Rockezine.com interview with Within Temptation on Nov 30, 2003

with Robert Westerholt on Nov 30, 2003

After scoring major successes in the Netherlands and Belgium Dutch goth metal band Within Temptation are breaking in Germany is well. Their Mother Earth album reached the top ten in Germany and after 22 weeks it’s still going strong. The band are currently working on a new record that should hit the market next year. Guitarist Robert Westerholt tells us more about the band and the new record.
		At this moment we’re in the ‘demo stage’ which means we’re writing and recording new songs. Just to work out everything.
		It’s hard to say in words what the difference will be with our previous records. We think songs are very important. We attach great value to songs and because the songs are different the record will be different. But it will be a true Within Temptation record for sure. When you write songs they reflect yourself and we want our songs to be about stuff that concerns us and touches us. That’s why it takes us so long to write. We write a lot of material but we only use what really touches us.
		There aren’t any real lyrics yet. Sharon wrote some lyrics but that are just words that come up to her when she hears the music.
		The success has given Within Temptation the chance to change the way they record. A lot has changed. Of course there are more and more possibilities for home recording but we can use a real orchestra for the new record and a big choir. That feels so different as we are used to record the strings by having, like, five musicians playing the same thing over and over again. It feels and sounds different. We experience that as a luxurious thing. And we’re not going to fill up the album with it of course! We’ll use it in certain songs. Apart from that we can spend more money on mixing which is a good thing.
		Within Temptation has known several lineup changes but the current line up seems steady and committed. Of course there’s probably nothing as organic as a band but yeah, we have a steady lineup. The way we work means everybody has to be fully committed to the band. We have to do all kinds of promo stuff, then there are the shows and a lot of things come up very sudden. So we have to be flexible and prepared to be there all the time.
		As said before the band are breaking in Germany. A lot of that is due to the fact that the band has signed a deal with the German rock label Gun. Germany is something special for us. We never had the chance to get something done over there. We didn’t have the time and as we were signed to a Dutch label we didn’t have a way in. Now we’re signed to Gun, which is a part of BMG but in effect is a small label, and it works out fine. That’s the only way to do it, to sign to a label in Germany other wise it’s very hard. And Gun is the perfect label for us. It’s small and we like that. We know everybody who works there and everybody knows us. And they are very dedicated people.
		In Germany Mother Earth has been re-released thru Gun records, while the band has already toured Holland and Belgium in support of the record last year. Not a problem for Within Temptation. When we play live we play only one or two new songs. The new record will be simultaneously released in all three countries. Then we want to put down a completely new live show. We’re saving them for that. I don’t think old songs will ever be boring to play live. It’s like they’re our babies you know, every time we play them they give the same buzz, the same feeling.
		The plans for Germany are simple: Release the record, play live and do a video. When the record comes out we’re going to release a video and we’re going to make the live shows very cool. Lately we’ve become reasonably bigger in Germany. Thanks to the tour supporting Paradise Lost and after that we’ve done short tour on our own doing smaller clubs. We’ve sold quite a few records in Germany and that helps playing bigger clubs of course. Actually it doesn’t really matter where we play. The important thing is there’s a spark between the band and the crowd. When the audience doesn’t like it I’m like ‘What am I doing here?’ Something’s got to happen whether the people are listening quietly but intense or they’re going berserk doesn’t matter. As long as there’s something happening!
		Even with a German labeRobert reckons it won’t be easy to get airplay for their videos. It’s not that Gun are too small a label, it’s still hard for metal or even rock acts to get their videos played. In Holland there’s The Box (a music video channel that plays requests by viewers 24/7) and they do put some alternative and harder acts in their program. Thru them ‘Ice Queen’ became a hit and that makes it easier. But in Germany, even with our album in the lists for 22 weeks we hardly get any airplay.
		A short while ago Within Temptation played a short showcase concert in Amsterdam for a group of European A&R mangers of BMG, the company that owns Gun records. It hasn’t resulted in any deals yet, but we’ve been on MTV Scandinavia a couple of times after the showcase. The most important thing is that we let people know we’re there. To let them get to know us. You never know what happens.
		In Holland Within Temptation are known for their accessibility for fans. There’s always time for autographs and a talk after shows etc. With the current success and the energy it will take to break Germany, it won’t be easy to keep doing that. It can be done but sometimes we have to disappoint people. We do signing sessions everywhere. Even outside Holland we’ve done sessions for over an hour. We really try our best. It’s not a drag. You get tired of everything when you do it too long but it’s great to meat people and talk about music and everything. We really enjoy it. When touring with Paradise Lost we went into the crowd after every show, of course sometimes someone didn’t feel like it and didn’t go. But every night some of us were out there meeting people, I mean when you’re on tour what else is there to do! Ha ha!
		Both the band’s records and their live shows are taken care of to the last detail but it’s the albums what it’s all about. The record is the basis; everything is set up around it. The record gives the inspiration for the video’s and the live shows. But we really like doing shows; they’re part of the fun. We try to do the maximum that’s possible for our live shows. And that has got to do with success. The more successful we are the more we can invest in the shows.
		Within Temptation have reached the point where the members can just live of the band but most of the band’s income is invested straight back into it. As we invest most of the money we generate we don’t make exactly a fortune but we manage. And we’ll keep investing until we’ve reached the point that we’re satisfied about the shows and the records. We’re not there yet. Of course more isn’t better but we want to reach the point that we think everything is in its place.
		The current success wasn’t planned but it is welcome. We never expected this to happen, I mean, it wasn’t calculated or anything. There wasn’t a plan. We’ve always kept our jobs and invested everything the band made back into it. We want to record and do shows as good as we can. What we like most about the success is that it increases our ability to do what we want to do; using an orchestra, making videos. That’s what we enjoy about it. And of course the kick we get out of the live shows!
		Like in every band the members of Within Temptation have different back grounds and tastes. The band’s concept leaves room for variation but within its boundaries. Not a real problem Robert thinks. Of course it’s hard to say whether the concept will be satisfying in the long run. But we are Within Temptation, there is no difference. And there’s a lot of room within the concept and I like that. It’s all about songs and that ensures there are many ways to go. There’s heavy bombast, there’s delicate stuff and even folk. We really strive for different kinds of songs. But yeah, if someone wants to do something really different, like hip hop or whatever, it won’t fit in Within Temptation. But there’s always room to do a side project.
		The band takes up a lot of time and energy. And the more it does the more important it is to have a life outside the band. You really have to keep doing stuff outside the band or you’ll go crazy. Most of my time I’m writing new stuff but apart from that I play football (soccer for you silly Americans out there – Walter) but it’s hard for me to play matches as I have to play with the band a lot in the weekends. Sharon plays badminton and we’re both movie freaks. And families and friends are important. We spend a lot of our time visiting them. Otherwise we would go insane!
Shortly after the interview the Mother Earth album reached gold status in Germany after reaching platinum in Holland earlier. (Walter de Korver)