the DARKLIFE fanzine - current issue extras

Issue n. X Summer 05
ii
[ ^{issue: n. X summer 05 - web-only extras:}^{Chirleison
interview}]

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CHIRLEISON are a trio from Sardinia, and have had their first CD titled A Whisper ( FD022) released at the end of 2004. This was via The Fossil Dungeon, an enterprise run by the American based medieval neo-folk band THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK. Members of CHIRLEISON started off in an Italian Goth band called ESSENCES, but now are more connected with the Neo-folk scene. The tracks on A Whisper consist of largely acoustic music, female vocals, with some quite striking percussion, and there is some exquisite use of melody. This interview has been condvted in February 2005 and more updated information on the band can be found at www.chirleison.com or from www.fossildungeon.com

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DARKLIFE: How did the band CHIRLEISON come together? What does the name mean?

MARA: The project CHIRLEISON was born when I met Daniele, and we began writing music. Daniele and Alessia previously played together in a band called ESSENCES, so when our songs needed a voice we immediately asked Alessia, and she accepted! We began to record songs and all sent shivers up and down our spine, so we decided to start the project! The name CHIRLEISON is a word without a particular meaning, we choose it because of its sound. It makes we think on a mixture of Italian, French, English, all languages we use in our lyrics..

DL: Do you feel that you are part of a wider Italian neo-folk scene along with artists such as ARGINE, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE? Or are you operating far more on your own?

DANIELE: We greatly admire the Italian bands you mentioned and we like a lot the neo-folk scene, however, we think our music is the natural product of our emotions. We don't plan songs setting them in a defined genre, we create songs guided by our momentary mood. Also living in an island we haven't the possibility to meet other bands and we can't confront us with them. From this point of view we feel isolated. Our island gives tranquillity and a quiet lifestyle, but there are negative aspects, like the impossibility of going see concerts or to strike up a friendship with other bands.

DL: How did you come to release a CD on 'The Fossil Dungeon' (the operation run by Mark and Michael Riddick from THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK). Have you been great admirers of their music?

ALESSIA: Yes, we were fan of THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK from a long time. We love their music and so we decided to show our website to them. They appreciated it and asked us to send them our complete CDr... and then, here we are! We're very glad that Mark and Mike like our music, we think they are very special and kind people! Also, we'll take part in a compilation together with them and this fact makes us proud!

DL: How important is the culture and tradition of Sardinia to your work? How would you describe the atmosphere of the island to people who have never been there?

MARA: Sardinia is an ancient island full of particular traditions. It's a land that gives beautiful Mediterranean landscapes and natural sceneries near the sea or the hills. Many ancient people left their traces here and you can see peculiar landscapes sprinkled with Nuraghic architectures, signs of our past. The atmosphere and the lifestyle is very quiet here. We think our land with her culture and history influences us a lot, even if unconsciously.

DL: How important is mythology to your music and lyrics? I understand that you are going to record a track on a compilation dedicated to the classical mythology of Greece and Rome?

DANIELE: Everything related to mythology is for us an inspiration, above all Greek mythology, we think it's very interesting and full of ideas for the composition of lyrics. We've just recorded two songs for the compilation you mentioned. We think it's a really interesting project because we've the possibility to appear with musicians we love (THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK, xARKANEx, GOR) and also because we focus our lyrics on themes regarding myths of Greece, that have always enchanted us a lot.

DL: Which countries have showed an interest in your work? Have you toured outside of Italy?

ALESSIA: We're very happy for the favourable response of our CD, we've received demands and interests from many different countries, thanks to the good work of distribution made by The Fossil Dungeon and Dark Vinyl. At the moment we have no concerts planned, our work keeps us very busy and we have no time for tours. We hope to be able to organize ourselves for that in the future.

DL: I noticed in a previous interview that you quoted some lines from William Blake. Are there any other English language poets that have inspired you?

MARA: We love many English poets and writers, the reading of their writings fires our imagination and influences our music consequently. We love read authors like Milton, Tennyson and above all the Romantic tradition of Shelley, Worsworth, Coleridge. The lines of Blake we often quoted give us a lot of great emotions. When poets weave their words with nature and deep feelings, it seems to hear a melody or to see an enchanted painting..

DL: What plans do you have for the future?

