Violet (band)
| Violet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Medieval music , trip-hop , indie |
| founding | 1996 |
| Website | www.violet-net.de |
| Current occupation | |
Guitar, whistling, electronics |
Oliver Pietsch |
Singing, dulcimer, recorders, harpsichord, rauschpfeifen, electronics |
Bianca Stücker |
Bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy |
Rainer Janssen |
violin |
Markus Bosser |
Acoustic and electric bass |
Lars Kappeler |
Drums |
Gerwin Spalink |
Violet is a German band that takes up various historical influences.
biography
Violet have been active in the Gothic, Middle Ages, Steampunk and independent scenes since 1996. The current line-up has consisted of Bianca Stücker (vocals, dulcimer, harpsichord, rauschpfeifen), Oliver Pietsch (guitar, rauschpfeifen), Markus Bosser (violin), Rainer Janssen (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy), Lars Kappeler (bass) and Gerwin Spalink ( Drums). Bianca Stücker and Oliver Pietsch founded the band in 1996. Markus Bosser (violin) joined them in the same year, soon followed by Rainer Janssen (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy), Chelsea Bock (bass) and Martin Duda (drums, percussion). Violet played first concerts with this line-up. In 1999 Violet got their first record deal with Autogram Records, on whose sub-label costbar the first album was released in September . With the successor Omnis mundi , Violet were able to increase their level of awareness and toured through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 2006 the band switched to Equinoxe Records, where The Book of Eden was released in 2007 , a concept album that musically illustrated Kai Meyer's novel The Book of Eden . The music was created in close collaboration with the author at his request. In 2009 stylistic changes became apparent, the fourth studio album, Modern Life , had barely any medieval elements, especially visually. The Violet Tribe project developed around the same time, and the steampunk aesthetic was reflected in the work of both groups. Lars Kappeler (bass) and Gerwin Spalink (drums) have been permanent Violet members since 2010.
Instruments
Violet combine the use of instruments from early music with guitar, (electric) bass, drums and electronics. In this context, dulcimer, bagpipe, violin, recorder, harpsichord, hurdy-gurdy, rauschpfeifen, saz and percussion are used.
style
Violet move stylistically outside the genre boundaries of typical medieval rock (e.g. represented by Saltatio Mortis, In Extremo and others); rather, comparisons with Faun or Qntal can be made. An essential characteristic is the connection between a rhythm section, which is occasionally reminiscent of trip-hop influences, with innovatively used folklore instruments; there are also oriental influences. Since the publication of "The Book of Eden", based on a book by Kai Meyer , the additional use of electronic sound structures has also shaped the appearance of the music. The most common languages used are English, Spanish, and Latin; German texts are used less often.
Violetta
On "September" and "Omnis mundi" Violet still mixed traditional medieval pieces with original compositions. The musical offshoot Violetta was founded in 2004, so that Violet has since been reserved for her own music (possibly with historical texts), while Violetta offers the framework for the interpretation of early music from Occident and Orient. Violetta have already worked several times with a choir (conductor: Bianca Stücker). In addition to Bianca Stücker, Oliver Pietsch and Rainer Janssen, Britta Wandschneider (percussion, recorders, vocals, rauschpfeifen) is a permanent Violetta member; Gurbet Albayrak (Saz, vocals) often appears as a guest musician.
Discography
Albums
- 2000: September (costbar / EFA)
- 2002: Omnis mundi (costbar / Broken Silence)
- 2007: The Book of Eden (Equinoxe Records / ALIVE)
- 2009: Modern Life (Equinoxe Records / ALIVE)
- 2013: The Violet Steam Experience (Equinoxe Records / NovaMD)
Others
- 2005: Violetta - Mandra mea (purely medieval side project; costbar / Broken Silence)
- 2010: The Violet Tribe - The Violet Tribe's Ravishing Collection Of Curios (live-music-and-underground-bellydance-side project; Equinoxe Records / ALIVE)
- 2011: The Violet Tribe - Grand Hotel (Equinoxe Records / ALIVE)