INTERVIEW WITH JANIKA GROB

Molllust!

Opera Metal from Germany!

The Interview with Janika Groß!

By Darkzen

01/12/2024

The path started in 2011, when Janika Groß united musicians who believed in the vision of their music. Music has always been at the core of their identity, beginning with classical music in her childhood. Together with the creative energy of the other musicians, the notes in her head became reality and in December 2011 molllust entered the stage for the first time.

Opera Metal What is it, actually?

A special sub-genre of symphonic metal. What is hiding behind the term, is a combination of metal with elements from classical music, for example classical instruments or a keyboarder. Elements taken up from classic music often come from romantic or baroque periods. Very often this is combined with conceptional work. If bands of symphonic metal additionally employ classical singing voices, the term opera metal has come into use. Pioneers have been the bands Nightwish and Therion.

Thank you for having this opportunity with you band! Welcome to México!

Janika:

Hello! Great to be here!

Tell us in a few words who are Molllust band? What does mean the name of the band?

Janika:

We are mixing classical music and metal – and in our case, classical instruments don’t only come from tape, but we partly also bring them with us on stage. Besides me at vocals and piano, in Mexico Lena and Niklas play the guitars, Simon sings and plays bass guitar and Andreas plays drums. In addition, we have Mexican string players as guests: Ana Belen at the violin and Gabriela and Sam at the cello. We have a solid core of members, but also several persons who share the instruments so we can play many shows and people can still combine it well with their day jobs. Especially for the classical musicians it is challenging, as classical performances are at the same timeslot as metalshows.

What are the musical origins of the band?

Janika:

My roots are definitely classical composers especially from the epoche of Romanticism like Rachmaninow, Brahms, Dvorak. As a teen, I got introduced to bands like Nightwish, Therion, Apocalyptica and therefore I developed a passion for the combination of the genres. For other members, of cause their roots are different. E. g. Simon’S first musical activities were a church brass band, orchestral music and jazz. As a teen, he also started to play in a rockband. Lena started with jazz and classical music and got into heavy metal music at the age of 15.

Musical influences? Inside Metal and Outside Metal? Classical music?

Janika:

Mostly the just mentioned composers and bands. Besides that, I always have an open ear and develop ideas. E.g. Dimmu Borgir definitely gave me some ideas for “Pluto – The Raven’s Lullaby”. But there are also personal experiences outside the musical world that influence songs. E.g. “Earth – Beauty of Diversity” was heavily influenced by a Syrian fan who approached me at a Haggard-concert in Turkey and told me he would love to show me his country. But I knew that this wasn’t possible due to the ongoing war and it really touched me. So I developed the idea of a big part of the song.

For you, how would you describe what Opera Metal and Symphonic Metal are? Are both musical styles the same?

Janika:

I think Opera Metal is a subgenre of Symphonic Metal, as it is used for Symphonic Metal with classical vocals. In addition, concept albums or theatrical elements are more often in the subgenre – and as we have all of this in our works we thought it is the more precise description for our music.

Are you accompanying Therion band! A legend within Symphonic Metal, tell us about your experience?

Janika:

It is a great chance and they are very friendly to us. Especially the guys are often open for talks!

You have extensive dates in México! Wow! Congratulations! Why did you choose México?

Janika:

Because molllust has the most listeners in Mexico. In addition, I had great experiences with the Mexican crowd when I was touring with Haggard here. So I absolutely wanted to return with molllust and I am very happy we could make it happen.

What do you like about México?

Janika:

The love for music and culture, the hospitality and passion of the people and the huge diversity of nature.

Which of your albums will delight the Mexican audience?

Janika:

We will mainly play songs from our recent album “Mother Universe”, but we also have some older songs with us.

Speaking of your albums, your musical style is very elegant, structured, scenographic and symphonic, in some songs I notice a dark atmosphere, does it have something of Black Metal?

Janika:

In some songs like “Pluto – The Raven’s Lullaby” yes, but there are definitely a lot of songs as well that are not linked to Black Metal at all. I love a dark atmosphere, but also to have a huge diversity. Therefore we can show different emotions and for me, that makes the music more interesting than having just one main emotion all the time.

Metal Opera bands are not very common, at least in other parts of the world, what is needed to create this type of music, musical and vocal training?

Janika:

Good skills at the instrument/vocals, being open for the genre mix, willingness to contribute to the stage show.

Are you working on a new albúm? "Mother Universe" is a good and long albúm!

Janika:

I just started, but as I was touring a lot since the release, I didn’t progress much yet. But I am full of ideas, I just need time to write them down!

Will you release any new single soon or maybe on this tour in México as a surprise?

Janika:

No, there was definitely no time to produce it. Besides touring with the bands, I also teach music to make ends meet, so we can’t have such a quick release schedule like a band that can fully concentrate on the band’s work. Perhaps end of 2025.

What do you tell your fans? Now in Europe, with this tour you are on and will do in México!

Janika:

It is always a great pleasure to enter stage and to have a great time with you! We hope to meet many of you, no matter in which part of the world, and share our passion for the music!

Anything else you would like to share with us?

Janika:

Take care of yourself, other beings and our planet. When we all spread love instead of hate and protect nature, this world will become a better place and I hope for humanity that we can reduce suffering and blossom altogether!

Thank you very much for your time for the interview for Darkzen Dragón Metal Angels!

Janika:

You’re welcome!

Info

https://molllust.com/

https://www.facebook.com/molllust

https://www.instagram.com/molllust/

https://x.com/molllust

https://www.youtube.com/user/molllust

https://molllust.bandcamp.com/album/mother-universe-gold-edition