DANIELE: At the moment we're employed in writing new songs, by the way we haven't much time dedicating to composition because of our commitments... but that's ok, we like playing music with tranquillity at leisure. The only important thing for us is to have a quiet and peaceful life, trying always to feel emotions listening to songs and writing them.

www.chirleison.com

Mike Shankland

(Photos © Chirleison)

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Issue n. X Summer 05	ii	[ *^{issue: n. X summer 05 - web-only extras:}*^{Chirleison interview}]
		-
		CHIRLEISON are a trio from Sardinia, and have had their first CD titled A Whisper ( FD022) released at the end of 2004. This was via The Fossil Dungeon, an enterprise run by the American based medieval neo-folk band THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK. Members of CHIRLEISON started off in an Italian Goth band called ESSENCES, but now are more connected with the Neo-folk scene. The tracks on A Whisper consist of largely acoustic music, female vocals, with some quite striking percussion, and there is some exquisite use of melody. This interview has been condvted in February 2005 and more updated information on the band can be found at www.chirleison.com *or from* www.fossildungeon.com
	ii
	ii	DARKLIFE: How did the band CHIRLEISON come together? What does the name mean? MARA: The project CHIRLEISON was born when I met *Daniele, and we began writing music. Daniele* and *Alessia* previously played together in a band called ESSENCES, so when our songs needed a voice we immediately asked *Alessia, and she accepted! We began to record songs and all sent shivers up and down our spine, so we decided to start the project! The name CHIRLEISON is a word without a particular meaning, we choose it because of its sound. It makes we think on a mixture of Italian, French, English, all languages we use in our lyrics.. DL: Do you feel that you are part of a wider Italian neo-folk scene along with artists such as ARGINE, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE? Or are you operating far more on your own? DANIELE: We greatly admire the Italian bands you mentioned and we like a lot the neo-folk scene, however, we think our music is the natural product of our emotions. We don't plan songs setting them in a defined genre, we create songs guided by our momentary mood. Also living in an island we haven't the possibility to meet other bands and we can't confront us with them. From this point of view we feel isolated. Our island gives tranquillity and a quiet lifestyle, but there are negative aspects, like the impossibility of going see concerts or to strike up a friendship with other bands. DL: How did you come to release a CD on 'The Fossil Dungeon' (the operation run by Mark* and *Michael Riddick* from THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK). Have you been great admirers of their music? ALESSIA: Yes, we were fan of THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK from a long time. We love their music and so we decided to show our website to them. They appreciated it and asked us to send them our complete CDr... and then, here we are! We're very glad that *Mark* and *Mike* like our music, we think they are very special and kind people! Also, we'll take part in a compilation together with them and this fact makes us proud! DL: How important is the culture and tradition of Sardinia to your work? How would you describe the atmosphere of the island to people who have never been there? MARA: Sardinia is an ancient island full of particular traditions. It's a land that gives beautiful Mediterranean landscapes and natural sceneries near the sea or the hills. Many ancient people left their traces here and you can see peculiar landscapes sprinkled with Nuraghic architectures, signs of our past. The atmosphere and the lifestyle is very quiet here. We think our land with her culture and history influences us a lot, even if unconsciously. DL: How important is mythology to your music and lyrics? I understand that you are going to record a track on a compilation dedicated to the classical mythology of Greece and Rome? DANIELE: Everything related to mythology is for us an inspiration, above all Greek mythology, we think it's very interesting and full of ideas for the composition of lyrics. We've just recorded two songs for the compilation you mentioned. We think it's a really interesting project because we've the possibility to appear with musicians we love (THE SOIL BLEEDS BLACK, xARKANEx, GOR) and also because we focus our lyrics on themes regarding myths of Greece, that have always enchanted us a lot. DL: Which countries have showed an interest in your work? Have you toured outside of Italy? ALESSIA: We're very happy for the favourable response of our CD, we've received demands and interests from many different countries, thanks to the good work of distribution made by The Fossil Dungeon and Dark Vinyl. At the moment we have no concerts planned, our work keeps us very busy and we have no time for tours. We hope to be able to organize ourselves for that in the future. DL: I noticed in a previous interview that you quoted some lines from William Blake. Are there any other English language poets that have inspired you? MARA: We love many English poets and writers, the reading of their writings fires our imagination and influences our music consequently. We love read authors like Milton, Tennyson and above all the Romantic tradition of Shelley, Worsworth, Coleridge. The lines of Blake we often quoted give us a lot of great emotions. When poets weave their words with nature and deep feelings, it seems to hear a melody or to see an enchanted painting.. DL: What plans do you have for the future? DANIELE: At the moment we're employed in writing new songs, by the way we haven't much time dedicating to composition because of our commitments... but that's ok, we like playing music with tranquillity at leisure. The only important thing for us is to have a quiet and peaceful life, trying always to feel emotions listening to songs and writing them. www.chirleison.com Mike Shankland (Photos © Chirleison)
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