Metal4Africa.com » » A Familiar Face Graces Swedish Doom Metal Band, Draconian
A Familiar Face Graces Swedish Doom Metal Band, Draconian
September 20, 2012Write comment
First off: “What the hell is doom?” I hear some of you ask, “Is it something to do with a computer game?”
Doom metal is a sub-genre that enjoys very little appreciation in South African territory, with only a small but fiercely loyal fan-base. Regardless, we’ve still seen our own pittance share of local doom acts over the years, particularly during what one might describe as the doom ‘heyday’ of the mid-nineties. Cape Town band Grämlich played a big part in creating genre awareness back then, and SA greats V.O.D (Voice Of Destruction – not USA’s later Vision Of Disorder) even went so far as to record at the same studio (Academy Studio, Yorkshire) as bands such as My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and Anathema (nicknamed “The Peaceville Three” or “The Holy Trinity” in local doom circles). Although V.O.D were never specifically doom, some of their music clearly drew from influences of the time which had impacted a legion of doom bands from around the world. Some also like to describe doom as metal which incorporates more gothic (old-school goth) components in terms of vocal styles and instrumentation sensibilities. One person, who we will be talking about in some detail in this article, even described it to me in a conversation long ago as: “metal doesn’t always have to be ugly or brutal; its allowed to be pretty sometimes”. But if you really want a definition of doom, there is always Wickipedia or tons of forums clogged with opinionated ‘experts’ who I’m sure will be only too happy to enlighten you. To me, doom is a feeling I get when I listen to certain bands music. To me, it is music which represents a perfect balance between beauty and brutality; much like as can be symbolized by something as ordinary and natural as a rose – beautiful to behold, but bristled with blood-thirsty thorns. Ironically, I’m sure that many who know Heike Langhans (also known by some as Heike Van Dominic) personally would jest that she shares much the same character of the rose described!
Amongst the humble ranks of doom fans residing in South Africa, there cannot be one who does not know and love the Swedish band Draconian. When it became known that Lisa Johansson had left the band (for reasons mostly attributed to her becoming a mother), nobody in South Africa had imagined, or even risked a hope, that one of our own might stand up to the task of filling the vacancy. Well… one did, and she quietly went through the motions and succeeded. We caught up with Heike on a brief stint back to her home country of South Africa recently, as she needed to brush up on some paperwork from various embassies since moving to Sweden earlier in this year. We wanted to get to know a little more about how she came into this opportunity, and the virtually life-long preparation that had led to it.
Descendant of German grandparents who immigrated to Southern Africa as means to escape the turmoil of wartime Europe, Heike grew up her whole life of African-born parents in the Southern-most city of Cape Town. She describes music has having been an ever present companion since a young age, and Heike is encouraged by the fact that her father is also very musical. Having taken lessons in guitar and piano from a young age, and being a part of junior school choir, Heike had also begun to lay a solid foundation for her own musical journey; that which ultimately lead her towards this union with Draconian. “I grew bored of singing in a group when I began to feel I could stand out and develop a voice and style of my own,” says Heike, “I eventually ditched the choir efforts and started writing songs and singing on my own.” After a short time working with a vocal coach, Heike decided again that the artistic explorer inside of her was being stifled. “The style was more operatic, but somehow I felt it was not for me. I felt that the training often strips a singer of the raw emotion and becomes too polished.” With her independent and exploratory spirit, it was only a matter of time until she grew towards the bands scene. At that point, which was when she joined a symphonic metal band, Heike set her focus towards singing only, leaving her playing of instruments by the wayside. “Not a smart move, I’d say,” she admits, “I took to the role of singer quite comfortably, but I do still play occasionally when I focus on writing my own music.” She further describes the experience of being in that band as a very necessary part of finding herself. It was her time of learning about her potential as a live performer, and by the time the project had ground to a halt she was ready for “other things, rather than bigger things.” Heike used the time after that at furthering her development behind the scenes; mostly by doing some recordings and sending them to people whose opinions she felt could be trusted, and taking the time she felt she needed.
