If you know me, you know that I’m a sucker for folk metal. This is why, during Wacken Open Air, I got the chance to interview Johanna and Dennis from Vogelfrey!

Benedetta

So, I’m here with the amazing Vogelfrey. How are you doing, guys?

Vogelfrey

Warm. It’s really hot. A bit tired, maybe, but very happy about today’s concert.

Benedetta

You’re playing Wacken in an anniversary edition. How does it feel?

Vogelfrey

It’s amazing. We totally love it to be here. It’s always a very superlative place to be. The biggest what we can imagine to play. And every time we go here, it feels like, yeah, we’ve done this a couple of times. Let’s relax. And then you’re on the stage and it’s like, no, no, we’re not relaxed. It’s not good. No relaxing.

Benedetta

Of course, you’re experienced in live shows, but also you have experience in music production and the studio. Do you think that the life of an artist is a lonely life?

Vogelfrey

That’s a good question. I think yes and no. If they’re not musicians, it’s hard to explain how it feels. Some people come up to us and they’re like, “You’re so big, you’re a star“. And we’re like, “Nah, chill“. It takes so long to explain that while explaining how you’re not, it happens to me. I can only talk to and perform myself. But the more you try to explain that you’re not big and you’re not that, you realize how weird this life is and that kind of singles out a little bit. But at the same time, music is often something that you do in a group. And even with that, sometimes you make things very hard and very difficult. Also, because the studio job is always very lonely, because you sit there very alone and you have to perform very alone. But other than that, music is also kind of the thing that brings you together. So in a way, yes, in a way, no. I think we have a kind of outstanding because we have a long history. How long do we exist? 22 years at least. And we are in the same formation the whole time. It’s like family. So in a way, I would say, no, it’s not that lonely. We are in this shit together. We have experienced so much things in this period.

Benedetta

Do you think that we will ever have some equality between men and women in the metal world?

Johanna Heesch

I would hope. I think there’s a possibility, because I think these developments go in waves, right? So right now, we have had a good couple of years where female artists started pushing onto the big stages. In brackets, of course, there have been amazing, great female artists for a long, long time. And they have been paving the way. But I think it has gone a little up. And now we’re kind of in a part where we need to discuss, like, is this really necessary? Why is it necessary? Some think it’s too much. Some say it’s still not enough. And that clashes. The clash will lead us down way again. There might be a chance that the next wave is even higher. It might come down worse, and then it gets even higher. And maybe we’ll get to the point where we are equally seen. I mean, we are equal, but we’re not equally treated always. Like, both sides, kind of. I would never say it’s just the women. We are all human, but we kind of can’t find together yet. That’s the thing, yeah.

Benedetta

Dennis, what do you say?

Dennis Walkusch

I would hope, because I think that bands who don’t have female members are really missing out. But there’s no like saying that it would be worse or better if there were no female members. But there are still a lot of people that say things get inherently worse when there’s a female involved. That’s a problem and we can’t completely eradicate that. That goes down to patriarchal structures and stuff like that. But I think, and we’ve talked a little on the way here. I’ve talked to our singer for a while. And we also talked about the feeling that we do feel like things are evolving. They are slowly evolving. Looking back to 20 years ago when we started, how many female artists were on the stage with us? Not that many. It’s still not the same amount, but we’ve pushed forward. We’ve made a development, I guess. Can’t really say.

Benedetta

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Anything else that you want to add to our viewers and readers?

Vogelfrey

Support your locals. Let’s go into a new world together. Not against each other. Maybe be open-minded to new music. And not so close-minded that you only listen to metal and you’re missing out on very great music if you have a mindset that only your genre is great for your music.