
Dear readers we have the pleasure to offer you in this article an interview with a German band offering Heavy Rock, with a newly released album. We welcome The Witches’ Dream.
Hi, welcome to our pages, how are you?
Marcel: “Hello, thank you for having us. I Ģm really fine!“
Ramona: “Hello, Iām very excited to do this interview.“
The band was formed a few years ago, how did the project and the choice of the name The Witches’ Dream come about?
Marcel: “I guess it was in 2012 when I had the idea to compose songs different to the way I did until then. I played and still play in a technical Death Metal Band called SYMBIONTIC and apart from that I wanted to revel in more undistorted, quieter and more dissonant tunes which deliver a sort of mystic atmosphere. To achieve that I took a more unconventonial guitar for a Death Metal guy – my father Ģs semi-hollow electric guitar and started composing. Within a few days a whole record was there and these songs later became “Utreya”, our debut. Parallel to the musical side I knew that the lyrics should deal with strong women – you must know that I grew up in a family that on the one hand showed some typical males – but on the other hand I felt a strong connection to my mother and her sisters. They had a deep impact on
me! So this was the foundation for the seven sister who later became the seven witches – who share The Witches Ģ Dream.“
Ramona: “When Marcel was looking for a bass player, I didnāt hesitate to get in touch. Marcel is alway very creative and finds ways in music that are surprisingly new. So I knew this project is unique. Added to the music there is the story of the seven witches, which, if you allow it, take you into their own world. That is very capitvaiting ā in a positive way.“
You offer a mixture of Heavy Rock and Psych-Prog, how was your passion for these sounds born?
Marcel: “First of all, quite early as a child I was confronted with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, but also Pink Floyd, The Beatles and many more. They impressed me a lot. Later, I discovered Black Sabbath but also modern bands like B-Thong, Witchcraft and Blackstar, to name but a few. I was also fascinated by the music for the James Bond and Hitchcock movies and the soundtrack for “The Fearless Vampire Killers” and “Rosemarie Ģs Baby” because of their psychedelic qualities.
And quite recently I Ģm deeply into bands like Messa, The Devil Ģs Blood, Psychedelic Witchcraft, Dool and one of my all-time favourite bands Opeth. This mixture makes the origin for my passion.“
Ramona: “Music is so multifaceted that even seemingly opposing styles can comlement each other. So I think itās enriching that weāre not inspired by the same kind of music ā although there are of course certainly overlaps.“
In this regard, what are your main sources of inspiration?
Marcel: “Concretely, I think the first three Opeth albums, Witchcraft Ģs “Legend” and B-Thong Ģs “From Strength to Strength” are the main sources.“
Ramona: “My inspirations ar quite different from Marcelās. My taste of music is very diverse. I listen to a lot of german-language music, traditional and classical music and cannot name album or artist. I think that every music we are listen to can inspire us directly or unconsciously.“
Your second album āMuses & Conjurationsā was released on January 11, 2025 how would you describe this work?
Marcel: “This work is characterised by two essential cores – the first one “Conjurations” is a more straight forward approach. Apart from “Soliloquy” and “Rooted in Spell” it has more rock Ģn Ģroll in the typical The Witches Ģ Dream vein. In contrast to that “Muses” is more diverse, harder and more experimental. Both parts differ in sound and they tell the story about the sisters from different perspectives.“
Ramona: “The new album continues the story of the seven witches both musically and in terms of content. That is clear on the two different CDs.
Intense instrumental and vocal parts, what themes do the lyrics of this work deal with?
Marcel: “Thank you, this is what we always strive for – intensity! Well, “Conjurations” lets different protagonists speak and takes place in the present time of our story. We hear some of the sisters and their father. “Muses” whose lyrics mostly were written by Ramona goes back in time and mainly takes over the parents Ģ perspective.“
Ramona: “āConjurationsā expanded the sisterās world and muses introduces their parents, including secrets, fears and hopes.“
15 medium-long tracks, how does the creative process of your music take place?
Marcel: “As of yet I write all music on my own. Then we rehearse the songs as a band to play them live which is always the goal for us: go on stage and perform them for open minded people.“
Ramona: “Yes, Marcel is a brilliant songwriter. I get more and more involved and love to write the lyrics. In the rehersals everyone of us gives the songs a little more life through his or her individual playing.“
Many of your fans and our readers wonder if there will be a chance to hear your music live, do you have plans in this regard for the near future?
“We have been playing live a lot, i.e. as opening band for Sorcerer, but at the end of 2024 our drummer left the band. So currently we are searching for a new drummer and as soon as we have found him or her, we will do anything to enter the stages again as soon as possible.“
Do you have any special anecdotes or memories you would like to tell us about any live events?
Marcel: “Well, I fear that we are a little bit unspectacular as we Ģre mostly very concentrated and focused on our performance. So no, nothing special or funny or interesting š“
Heavy Rock music is full of festivals and events, how important is it to keep this scene alive?
Marcel: “It is one of the most important parts, because playing live is the essential way of connecting to the people. Sharing time, creating precious memories, that Ģs what it Ģs all about!“
Ramona: “Playing live is important for everyone. As a musician you know that for sure. Itās priceless to stand on stage, to play a concert, to share your music. But on the other hand itās so much important fo everyone to have the possibility to go to a concert no matter how big it is. Itās like escape from everyday life.“
Germany has always been rich in quality artists, how do you see today’s Heavy music scene in your country?
Marcel: “There are lots of concerts and we have the Freak Valley Festival, which is the most important one in our scene in my opinion. It is a vivid scene, but it is also quite hard to get on to the festivals Ģ stages as an underground band when you do not socialise or have the right connection. We are still working on it š“
Ramona: “As Marcel said, itās very hard to play on festivals or bigger concerts. But thatās what we are looking for!“
What advice would you give to young artists approaching music by offering a genre like yours?
Marcel: “Two things (which do not guarantee success, of course). First of all, always stay true to yourself, be authentic. Secondly, in my view music is not a product, it is precious art and has to be treated as such!“
Ramona: “I wouldānt give any advice specially to our genre. Itās more general: stay focussed and be yourself.”
Do you have any other artistic activities or passions outside the music?
Marcel: “Not really, I mean I like working with photos, with artwork, with texts and art in general, but all this is in the end linked to my musical passion.“
Ramona: “Not explicitly. Iām interested in literature and poetry and love working with photos and videos, but nothing is so engaging like music!“
I thank the band for the interview, wishing them the best for the release of the album and the continuation of their artistic career.
Marcel: “We thank you for the interesting questions and for the opportunity to talk about our art.“
Ramona: “Thank you for the interview!“
Purchase their new album on Bandcamp: https://riv-music.bandcamp.com/album/muses-conjurations