At this point in our chat, I wanted to learn more about Heike’s Lorelei project. I like to think that years from now, I can be all pompous and cheeky, telling people how I followed Draconian’s lovely new ‘she-voice’ in her days of churning out solo demo songs.
“Lorelei will always be there” she replied. “Although its only demo songs, they do play a big part in my life. But Draconian is my main focus now. I’ve had opportunities to redo some of the songs, but felt terrified of reopening wounds that some of them bring. They represent a side of me that I am unable to express otherwise, and finishing each song was like closing an emotional chapter in my life which I’d best not revisit.” Heike explained that she had received such heart-felt response from those songs and that was enough for her. “Maybe Lorelei is just my back-seat musical diary and should remain that way” she concluded.
On that note, we shifted attention back to the present and to what the future holds. All this talk of emotion got me eager to hear how she felt about being announced as a member of Draconian.
“I can honestly say that this is all I’ve ever wanted. I knew what kind of band I wanted to start or join, and doom fans in South Africa all know how hard that would be. Not only is Draconian one of the sole inspirations and initiators of my dream, but ironically, I’ve been telling myself that in my lifetime I’d probably never get to be a part of something even nearly like Draconian. Being chosen from a list of so many talented singers has just made me realize how much I have still been underestimating myself all along. I can finally allow myself to be excited about something for a change.”
Of course, there is always the good, the bad, and the ugly. The music of Draconian has occupied the hearts of loyal supporters for many years now, and the band has established an identity which has been very inclusive of Lisa Johansson’s stunning voice. It is clear that many have been holding their breath since Lisa’s departure (close on a year now, so faces are turning purple), with all of their hopes and fears hanging in the balance. I wanted to hear from Heike how she was prepared for this, knowing that it is wholly possible that not everybody will be pleased at her unveiling.
“I’ve been a big fan of Lisa myself for years. So, in a way, I’m just another one of that critical fan-base. When Lisa left, I was also cursing and wondering just who were they going to find to fill her shoes. Well, the jokes on me! I saw the way that some fans of Nightwish and Tristania were reacting to member replacements and I realized that this may be my fate, so I set to work on being mentally prepared for the worst. So far, the responses on the release of the Lake Of Tears tribute have been good. I’m just going to take it as it comes and try rather to focus on the future and on the band. Draconian fans are true supporters and have shown good faith in the decisions of the band so far and that leaves me at peace. I always say ‘you cant clone singers’. Each person has their own perks and you never know what magic the next one might bring. I know its natural that people will always compare the new from the previous, but I myself understand that singing someone else’s songs will never be as perfect as singing in your own way and playing to your own strengths. In time, fans will get to hear the new material and see how well it works without having to compare. I’m incredibly excited for the task ahead, because I live for this kind of music and that might just be what gives Draconian the force to be even greater.”
In a closing statement, I chose to dig back to a reference from earlier in our conversation which I thought would be apt for our South African readers especially; since we all are very isolated from the world where an actual music industry exists, and where hopes and dreams can be fulfilled if one is prepared to work hard for them. Also, it is so often that we feel broken down, and we get the impression sometimes that our own peers would tread on us to grab that small ‘piece of pie’ that can’t even feed one person. Heike said: “I always tell myself that no matter how many people dislike what you do, there’s always the same amount of people that will relate to it.” At M4A, we can certainly vouch for that sentiment and wish Heike all the best on the journey that lies ahead.
Listen to Draconian‘s cover of “Demon You / Lily Anne”, featuring Heike, here.
Looking forward to hear more of Heike (got to hear a youtube video that has been floating around).
In direct response to ” I saw the way that some fans of Nightwish and Tristania were reacting to member replacements and I realized that this may be my fate,”..
I had that thought last night. Personally I am one of those fans that cares nothing for the replacements of those exact named bands (and I even thought about reaction to them while listening).
Let me say Heike that I think you don’t have to worry. While I haven’t heard much, I will say that I was not instantly repulsed as I was with NW and Tristania; but rather quite intrigued and interested to hear more. Can’t wait!
