Salute dear comrades! What is the latest news from the band and what is it current state and plans for 2013?
Buddy: Well, our vinyl reissue of "Mind Journey" has just been released. It’s basically the same as our promo album but almost completely re-recorded, remixed and remastered. For 2013 we have a LOT of plans. At least 2 full albums we have been working on for a while now… We hope to release the first one around February. We are also talking to several bands about a split album, but nothing is concrete yet.
So what is with these two new works? How has Ayahuasca Dark Trip developed since release of “The Unknown Trip” in 2011?
Brayan: I think we have grown a lot, not only musically, but also conceptually. Indy’s vocals and Sifis sonic confussion were the missing cherries in the cake. As we said on a previews interview, we’re going deeper and deeper into drone -ritual music, keeping the heavy rock idea.
Oh, I guess that you had some changes in a line-up, so next question is who are all of these people behind Ayahuasca Dark Trip?
Brayan: Trippy pot-heads playing drone music all around the world! The whole Cosmic Nod line-up (Buddy, Floris and Robin; the Dutch department), Queen Elephantine’s Indy (He’s from India but lives in the USA), Necronomicon’s Pedro (Brazilian) and Viridiana’s Sifis (Greek).
I have a question for Indy: man, you’re still running Queen Elephantine band – do you have something new to share?
Indy: Yes sir, the fourth Queen Elephantine album "Scarab" will be released in a month! You can preorder the album from our website.
And Indy, what’s the hell? You were starting original drone project Throne of the Void in the Hundred Petal Lotus, but there’s nothing new from this side as some people would like to get full-length album of the project or at least Ep. What are your plans about it? Did you already bury the project and just forget about it?
Indy: Thank you for asking. Throne of the Void in the Hundred Petal Lotus… after a while, we realized we could go deeper when we stopped playing public shows, so we only played for ourselves. Then, we took it a step further, and figured we could go deeper by not playing at all, simply existing in the Throne of the Void. The other thing that happened is that every member of Throne joined Queen Elephantine to make “Scarab”, and we were focused on that for a long while. But, actually, we're still planning to record our full length album this year. I don't know if anyone will put it out or want it, but we're going to do it.
Okay, let’s return to Ayahuasca Dark Trip, which of your song does represent the band best? Which one makes you really proud of it?
Buddy: For me personally that would have to Manantial from the "Falling Down" compilation. I really like the vibe of that track, and we used a lot of exotic instruments in it. I hope/think we will be making more tracks like that in the future.
Robin: “To the Holy Mountain”, the drums and bass were originally recorded as a Cosmic Nod track, and the result by Ayahuasca Dark Trip makes for a good trance to get into.
Which doom / metal / rock releases were most significant for you in 2012?
Buddy: I think 2012 was a pretty poor year, I don't know why...a fucked up economy maybe? Very few releases, at least of bands i listen to regularly. Some which i really liked where the new Bong album, and the new Horseback. My favorite for 2012 has to be Switchblade – 2012 though. There probably are several more but i don't remember...
Floris: Well, I don’t know many either, but She Said by Colour Haze is nice!
Sifis: Best release for 2012 is Om
Indy: Swans - The Seer.
Brayan: Bong - Mana-Yood-Sushai / Kadavar – Kadavar / Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons Of Light II. I’ll add a non-rock album: First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar (Killer album!)
Robin: I have to agree 2012 was a poor year, but I liked the new Bong and Switchblade.
Well, it’s February, but you bloody know why I’m asking it: what is the best present you got at this New Year / Christmas?
Buddy: That would have to be the vinyl release at Musicbazz/Cosmic Eye.
Floris: Yeah the release and my first ayahuasca experience. It was the most beautiful experience I've ever had. Since its absolutely impossible to explain what happened in words, don't take it too seriously, but I’ll try to explain it a litte. It was a three day ceremony with 16 people (3 of them guided us). My first meeting with the grandmother was full of love and care. She showed me my life, where I was doing the right thing, and where I could and should improve. She showed the true nature of reality and life, and teaches you to love yourself and others. This is truly a medicine, and I'm convinced of the huge power and knowledge hidden within this experiences. I have changed for the good after this. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have such an experience, and I'll definitely take any chance to experience it again. Brayan, next year Peru right?
Brayan: The releases of ADT and Montibus Communitas at Musicbazz/Cosmic Eye and a small bag of mushrooms. Floris, sure man!
Wow, as it’s still exotic experience and some of our readers maybe forgot it, I would like to ask you share few more words about your last practice with Ayahuasca.
Floris: Ayahuasca is a sacred medicine used primarily in South America in shamanic rituals. It is said to be "10 years of psychotherapy" in one session. It helps people to get rid of all their negative patterns, depressions and addictions, and to become a happier and better person. It gets you in touch with your spiritual self. The active ingredient in the brew is dimethyltryptamine (or DMT, also called "The Spirit Molecule"), in combination with an MAO-I to make it orally active. It has been scientifically proven to have lasting positive effects on peoples mental health and life, and have no lasting negative consequences for the body (during there could be some discomforts like throwing up, diarrhea etc., which is all part of the cleansing). However, since there is an MAO-I involved, one should be very careful and research a proper diet before taking part in a ceremony.
If you take the ayahuasca with the right people (guidance is VERY important). This is truly a medicine, and should be threaded as such. I honestly believe that ayahuasca has the power to change the world, and open people up to the true nature of reality. The experience itself is to personal and abstract to really explain. It's different for every person, and different every time you take it. Ayahuasca gives you exactly what you need in your life right now, to get to that next level.
Well, this question came pretty easy because two days ago I was enduring worst hangover for 2012. What was your worst hangover? After which drink / substances did you get it and what did you do to reach such amazing results and how you survive it?
Floris: My worst one this year is the first days of 2013, a combination of weed, alcohol and acid as the final hit on NYE. Awfully hot and loud at the party, got home in a cab. Puked for a week.
Indrayudh, Sifis, Pedro, Brayan, Buddy and Robin: We're immune to alcohol, bass players are wimps.
Okay, then take care Floris! Thanks for sharing your knowledge guys, don’t protract with new album. Good luck! And please share few more words of ancient wisdom with our readers.
“All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. ... Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.”
― Carlos Castaneda
Interview By Aleks
Bandcamp