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interview with Mikaela Akrenius: Keyboards for Renascent
September 30, 2006
CLICK HERE FOR OUR ALBUM REVIEW OF RENASCENT
After watching a documentary on the evils of death metal music I popped in
a cd by Renascent. It was one of the most intense and skillfull death metal
influenced bands I had ever heard. The depth and quality of their musicianship
is absolutely amazing. But even more amazing than that is their boldness
to minister to others about Christ.
Renascent was officially formed in the beginning of the year 2003, when Eero and
Mikaela got in contact with Jani. It turned out that they shared a similar idea
about a new band and making new music. The decision to form Renascent was made,
and within a week Voitto Rintala joined it. Jani and Eero started composing new
songs with Mikaela composing her parts, and the first training session with the
whole band was held during summer 2003. Though the second guitarist and the
singer were still missing, the band decided to record their first MCD Demons'
Quest during autumn 2003, with Eero being the temporary singer. During summer
2004 Renascent got a singer, Barry Halldan from Sweden, and Pekka Taina as
second guitar for gigs. In March 2005 Renascent recorded its first full-length
album Through Darkness in Skara, Sweden. Renascent is located at Helsinki,
Finland.
Wanna take a listen? www.myspace.com/renascentmetal
Dennis: The name Renascent has a beautiful
meaning. Could you explain the band's name to our readers and also explain how
you got the name?
Mikaela: According to the Webster Dictionary (1913), the
meaning of 'renascent' is \v\'e4\v0 "springing or rising again into being;
being born again, or reproduced". To us the name refers to the concept of
being born again or to be born of the Spirit in Christianity (John 3). Themes of
rising into being also remind me of fellowship with God and rising above
surrounding circumstances, but I think each can find their own correspondences
in Christianity for the definition of 'renascent'. The name was proposed by our
former drummer Jani in 2003, when we founded the band.
Dennis: The music of your band is extremely intense and your latest album,
Through Darkness, is one of the most amazing albums I have heard this year. The
melodic keyboard effects have a magical mix with the brutal progression of the
rest of the music. How do you as artists incorporate some many different
influences into your music and what are some of your musical influences?
Mikaela: Well, I guess the reason for so many different
influences in our music lies in the way we composed that album. First, either
Jani or Eero composed the basis of the song (guitars and drums) and after the
guitar version was finished, I composed the keyboards. So in a way all the songs
are based on two persons composing their own style of music. We all listen to
different kinds of music and our musical tastes differ, so our compositions have
different "flavors" so to speak. Personally, I don't think I can name
any specific musical influences: I have been listening to very different types
of music during my life, of which some I have liked more than others. Quite rare
bands have made more than one or two songs that I like, but generally I like
either sad and emotional or powerful (meaby symphonic) music with a good,
uplifting message.
Dennis: Has the band performed in the US? Do
you have any plans in the near future to perform in the US?
Mikaela: We haven't performed in the US, but of
course it would be nice to play there if it becomes possible.
Dennis: A couple nights ago I watched a documentary on death metal music
and primarily it's reaction in Europe with the church burnings and things.
They were blaming the music and the message for murders, violence and
other things. How do you think music and lyrics effect listeners?
Mikaela:
Well, I think this is a profound question, but I will try to keep my
answer short.
I think that music and lyrics of course influence people at least in some
level. It is obvious that if you listen to a certain message very much or
for a long time, it will finally start to affect your thinking (see Romans
10:17 for instance: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God"). Yet, I don't think that the effect music has on listeners
is only a question of whether you listen to certain music or not, because
I don't think the same lyrics affect everyone in the same way. Some people
are more sensitive to certain type of lyrics than others, and people have
different motives for listening the music they listen to: some for
instance listen to it because they like the lyrics, some ignore the lyrics
and listen to it because of purely musical interest.