Who’s the chick in the pictures? Is this not supposed to be the chick who used to hang around with Warthane?
Greg said: “Who’s the chick in the pictures? …”
There is a whole article dedicated to identifying “the chick in the pictures”.
But yes, she is one and the same. She also has a name, a voice, and an amazing spirit of endurance. I’m glad and proud that such has finally been recognised by people whose opinion matters; by merit of years and years of extraordinary accomplishment. Go Draconian!
Its just I dont remember her looking anything like that. She was always at the side of the stage giving all the other ‘chicks’ the evil eye while her boyfriend / the vocalist was shoving his crotch in the front row’s faces. The front row was generally composed of chicks, so we have a chicken and egg thing going. I just think she’s really being miss-represented, using pictures that look like this, and when people see her in real life its a different person.
Ai shame just look at this hater here. So typical. And you clearly haven’t seen her lately at all. I think you should take your jealously elsewhere and be proud that someone is doing something great. You’re projecting a lot of ’SA scene mentality’ here. Stop embarrassing yourself and the rest of us ,’Greg’
Goodluck Heike! I always knew this would happen for you!
@Samantha, you’re getting way ahead of yourself here, I don’t recall expressing any hate, in fact all the best to her. Attacking my character or questioning my motives is not going to change the fact I pointed out above, she’s being miss-represented. I attended many Warthane gigs in Jhb and Pta, and that is not the same ‘chick’ as in the pictures above.
So since the can of worms is open: The problem with the SA metal scene is I can count the decent SA metal bands of the last 20 years that actually matter on one hand, and yet you’re all so busy congratulating each other because its all about politics, truth and quality of music is secondary. I’ll let you guys carry on with your group speak, I’m out.
Clearly, you don’t know her at all. I see her way more than just some ‘gigs’, so if you base your opinion on that, then I’m afraid you’re an idiot
Now stop making this good article from M4A into something that deals with your personal vandettas. Cheers
Sounds like “greg” has a personal issue, also seems as though “greg” is a little sad that he did not get enough crotch in his face.
anywho go Heike you are an inspiration to many of us.
wishing you all the best.
@Greg, you might not have meant it that way but your comment just sounds disrespectful, she is not ‘the chick who used to hang around with Warthane’, shes the vocalists girlfriend, responsible for most of their artwork and has done vocals on their tracks. Of course she will look a bit different in a beautifully styled promo shoot compared to how she might have dressed at black metal gigs, but this represents her own personal style perfectly (you only need to look at her solo project to see that).
Congratulations Heike !!!So happy that now we are able to hear allot more of you ,you are severely talented and def not coming short on great looks either …
@Greg :.this is about music … good music !!which heike is more then able to bring to the table ,so go home and put on your big girl panties and stop coming up with such idiotic ways of expressing bitterness
GO HEIKE!!!!!
I know I said I would not be back, but I could not resist.
Some young photographer was making a big stink because one of his photos was used by someone, and the person allegedly claimed it to be her art. The person in question seems to be your friend Heike. She apparently used an image as a backgound of a portrait.
This one incident casts a big shadow, so I did some Google snooping. I found interviews where she claims to be “known in her country”, (the ones not conducted by a Capetonian), yet the only mention of her past projects before the Draconian pr machine got hold of her, is right here on (Capetonian) metal4africa. Look at the myspace page for her old band, and among the handfull of friends you will find some of the same names as you find here. I certainly did not have a clue who she was or what band she was in, nor did any of my metalhead friends. What else might she have conveniently borrowed? A verse here, a chorus there, some lyrics perhaps? In wat other ways has she been misrepresented?
When I previously posed the question above, you all descended on me like a pack of trained attack dogs told to ‘SA!’. This time I can probably expect death threats.
