Jesse: First of all, thanks so much for taking the time for this interview.  It’s very appreciated to us at Metal Psalter.

To start off, let’s go back to the early part of the decade when a few of the bands you’ve contributed in were getting started, namely Peste Noire.  Alcest also was born, so to speak, at around the same time.  Here in 2010, Alcest is certainly much different than Peste Noire and say, Mortifera.  Give a brief history on how Alcest came to become the band it is now and what were some of the influences that helped you shape its sound and venture away from the more typical black metal sound.

What were your initial goals when you started Alcest?  Is this where you saw the band 10 years ago?

Neige: When I started Alcest in 2000 I just wanted to make a traditional black metal band inspired by the coldest Norwegian 90' black metal records, such as firsts Satyricon, Burzum, etc...  Things changed after the "Tristesse Hivernale" release as I realized I could use Alcest to express much more personal things. As you may have read from previous interviews my aim with Alcest is to depict a dimension I was used to see in visions when I was a child. It was like flashes, exactly like if you were reminding a nice moment of your life, with all the precise emotions you could feel with it but in my case these memories had nothing to do with what I was seeing around me in the real world.  And this place was so indescribably beautiful and perfect, like an immense heavenly garden with pearly shiny streams and emerald green fields all around. Nobody can imagine the beauty and the serenity of it. Everything being static and moving at the same time, like water waves, all bathed in pearly colors and lived by kind of benevolent spirits. I was very strong, real, and had nothing to do with what we can see here, that's why I know it was not just my imagination. Well after a lot of research I guessed that it was memories of what could be "after life" like you say, or "before life" in my case because I've noticed that they are very similar elements with what describe people that had a Near Death Experience. It could be a place where the soul would rest between two earthly incarnations, a kind of peaceful haven of pure light and serenity. Alcest is a way to express my feelings front of this experience, to describe it, and hopefully a tool to find answers to my numerous interrogations. Alcest is just the musical reflection of this place and feelings I have related to it. When I say "memories from another world" this has to be taken literally.

Jesse: Is it important to you that Alcest be mentioned among metal bands or is the “metal” description short-sighted and should Alcest be free of such associations or categorizations?

Neige: Ideally I would prefer that Alcest stay free from any associations but the "metal" description doesn't disturb me at all, since this is very wide and doesn't stick the project to something precise. I really think that Alcest has its own sound and identity.

Jesse: Sometimes it’s difficult to determine when certain bands were started, but the comparisons between Amesoeurs and Alcest have always intrigued me.  Was Amesoeurs ever meant to be your main priority or did you feel all along that Alcest would inevitably be the project that would rise above them both?

Neige: Alcest always was my priority and on another hand Amesoeurs allowed me to express darker and depressive feelings in a cathartic way; the ones I didn't want to use for Alcest. Now that Amesoeurs has split up the Alcest spectrum of emotions has widened and turned to a more contrasted style.

Jesse: On your new album, Écailles de lune, the harsh vocals make a return to compliment your clean singing.  Did you feel it was necessary in order to evolve the sound of the band to bring this aspect back to Alcest?

Neige: This use of harsh vocals happened naturally since this album is darker than "Souvenirs...". On certain passages this was the only kind of vocals that could suit the music. However, the feelings don't change because of this. "Écailles De Lune" is almost even more otherworldly than "Souvenirs...". I want my music to sound like if it was not played by humans, without any down to earth aspect, I don't know if you see what I mean. For me to scream is not necessarily a reference to "black metal" or the expression of anger, I see it more like a non-human voice. The expression of what could be a second nature for me.

Jesse: There doesn’t seem to be an English translation for the word “alcest.”  What meaning does it have and why did you pick it for the band’s name?

Neige: It doesn't have any meaning, I just choose it for its noble ethereal sounding and wouldn't imagine any other name in its pronunciation ("Al-sest") to fit better with this music.

Jesse: Since the songs are written and sung in French, what would you say is the presiding lyrical theme for Alcest?  What sorts of things do you use for inspiration to write the songs?

Neige: Lyrical themes in Alcest are always linked to its concept, to be a testimony of these visions I had about a far away luminous dimension. They always deal with it but each time through a different angle, being descriptions of this place or about the feelings I can have in my daily life related to it, nostalgia, innocence and spiritual elevation.

Jesse: I see that you will be touring North America very soon; you must be pretty excited for that!  How was the process for finding a full line-up done and who are the session members?  What should people expect from a live Alcest show?

Neige: Yes, I can't deny that we are really excited for that. The persons that will accompany me on stage are Winterhalter on drums (Les Discrets, Amesoeurs, ex Peste Noire), Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets, Amesoeurs), and Zero (ZERO). They all are very good friends of mine. We want these shows to be a strong experience for the listeners; we will give our best to translate the most faithfully the Alcest emotions.

Jesse: When did you decide that you were going to be a musician? You’re clearly very talented for being able to play so many instruments, but which would you say you are the best at or most comfortable with?

Neige: It's the typical story; I have taken a few piano classes when I was a child, then I discovered metal in my early teenage years and bought my first guitar. I didn't decide to become a musician, I just started playing guitar, created Alcest shortly after and then came to be involved in other bands. All this happened naturally.

Jesse: It might be a little soon to ask considering you just finished your new album and as of the time of this interview, it hasn’t been released to the public yet, but what sorts of things should fans of Alcest expect in the future?

Neige: I am very proud of my two firsts albums so I hope that the next one will reach at least the same quality level, I will do my best to push away my own limits and I will take all the time I need for it. Regarding how different are "Souvenirs..." and "Écailles De Lune" I think that the next album will show again an evolution in Alcest style.

Jesse: Any last words to leave the readers with?

Neige: I hope to see you during the tour!

Jesse: Again, thanks so much for your time and I wish the best for Alcest in the coming years.

Neige: Thanks to you for the interview.

Alcest's Neige

March 9, 2010

Interviewer: Jesse

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*Comments:

Formed: 2000, Avignon, Provence-
Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Label: Prophecy Productions
Genre: Black Metal / Shoegaze

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Neige:  Bass, Vocals, Guitars,
              Keyboards & Drums
Winterhalter:  Drums

DISCOGRAPHY:

Tristesse Hivernale (Demo - 2001)
Le Secret (EP - 2005)
Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde (2007)
Aux Funérailles Du Monde /
     Tristesse Hivernale (Split - 2007)
Les Discrets / Alcest (Split - 2009)
Écailles de lune (2010)

Check out Jesse's review of Alcest's Écailles de lune here