Interview to WATRAKORA (Poland)

1. Hello my friend, pleasure to have you on Rotten Pages ´zine. How are you doing today? Let us set the scene first. Where do we find you right now? Please describe your surroundings.

 We have recently moved to a new house on the outskirts of the city, closer to nature. Here we will soon have our own studio, so we can record more freely. At the moment, we’re gathering equipment, preparing a room for the vocal booth and control room, and carrying out upgrades to make everything work properly. It’s incredible how such a seemingly small change — leaving the big city — can make everything feel so much better.

2. How much exposure did you have to extreme music growing up? Can you name some of the bands who you first really admired and helped shape your future in music?

 Metal music has always been present in my home thanks to my older siblings. My first exposure came through bands like Deicide, Slayer, and King Diamond. But discovering Therion completely changed my approach to metal — it was the first time I heard symphonic metal, and it opened a new dimension for me. Later came Bathory and Immortal, which ultimately shaped my taste and defined the direction of my own musical vision.

3. What prompted you to explore paganism and slavic legends subjects, and how do you feel it enhances the overall song-writing experience?

 Paganism — or as we say in Poland, Rodzimowierstwo (Native Faith) — is a vital part of our creative identity and daily inspiration, not only in music. For us, it’s a matter of ideas, of giving justice to our ancestors and Gods, and promoting, as much as possible, the forgotten values of the ancient Slavs. Unfortunately, unlike the Celts or the Scandinavians, our native religion did not survive in such good condition — there are many gaps and interpretational issues. But every year new information emerges, forming the foundation of our creative work. In short, we always want our music to inspire others to explore the old Slavic faith.

4. How do you guys manage the creative process of writing and composing music, lyrics, and playing the multiple instruments?

 Our process begins with a vision — a story we want to tell. Once that vision takes shape, we reach for our instruments. For us, atmosphere is everything — we want the listener to ask themselves, “What is this really about?” Once that vision is clear, the music and lyrics start writing themselves, as if to bring the story to life. It’s a bit like a painter who must first imagine the painting in his mind before transferring it onto the canvas using different techniques.

5. Your debut EP, “Świt ” deliver a powerful, massive, and solid sound. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the music and how it felt to release your music to the world?

“Świt” is our debut and at the same time a summary of a certain stage in our development. We wanted to create something brutal yet infused with the spirit of our faith. The process itself was quite complicated due to the constantly changing lineup. We wanted to explore less popular aspects of Slavic traditions and beliefs, which gave us space for a different kind of musical interpretation than most bands. We weren’t entirely satisfied with everything, and the process took longer than expected due to everyone’s time constraints. But the moment we finally released it was deeply rewarding — it felt like the end of a hard battle and the beginning of something new, with hope that things will only get better from now on.

6. Watrakora is the uncompromising culmination of your black metal ideas, what messages or themes do you hope to convey through your artistic expression?

 As I mentioned before, what gives me the most joy is when someone becomes curious about the history and religion of our ancestors through our music. That’s what drives us.

7. Your songs feature violin parts as well as a sort of ethnic chants. How did this idea come about, and what was the experience like working with these instrument.

 Nerium (vocals, violin, tagelharpa) has been part of the band since the very beginning, so we’ve always created music with her vocal and string melodies in mind. Sometimes the idea for a song would come from just three simple notes on the violin, which later evolved into a full story. The ethnic chants are an integral part of our sound, and we hope to include even more of them in our upcoming releases.

8. How do you manage to incorporate melodic elements into your music while maintaining the aggression and brutality of black metal?

 It comes naturally. For us, authenticity in music is the most important thing. When we create something, it’s because it’s part of who we are — not because it’s trendy or will sell well. That’s what I admire about Black Metal: there are no compromises, no prisoners taken. And if you’re not being honest, people will see through you instantly.

9. Tell us about the recording sessions, how did it go? Was it your first time in the studio? How long did it take you to finish everything?

 I’ve been working in studios for 20 years — first as a technician, now as a producer — so recording sessions are not unfamiliar to me. Once all the ideas were ready, the process went smoothly. Altogether, recording and mixing took about two weeks. The biggest challenge was achieving the sound we envisioned, and since we didn’t have the right space, we had to take a slightly different direction than planned. But once our studio is complete, we’ll be able to realize everything exactly as we imagine it.

10. What are some techniques you haven’t used on your current EP that you would love to experiment with in future releases?

 For the new material, we definitely want to be more primal — just like our faith. There will be more acoustic instruments, even more ethnic chants, and throat singing. Sonically, we aim for rawer guitars and drums, to evoke the feeling of the early medieval era in the listener’s mind.

 11. The lyrics of are in the polish language. This makes it difficult for people who do not speak the language to understand what they are about. Was that done deliberately and are you also trying to add some extra mystique?

 Honestly, it just felt like the most natural choice. A band from Poland, singing about Slavic beliefs and traditions, simply sounds more authentic when doing it in their native language. This trend can be seen in other ethnic acts as well, such as Wardruna or Heilung.

12. How do you feel the black metal scene has morphed in Poland over time? Is there anything you miss from the past, or anything you feel has changed for the better?

  I often hear people say that the Polish Black Metal scene is currently the strongest it has been in years — that Poland, not Norway, is now the true home of Black Metal. This makes me very happy, and I completely understand it. Many people are tired of bands and individuals who do things only for money or self-promotion. In today’s world of technology and the Internet, where misinformation and insincerity are everywhere, people naturally seek something real.

What I do miss, however, is the atmosphere of small clubs where we used to play shows — that closeness with the audience always created a unique energy, allowing you to give absolutely everything of yourself.  

13. If people from outside Poland would want to travel to a location that has inspired you to write music in your home country, where would they have to go?

  A place that inspired me to create music, I would say Mount Ślęża. It is one of the most important sites in the ancient Slavic cult. A beautiful, powerful, and deeply spiritual place — you can truly feel the spirits of the ancestors there.

In general, meeting Polish people is like meeting the Slavic spirit itself — we are open, warm, and friendly. Many visitors tell me how surprised they were by the genuine kindness and hospitality they experienced here for the first time.  

14. Last but not least, what are your biggest hopes for the upcoming year? What do we need more of, and what do we need less of?

  I hope that all our plans will come to life — especially the release of our debut full-length album and the recording of a music video. There are so many other things we want to accomplish that the year already feels too short to make it all happen.  

15. Thank you so much, not only for taking the time to interview with us, but for sharing your music, passion, self-expression, and dedication. It has been an honour. Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Thank you very much for this conversation and for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts and music with your readers. To everyone who supports the underground scene — stay true, stay curious, and never forget where you come from. May the Old Gods guide your path.

https://www.facebook.com/Watrakora/