‘Greg’. Not that your opinions really matter, but I’ll humor you this once, since you clearly keep begging for attention
The background image I used was found on a free stock site (yes, that thing us designers use) and I have provided the photographer with a link to it, so he could see that his work was being distributed via other internet users as free stock. He agreed to let me keep it and credit him.We sorted out the misunderstanding like adults, since I wasn’t at fault at all. (and if the only one such incident casts ‘a big shadow’ in your books, then you’re pretty easily amused or over-sensitive)
Secondly, I’ve never made myself out to be known for anything apart from the projects I’ve been involved with. I don’t actually see the point you’re trying to make there. I’m from Cape Town. I was in a band there. It ended. I did my solo stuff. Problem?
And myspace? seriously? No one even uses that anymore. Are you so obsessed with my doing that you felt the need to waste your time digging the fossils? Sad person.
Your lack of knowledge about former Capetonian bands, is none of my concern. I can mention my previous projects where and when I please. I have worked my ass off to have gotten where I have and if you think for even a moment that your lack of knowing about me would affect the outcome of my future, you’re bat-shit crazy.
I don’t know what problem you have with me for whatever reason, but I’d just like you to know that it’s kinda pointless. I’m far past having to deal with ‘home scene’ douchebaggery. Your strange obsession here is quite embarrassing. I feel pity for you.
And maybe they all ‘attacked’ you, since they actually know me. So your supposed theories and insults just make you look like a rabid, insecure and jealous fool.
And by all means, say about me what you want, to whom ever you want. It makes no difference to me. You can sit with your sorry ass back there and be bitter. i’ll enjoy me a nice Swedish beer on your behalf.
Ciao
Heike
@Greg – Pretty much everything you’ve said is petty and reeks of resentment for no apparent reason. You just sound like a typical internet loser who rants at everything, because you have nothing else better to do. Your argument is seriously invalid brodude. Whatever shitty little opinions you have only prove that you’re jealous of someone who is actually accomplishing something.
@Greg – Pretty much everything you’ve said is petty and reeks of resentment for no apparent reason. You just sound like a typical internet loser who rants at everything, because you have nothing else better to do. Your argument is seriously invalid brodude. Whatever shitty little opinions you have only prove that you’re jealous of someone who is actually accomplishing something.
I think “greg” Has A little crush on Heike but does not know how to let it be known. You know that thing guys do when they like girls?
Haha, “nice” Swedish beer.
All I am seeing, to be honest, is one person – however ineloquently – trying to raise some criticisms. Whether they are founded in truth or not. And then just a bunch of people swooping down and raising someone to godhood, whilst castigating the lone non-believer as a resentful fool. The thing is, just because y’all folk think she is the shit, does not mean she actually is – nor does it render her impervious to wrong-doing. My personal experience with the person in question has been rather unpleasant. I found her to be extremely whiny, judgmental and narrow in vision and mind. However, that is just how I experienced her. Others may see her as the beacon for enlightenment – this however I find to be very unlikely. In all probability she’s just a swell gal.
Greg’s issues seem to be that he thinks she’s a fake/fraud/poser to some degree. I mean, possibly, but if she were, I’d have wished she fake a more intelligent and resolute personality. As it is, I don’t think she’s faking at all – more’s the pity.
As for her actual talent; she has some, but some is all she has. She could do a lot more if she had the willingness and capacity to learn and improve as opposed to laying the fault on others for finding fault with her. But, maybe she has changed. Maybe now that she no longer has to deal with “shitty South Africa” (as she once called it herself) or with the “hordes of mindless fucks” (by which she meant the local metalheads) she may have finally grown those wings she refused to grow while still in the country.
It does not surprise me that all the nay-saying jealous folk would creep out of the woodwork and rise (or let’s say sink) to the occasion of viewing their personal opinions about me in public.
Luckily, that’s all it is – an opinion. Opinion is not fact and highly subjective.That being said – I would never deny my past frustration and attitude with S.A and people such as yourself. If your ‘experience’ with me was unpleasant, it is merely a response to my equally ‘bad’ experience with you and my unwillingness to feel as if I have to impress you or others like you. Cause and effect, my dear. Don’t flatter yourself.
