1. What does the name Asrai mean?
The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who turn to a puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight. In way they are unreachable....
2. So Asrai was formed in 1988. What has held the band together all these years?
Our believe in the songs of Asrai. The vibe we're getting, being on stage, creating now songs together. Asrai brought us a lot of good things. We met through the years so much nice and talented people. We came in a lot of different places. And with the other band members, it really deepens our friendship.
3. Your 1st album "As Voices Speak" is hard to get in the U.S. Are their any plans to have it re-released?
Although we would like to, we can't. We released As Voices Speak in depend in the Netherlands. A short time after that release, we were noticed by a German record company; Poison Ivy records. They released the re-mastered version of the album. Unfortunally the company went bankrupt. The good news it, As voices speak is still available, but only at our website. www.asrai.net
4. "Touch in the Dark" is an outstanding album. After so many years of hard work, how did it feel to release an album of such great work?
We were so thrilled. Especially with in our minds what we all been trough. Years ago our former guitarist and bassist quit the band after being together for almost eight years, because they didn't want to be on stage anymore. This was happening just before we wanted to record As Voices Speak. Karin and I had a different ambition and gladly enough we found in a short time notice another guitar and bass player. A couple of month after this line-up change we recorded As Voices Speak. Short time after the release in The Netherlands and Germany the record company went bankrupt. And this time it took a while before it came clear that the new band members didn't share our enthusiasm towards Asrai. This time it wasn't easy to find the right guitarist, but we did when Rik joined Asrai. We recorded a demo-cd and short after Transmission Record received this one. We were signed by them. For us a big compliment, and a new beginning. We enjoy all the things what comes with the record. We played for so long in the underground, and there were times that it was hard to get a gig, because in those times they couldn't stigmatize our music. So it's great to see that people enjoy our songs.
5. There of course is a heavy 80's influence in your sound. Who from that time inspired the band the most?
The energy from Punk music and bands as Joy Division, The Cure, Nick Cave, Diamanda Gallasa£á| great atmosphere.
6. So we have a release date for the new album SEPT 6th. What can you tell us about it?
Well, the release data will be later. Right now we are working on new material. We had some tragedy in our personal lives, so we weren't always able to focus on the CD. But I think it gives the new songs more intension..
7. Will we see Asrai play any tour dates in the U.S.?
We love to do so and we keep it in mind. As soon there's a possibility, we will play in the US. And you will be the first to know.
8. On a personel level, what does Asrai mean to you?
So much, I can't imagine a life without Asrai. One of the reasons to start the band was doing this together (for Karin and me). As being Twins it's very important to do things together. We started the band in a time that we left home. And for school I moved to another city, our lives were getting it's own way. Trough the years we did so much together. And we wanted to keep this close connection. We had (and still have) a lot of fun, learned a lot and it gave us a manner to express our feelings/emotions. Making music can be so intense and that made our connection even stronger.
9. With all the things happening in the world today. Terrorism, natural disasters etc...Do you think these tragedies draw people closer to dark music or push them away?
The dark side was never away, just waited patiently. In the underground scene politics and criticism were always a strong item. I guess that the perfect world isn't that obvious anymore. And terrorism, war, racism, child abuse, pollution, disasters is a mirror what confronted us. I think that music can comfort you. People recognized their thoughts, disturbing and emotions in so called dark music.
10. With oppressed places like Afghanistan and Iraq becoming free. Would you ever consider playing shows in places like that?
I guess that countries like Iraq and Afghanistan are not ready for bands like Asrai. It's forbidden to go to a club, so.. Both countries are very disturb and torn by war, religion and grief. The youngsters have first overcome other issues; freedom of speech, female equality. The people have to break with very old traditions before it even got a change. And I think I won't live long enough to experience all this.
11. Why do you think Gothic culture and music is more accepted in Europe than in the U.S.?
That's a difficult question. Maybe Europe has a long history of mystical, legends of fairies, dwarves, gnomes, witchcraft etc. People had always the need to find the deeper truth and the answer of an after live. I don't know, but I think that the all American dream is more focused on the earthly carrier what should give satisfaction, but also a lot of pressure. And I don't know if Gothic music is always so much more accepted. Even in Europe, people are not always so open minded, there's a big different between tolerances towards subcultures. Most of the time religion plays a big part in this. It's nice to notice that there's a lot of interest in Gothic music.
12. Where do get inspiration to write this style of music?
We developed it through time. Our roots are in the 80's. With the band changes we had several influences and that made the style more mature. We make our number by jamming and there's no musical leader. So our emotions are an impotent ingredient.
13. Who are some other bands out today that you think are really great?
Bands from today who are really great... That's a very personal question. Music had to touch me. And it doesn't always mean that you have to be a brilliant technical musician, for being a good artist. Sometimes it's just the vulnerability of a song what hits you the most. A good album can be great but for me personally stage performance is a big issue as well. A lot of bands produced a great album but are a chaos on stage. Or are just a bunch of indivualists who plays together on the same stage. But that doesn't always make you a band with a great impact. It has to be the whole package. And I believe there are more than enough great live bands who didn't had the opportunity, and most of all enough money to do a good recording. I guess there are loads of great bands I never heard of. And we got aware from that when we where on tour. And we met several good bands. For example; when we played in Spain we met Skunk DF, and exchanged our cd's and when we drove through the endless road of Spain,..the album never left our cd player. In Mexico we played together with the Canadian band; The Birthday Massacre. We like this band also very much
14. What do you want fans to get from your music?
I hope that they recognize some of the emotions in it. And we hope that it will give some of them to make the inspiration of making music.