Actually I had planned to see a great concert with TRISTANIA, Rotting Christ, Vintersorg and Madder Mortem and to do a live review and an interview with TRISTANIA afterwards. For that I even went to Tilburg's 013 in Holland because the only show in NRW was already booked-up for interviews. With an exactly order I started. But, anyway, it seems I'm always under Murphey's law. Things came - again - completely in an other way... So this event got startet already in the afternoon at 4pm for example. I was there - according to the order - on time at 6pm which gave the following result: I missed the first bands (what is a shame because of Madder Mortem) and because there still were some things to work out with the press pass, I only saw the half of the Rotting Christ show. Hmmm, ok, at least the live review was gone down the drain then. At least the things went well with that interview. An half hour after the show I could grill Anders Høyvik Hidle (songwriter and guitars ) and Østen Bergøy (clean vocals ).
(remark: the first three answers are not literal, just analogously, because the dictating machine deigned to strike - Cal)

Dajana: There was pretty a mess because of the replacement of Morten Veland. In the studio Ronny Thorsen of Trail Of Tears helped out. Now, Ølsten Bergøy is back again (you might know him as guest singer on the Angellore song from Widow's Weed album). The real new entry is Kjetil Ingebrethsen, isn't he?
Anders: Yes, I expected this question ... Actually we don't want to talk about that too much. It is just that there were musical differences. And Morten had to leave the band. It wasn't easy for us afterwards, because Morten was the main songwriter. But, I think, in the end it was the best for the band.

Dajana: Are Østen and Kjetil tight band members now?
Østen: Yes, we are.

Dajana: Were there serious differences in songwriting because of the line-up changes?
Anders: Yes, of course. How I said, Morten was one of the composers. And because of the line-up changes we are a different band now. Me and Einar have composed all new songs this time. We also have developed and changed our music. We use a lot more different and various elements now. It is important to us to develop our music.

Dajana: How did the line-up for this tour come about ? I mean, actually in the past we were used to seeing TRISTANIA on tour with other gloomy darkish bands like Anathema, TSOTB ... etc.
Anders: That is a thing of the booking agencies and labels. We got the chance to do this tour with Rotting Christ, Madder Mortem and Vintersorg and it is our headlining tour. Of course it is great.

Dajana: Why have you booked a studio in (South)France?
Østen: Actually it is the same studio where we recorded the previous albums.
Anders: We also recorded Beyond The Veil and Widow's Weed at the Sound Suite Studios. They only kept us from that. After the recordings of Beyond The Veil the producer T.Refsnes removed the whole studio then to France. And we went off to him, because with the time we became better and better with him. So we wanted to use him this time as well.

Dajana: Was there a lot of pressure to compose/ produce a better album than the previous one?
Anders: Yes, of course we felt a pressure. Because Beyond The Veil was a success in every way. And it would be really easy for us just to make a copy of that album. Just like a Beyond The Veil Part II. But, that wouldn't have felt right for us, because it is important for us to have a development between the albums. And I think that is the strength of World Of Glass that we have managed to develop our sound, but still sounding like TRISTANIA. So, of course there was a pressure but, I think, we did the right thing for what we go for.

Dajana: Were there preconditions, specifications or something like that through the label?
Anders: No, they didn't say anything about it. It's an artistic thing about the band. They are just a label and we could never be on a label that tells us what music we have to make. That wouldn't be the right for us.

Dajana: Would you agree with compromises for a major deal?
Anders: No, never! We make the music we feel, we like to make. That's the main thing. We like music. We always do that, in the future as well. To go for commercial reasons or a label I think it is a stupid thing to do because we have an own sound and I think our main priority is to develop that sound and to do what we feel for and not to listen to a label. We are now on Napalm Records. We got offers of quiete many record labels, but this is a label, who told us, if we would sign to this label we would go that way and that direction we wanted to sign and that's that.

Dajana: Corresponds the result of your work on new tracks with that you have planned before or were there new influences and new developments while you were writing and composing?
Anders: Actually the response (little misunderstanding ...*lol* - Cal) for World Of Glass has been very good. And much more than we had expected. We don't think that much about that before we make an album, when you are really into the process, you know? And that's the main thing. Of course it is nice when you see that the album is in the charts or when you see that all the reviews are great instead of that. But that isn't the most important thing, the most important thing is that we are satisfied with that and that we feel it. This album sounds like us.

Dajana: And during the recordings, did you have special goals for the songs, ideas and that ? What you wanted to do?
Anders: Before we enter the studio we have kind of some quite busy months with composing. And it is not like before we composing we don't sit down and say "...hey what kind of music do we want to make this time?". The thing is that we just make music. It's a cliché but it's true that there are two kinds of music. So we don't care which category people put us in. I think, what we tried to do this time as before was just to make music that we like. And if all the people like that, it's really cool. That's what you want of course. I think it is quite important that there is a personal development and that we do our own thing and then the reviews can come and blah blah blah, but the most important think is, how it sounds of course.

