Liv Kristine returns to Nagold, her fetish scene, her meeting place with her fans and friends from all over the world. For this edition, people come from the United States and Chile, as well as from all over Europe. As we usually do at The Rarest Flower, we interviewed Liv just before the event to find out about the preparations and the last minute, but also to tell us what the next few musical months have in store for us.
I take this opportunity to remind you all that on Saturday we will carry out a special coverage of the event with the sound check, set list, photos, videos and analysis of the concert in rigorous live and exclusive for all of you through The Rarest Flower’s Facebook and Instagram. Don’t miss out!
By Marc Gutiérrez
Photos by Mariel Röhrbach (https://www.instagram.com/inner_focus_mariel_rohrbach)
EMPIRE MAGAZINE (EM): My dear friend Liv, how are you? How’s life going?
LIV KRISTINE (LK): Dear Marc, thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I can’t wait to meet you again – in just one week! I hope all is well at home. My family is doing really well. Everybody is healthy and that’s the main thing. Our families from the North were here this summer. Carmen and her family stayed here during the summer. I was so happy to spend a lot of time with my dear godchildren – we went swimming, travelled by ship across Lake Lucerne or did trips up into the Swiss Alps. It’s all very close to our home. I still love and am very dedicated to my work as a teacher for children with special needs. It’s my way of serving the world. In general we need to show more empathy and respect for each other to really make this world a better place. The children is our future and the most valuable gift on this planet. It’s in our responsibility to communicate this frequency. When I see children dying due to wars, political conflicts and destruction of Nature – everything created by grown-ups – it makes me want to cry desperately. It is really hard for me to watch the news right now. I work, among others, with traumatised children. My working day starts with giving hugs. These moments are so valuable, so powerful and healing.
EM: What new things will Nagold’s concert bring this year?
LK: The setlist will contain more tracks from my latest album „River of Diamonds“. Since you are my very special friend and long-time ultimate support I already sent it to you. You asked for „Ave Maria“, which was not included on the setlist for Nagold this year…was. I will sing it for you since you wished for it, of course.
EM: 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of 'Aègis'. Taking into account Nagold is always a unique event for you and your fans and friends, do you plan to sing something special or some new song from that album?
LK: I will perform at least one track from this masterpiece. I promise.
EM: Are you planning to sing “Pictured Within” live with your husband?
LK: Good question. Mikkel and I already talked about it. It might be a good idea for the future. This is the plan: One of our friends invited us to his 50th birthday this year. We will check out how it feels for Mikkel to actually sing live, on a stage. If it goes well we might take this step in the future.
EM: Could there be an option that Rocco Cogliati / Ecor performs “True Colours” live with you and be your support artist at Nagold?
LK: Rocco is actually going to be travelling to Nagold. It would be a brilliant idea having him on stage. You are so right. We already have a support act for this year, but I think it would be a good plan for the next Nagold Special show. Rocco is such an outstanding talent. I love the vibes he brings into his music.
EM: Unfortunately some of your fans and friends will not be able to come to Nagold this year. Do you want to say something to Adam Brown, Chris Smiedi, Anna Finke and Uli, among so many others?
LK: We will surely miss them! We will miss you guys. I am so grateful for all your endless support throughout all these years. Without you there would be no Nagold… and no ‘River of Diamonds’. This year my dear friend Tara will travel all the way from the US. Moreover, she will join me on stage.
LIV KRISTINE
EM: You have recently signed a contract with the management agency Dragon Productions to organize your tours and concerts. Could you give me some exclusive information about your concerts for 2024?
LK: I can let you know for now that we will play at Wacken 2024 with a very special folk-setlist which includes tracks from my whole career.
EM: You know fairly well that you have a Good bunch of fans in Latin America and that they constantly ask me when you are thinking to go to Chile, Brazil or Mexico; so, could we cheer them up by announcing some plan to present 'River of Diamonds' around there?
LK: I am still hoping and praying for a little tour to happen, at least 10 days through Latin-America. My band is really eager to fulfil this dream. I have such fantastic memories from our Latin-American shows.
EM: What is your next step forward in study? I know you’re working on two special releases; can you tell me something about these reissues?
LK: ‘Deus ex Machina’, my very first solo-album, which was released in 1998, will be re-issued in March 2024. I have a really special guest from Norway on board who re-composed and re-recorded one track of his choice, just for the re-release. You will love that one. It turned out absolutely amazing.
EM: It’s been a few months since you published 'River of diamonds', what do you think of the work that Metalville is doing to promote it?
LK: I am very happy for all their work effort and support. A sub label of Metalville, Flying Dolphin Entertainment, will also promote „Deus ex Machina“ for this reason.
EM: From the last four or five years your career seems to have taken off again with continued releases and steps forward in terms of record companies, management, booking… it seems that Liv Kristine’s name is more and more present in the media and in record stores; how do you feel about? Do you think your career needed a boost?
LK: Yes, a clear yes. I was so unhappy about what happened with Leaves’ Eyes, no need to discuss that. I really had to take care of my family, to recover and heal. Tommy Olsson was so patient with me. He kept sending me those incredible instrumental compositions and as soon as my daily life had settled and my work situation had calmed down a bit I started diving into this magic bubble of Tommy’s tunes. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 there were moments when I doubted the whole music business. I had just lost all my trust. However, Tommy, all the bands who asked for a cooperation, my fans, you, my sister held up that mirror telling me that music and singing is part of Liv Kristine’s authentic self. I realised it’s a way for me to heal, to be creative within this lifetime, to show my listeners that it’s only in the darkness that you see the light – and if you embrace this frequency, there’s a whole river of diamonds surrounding you.
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