*When did you really get involved into music in general and into metal specific? Who was responsable for your interest in (metal) music?

I think I have always been interested in music, when I was eight or nine my older brother had Iron Maidens Rock In Rio on DVD which influenced me a lot! Also, seeing Kiss and Europe on TV was a big deal! I was probably around the same age.

*Which artists or bands did influence you the most?

Oh, too many to mention but Pink Floyd, Dissection, Bathory, Thin Lizzy are some of my favorites. I also love stuff like John Fogerty / CCR, Country etc..

*Which instrument do you play and how and when did you learn to play? Did you had lessons in school or private lessons? If so, was that because your parents expected that from you? Or did you learn to play the instruments by yourself? Do yo still follow some lessons?

I play most of the standard instruments, I learned the basics at a very early age but gave it up rather quickly. Then, at the age of 14 I picked up guitar again and slowly started to learn more about drums etc. I had lessons in school from age 16 to 18 and no, they did not expect it, it all came naturally. I rarely take lessons anymore, I check out some Youtube-videos from time to time to learn more jazz, though..

*Do you listen to or are you intrested in other styles of music beside rock / metal? If so, what is the kind of music you prefer to listen to?

Yes, I am very much into blues players (everything from B.B King, David Gilmour, Gary Moore, SRV, Jeff Beck to more modern players like John Mayer) and also jazz stuff (Clint Strong, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt and soooo on..) I listen to so much music that I wish I had time to have a band for each genre I listen to! Lol!

*Is music a full time job for you now or do you have a job beside music? If so, what kind of job are you doing? If you would be really succesful with music, would you quit your other job?

No, I work within the healthcare department and have been doing that for almost seven years now. My goal is not to live off playing music, it’s really hard to make a good living out of it. And no, I would not quit my daytime-job.

*If you could start a complete new band (something like an all star band) with other musicians on other instruments, which artists would you pick for wich instrument and why? Would you still go for a thrash / speed / black metal band?

I would NOT do anything related to extreme metal. Oh wow, what a difficult question.. Well, Imagine having Phil Lynott (or Peter Steele!) on bass / vocals, David Gilmour on guitar / vocals, Mark Knopfler on guitar / vocals, Jon Lord on keys / organ, Brian Downey on drums / percussion and maybe have Robert Plant on lead vocals. That would be seriously insane? Haha!! I would be happy to just be the guy in the background playing acoustic guitar!

*If you had been banned to an uninhabited island and you may pick 5 albums to listen to, wich albums would you choose and why?

‘Wish You Were Here’ – Pink Floyd, ‘Appetite For Destruction’ – Guns ‘n’ Roses, ‘Sign Of The Hammer’ – Manowar, ‘The Great Souther Trendkill’ – Pantera, and maybe Led Zeppelin’s ‘IV’. (This changes all the time.)

*Every new album of a band or an artist is the best one, so they say. So here is a chance to promote your album. Why should a music lover buy your album? What are the standout tracks for you on this new album and why?

Because there is something for everyone on this album. Extreme metal, sing along choruses, blastbeats, clean vocals, shredding guitar solos, clean stuff – You name it! My favorite tracks are: ‘In Silence’, ‘Ensamvarg’, ‘The Great Below’ (title track), they just stand out in a exceptional way.

– See “CD-Review” for a review (written in Dutch) for the new KVAEN album ‘The Great Below’ (Black Lion Records) –

*Is there a chance that you will promote these songs through live concerts? If so, would you prefer small clubs or big festivals? And is there a chance we can see KVAEN in Belgium?

Yes, we will promote most of the new songs live. I prefer both, depending on my mood! Hehe! And yes, we will come to Belgium for sure!