Dajana: What do you think about the future of Gothic Metal in general? A lot of old and established bands are already trying longer time more or less sucessfully to get out of this genre. Do you think this style is a one way or dead end street now?
Anders: I don't know if it is a dead end street, but I think a few years ago the labels opened their eyes for Gothic Metal because they sold that to make money. I think the biggest problem is that the labels have signed way too many bands. And the problem is then, that many of these new bands lack of originality and an own sound. I think in the end you will see who will survive or not. Gothic Metal, we don't feel like a Gothic Metal band actually. I think the Gothic part is just one aspect of Tristania. We have many other sides as well, because we are influenced by a many different things. So I think you would be actually wrong when you call us as a Gothic Metal band.

Dajana: Is anything planned in the matter of videos?
Anders: Are there any plans for videos ?
Østen: I don't think so.
Anders: We will make a video in the future of course, but not for World Of Glass.

Dajana: Oh, why not?
Anders: I don't know, why not. Actually we won't do it, if we don't know that it will be a good video. There is a video for Evenfall and it isnt't the biggest video either. But I don't think it is a personal point to make a video just to make a video. You have to have a cool concept for it and you have to have the right track and you have to use a lot of moneys. So, of course, when we sign a new label or resign Napalm Records in any case it's possible to make a video.
Østen: But it is better with no video at all than a bad video.

Dajana: How to handle this expanded life on tour? Is there still any private life? Do you still have time for your families, friends and any hobbies?
Anders: Like you can assume, there is not much. Of course we have to find a balance for that.
Østen: In the summer we got jobs. It is not like that we make a lot of moneys right now. So everything has to fit to everybody. And we are 7 persons now. There is space for other things if you take the time for it. But, right, there is not much time.
Anders: The most important thing is all the members of Tristania their main priority is Tristania! And I think the rule for the band to exist is that everyone is really into it and everyone's dream is to be more on tour and go of course, that's any band's mission.

Dajana: How is it on tour with Vibeke? Do fans and other bandmembers still to get off with her? Does she get immoral offers? How do you (all) deal with that?
Østen: She's one of us.
Anders: We don't think about that. When we are staying at the bus, when we are at the show. We don't think about, there is a girl in a band, between us, in a special way. Because she is one of us and we all are having fun together. And that's why we like to be on tour as well.

Dajana: I can imagine, when Vibeke is among the crowds before or after the show that people, especially men of course, try to give her the come-on.
Anders: Vibeke is very disciplined though, that is not a problem because she got a boyfriend so that is not a problem.

Dajana: How do you deal with that when there are stupid sayings from the crowds during the show like undress calls?
Anders: Normally we don't hear stupid sayings from the crowds during the shows.

Dajana: But I can remember. Yes, I still can remember of some of the stupid postings. It was on tour with Anathema and Tiamat in Germany ...
Anders: Ok, if there is any we don't care about it. That's their problem.
Østen: The audience are not that kind of fans who want to post these shouts or nasty things.

Dajana: Is it easy for Vibeke to be alone on tour as woman?
Anders: I think she can deal with it much better than the most girls. Because our touring situation is a special thing. It is not like any other things in a life or something else. She deals with it much better than any girl I know actually.

Dajana: I just know that from Tarja from Nightwish. When she is a long time on a tour, alone as woman, she's getting kinda mad after a few weeks ...
Anders: Everyone has needs and everyone has its own personality. And the thing is, the members of our band get along together very good. Then we have a good talk, what we talk about and when we had line-up changes in the band as well. It's all about, when you play in a band you can record an album when you are no friends, but the thing is when you're going on tour you are really close to eachother and then you have to like all the other members of the band. Because you life so close together, you see their fucking faces every morning.

Dajana: With which musicians / artists you would like to share the stage or to set anything up?
Anders: As support?

Dajana: For example ...
Anders: I don't know. I think the last tour we did with Anathema and Tiamat was really good for us, because I think right now we are in the position to have a better view between a headlining tours and also to do as support acts for bigger bands. Of course, a tour with Type O Negative or My Dying Bride would be really good. We want both things. It is neccessary to do headling shows and it is neccessary to do support acts to be showed to new people.

Dajana: On November a new Green Carnation album is coming up. Is Vibeke going to be part of it again?
Anders: No. She never has been a part of Green Carnation.