I don’t feel the need to apologize for being myself – no matter how misunderstood I may be or how hard it may be for one such as yourself to grasp. I have always been outspoken, hypercritical and intolerant toward things that so many of you are happy to take for granted. Does that make me a fake? Just because I’m not like you? And it offends you? Oh well then, be offended. You will live. All these things you see as negatives, is in effect, WHY I managed to progress in my life, instead of just wasting away and displaying bitterness the way you are right now, ‘Jason’.
It seems that there is this preconceived notion among people in the SA metal scene, that once someone has achieved something that reaches further than you and your local bar, that the achiever should act as some ambassador of sorts. I have given my eternal thanks and loyalty to those who believed in me and helped me get here and I owe nothing to those who made it unpleasant. I continue to support and promote those who deserve it. Fair is fair.
So once again, I can only laugh and hang my head in shame at the typical display coming from the homeland folk. I’m tremendously content to now be in a place with more liberal, modest and similar folk. So yes, I have in fact spread the proverbial wings and I hold no regret. I know and accept my roots, but I know where I do and don’t fit in.
Peace out.
You spelled “hypocritical” wrong.
And I wouldn’t say I’m jealous. You would, because that is the only way you are able to justify your existence and the persona you so carefully cultivate, but I wouldn’t. And why should I? What’s there to be jealous of? Seriously. Why should I be jealous of you? Go on. Everybody keeps throwing around that anybody who criticises you (common in the art world – if what you do can be called art) must be jealous. So tell me; why am I jealous of you?
Your equally bad experience with me? Girl please, you don’t even know who I am. Cause and effect my ass, I doubt very much you know anything on the topic of causality or Newtonian physics, my dear. Please don’t tax yourself when making statements about what I am and am not able to grasp little one, you know nothing. I mean, neither do I, but comparatively I know less nothing than you do.
Offended? Me? By you? Lols that’s rich. How could one be offended by what amounts to nothing more than bottled-up teenage angst and misplaced anger? Psh.
But, summa summarum, I don’t really care for you or your music or who you think you are as a person. I just enjoy making fun of you, because there’s nothing more exciting than watching little people try and climb up on to that high horse.
P.S. I still, with burning curiosity (or gonorrhea) want to know why I should be jealous of you.
You say a whole lot of nothing, ‘Jason’.
I wouldn’t say you are jealous, but I would say that only bitterness, hatred, low-self esteem or a need to defend your own opinions and identity, would result in such a lashing out. You’re just another keyboard cowboy with nothing meaningful to contribute and thus feel the need to make ‘fun’ of me for your own malicious satisfaction. That’s fine by me, you know. Not as if you have the proverbial balls to maturely interact with me to resolve whatever beef you have with me. Therefore, you’re just another person using ‘words’like ‘lols’ and expecting me to take them seriously. Comoooooon.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect people to accept the facts or not to criticize, for that is what we do as the parasitic race we are. Replying to tripe like this is a colossal waste of time for me, but I feel it’s only fair that I stand my ground. I know who I am far better than what you do, so what makes you think your venomous spewing about me holds any relevance?
I’ll say this for the last time. No one said I have to be nice to everyone. I have my inner struggles with the human race (Hell knows most people are nice enough to be nice to). No one said I have to receive a goddamn blessing from people in order to do with my life as I please. No one said I have to be known and loved by all to carry on with my career of my own choosing. I didn’t ask anyone to make a hooha about me when all this went down. I didn’t even tell people that I auditioned. I didn’t even tell people that I was in Sweden twice before all this happened. So what makes you think I’m looking for ANY pat on the back or recognition? I am on my own mission in this world and if you think that opinions, criticism and ill wishes will change that, I feel deeply sorry for you. You must really think your voice is louder than a fart in a thunderstorm.
If choosing and working toward my own fate in life on my own terms makes me such a bad person, then so be it. Atleast I’m willing to get on that ‘high horse’ and take the punches. So punch away. Get all your frustrations out here in public. You are doing so well of making an idiot of yourself.
I feel pity,but thanks for making me out to be more controversial than I am. More hooha for me.