Regarding music and message, I think it is important that we don't connect
a genre of music to a certain message. For instance, in the Old Testament,
the same instruments that were used to worship God (2 Sam. 6:5, Ps. 150)
were also used at sinful parties (Isa. 5:12). So some instruments were not
holier than others: what mattered was what those instruments were used
for. In the same way, all music genres can be used to convey different
messages and I believe that you can use any instrument or musical genre to
make music for God if you use the right words and have the right attitude
in your heart. I even think that it is important to have Christian music
in all genres, firstly because it is a way to present the gospel in a
different context for people from different musical cultures (for instance
Paul adapted himself to his current environment for the gospel's sake, 1
Cor. 9:20-23). Secondly, it enables Christians to listen to the kind of
music they like without constantly having to separate the music from the
lyrics in their minds - at least I can't really enjoy music unless it has
a message that I can agree upon.
Dennis: I have had many people ask me how Christians could play or listen
to death metal type music. In fact my wife said that when we were watching
the documentary. I then went
and read her the lyrics of your album and she was amazed with the message
behind it. In your country are people surprised when they hear you and
notice that your lyrics are all about Christ?
Mikaela: I think that in our country heavy metal is
such a popular phenomenon that people don't have many prejudices about it.
Yet, it is true that many people I have told about our band have been
quite surprised because they have thought that there is a controversy
between Christianity and heavy metal.
Dennis: The title of your album is Through Darkness. What lead you through
the darkness into choosing Christianity?
Mikaela: Actually, metal music played a role in me
becoming a Christian. I wanted to play keyboards in a band, so I was
searching for one and finally ended up in a band in which Jani and Eero
played. After a while I started to know them better and Eero told me about
Jesus and Christianity, until finally I gave my life to God.
Dennis: How is the death metal music scene different in Finland and
European countries than in the US?
Mikaela: I think that it is probable that people
know many same bands within each metal scene. But I really can't say
anything for sure, because the only scene I have seen in some extent is
the Finnish metal scene, so I don't even know what's going on in other
European countries and in the US. I think that in some genres in Finland
people are quite serious about metal.
Dennis: The lyrics to "Warriors of the Morning" are amazing and
full of passion. What is the
story behind that song?
Mikaela: The story is actually quite simple. I am
subscribed to a prophetic e-mailing list, and one day in July 2004 I
received an e-mail that contained a prophecy by Bill Burns. It spoke to my
heart, and I got a strong feeling that I should do lyrics based on it for
our next album. Already before that I had thought that I would like to
write strong and encouraging lyrics for our next album. So I e-mailed
Burns and asked for his permission to use his prophecy in our lyrics, and
after receiving a positive answer I arranged the prophecy for one of
Eero's songs.
Dennis: So many of us as Christians are judged by our image.
I know a take a lot of criticism for my tattoos and piercings.
In Galatians it tells
us that God does not look at outward appearance.
DO you as death metal artists ever face that same ridicule in
Finland or in your travels? How would you encourage those Christians
reading this to handle those situations where they are being judged?
Mikaela: I don't think I have ever been criticized
for my appearance, though I sometimes (but very rarely) have been
criticized for the kind of music I play. Personally I think that God can
give specific wisdom for a certain situation, but generally it is
important to act according to the principles of the Bible. That is to act
in love, to forgive, to pray for those who judge you and to rely in God's
help in every situation.
The Bible tells us that "it is better, if the will of God be so, that
ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (1 Peter 3:17) and
that "a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up
anger" (Proverbs 15:1). With living a pure life for God and loving
our brothers and sisters, we can melt many prejudices that people have,
because people often observe our way to live and behave and "the tree
is known by his fruit" (Matt. 12:33). The Bible also says that
"in many things we offend all" (James 3:2), so I think it is
also important to forgive those that have judged us, because we all make
mistakes in our actions and our opinions. We can also always pray for
those judging us (and for ourselves too) that God would open their eyes to
see and their mind to understand. In any case, if we follow God with a
pure heart, it doesn't matter what everyone else says, because He is our
Judge, not other people, and if He is for us, who can be against us (Rom.
8:31)? The Bible tells us not to judge according to the appearance, but to
judge righteous judgment (John 7:24), so the only thing that matters is
whether our own hearts are right with God or not. As long as they are, we
can trust God to help us in every situation.
Dennis: If you could pick any band to tour with who would it be and why?
Mikaela: Frankly, for me it doesn't really matter. I
think that touring with any band could have both good and bad sides, but
of course it would be nice to get well along with the members of the other
bands.