Here's a small chat with Mnemic guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie, about the recent achievements of the band based on recent news topics around the world...

How do you feel about all the attention the band has received?

I feel very good about it, it is incredible nice to know people appreciate our music. Of all things in the world, I have a hard time believing that is has been this good for us, there are many bands out there better than us. But I think it derives from us being stubborn and all the hard work we have done, to reach our goals with the band and the music. It is of course not glamour, sex, drugs and xxx all the way through, it takes a great deal of hard work, but we are here to stay, we are here 24/7 and NOBODY can stop us!

From where does Mnemic receive most attention?

It is most likely from people who likes our music. We have been hyped with promotion and the label has used a lot of time and energy to market us, and it has paid off. We have reached some new markets and that have made people talk about us. From day 1, have we never aimed at Denmark, but always aimed abroad – and it is not to badmouth Denmark. Denmark is a beautiful country, but it is to small, the possibilities are non-existent – that is why we have to leave the country at some point. Our market is in the USA, and that is where we have to tour and sell our music, and hopefully make a living of it someday.

You have chosen to record the intro on the new album “The Audio Injected Soul” together with the track ‘Deathbox’ in a binaural 3D sound, why did you choose to do so and how did the idea originate?

We choose it, because it fits well with the concept on the album – the concept originates in sound and emotions and the effect sound has on the emotions. The idea originated a long time ago, when I was introduced to the 3D sound by Kral from Mercenary, when I played in that band many years ago. I became obsessed with the sound, and have since asked many producers, how it could be realised and how it would turn out, if we recorded music with the 3D sound technology. I have been fighting for it since then, as it has been a dream of mine to record using the 3D sound technology. All of the producers I have talked with regarding the technology, said it wasn’t possible. Until I discovered that AM3D (the company in Aalborg, Denmark, which develops the 3D sound) had made some software, which made the recording process possible. It was obvious to use the technology on our new record. We took the chance and dived into it. The result can be heard on “The Audio Injected Soul”.

You have once again been at it and made a new great video, this time for the track ‘Deathbox’. How important is the video/image side of the band?

When considering the standards in the music business today, it is rather important. Headbangers Ball have returned in the USA and the metal scene is again growing – and it will be great if it continues. It is necessary to use all the possible promotional tools to sell records. And I think it is important to communicate with the customers and show what the band is all about. Music videos are a good way of reaching people in the States, if touring isn’t a possibility, because it gives the listeners a chance to “see” the band and that is important. A great video will also create a fuzz and make people talk. Though it all depends on what one wants with the music – and our goal is to live of it – and if people see us as sellouts, because we have possibilities for making videos and reaching more people. All I can do is laugh of them and tell them they aren’t living in our reality – they can ask any musician, who has reached something, about how tough it is to be a musician, how tough it is to be broke all the time. But but, I don’t have a reason to complain – everything is fantastic.

“The Audio Injected Soul” has entered the Danish Top 100 chart, how do you feel about that and how many sold copies does it take to get in top 100?

It feels like... hmmm... I don’t know, when I was told, I didn’t really care. I think it’s pretty good, though I have never cared about such things.

Though I know that we sells as well as Dimmu Borgir here in Denmark, which is really good for a Danish metal band. Regarding charts, it doesn’t do anything for me, I enjoys the emails from people telling me, that Mnemic is the band they just have heard and that they would like more material from us.

Do you have a final remark?

I hope Denmark has realised that we have to get more bands abroad. It is going the right way, but it still isn’t good enough from my point of view – we need to get more people on this train before its to late.

Thanks for the interview and a big thanks to all the people who supports Mnemic, people who goes to the concerts, people who buys our gear and helps us. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are now!

[This interview was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]