interviews

2011-10 Testimonium Veritatis Germany

Although Aluk Todolo is a rising star on the northern sky, please introduce yourself to our readers.
AH : Aluk Todolo was formed in 2004, we released a 7inch ep , 2 albums, a four way split, a live tape, a collaboration album and a 10 inch ep, and we played 58 shows.

The name Aluk Todolo can be translated as “way of the ancestors” and is borrowed from the religion of the Toraja. What’s your relationship to this Indonesian culture and religion or shall the name represent your animosity against the dominant Christianity?
AH : I have no animosity at all for Christianity. Aluk Todolo the band is not a musical illustration of Aluk To Dolo the religion. We named our band after the Indonesian religion in a romantic sense.

Most of the Toraja became Christians whereupon the old rituals coexist with the Christian ones. There are different agendas about the old rituals being buried in oblivion and a revival of the old traditions, what are your impressions?
AH : My impressions is that this question is not related to our music. I’m not an anthropologist or whatever, but a musician.

As we’re already into religion, you used samples from Aleister Crowley on your first EP, are you into Satanism and why is it life-enriching in your opinion?
AH: First of all Aleister Crowley has nothing to do with Satanism and to my knowledge never claimed to be a Satanist. I personally have no interest at all in Satanism, I am not a Satanist and I do not see it as life-enriching, more the contrary.

As you’re from France what do you think about these French four: Baudelaire, de Sade and the existentialists Camus and Sartre? Do they have any influence over your work?
AH: The writers you mentioned have no influence at all over Aluk Todolo. But since I am French, I will answer : Without intending to be provocative I must say that I never really understood why Baudelaire is so much praised. Marquis de Sade was a genius. Existentialism is an impasse, and to me it just shows how the crisis of the modern world did cripple the mind of a generation of writers. I can name a few of my favourite French writers if you want : André Pieyre de Mandiargues, Villiers de l’Isle Adam, Pierre Drieu La Rochelle, Alfred Jarry, etc…

The flames of London have just been ceased to exist but below the surface the ember is still waiting for another outburst. Is it the same inchoate anger of the youth in London and Paris?
AH: Once again I don’t know why you ask me that, but here is my answer : I don not hang out in the streets so I don’t know, but there is a lot of different ways to revolt against the modern world, and most of them are useless. In my opinion by burning a car, one actually feeds the beast he tries to kill.

Aluk Todolo is always associated with occult rock although you’re far away from Witchcraft, The Devil’s Blood or Ghost. Do you like this denomination as there’s a lot of Krautrock and Psychedelic in your music too?
AH: WE named our music like that for the meaning of the words “occult rock”: By occult, we mean that our music deals, sonically, musically, thematically and aesthetically, with the knowledge of the hidden mysterious powers of cosmos and mind. By rock we mean rock instruments: drums, bass and guitar.

In 2011 you released a collaboration with Der Blutharsch And The Infinite Church Of The Leading Hand. Can you tell us about the way the collaboration proceeded?
AH: Both bands provided each other two basic tracks to work on, and then recorded over it.

Will there be more collaborations or split records in the future? If you had the chance to choose any partner for such a record, which artist would you prefer?
AH : No artist comes to my mind. At the moment I feel like we will not do another collaboration in the near future.

About the music of Aluk Todolo you said you like the strangeness of Krautrock and the coldness of Black Metal. Elucidate what you like about Black Metal and which bands do you think are still relevant today?
AH : I lost almost all interest for black metal. I do not listen to it anymore, except some Ildjarn when I am pissed off enough.

Talking about France and Black Metal we have to drop the names of two circles. Can you depict the meaning of the Noevdia Releases and the Les Légions Noires (LLN) for French Black Metal and your own musical development?
I have no idea of what you are talking about. Nowadays black metal is so much post modern, that its seems that you need a degree in “black metal history” to actually listen to any band and be able to judge if it’s good or bad. I like to listen to music for what it makes me feel. I don’t care if the band is part of a complicated sub division of a genre, and implies theoretical bullshit.

In connection to the death of Nodtveidt you said “Black Metal = Sturm und Drang! I hate psychology, it turns everything into shit.” This impulsive attitude and the primitive sound were links between Black Metal and Punk and bands like Darkthrone were inspired by punk/ crust bands too. Are you interested in punk, crust or hardcore music too?
No I am not. My “impulsive” attitude was motivated by a stupid question which implied to choose between psychology and, let’s say mythology. I should have answered that I don’t care if people commit suicide.

During October you’ll join Stephen O’Malley for some live rituals as support. He’s living in France at the moment but how does it come about this liaison? I guess you like his music and Sunn O)) as there are some drone elements in your music too and he’d also be a nice partner for a split or collaboration, wouldn’t he?
Stephen O’malley is a very talented musician and a very smart person. Sharing the bill with him has been a pleasure. I hope that we’ll do it again.

The layout of your records has an occult touch and primes the listener for the upcoming ritual. How import is the layout and where did you take your inspiration from?
The layout is as important as the music, and we take our inspiration for it from the same “place” where we take our inspiration for the music.

For some time now I’m spinning the Murmuüre LP. They are from France too, do you know them and what do you think about their LP?
I do not know them personally. I have been listening to this Lp and enjoyed it a lot! Very trippy. I own it on vinyl, Matthieu ( bass) offered it to me for my birthday.

The songs of Aluk Todolo were very hypnotic compositions and your collaboration with Der Blutharsch & the infinite church of the leading hand was described as an audible trip. Can you announce the importance of drugs within the creation of your songs?
Here is my announcement : within the creation of our songs, drugs have been of no importance. Or maybe they have been? Does it really matters? I can say that entheogens have been important in the process of the elaboration my psyche, therefore of my music… But what are drugs anyway? They are just tools. By the way you do not need any drug to hypnotise someone or to get hypnotised.

In some tracks you use samples but there are no lyrics and no vocals. Are there plans for new songs with vocals or do vocals restrain the listener from getting lost in your rituals?
Aluk Todolo will stay instrumental . We do not have a singer BUT there are some voices, they are subliminal and if you listen carefully you will hear them.

By the way are there any plans for upcoming live rituals in Germany/ Europe in 2012?
Nothing yet. In 2012 I would like to tour the US again.

Last words shall be yours & please comment on the last ones of Vincent van Gogh too: “La tristesse durera tujours.”
It is “toujours” not “tujours”. It means : “ the sadness will last forever” . What do I think about this? I just feel sorry for the poor Van Gogh. My last words are : the happiness will last forever.