NAMELESS ORCHESTRAL PROJECT
Listening to Nameless Orchestral Project’s second EP, “Darker than Darkness”, it is hard not be struck by the sheer intimacy and mournfulness of the sound they have achieved. Mixing up diverse elements from the dark ambient, black metal, rock and acoustic fields, N.O.P give the impression of being both unique and fragile, a highly personal assembly of ideas which nevertheless has the power to engage wholly with a listener. I caught up with main creator Ben Daniel to find out more.
Hierophant Nox: Hi Ben, how are you doing?
Ben: Not so bad, thanks.
Hierophant Nox: I’ve been listening to “Darker than Darkness” for the past week and have found it really interesting- what was your musical aim when you started to create the tracks? Was there a certain sound you hoped to capture?
Ben: I have no particular aim when I create a song… It just has to sound good to me and new compared to what I’ve already done or heard elsewhere. Globally, I only wished this new album will be different to “Gott Ist Tot”.
Hierophant Nox: The demo has been available for a short time; have you received positive feedback from listeners and the press?
Ben: The feedbacks are very encouraging. They’re not all completely positive of course, but they’re constructive criticism.
Hierophant Nox: You’ve said that ideally you would re-record this album, particularly the vocals, which you do not like. In what ways would you seek to change the album?
Ben: First, I would like all the lyrics I wrote for this album, to be sung. Musically, I wish for a better sound and particularly more arrangements. I don’t want it with a debauch of weird sounds like on “Gott Ist Tot” but something a little more complex than the guitars/bass/drums trio that it is now.
Hierophant Nox: Jef Le Lin is credited with writing some of the tracks; I believe he has left Nameless Orchestral Project? How did this come about, and are you going to continue as a one man project or seek other members?
Ben: Jef himself have different versions on why he left NOP… First, he told about his opposition with NOP’s visual. But he probably became aware of how ridiculous his statements were. Lately, he speaks about some musical disagreements between us on NOP’s musical genre… But the truth is that we both knew since the beginning what would become to “our” music. When we started to record “Darker than Darkness” he seemed pretty enthusiastic and then became the lazy bastard who never said clearly he’ll do nothing, even vocals… And guess what? Now, this fucker wants to come back for sing on the 3rd release! Except for occasional featuring or maybe for lives, I won’t seek other members. It’s way easier to do everything on my own.
Hierophant Nox: The idea for the band began back in 2000, when you created some of your lyrics. What inspired you to begin this project?
Ben: My sexual frustrations versus rockstars way of life, I guess… More seriously, my very first lyrics were inspired by heartbreak, and then I wrote on other themes. But I wrote all of them with the idea I’ll use them for songs, even though I didn’t play any instrument at this time.
Hierophant Nox: The name of the project is strange but it is difficult to forget; what made you decide on ‘Nameless Orchestral Project’ as a name? Was there ever a plan to adopt another name or is it a statement in itself?
Ben: It was made step by step. First I thought of “Nameless” but I’ve heard of at least 10 bands with this name. So we thought of adding “Project”, but there is already something else called like that. Finally, I decided to put “Orchestral” in the middle.
I don’t remember if I seriously thought about another name.
Hierophant Nox: In 2007 you released “Gott ist Tot”; what developments were there between that release and “Darker Than Darkness”?
Ben: There were none in terms of composition, because they were composed in parallel. But the way I wanted this album sounds was clearer than for “Gott Ist Tot”, the tracklist was defined before recording and we knew exactly what we’ll have to play… Unfortunately, due to Jef’s dereliction, “Darker Than Darkness” suffers the same confusion as on “Gott Ist Tot” (music not well performed, absence of some lyrics, shortened or absent songs, etc…)
Hierophant Nox: A release each year is quite active for the music world; do you find that you have an abundance of ideas for songs, or are there times when you experience difficulties writing?
Ben: Actually the two next albums (as for the two previous) were already composed when we started to record “Gott Ist Tot”. So it’s quite easy now, to release one by year… I don’t think I particularly experience difficulties. Writing is what I enjoy the most in musical creation, which should help. But I don’t wait for inspiration to come; I work my riffs with a lot of trial/errors in the process.
Hierophant Nox: Are you primarily a guitarist or did you learn a different instrument first? When you develop a new song, do you start with a small idea such as a riff or movement, or do you sketch out the whole structure of the song?
Ben: Guitar was the first instrument I learned. It influences my compositions of keys, with chords for example, because I build them like guitar chords most of time. A new song always starts with a riff and grows up quite naturally, but I can’t predict what will be its final structure.
Hierophant Nox: Some of your lyrics seem highly personal, for example on “Spleen”. Does writing them provide you with emotional catharsis? Despite the fact they cannot be clearly heard, are your lyrics a significant element of the project?
Ben: I wrote these lyrics with this end in view. It’s like psychotherapy. All those feelings I kept inside for years are sublimated in my lyrics. As a result, they only have meanings for me and eventually for those I’m talking about in them. And they’re not significant because NOP will become all instrumental in a couple of albums… I even find some of them ridiculously clichéd compared to the music they come with.
Hierophant Nox: At other times you seem to explore wider philosophical truths; what are the ideas and ideologies which inspire you?
Ben: It was especially right for “Gott Ist Tot” where you can find conceptual influences of Cioran, Camus and Nietzsche on some of the lyrics. But for “Darker Than Darkness” there is no more philosophy, except Schopenhauer’s on one song.
Hierophant Nox: At times, “Darker Than Darkness” is very bleak (as you would expect with a title like that!), but in “The Untitled Song” and “Grey” there seems to be more hope. Is that a fair description of the way the lyrics progress?
Ben: I don’t think it’s really hope. “Grey” is more about an unusual and incongruous joy that seems very strange and so, quite difficult to enjoy… But, of course, if you are not totally pessimistic you jump at this chance for hope. I don’t see the procrastination and lack of motivation of “The Untitled Song” as hope.
Hierophant Nox: Are there any musicians or acts who have particularly influenced the music you create in Nameless Orchestral Project? What is your view on musical genre and musical experimentation?
Ben: Not particularly. I think every musical genre I enjoy could be an influence.
My view on musical genre is that is the boundary we need for experimentation. Experimentations and so-called avant-garde music are possible because there are genres to transgress.
Hierophant Nox: You are currently seeking a label home for Nameless Orchestral Project; what sort of label and deal are you looking for? Where should interested parties go to find out more and contact you?
Ben: A label that is not focused on a genre exclusively because that’s not what I do with NOP – explore a genre, exclusively. For the deal, I don’t really know… I think being on a label will be like an approval of my music. More information could be found at www.myspace.com/namelessop and you can contact me at schizoidexil@hotmail.com
Hierophant Nox: Lastly, what are your future plans and ambitions for Nameless Orchestral Project?
Ben: Get signed to a label. Record the 3rd NOP’s release. Release a tribute to Pink Floyd’s The Wall (with the help of musicians from all around the world). Re-record “Gott Ist Tot” and “Darker Than Darkness”.
Hierophant Nox: Many thanks for your time; if you have any further messages for the world, please go ahead:
Ben: What a fair foot, Jef! What a fair foot!
