On 3rd of April of this month, I had the great honour to interview the front man & guitarist of Skyforger - Pēteris Kvetkovskis. The folk, pagan and black metal band originates from Northern Europe, specifically Latvia where they have been playing since 1995. In these two-part podcast episodes you can learn more about the importance of pagan music for Skyforger; their influence in music and the nature of the environment the band originates from.
They have toured across the world, from Manchester, UK to Italy, Brazil, Spain, across the Baltic States, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and even Miami… with more shows in Latvia and Udgårdsfest (2024) later this year.
*Read the English transcript below*
PK: Skyforger’s goal is to tell the listeners about Latvia, The Baltics, our culture, our folklore, all the heritage that we have. That there is even such a nation as Latvians and Latvian culture. But also that there are Lithuanians, that there were the Old Prussians who lived here since early times and they had a rich culture here. Due to all of the wars and occupation around the world, many did not know about this culture. It is still unknown.
Of course, we like it if someone likes our music. We like to receive this feedback, that our music is being appreciated. Playing music is our hobby, we have everyday jobs…we do not make money from it. We don’t sit in the studio from morning till night writing songs. Practically, we have rehearsals once a week, when we get out of work. Our goal is to play music simply because we like to play and it has been always like that since we started.
I think that folk and traditional music is very important in Latvia, especially for Latvians. It is an integral part of our culture and historical identity. Latvians haven’t been able to preserve and write down their own history from ancient times, but we [Latvians] have been able to preserve and write our own traditions, folklore, folk songs, legends and music. That is the main thing that comes with us from ancient times. It allows Latvians to preserve themselves in this day and age, throughout the centuries.
Being proud about your roots… On the one hand, it is quite typical for a small nation, because it gives the ability to preserve and continue this cultural heritage and it helps for nations and cultures to survive. But is it very important for everyone? I wouldn’t say so. I think it comes in phases. After Latvia gained independence [1991], the interest was very high, compared to nowadays where the interest about your roots has decreased. I think that many young people do not have the same approach as we had in our youth, they are not interested in these things. I think now, when this interest is decreasing, it will be forgotten. Until someone will take it out of the dust and this interest will be rejuvenated.
Why does it matter to us? Mostly because of my interest in history. Through my research I found the forbidden and censored history of Latvia…and all the folk music which was frowned upon and despised during the Soviet times. I grew up my self looking at this all sceptically and with dislike. It lead me to find out the Latvian ancient history, which made me massively interested in trying to reflect it in my own music. It is important for me to share this history not only with Latvian people but also, outside of the borders.
From the viewpoint of Skyforger, it can be said that our music and lyrics about the history are important to the listeners in Latvia and embracing their identity- but not every Latvian citizen listens to us. We are only listened to by those who are interested in it. In Latvia, if we take a percentage of all Latvian citizens, there are not a lot of true music lovers. In modern pop music concerts, there are often more people and as we know, there is nothing in pop music which discusses these subjects. There is not even a single song about Latvian ancient history, folklore and similar things. It is only interesting to a small percentage of people.
Our motto would be to do what you like. Live as you want, as long as it you don’t disturb other people. I have often wondered to myself and thought that young people never listen to the old ones. The youth lives in their own world. If I can give any advice, for those who want to play- Find your own path. Try as best as possible to not copy your idols or popular music which is listened to by thousands of people. I know that it is pleasant, to play like your idols, because you feel like your equal to them. But another Metallica is not needed, make your own music.
I think that young people lack some kind of rebellion…finding their own path. This generation is satisfied with what they have and the main importance is in material wealth. I don't see young people as the creators of new ideas, of a new movement. I wish the youth could find this and change this, but it happens automatically and because of the environment. Unfortunately, there are no such circumstances at the moment. We can only observe and see where it goes.
I don't think think it is important for our music to be political. Everyone can do what they want. I think it cannot be avoided as anything can be politicized. Even all these groups that say that their music and lyrics are not related to politics…It can all be used and politicized. You can’t run away from that. Is it important to me? In some way, yes. For us, it is more important to talk about the history of Latvia and Baltics, so it’s not forgotten. We have always had respect for people who have fought for freedom and against the oppressors. All these topics are in our music and they are political. In that sense, you can say that it is important.
We have not come to terms with censorship, to a small extent. In the 90s, poetry from Vilis Plūdonis (1874-1940) was published in English and it was about Strēlnieki (Latvian Riflemen). We didn't know that in our youth and many didn’t want to play the song [which used Plūdonis’ poetry] because they deciphered the meaning of the text and they thought we were making fun of the Riflemen- which totally was not the case. But was that censorship? Not really.
Politicians have shown interest in our music. We have been asked to participate in concerts during the voting period of the political parties, when they tried to gain votes. But we have not participated in such things. That's not our thing. We don't want to be used as clowns or be used as idiots, for them to get some kind of benefit from our music. The Latvian Government has supported us. When we started in the 90s, heavy music in Latvia was not considered a part of Latvia's rock music scene. Heavy music in the 90s was divided from it and developed on it’s own. It emerged in basements, cafes and bars where there were concerts and only the audience who were interested in this music attended, and knew about it. There were no news about these concerts on TV or radio. It was all in a separate world, which was ‘stewing in its own juice’.
The authorities were not interested in this scene at all. We had no connection with them. Over the years it has changed. It is very possible that we have become a part of it and caused this. In the beginning, I was quite surprised when the first signals of recognition and interest were shown…that Skyforger is not only an underground band in Latvia, divided into its own audience. But people were writing about us, we got shown on TV and radio. The Government supports us. We have become something more than some crazy youth which works in its own field.
Over the years the audience has changed. At the start there were young teenagers in this audience. ‘Mad’ people who wanted to stand against the narrow minded and found a release in heavy music. To say fuck you to everyone. Of course, all of these people grew up and they are faced with the reality- family, work. And they drift away from this lifestyle. There are some who are still loyal to this music and listen to it. But a very large part of course, has gone away to the serious life.
We still see at our concerts that there are very young people in the audience. At the beginning of our time, there were only these people, but today, we have a very wide age group audience, from 10 to 60 years olds.
The audience changes.
Interview with Skyforger: ''Politicians have shown interest in our music...We don't want to be used as clowns or be used as idiots, for them to get some kind of benefit from our music.'' Pt.I