Lord of the Lost is a German industrial metal band from Hamburg, formed by singer and frontman Chris Harms. Since then, the band has grown to include multiple members, produced eight studio albums, and embarked on numerous international tours. They are set to represent Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song “Blood & Glitter.”
Lord of the Lost give us an insight into Eurovision and share some details on their song “Blood & Glitter.” Besides that, we also got a look into their upcoming Liverpool performance and preparations.
Hi! Can you pinpoint a particular moment that made you dive into producing Lord of the Lost sounds?
Chris: I’m a kid of the ’80s, and I mainly grew up on ’80s and then 90’s pop music. Also, if I check my personal Spotify playlists, 80’s pop is dominating. So, I guess my love for these sounds, combined with my love for heavy music and low-tuned guitars, kind of merge naturally and find their way into the sonic foundation of Lord of the Lost.
What drew you to Eurovision this year?
Nothing in particular. We have been trying to compete in the ESC for many years now. And this year, we seemed to fit into the concept, so we got chosen.
As a band, you have more than proved yourselves time and again. How do you feel about the competition element of Eurovision?
Actually, I wouldn’t say I like competition in terms of music in general. Because when you have a winner, you also have losers. But for me, there are no losers in music – if you don’t win, it only means that fewer people voted for you. But you are not a loser. When we “won “the German preliminary decision, of course, I was happy, but also, at the same time, I felt bad for all the others. Because, in my eyes, all of them would have deserved it. They all fought for their careers and existence as musicians all their lives, with passion, with all the sacrifices that come with it and with hard, hard work.
So, of course, it’s a context between countries somehow, but we should never forget that these borders were just manmade; they don’t mean anything. At least they don’t mean anything to me. I am not a patriot. And I do not support the idea of patriotism, and I choose to be proud of the things that I have achieved myself, not some country and its history.
Who’s the one to beat?
My nervousness before and during our performance at the finals.
From what we see, your preparations are very intense. How are they going, and what are your plans from now until May?
All is going well. But telling you all of what’s happening would fill a book. Let’s say our calendars look like a rainbow these days. The main thing making us super busy at the moment is that we will go on tour in Mexico and South America in the second half of April, coming back on May 1st and flying to Liverpool on May 3rd. It’s like living in a whirlwind right now.
What can we expect from your Liverpool performance?
I think the magic in stage performances always comes from the element of the not-expected things. So, don’t expect anything; just enjoy the moment. But, of course, the basic concept for the finals will stay the same. So don’t expect us to come on stage in green dresses, doing ballet dancing.
What inspired you to put together “Blood & Glitter”?
The entire “Blood & Glitter” album was mainly inspired by the eponymous photo book by the British photographer Mick Rock. Everyone interested in the history of rock music, especially the 70’s glam era, should look at this book!
When listeners make their way through your music and hear “Blood & Glitter,” what do you want them to feel? What kind of situation do you see your music accompanying?
I want everyone to feel what THEY want to feel. The beauty of music, or art in general, is that it’s a language nearly everyone understands. But there is no way to understand it right or wrong. Whatever it makes you feel is right. And also, if someone does not feel anything, that’s fine. There’s no accounting for taste.
How do you know when a track is ready? Does it ever become difficult to either refine ideas or stop perfecting?
It’s something that cannot be explained. At least I am not able to explain it. There are two sides to it. First: feeling. You just feel when the creative elements are done, which is just based on personal taste. Second: technical stuff. This is somehow taste-related but also follows certain rules and essential aesthetics of genres. And measurable parameters. If, for instance, the ride cymbal of the drums is ten times louder than anything else in the mix, it’s something obvious to everyone which needs to be corrected. And if music production is your profession, you see all these little details as obvious as that.
Does the conception come first, or does a song evolve naturally – do you have a clear idea of what it will be before you start to make it?
Song ideas can follow the most different dynamics. In the end, a song idea is like any other idea. It comes when you expect it the least.
There are many descriptions of the ideal state of mind for being creative. What is it like for you? What supports this ideal state of mind, and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily?
I am not actively getting creative, and I don’t need a particular state of mind for it. I have this radio in the back of my head, playing unknown music all the time. And sometimes the things I hear there are really interesting. And if this happens, I begin to re-create what I’m hearing on this radio.
What does it mean to play and live in the millennial generation of artists? What do you borrow from those who came before you, and what do you do to push the genre forward?
I think I was born in the last year of Generation X, so thanks for the compliment. But to be serious, I do not like these categories, as I’m not too fond of any categories. Those boundaries and paradigms do not help me, and I don’t need them. So I can’t give you an answer here. Every human being is different, and I believe it cannot be generalized by some “generation category “.
Many artists have an alter-ego on stage that is sometimes the opposite of a real-life person. What’s the main difference between Lord of the Lost, the musicians, and Lord of the Lost, the individuals?
More or less make-up. That’s it.
Guilty pleasure time. What would you say are some of your current most guilty pleasures? All is fair game- food, books, video games, or even cock n’ ball torture, whatever floats your boat. Let us have it.
Categories, music scenes, genres & gate-keepers, being real & being true, dogmas, dos & donts… I am so far away from this kind of thinking. There’s nothing like a guilty pleasure to me. Why be ashamed of liking something that parts of elitist thinking people deem as “cool “? I refuse to play their game. And I want to encourage every person out there, especially the young ones: never be ashamed of anything you like.
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Nicolae Baldovin