Dajana: But she did sing on the last album ...
Anders: Yes, she was just a guest musician on the album. But the thing is their label, their promotion and their work for that album. It was like a new band of ... blah blah ... Emperor and Vibeke from Tristania and ... blah blah blah. The thing is she knew a couple of guys and she said yes to join the studio and to help them out. But I think, their record label has done a quite shitty, sleazy promotion for that album, because in all big magazines it was called as a new band of Vibeke from Tristania. So of course, she doesn't want to do it again. That's why she doesn't appear on that new album.

Dajana: What was your most embarrassing event so far on tour?
Anders: [laughing] ... what kind of question is that? No idea ... um ... no idea. 99% of the members on tour are really good because we like them on tour. And ... I don't know ... I don't know any embarrassing event.

Dajana: TRISTANIA was a long time an insider's tip of this scene, to get terrifically popular extremely fast then. How do you judge this development, how did it feel for you?
Anders: Of course it is great. That's why we play in a band, that's a dream. I was 17 years old then when we got this record deal in 1997 and of course that's a big thing. I think we have been with the right music at the right time and I also think that we have been extremely lucky with everything that it has gone very quick with us. I think it is quiete important when the band is growing, that you have in your mind, when your are lucky in this position, not to turn into a rock star. It is very important, to feel your ground and just to enjoy the whole situation. If I start to fly, then I have a problem I think.

Dajana: Have things changed a lot in this time because of that?
Anders: Yes, of course they have.

Dajana: What things?
Anders: In every way. We had have the line-up changes. The band now is totally different from the band with Morten. I think we are more common now when we are on tour. I think for us this tour is very imprtant because we are having a good time and that's what I told about, to enjoy.

Dajana: Do you notice any differences between how the audience is treating you, dealing with you now and in the past?
Anders: I think the audience so far has been very good. But I also think that we have something to prove because one of our main songwriter is away. And we have a new line-up, so of course we have something to prove. But we tried to be ... um ... we start with a totally new sound on World Of Glass. And people don't know that sound. So people are wondering, what is this, what is over ? And then you see that they like it and then you get a good communication between the band and the crowds.
Østen: There is also a differences between the countries. The German audience is not too much into the new thing. It seems like they want more the harder parts than here in Holland and also in Belgium. The crowds have been great!
Anders: But also The World Of Glass, some of the songs are probably the hardest we ever made. And some of the songs are softer. So, I see the people in different countries are into different kind of songs. Each crowd has its own favourits. But all in all it is really good.

Dajana: If I have noticed it right, you just have played 2 new songs?
Anders: 3.

Dajana: Why not more?
Anders: Because of the late release date of the album. The album was released when we already were on tour. So it doesn't make sense when you see the crowds are not into the new songs, just into them they know. We play for the fans and not for ourselves. So we had to find a balance to play some new songs and it's also important to play songs from Beyond The Veil and Widow's Weed because they know them.
Østen: If we would have start our tour maybe one month later after the album release, of course we would play more of the new songs. And when we are at home in November at this one show then, we will play more new songs then.

Dajana: Apropos, is there any competition between TRISTANIA and The Sins Of Thy Beloved? I mean, your band histories are pretty similiar at least.
Anders: I don't know. I think we are not the same at all. I think that are 2 completely different bands. We are friends, we know them well. I guess our previous releases have more commons with TSOTB than this new one. They are cool people and it doesn't has any effect on the direction the band is going. We don't care about, what other bands are doing or what music they make. You can't think that way when you are recording a good album. There is just one thing to hope that people like it.
Østen: Music is not a competition. Not to us.

Short cuts:

Your favourite food and beer?
Anders: Beer ? Heineken is pretty good (that's what they are drinking all the time - Cal)
Østen: We drink whatever they serve us.

Your favourite album ? Last album you have bought?
Østen: New Anathema album.
Anders: Yeah, new Anathema album is really good. For me the album of the year until now is Muse - Origin Of Symmetry. And beside of that all of us are into different kind of music. We listen from Black Metal to Classic. The varieties in music is really important to us. So, I think it is a good thing to be open minded.

Last show ( not your own of course )?
Anders: I saw TRITANIA tonight ... (wow, didn't expect that *lol* - Cal)
Østen: Last show I have seen was a Finnish girl punk band called Thee Ultra Bimboos. They were really good.
Anders: Last show I have seen was Coldplay and The Dandy Warhol's at a festival in Norway.

Dajana: What about Wacken Open Air? You played there 2 years ago?
Anders: Yes, in 1999. We will try to come back next year. Because of the album recording and line-up changes we had to cancel all the festivals this year. We played a lot festivals in the past until 2000 in Europe, what was really cool. It's a big opportunity to reach out to the fans. We already have booked some festivals for the next sommer. And I hope we will play many other festivals in Europe too.