesizer and for example on the “Memories of
the Future” there are lots of them. Then I wanted to sing.
But when I realized there are no bands around in which I would like
to play guitar and sing I understood that I needed to create
something myself. And I started to learn playing bass guitar
‘cause now it was the instrument I liked the most. It was
some time before I really got into playing synthesizers. I’m
a self taught musician and sound producer but I learnt a lot from
musicians like Tim Blake or Arjen Lucassen who really helped me
with lots of advices during the recording of the first Space
Mirrors album and later too. Tim Blake will always be a synth hero,
a wizard of the keys and oscillators. His influence on the synth
playing of modern musicians is enormous. It was his music why I
bought my first synthesizer. He is a great person and very
innovative musician. You can always learn something from him. I
think the best school is learning from your own experience. You
don’t really need a school to learn the chords and other
things. If you need academic music training then music school is a
way to go. But rock and indie music is about being rebellious, not
about following the conductor.
Please tell me something about your first bands?
There is not much to tell really. None of them went
beyond the rehearsal room. We played some very straightforward
heavy metal. But I can’t say that I felt myself at the right
place. Then I began to explore some industrial music elements,
noisy and machinery sounds. It was fun but it wasn’t the
right way either. There are several demo recordings and
Synchronicity album is from that period. So I concentrated on the
synth ambient music and recorded “Neutron Star” album
(re-released in 2005) and Frozen Fields “Fimbulwinter”
(weird dark and cold synth ambient) which was to be released on the
now defunct Falcata-Galia record label. So it’s still
unreleased. They were what you can call my early bands and
works.
How did Space Mirrors start out?
In 2002 I decided that it was the right time to
form a new Space Rock band. There was a very cool place in internet
called HW mailing list. Through it I got to know Michael Blackman
and when we exchanged our music I understood that he is a perfect
choice of a guitarist for a new project. I talked with Ian Abrahams
– a famous author of books about rock music, Hawkwind
biographer – about Sci-Fi books. At that time I registered a
new e-mail and it was spacemirrors@yahoo.com. And Ian saw it and
brought up the term “spacemirrors” when describing the
works of Kim Stanley Robinson. And then he said that it would be a
very cool name for a band. And I said “yeah, that’s
it!”. So Space Mirrors, the band, was born. I recorded
several songs and sent them to Michael and Arjen Lucassen. Steve
Youles, a well-known HW community person, recorded guitars for one
song too. The first album was completed and I started to look for a
record label.
How would you describe the music of Space
Mirrors?
I would say that it’s Space Rock/Metal of
21st century. It means that it has a whole range of
different styles mixed together but under the banner of Space Music
and with a modern approach and technology. I don’t like when
people are trying to limit someone’s music by the
genre’s limits. Some reviewers like to put music into prog or
psychedelic or metal categories and they don’t understand
when there is a mix of styles. They see the world only in black and
white. Well, that’s their problem really but modern music
shouldn’t be just a remake of old Yes, Genesis or King
Crimson.
What are the biggest musical and literal influences
for Space Mirrors?
At the same time when I got interested in Hawkwind
I started listening to Chrome and Helios Creed, to Motörhead and
then to various Heavy Metal bands (Sci Fi also helped there) like
Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Gamma Ray. Later I found the wonderful
and dark realms of Epic, Black and Viking Metal bands and this
music is always an inspiration for me. Manilla Road, Bathory,
Burzum, Immortal, Limbonic Art, Summoning, lots of very interesting
bands and each one has something very unique and interesting. Along
with Hawkwind and Helios Creed these bands had a very big influence
over my music. Maybe it’s not so obvious to some people but
it’s there. Black Metal is as diverse genre of music as Space
Rock. I would say they have a lot in common. It’s difficult
to define too, bands are very different, and they use many elements
from other styles. They also like to base their music on
sci-fi/fantasy, mythology, early horror books and stories or to
create such worlds themselves. So the literal influences are very
much the same. They just like to explore more dark sides of it.
