Leo of Progplanet interview with Antony 31 October 2006

Hey Antony, how are you?

Hey Leo, I'm doing great. Just got out of the studio. We have been recording all day. You know, we have a new album due for release 11 February next year. The title is "The Space Between Us". The new album is kind of a step ahead for up, it's more progressive and harder this time around. It's more professional, the feel is more English, or perhaps I should say Focus. Yeah, there are traces of Focus. And there will be more improvisations. Back to the basic progressive sound. You know, I grew up listening to my fathers records, among others Pink Floyd. Which I love very much.

You've received some great reviews for Continium? How does it make you feel?

I did not expect that at all. But I'm very happy and proud about it. You know, Karfagen is the only band here in Ukraine, who plays this kind of music. No other bands play progressive music. So we are kind of lonely warriors here.

On your latest cd "Continium" there were no one credited for playing guitar?

Well, you know there were actually real guitar on Continium. Studio musicians. On our new album there are actually 3 different guitar players. Thing is, we have to pay these musicians, certainly. Again there are still too few over here who believes in this kind of music.But, we are a band with few members, therefore we can actually decide where we want to take our music, with not so many discussions, decide how it is going to be and sound. But, the musicians we have used on the new album are very passionate about it and the way they play. They are all top players, I tell you. But that is something you will hear later next year.

Please tell us about your journey, when we talk about music?

Well, I did not start out with rock. The last 15 years, I've been working with many different kinds of music. I think my first taste of rock came with Queen and other so called pomp rock bands. You know, I started out playing drums. I did. My first try was in '89 when I recorded my first album. Had a lot of musicians with me in 2000 and made a concept album. But there was no money in it, so the musicians ran away. Then there were a period of silence. I started making new age music, which made some money and made it possible for me, to get free of my father, who did not believed in what I was doing. It also gave me the power to go where I wanted to go with my music. Also it was easier with only one leader, that being me, to make some music of good quality. Which to me and all musicians I think, is very important. Then I met Will (Caerllysi Music) who told me that my music was great and worth recording. I did not think the world of what I had been recording, being mostly new age. But Will convinced me that I should go for the progressive music and he put some confidence in me, I think. To pursue what my heart told me. So, that the place I'm at right now, you know? Have a new album just around the corner.

 I think you have a very strong vocal and I think it's getting better. Just had some Hoggwash tunes from Will & they sound great.

Well thanks. I try and work hard on it. I still think my voice is a little to weak. But it's getting better and better for each day of practice and recording.

Will tells me that you have started writing lyrics and sing in English. Do you find it difficult?

Well, I work on it, you know? It's not easy, but I think it's a lot of fun. Also it's much easier to sing in English. Still, it's not perfect. I love the way Roine Stolt's sings. I think he has a very powerful voice. Love Retropolis, which by the way, was my first Flower Kings album. And it's still one of my all-time favourite albums. Actually fantastic. Thing is, it's very difficult to buy progressive music here in Ukraine. There is only one place to buy, open only 1 day per week. And it's kind of a "forbidden place". You know, you cannot buy a Saga, Spock's Beard a.o, albums over here. It's only open on Sundays. Luckily, it cost very little to live here, so you can spend some money on the things that are hard to come by, such as great progressive music. But, you get used to such things, when you live here. Laugh.

What dreams do you have, on a personal level and with your music?

Well, I think a lot about going to live abroad, you know, where there is more music. The kind of music that I like to listen to and play. When I watch our hockey players going abroad to seek their fortune. That's one of my dreams to. But you know? It makes my heart bleed when I think of what the regime have done to our people over the years. So many tyrants. But, I think if I chose to leave Ukraine, I would really miss it. Kind of bizarre, actually, to be court in that kind of thinking. Living here is not that easy, you know. We do not make much money. The cost of living is very cheep though. But like most people, I would like to make some money, for my family. It's not that strange, I think. To wanna make your life better. And sure, I would love for my music to come out to a larger audience. That would really make me proud and very happy. Music is my life 24 hours every day, 7 days a week. Laugh.

Happy with your deal with Unicorn?

Yeah, I am. You know, most people live in different worlds. I'm used to kind of "fit in". Unicorn was the first label that thought that our music would fit into their label. Michel from Unicorn has been very nice to us and very helpful. Even though we cannot control anything. It's very expensive to make an album these days. We have had about 200 dollars so far. And I think we have sold about 700 units of "Continium" in many different countries. We would not have sold that many, I think, without the help from Unicorn. So, yeah, I'm happy that Karfagen is out there, selling some albums.

I would like to know a little bit about your good friend Sergei who was a major part of Continium and I guess will be on the new cd as well?

He is a big part of my life. He is, I think, always here. We just came out of the studio. He is sitting here right in front of me. You know, he was born blind, so you could say, that we actually go hand in hand with our music. He is kind of my left hand. He is always in the studio with me, because it's kind of depressing sitting in there all alone. So he comes up with ideas, gives good advice. He is a this point teaching my son, great don't you think? Also he teaches improvisations for students. He is very gifted, plays all sorts of instruments. So, to answer your question; yes he is. A big part of the new album to.

Do you find it hard to a family-man and a musician? Do/can the 2 things work ok together?

Well, that's not an easy question to answer. Both yes and no, I guess. My wife made me go to Moscow, to "make some music money", laugh. So I went to Moscow to try and sell some of my ambient music. I meet this guy, who would pay me a lot of money for some "New Age Music". I made nearly 4 albums per month, most of them with more than 60 min. of music on. So I made a lot of albums during that period. Gregorian sound and all. Also made some other projects there, that earned me some money. These days I'm with my family and it works out just fine. But I think for most musicians it's the same. You cannot be and have all, even though you try very hard.

I've spoken to Will about the festival next September in Wales. Which I hope you'll attend, so that we can get together, all of us. How do fell about that?

I think it sounds great. I would love to finally meet you all. You know? Will have been so good to me. Almost like a father. My father has never believed in me. Opposite Will, who have supported and believed in me since day one. And then there's the thing with the "difficult countries". You know, visa and all. Would be great though, to meet, eat, drink, and sleep. So I do hope it will be our get together next year.

Final question. You have taken a serious path going the way with your music, that being more progressive, I think. Has that changed on what you listen to from other artist these days, you yourself?

Sure. We all get older, you know? I started out listening to my fathers Pink Floyd albums. They are really icons to me. Then there were Camel, with "Mirage" and "Stationary Traveller". 2 albums that I really love. Then I got my first Flower Kings album "Retropolis", which to me is their best album ever. I simply love the way Roine Stolt plays his guitar. And I love his voice very much. He's got a marvellous voice. But to me most of what prog bands do these days sounds the same. That be Spock's Beard, IQ, Saga a.o. I think it's a shame that so many great bands sound almost alike. These days I tend to go for Focus, Renaissance. Simply love their albums. A new band to me is Violent Silence. Now there's a great progressive band, if you ask me. They play more powerful.

You know? Karfagen have their own style, which I'm very proud of. I'm not that afraid anymore, about us not making it. We have the change to play what we love and that is a big satisfaction to us. You know, we all want to have a nice car. A great apartment. But I do not want to sell out, my heart won't let me. So when our next album is out, we go work on the third one. That is what I do, that is what I love the most. Making music and hopefully great music for people to listen to. Who can ask for more?

Well, Antony. Thanks for taking time to do this. Best of luck with your new album and I really look forward to see you next year.

Thanks Leo, it's been great talking to you, all the way from Denmark..