Rockezine.com interview with Potentia Animi on Apr 24, 2006

with Potentia Animi on Apr 24, 2006

With a lot of admiration and fun I have listened to the album Psalm II of Potentia Animi and visited their Web-site. I was eager to ask some questions about the band, their music and performance.
		Potentia Animi, what is the meaning of the name and why did you use the name? The meaning of that name is “power of the soul”. And as we are a brotherhood, which is enlightened it was obvious to use a name like that.
		Potentia Animi consist of 4 monks (Liebe, Nachtfraß, Schaft en Moeh; the CD however showws a photo with 5 monks. Who is the fifth monk and are the monks seeing themselves as a fraternity or brotherhood? The Lord changed our number and some of our brothers. Brother Moeh had to leave the brotherhood, because he became a father. And you know what we think about sexual intercourse. He was replaced by Bruder Schlaf, who know plays the bass-guitar. To frighten the audience and to make them confess their sins, we got Bruder Schnabausus Rex, who normally waits at the gates of hell, to torture the sinners.
		On the CD-cover of Psalm II it is said that monk MMM (MariaMundMorgentau) is responsible for the sound mix, composition/arrangement and production, all together he obviously is quite an important monk, who is he and what is his relationship to the band? Bruder MariaMundMorgentau is the brother formally known as Bruder Nachtfraß. He was not sure which name to use, so he uses both of his names.
		Does the CD-cover of Psalm II (depicting apregnant nun) have a special meaning? 2000 years ago there was also a pregnant woman, who didn’t have sex with anyone. So why is everybody now complaining about our cover. All of our brothers refuse and deny being the father. So it only can be the Holy Ghost. And this happy message we wanted to show on the cover.
		The titles of the songs on Psalm II make it seem that the songs are quite spiritual (e.g. Ave Maria, Qui per Mundum), but listening to the songs, they aren’t that spiritual. Who is writing the songs and about which subjects are they? The Lord gives the lyrics to us. He told us, that he wants us to spread his words. But unfortunately we don’t speak Latin, so we don’t know the meaning of the lyrics. Sometimes we think the Lord makes fun of us.
		The music of Potentia Animi contains clearly elements of In Extremo and Rammstein. How much is the band being influenced by these bands? According to Potentia Animi what are the similarities between In Extremo and Potentia Animi? Mainly the Lord influences us. But as HE influences everyone, we are also influenced by these bands.
		Is the mixture of medieval music with rock/metal a typical German trend? As I haven’t heard of bands from other countries with that mixture, I would say: “Maybe!”
		How does the idea of making a mixture of medieval music with rock/metal come to existence? For us it was only logical. We played in medieval bands, but also like other music. So it was a consequence to mix everything.
		On a few songs the band is assisted by a nun (Ave Maria, Qui per Munaum). Who is she and is she touring with the band? Lord, help us, no! She will only be performing with us in Berlin. Otherwise we would be too much in danger of some sins. Maybe we will get used to it and take her with us on tour, but it would be a big temptation. She is a good-looking woman with an excellent voice (as you can hear) and she plays/sings in several other bands. Her name is Anja Redhead.
		In the bio the guitar player isn’t announced, while this is an important element of the music. Which monk is playing the guitar? He is not announced, because he doesn’t exist. Bruder Nachtfraß plays a bouzouki (I hope, I spelled it right), which is something like an irish version of a cister or a lute.
		"Viva la More" is almost a dance-track, is this song maybe a single? If so, people will get a wrong image of the band. If "Viva la More" isn’t the single what song will be the next single? Some questions are really hard to answer. The Lord is full of humor and so he gave this song to us. But he still didn’t tell us which single he wants to have.
		Some of the monks has played and acted (monk Nachtfraß and Schaft), is this skill an element of the Potentia Animi shows? Is the band only touring (Festivals and concerts) or are they also appearing on medieval markets? The whole brotherhood is performing on medieval markets and we use all of our skills during our concerts/masses. Also our sexappeal.
		The band uses masks during the shows, what is the meaning of this? We only don’t want to shock the audience from the beginning. It is better, they get used to us slowly. So we take of the masks a bit later. Buh!!!
		Does Potentia Animi want to thread outside the German boundaries just like Rammstein and In Extremo? What aim does the band want to reach? Perhaps touring through the Netherlands? As we are on a mission from HIM, we want to tour on the whole planet to spread his words. And as far as I know the Netherlands are part of this world, so of course we would like to go there and visit you.
		(Ralph Vermeere)