As about literal influences for Space Mirrors
– we had songs based on Frank Herbert’s Dune books,
Star Wars universe, Sitchin’s and Daniken’s ancient
astronaut researches and on my own creations.
Do your really believe in UFO’s and
extraterrestrials and have you ever seen or experienced them?
I thought a lot about this subject while working on
“Majestic-12” album. I really researched a lot about
UFO’s before recording it. And then there were very mixed
feelings about the whole phenomenon. I saw something in Riga,
Latvia in 1989 once, in the evening. By the UFO classification the
object can be called black/star triangle. But I’m not sure
what it was. Maybe it’s all just a test of a secret military
aircraft. I can’t say that was an ET UFO. Maybe it was a
military UFO or just a combination of air and weather conditions
and it was a normal airplane. After going through so much info
about UFO’s you understand that you never can be sure of
anything until you touch it, literally saying. There is a lot of
fake and shady coverage from government. There is something true to
it but what exactly? I wouldn’t say for sure that ET
UFO’s exist. There is very much about nature and cosmos that
we still have to learn... The truth is still out there. Out there
for us to explore.
What is your goal with Space Mirrors?
To conquer the world of course! Ha-ha. Well, the
goal is simple – to find a feedback in the hearts and minds
of the listeners. My goal is to put some feelings, emotions,
thoughts, stories and images into the music, words and then let
people to feel them in their own way. To take their minds on the
journey into the realms I create in my music.
You’ve had lots of guests on the Space Mirrors
albums, how did you get in touch with them in the first place?
Some people I know personally, some through
internet. Personal contact is always better than virtual and it
really helps with recording “at distance” in the
future. Internet is a real help when you work with musicians all
around the world. I decided that it’s the way to record for
Space Mirrors from the very beginning. Arjen Lucassen was a perfect
example for me. So I do basically the same. I record some people in
my studio and some musicians record themselves in their own
studios.
      
How does this collaboration with other artists all
over the world work?
It’s not easy sometimes but it’s not
very difficult when you get used to it. Usually I have basic tracks
already recorded and other musicians and vocalists have to add
their lines to it. Sometimes it takes time. With Majestic-12 I
recorded most of my parts of the songs in three weeks and Michael
added his guitar in another 3 or 5 weeks and then we had to wait
for several months for other musicians to record their parts. But
it’s always worth it. Waiting is a part of the game. You have
time to understand what small changes or additions you maybe have
to make to the songs.
With whom would you like to work with in the future
the most?
I already worked with some of the finest musicians
in the world, my heroes, with the ones I admire. Arjen Lucassen and
Nik Turner are probably the most famous. I would definitely like to
work with them again. Nik’s dedication in recording for
Majestic-12 album was something special. But I don’t invite a
musician because he is famous. If I admire one’s work and I
see that there is a place for him in my music then I never hesitate
and contact him. I needed a very special sax and flute and it was
obvious that Nik is perfect choice. I wanted very good male singer
who make all different kinds of vocals and I was a fan of Martyr
Lucifer’s voice for some time. So I invited him to
participate. Cyndee Lee Rule is my very good friend and I know that
she can play the kind of violin I need for my music. Michael
Blackman is an outstanding guitarist, a true talent, and I’m
proud that we worked together on so many albums. He was a very
significant part of Space Mirrors. I know that they all can add
something their very own to the music. In the future I would like
to work with... there are many very interesting musicians... for
example Alan Davey, Tim Blake and Ashmedi (from Melechesh)! Maybe
next album? Who knows...
Is it possible to ever play live with Space
Mirrors?
Technically there is no problem with that. You get
a band, learn songs with them and just play them. But what is so
special about Space Mirrors live is that it should be done in
Europe or in USA because most of the musicians with whom I work are
in other countries. It would be possible for me to get together a
European or American Space Mirrors line-ups. But what I need first
is a kind of an open entry-visa to EU or to USA when you can stay
there for a long period of time and to travel there and back. For
Russian citizen it’s a problem. You can get a regular short
tourist visa but it’s very difficult to get a long term one.
