Adrian Hates, lead singer and founding member of German darkwave band Diary of Dreams, chats to Iggy Fenech about the band’s beginnings, the inspiration behind their latest album and their upcoming concert in Malta.
A lot can change in 29 years. Things evolve, tastes alter, industry adapts. But, for those who are true to what they do, time is nothing but the trickling of sand, and while experience helps them grow and get better, their art remains true to its foundations.
That is part of the success of Diary of Dreams (DoD), a German darkwave band that has performed over 600 concerts in 40 countries across the globe since 1989. A band that functions in a rather ‘alternative’ way, as its lead singer, Adrian Hates, has produced the 15 albums and EPs released mostly by himself. In fact, he rarely uses a full band when creating them, with Gaun:A, Dejan, Torben Wendt and Flex, the other band members, joining him mostly when on tour.
This way of doing things has meant that DoD’s evolution was not simply more easily traceable, but more understandable. As Adrian’s understanding of the world grew and he grew with it, his music evolved but remained familiar.
“It’s difficult to fulfill expectations, surprise people and stay true to yourself,” he explains. “Indeed, this is the typical dilemma for artists, which I try to overcome by not thinking about it. I honestly believe it harms your creative process as it limits and conditions what you can and should do. Instead, I believe in trying hard to create the best music I want to create and leave it at that.”
This process of creation is also the process that inspires Adrian to be a musician; and he’s adamant that it’s all about ‘the process’, as even the name of the band, which comes from the first instrumental song he wrote, was a part of it.
“It’s a step-by-step thing,” he says. “The name for our last album, Hell in Eden, took one-and-a-half years to be confirmed. Just three words, but it was the whole process (as I wrote songs and lyrics, background stories to them, compiled photographs and the lot) that made it clear that it would truly encompass the meaning of the album.”
The journey that brought Adrian all the way to create DoD, however, started much earlier in his life: all the way back to when he was a child, and when his parents used to only play classical music. That is still a very evident element in the band’s songs, and one that has merged well with the electronic sound that was all the rage in the 1980s, when he first discovered that there were other genres beyond classical. That, however, brings us to one of the more pertinent questions surrounding DoD: Where do they fit in?
I don’t try to sound like something, or fulfill a cliché or an image
“I don’t try to sound like something or fulfill a cliché or an image or a sound,” he tells me when I ask him about which genre would best describe DoD’s sound. “I like choirs, strings, orchestral sound, piano, which obviously gives the music a Gothic-sounding structure, but I don’t think it necessarily makes it Gothic. But, at the same time, I don’t avoid it sounding that way, it’s just how the music turns out.
“Even so, if I had to choose a genre, I would personally prefer the term ‘darkwave’ [a darker variant of post-punk and new wave music] as it gives more range; or, even ‘alternative’ or ‘indie’ as it’s definitely not mainstream!”
By not categorising the sound of the band, Adrian is also free to roam lands that would otherwise be off limits. Take the band’s latest album, for example. Hell in Eden is about the madness that has consumed the human race, and it wonders if there is an origin to it. If we could pin-point the moment in history when it began... It also takes that a step further and wonders if – in a Matrix-like scenario – we are all controlled by machines, which are feeding on our negative feelings and giving us more in return.
This narrative, as well as those of previous albums including the critcally-acclaimed EgoX and Nigredo, will be explored in Malta this Saturday, April 7, when DoD will perform here for the first time ever. Joining other bands for Malta’s first Gothic, Industrial and Metal Festival organised by Hedes Events, their concert will feature a mix of old and new material.
“The little stage will be (metaphorically) destroyed,” he answers, excitedly, when I ask him about what their fans can expect. “We travel the world doing concerts and we feel very lucky and grateful to be able to live this life. I think that shows in our eyes and in our interpretation, and we will bring the same mindset to The Garage, too.”
Adrian is also excited to come to Malta for more personal reasons though. Having been here on holiday some 15 years ago, he’s looking forward to reseeing all his favourite spots and to hopefully getting in touch with George, a man he and his friends met while here and who was kind enough to show them round. So, George, if you see this, hit us up at the newsroom!
As for the fans, seeing one of their favourite bands wrecking havoc on the stage of the now iconic Garage, is going to be an awesome time.
The line-up
Dark Malta Festival, which is being organised by Hades Events, sees five live acts and two DJs coming together in what promises to be the first large-scale event of this genre to take place locally.
Headlining together with Diary of Dreams is gothic-industrial band Gothminister. With its latest album The Other Side released, rather appropriately, last October on Friday 13, the band is one of the biggest forces on the international gothic scene.
Joining the lineup is Martyrium, perennial metal favourites and harbingers of a strong dose of black metal. The band is known for its trademark air of brutality that stands out on the local underground scene.
Austrian rock/cabaret quintet Lolita KompleX, a unique mixture of goth, rock and metal blended with Japanese visual kei elements are one of the other acts. The self-described ‘bizarre collection of curios’ released their latest album, The Greatest Show on Earth, in 2015.
Maltese symphonic metal band Rising Sunset needs no introduction. The band emerged on the scene back in 2001 and, since then, has pushed boundaries with every new album.
Solo black metal act Saħħar will be bringing to the festival his particular brand of concept works, while DJ Hades and Missy Malice will be on deck duty.
Dark Malta Festival takes place on April 7 at The Garage, Żebbuġ, Malta. Tickets are available online.
https://shop.trackagescheme.com/event/dark-malta/