Astarium. Interview with Nikolay Sikeritsky

Interview by Jay Parker

Interview with Nikolay Sikeritsky.

1. When and where was Astarium formed? What is the line up?

Astarium was born in August 2005 in Novosibirsk (Russia). During 16 years of the project’s existence, I (SiN) have been acting as the only one participant (all instruments and vocals).

2. Your latest ep, red rose, is soothingly melodic with some fantastic synth and guitar work. tell us about red rose... what was the inspirations behind it? tell us about your previous releases…

“Red Rose” EP is essentially a compilation that includes several tracks recorded during the sessions for “Hyper borea” album; several tracks recorded during testing of new sound equipment in the spring of 2018 and old version of the title track recorded back in 2012 for unreleased compilation “Tribute to Marsh Goblins”.

It’s very difficult to say about the inspiration for this mini-album - it’s just that the stars apparently came together so, that I caught 7 excellent highspeed, conjoined with each other and easy to perceive songs into my hands. And subconscious told me to combine it all on one release. So, EP “Red Rose” appeared in 2018. Well, after, it was more interesting... For 3 years this work was waiting for the release, during this time several labels were changed, but for various reasons release still could not take place. I have already jokingly started calling this EP “Damned”. Until in the end of winter 2021, I enlisted the support of Moonworshipper Records, and all starts to going well – on July 30, the release still took place! Just a month before release of “Red Rose”, 9th full-length album of Astarium was out on cassettes, it called “Solar Despair”. This is completely different work. It became slower, heavier, thoughtful and apocalyptic. When I created music for it, I was inspired by the demo-tape of legendary Brazilians Evil “Depression and Mourning” – magnificent and truly hopeless-gloomy work. The releasers of “Solar Despair “ cassettes were tandem of labels Brotherhood Of Light and Unholy War Productions (US and Brazil), the CD was out by More Hate Productions (Russia). Also, in the spring of this year “Eternal Occultation” EP was out – this is compilation of remastered tracks of the project dedicated to space themes. There is complete aesthetic of sound engineering here - the charm of sounding in a mono channel and at low bitrates. In fact, the sound has changed quite a lot, and for the better. The EP was released by NitroAtmosfericum Records (Russia) on 3.5’’ floppy. And, by the way, the entire edition of it has already been sold out.

3. When I listen to your music, it kind of takes me away, and I can almost feel the bitter Siberian cold of your homeland...tell us what it’s like living working and recording in such a beautifully cold and dark place and how it inspires your sound...

I like to live in Siberia, although the weather conditions are quite severe: from-40C in winter to +40C in summer. Basically, the whole landscape is reduced to fields and forests, fields and forests again, sometimes there are low mountains, but very rarely. And of course, nature leaves its mark on creativity – for example, the “Winter Growths” cycle is written under the impression of winter forest walks. The “Reverie” demo was recorded to the sound of rain that was hitting the metal roof. I can’t say that nature affects the sound of material itself, but there is definitely certain connection with inspiration as it was with singles - “Chthonian Miasma” and “Permafrost”.

In the future, I would like to record ambient demo dedicated to the mysterious and sometimes frightening places of the Novosibirsk region, such as the dead lake Ash Dump, the Buchilo waterfall hidden from the eyes of the layman, the abandoned quarry in the Iskitim, the steep Berdsk rocks, Badger caves, etc.

4. What are your musical influences? When did you first start as a musician, and what instruments do you play?

I started my black metal way from Burzum, Nokturnal Mortum, Bal-Sagoth, I was about 20 years old at that time. Later I learned about such wonderful hordes as Kataxu, Eisenwinter and Grausamkeit. All these bands have had a huge influence on my music. In general, I started playing guitar at the age of 12 under the impression from song “Until It Sleeps” of Metallica band. In last grades school and institute, I played guitar and sang in several grunge / punk rock bands. But nothing serious came of it. Now I’m trying to revive the material of those years as part of my side project Wendigo (https://wendigo2.bandcamp.com), it is a mix of grunge / punk / garage rock and metal. Well, at the last courses of the institute in 2005, I started Astarium, and for this project I had to learn how to play keyboards, how to programming drum machine, sing with extreme vocals, and using sound engineering. In general, I had to learn a lot of new interesting things and put a lot of effort, but the result is worth it! I like what I do! In addition, I’m still ready for something new.

5. Tell us about the black metal scene in Siberia... recommend some bands for our Siberian listeners.

This is question that I don’t even know what to answer. To be honest, I am very bad to know with the Siberian scene. Of the existing bands, I would probably single out only Spell of Dark, Sibireal, Eoront and Frozenwoods.

6. What are Astariums plans for the future?

This year I had the opportunity to write and record official soundtrack for the board game “PROTEUS - Into the Dragon’s Domain”. It will be released on cassettes by label Heimat Der Katastrophe on Halloween. Also in the autumn will be out tape issue of EP “Eternal Occultation” by Moonworshipper Records and digipak-CD / tape editions of the album “Fragments of Nightmares” by NitroAtmosfericum Records. There are also plans to release EP Red Rose at 7`` during 2021-2022. I will not say anything about more longterm plans for now, but there is still absolutely new material that is patiently waiting for its release in 2022. But let everything go on...

7. Do you have a message for our readers?

Thank you and your readers for their interest in Astarium. I was glad to scratch my tongue on topical issues for the project and share some details. Keep your black flame with honor! Stay metal! Stay black fucking metal! Best regards, Nikolay.