The one with which you would be able to rehearse a band and make a
tour. It’s a work for a real tour/band manager and you should
have some good finances for this.
So playing live with Space Mirrors is still in the
plans. I tried to form a Russian line-up but it was impossible to
make so far.
What was the reason to form this other new project
Psi Corps? How does Psi Corps differ from Space Mirrors?
The reason is very simple. It was very long waiting
until Space Mirrors “Majestic-12” was released and I
needed a project for the new ideas and experiments. And I thought
it was a right time to make a spin-off. Space Mirrors is for a more
song-oriented music, with vocals and more precise structure
approach. Psi Corps is a completely instrumental experimental music
and it’s more like my solo project where there won’t be
many guests on each album. Space Mirrors tells the story not only
in the music but in words, vocal melodies. Psi Corps is mostly
about images and soundscapes. Psi Corps uses the soundtrack to a
book concept. Each track is a soundtrack to certain events in the
book. I like both ways of creating music but I don’t want to
make a mess of that. So that’s why there are two
projects.
What else do you do except make music with your own
projects? Your hobbies?
I like to read books. Literature is a very big part
of my life and I can say that I began to listen seriously to the
music because of literature; I was always interested in the bands
which use books as an inspiration. And now I do it myself –
create music inspired by the books. I like Sci-Fi, Dark Fantasy,
early Horror like Poe or Lovecraft and also historical fiction.
Maybe someday I will return to writing Sci-Fi books myself. I was
trying to write books myself many years ago. My other hobby is
watching some of Motorsports.
Please tell us something about the music scene in
Moscow and in Russia in general. Your favorite Russian bands? Any
good labels? The best venues?
It seems like there is some life to underground
music scene in Russia. It’s good because couple of years ago
it seemed completely dead to me. Now we have interesting bands like
Vespero for example (I’m listening to their very new demos
right now as I’m answering to this interview). They are
building a good base for success here. But most of what I like
about Russian music scene is alive and developing thanks to RAIG
record label and Igor Gorely. Without his enthusiasm and support
there wouldn’t be much in such genre like Psychedelic music
on Russian scene. I’m also very interested in his new music
movement Dirgenera. You can always rely on RAIG if you want to find
some new and exciting music.
About venues I can’t say much. For a small
band there is not much venues left in Moscow. “Dom” for
example. For a big band the best venue is DK
“Gorbunova”. In most small or medium clubs the sound is
really crap and their location is terrible. Most of the musicians
play for themselves and the small group of their friends.
Do you have any tips for a psych rock band from
abroad who would like to play and release albums in Russia?
Get in contact with RAIG label. That’s the
best tip!
How important have the psychedelic substances been
in your life and music?
None at all. My music was never influenced by any
kind of psychedelic substances or drugs. When Hawkwind began to
play music their goal was to levitate minds without drugs. And
that’s it for Space Rock for me. Music can be psychedelic
substance itself. You don’t need a doping.
Could you please tell us something about your future
plans?
Right now we are recording a new Psi Corps album.
It’s called “All Roads Lead to Amber” and Charles
Van De Kree (from Jet Jaguar) plays the guitar on this one. It will
be different from the first album in some way I think. At the same
time I’m working on demos for next Space Mirrors album which
will be based on HP Lovecraft stories. It will take some time
because I’m looking for a guitarist for new album. The music
will differ from the previous one but it will definitely remain a
Space Mirrors style. I will also continue to do mixing and
mastering for other bands.
Anything else to add?
I would like to say that when you buy CDs you help
the independent music to survive. Do not download music illegally.
If people stop to buy CDs there will be no new music anymore. There
will be only the low quality digital crap in mp3’s without
real artwork to hold in hands. So help the CD format to survive!
Stay true!
Thanks a lot for Alisa for answering my questions.
Be sure to check out her albums and let’s hope that she can
also form that live band one of these days...
www.spacemirrors.com
|
