Interview: Sad Whisperings

Welcome to the first interview I've ever done for this blog!  I can't think of a better band to do it with than Sad Whisperings!  This legendary doom metal band recently returned with a great new album called "The Hermit."

I sat down with the band’s mastermind, guitarist & vocalist Alexander van Leeuwen.  Actually, I did it through email but let’s pretend it was highly professional.  At the end of the interview, I will talk a bit about the band’s history and offer links to their pages.  Please check them out if you don’t know them, especially if you’re a doom metal fan.  

So, I’ll get the two most obvious questions out of the way: Why was the band gone for so long and what inspired the return?

We were gone, simply ‘cause things didn't work out at the time...no shows etc etc. What inspired us was that at once we were featured in a book ( Streams of ancient wisdom by Steve Willems) about the scene in Holland and Belgium with a chapter and Vic Records re-released "Sensitive to Autumn" and wanted to release all unreleased demos as well; He said to me, “ Why don't you make a new album?” That was inspiration enough!

Your first album “Sensitive To Autumn,” is considered a classic by quite a few people. Are you conscious of this, how do you feel about it being labeled such? Have you seen the influence Sad Whisperings has had on the scene or is that not something you generally pay attention to? What about modern bands? What band/musician has had, if any, influence on Sad Whisperings going forward?

I'm conscious! This is because people say it often and with shows they call us cult and legendary...I feel honored about it! It's recognition! Some bands buy the re-released album and send me their music and then I hear the Sad Whisperings influences... absolutely cool! I remember my influences so it's awesome to be a part of that cycle! No modern bands or musicians had influence on Sad Whisperings going forward on the songs I wrote.

When you started writing, and later recording, the songs that would become "Strategy of Tension,” and “The Hermit,” did you feel any pressure to meet expectations set by your debut? A lot of bands experience fear of a “sophomore slump” but with the long time between releases, was “The Hermit” treated more like it was a first album again in some ways?

It was, of course, exciting to start writing new material! We put on some pressure to give the best of ourselves! Very soon we discovered that it just naturally came out! We didn't have the debut album in mind, but we surely had in mind what Sad Whisperings is all about: The atmosphere! doom and death combination and the balance, dynamics with clean and heavy parts! “The Hermit,” is the first record for the rest of the band so yes, it was treated like a new album! 

When you decided to bring the band back from the ashes, did you contact any members from the past to join you or did you dive right in with a whole new line up? What other roadblocks did you face getting Sad Whisperings up and running again?

I had contact with Menno the old bass player, but because of his difficulties with his hearing he couldn't play anymore! Aad and Jurgen were for a long time in Sad Whisperings before, so it was obvious I asked them, since we always stayed friends and were in contact often.  As for roadblocks, it took some effort to find somebody for keys! Premnath was tipped! We got in contact and directly did the first show on Dutch Doomdays! We started with Marcel Siegers on drums but pretty soon we switched too Chris Oldenburger, and then things went off pretty smoothly from there...

I would assume one of those roadblocks was how much touring has changed; specifically, how expensive it is now. But then again, have you found that there are more opportunities to tour now in places that were not available originally?

The scene has changed a lot! So far, we did single shows with Pestilence, Carnivore a.d , Cryptosis, Deadhead. Haven't done a tour yet... we have been invited abroad now in three countries, that didn't happen before! One is confirmed and fixed (Germany with Benediction and Mercyless) the other too in option.

Were the songs on the EP and album all new or did you have a lot written up over the years? How has your approach to songwriting changed from now to 30 years ago?

Eleven new songs were written for the ep and album! Some material was on the shelf ( Jurgen’s) but  all my material is new.  My approach hasn't changed in those 30 years! 

Were you keeping up with the underground doom scene at all during the band’s absence? With so many amazing acts out, both older ones still going and many newer ones, were you happy to rejoin the scene or was there some hesitation to enter what is now a flooded market, so to speak?  

I was not keeping up for 100% so with the return we did some discovering of new acts. We got a warm welcome back! That was incredible! Like nothing had changed! On the other hand, with social and new music platforms a lot changed, and you enter a new world!

Though it has a lot of bands in the scene, doom metal, even among metalheads, still seems to be such an esoteric genre. Why do you think that is? Do you think there could ever be a mainstream doom band?

I never thought like this! Black Sabbath is a mainstream doom band... doom metal is not esoteric to me... I think it naturally merges with other styles. For example, Autopsy is a great death metal band! But personally, I adore them because of their doom parts! Paradise Lost is more poppy but I love the old doom parts.  It's also in what scene you live and move to... in the years a lot of subgenres emerged. I prefer to see it all simpler and more general…all as heavy music with some music resonating with you and some not....

What does the future hold for Sad Whisperings? More albums I hope.... ;)

We signed for two albums! I'm already busy with three new songs! We're doing shows this and next year for “The Hermit” and in the meantime we work on the next one! Creativity flows so we're enjoying it! But first we are enjoying the results and reactions on “The Hermit!”

Thank you, Alexander!

Sad Whisperings is a death/doom band from Netherlands, who formed back in 1992.  They hit the doom scene with their 1992 self-titled demo.  The following year they released their full-length debut “Sensitive To Autumn.”   After releasing a string of demos, a compilation and an EP, the band has finally returned with their second full-length album “The Hermit.”

To find physical copies of their music and merch, check out their Bandcamp page.  

For a digital download purchase of "The Hermit," click here

If streaming is more your thing, follow them on Spotify and YouTube. 

Be sure to follow them on their social media pages at:  Facebook and Instagram. 

My review of "The Hermit."