Natalia Kempin is Arcane Grail!

Natalia Kempin is Arcane Grail!!

By Natalia Kempin/Darkzen

First of all I want to thank my friend Natalia Kempin by to do this together!

Singer of russian sympho extreme metal band ARCANE GRAIL in search for the band/projects in Germany (lyric-dramatic soprano. Manners: operatic, "clear", growling)

Photographer (aka Natalia Die Hexe), reporter and vice-editor of www.heavymusic.ru

Freelance photographer for: Legacy - the Voice From The Dark Side Magazine, soundshock.com, powermetal.de, metalstorm.net, lady-metal.com .

Designer (graphic, dessous) and Photomodel

Actually those are the band Arcane Grail! Here some of them!


A band from Moscow Russia, is organized in December 2001, his style is Black Metal with elements of Doom and Death Melodic male and female voice with the meaning of the name means striving for an ideal psychological need in the way that the pursuit of spiritual perfection discovery "Grail" gives the divine power and wisdom mythological image of the Grail itself.


But here Natalia tell us a bit more about it;

Darkzen:

Tell us a little bit more of Arcane Grail!


Natalia: Aha... this is pretty popular question... Well, band was founded by Demether in 2001. I joined Arcane Grail in 2004. At that moment I just left my very first band, which I found through the russian metal magazine Dark City and which name I cant remember. Already:). With that band we recorded only one demo, after which we were noticed by one successful promoter in Moscow, who started to organize us gigs with quite legendary russian metal bands. But as it often happens, fast success spoiled everything, and I left that band and a little bit later joined Arcane Grail... Actually me and Demether studied in the same university, but didnt know of each other... One of his friends, Lidia, came to apply for a job at the same firm, where I worked, and later she introduced us to each other... Actually, she is also a singer and at that time she had a band Concordia. She invited me to work over the few Nightwish covers for Nightwish tribute concert, where she participated with her band, and at the same rehearsal was also Demether, who was supposed to growl (I think we rehearsed some songs from “Oceanborn)”. When he heard my singing, he invited me to join his band – Arcane Grail. So, I did, and together we recorded our first album...



Which genre or style you are playing?

Natalia: its also a very popular question. I will leave it unanswered, because there are a lot of discussions around this topic, and its always fun to read them.


What's behind the name Arcane Grail?


Natalia: I bet, that behind this name hides everything, what Demether imagined, when he had to sit and consider, which name will have his band, hehe.


Who are the members of the band? Tell us about each!


Natalia: well, there are 6 of us. One is owner of a musical label Grail Light Productions, another one – currently leaves in Germany, works as a photographer, photomodel and learns martial arts. Third one is a student and gonna be cool sound engineer one day. So, next albums of Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Behemoth,   Within Temptation and other known bands will be mixed and mastered at his studio for crazy money. Else we have one more photographer and a biker. Biker is a real bandit and whenever our band needs some kind of protection, kinda alike its in series Sons of Anarchy on TV, he is always there with his pack of bastards of steel.

Who plays which instrument you have to guess on your own...


Who writes the songs? Where do you find inspiration? Do songs have ideals or beliefs of band members?


Natalia: songs are getting composed by the band. Each member is allowed to bring the ideas into the working process. Texts are mainly written by Demether, he is Walking Wikipedia, so, its quite easy for him to write texts. At “Arya Marga”, our 2nd album, texts are partly written by me. Concerning inspiration... I dont know wheret Demether finds inspiration, but I find inspiration in my life experience...even when everything is bad …

And of course songs have beliefs of band members... Demether at least writes the texts about how he sees the world, this or that situation and entwines it with all the mythological stuff he reads/knows about. I usually write about the sensual part, describing, for example, the way I would have used to kill someone who betrayed me or lied to me;)...


The cover of your latest LP means?


Natalia: I have no idea... Let it mean whatever you think about when you listen to our music.


Natalia , how does it feel to be a vocalist of extreme metal band?


Natalia: awesome. When I am on the stage, I can push out all my agression, when it comes to such songs as “Imprisoned In The Greatest War” (where I use growling style of singing)... and than to switch to more calm mood as in “Of Snake And Raven” song (where I use classical manner of singing). Actually, it makes my presence on the stage pretty unique. Not much singers can do opera style and growling at once and to have no problems with. I dont have any problems...

Pity, that since I am living in Germany, it happens not often that I tour together with Arcane Grail. But last January we did, and it was great. Netherbird, a great black metal band from Sweden was with us, and I must say they are totally cool guys!... I performed with them at 2 shows, representing “Forever Mornful” song. I hope we will perform together again. And actually I would like to work with them as a vocalist. They are cool – I love their music.


A video clip?


Natalia: if you pay us the production's costs ;)...

Darkzen: haaaaa ok


Tell us about your job as a photographer?


Natalia: I am my own boss when it comes to the most of the concert and live shootings I make. Since I am vice editor and representer of one of the most informative and popular russian musical portals about metal – www.heavymusic.ru , I can choose exactly those events and bands which are interesting for me (and of course for the audience), and to contact them about photography. So far there are rarely any big problems about that.

Lately I started cooperation with some print magazines like Legacy and Dark City, and I hope it brings it's benefits in the future.

I have pretty tight schedule, and not often I can find a couple of days, when I can relax doing absolutely nothing. But of course, I know some photographers, who almost live at the festivals. I adore their power;).

There are always concerts and festivals happening around, and if you want to reach something as a photographer, you have to make a good promotion to your work (of course, your work also must be done good!)... visiting as much events as you can;)... Sometimes its pretty much exhausting and stressy, but in the end, you feel closer to your goals, and it makes you happier... When I have nothing to do, I have a feeling of spending time in vain. I dont know if its work or holidays bring me a bigger stress.

I dont want to speak too much about the projects I planned and which I run already now, but everything will be announced in its time. Only one thing: apart from the live and concert photography I am getting more and more into “People Photography”, shooting portraits and fashion stuff.

Funny thing that so far all of that is anyway connected with the music, cause my models are musicians: drummer of Carach Angren, or founder/guitar player of Agathodaimon or their vocalist ...etc.

Lately I also organized a photofirm, -so, lets see what comes out of that;)!

You can have a look at http://talented-pixels.de/ its a site of mine. I currently work over it. Perhaps, the full version will be ready in few weeks. There you can find many additional examples of how my photos are looking like.

I enjoy making photo shootings and I am pretty much open for discussions concerning ideas about them and finding of the best way for cooperation (budget).

Main thing is to always have interest to learn your profession deeper, to investigate more about it... And to improvise when you work. I know some photographers, whose names are everywhere in press, but their photos look like they are tired from what they do [photography], or very standard...



What else would you like to share?

Natalia: good mood? :)


Thanks my friend! a big kiss!

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