Треустье: "Like rivers’ outlet, or streams combined as one where they meet the ocean"

You worked with a plethora of artists over the years. What collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to You and why?

I have collaborated with many musicians, which was done only within Treustye project. We’ve worked a long time with Sergey Ustimko – currently a drummer of Platina – local death metal band. A huge contribution to the development of the project was done by Alexander Stepanov. It’s personally important for me how seriously the musician is ready to treat the artwork and how deep it has impacted the band sound. It was a pleasure working with Vladivostok lineup. Regular members of that turn were Ivan Ivanov and Nadezhda Tarasova. Truly, dedicated professionals majoring in music which, of course, influenced the tone of Phoenix album.

Currently we’ve got a tight collaboration with Andrey Andreyev – former Ska-punk guitarist. It’s going to be a new experiment done in the stylistics of mid 19th early 20th centuries Russian romance. We’ll make it a nice cohabitation of Romance melodies with Trip-hop rhythms. This time Andreyev will be working on piano keys orchestration. Lyrics will contain the philosophy of Silver age Acmeism.

Can You tell me, in short the main ideas are behind Your music? Could You name Your favorite Your compositions / albums / collaborations? What about the new album?

The main concept, according to me, lies within the power of words, music adds more sense to what the author was trying to say. That is why we mostly focus on Russian folklore motives mixing them with other music trends.

The sound is magic. You‘ve proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?

I’m easily carried away by what I’m currently working on, namely the upcoming album. The new album’s called «Dark romances ».

I think such remakes as «Девка блудная», «Сквозь дыру веков», «Не Агафья ли облако мыла», «Всё одно не самый конец», «Батюшка Перун» and «Тает свеченька у Спаса» sound really nice.

Cover of famous song of Russian band Grazhdanskaya Oborona

What is and what is not a Sound Art?

Beyond the structure of music there is also the magic of visual perception. Music lasts forever. Even if all humankind is wiped off the surface of Earth, the music shall forever be replayed somewhere in the endless space.

Matvey Mugir

What do You think about relations between the old art and computer art? Are they compatible?

Compatible for sure! Nowadays musicians have a lot of advanced gadgets, still any musician would care to draw inspiration from the initial source that came long before.

What do You think about thousands of neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avangarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, o just a tendency forwards better music?

I like a number of bands playing Neofolk and Dark-folk. British Sol invictus and Fire and Ice me likes so much. German Orplid and Darkwood are quite fascinating.

I don’t like Russian performers doing the same. Yet, there’s Сруб playing post-punk and dark-folk with elements of Russian folklore both in the sound and the form. Interesting modern dark-folk bands - King Dude and Chelsea Wolf. Finish grace Thenhi, Canadian Mask Ox and Spanish Sangre de Muerdago. All those bands have their own individual colors. I don’t listen Industrial a lot and if I do it’s Godflesh mostly.

What do You know about Lithuania? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most?

It was back in the USSR when I firstly encountered with Lithuania while carrying the army services. I was just a teenager when I met a soldier - David of Lithuania. He was crazy about music and had many vinyl disks in his collection brought from there. We’ve exchanged a lot. That was the first time I’ve heard Līvi in 1988. Since that time it never came back to me except for 2 particular bands: Kamanių Šilelis and Kūlgrinda.

What inspires You most?

One can be inspired by so many things varying from historical events to modern political situation. Geist of epochs, things we do, places and people surrounding me, an ant struggling on a branch, how rivers flow – all but a metaphorical comparison on the subjective way of thinking.

I don’t like religion, although I’ve been slightly affected by Buddhism. Personages of my songs may be represented by ancient gods (Russian, or antique – no matter), but it’s just an image, merely a symbol. I’m sure there is a substance wich constantly creates and it may not be called as Allah, Krishna, or Makosh. Good conscience – that is the very center of any self awaring individual.

What does Your name mean to You?

Treustye is a word combination standing for a sacred number 3 and an outlet. Like rivers’ outlet, or streams combined as one where they meet the ocean. Basic elements of rhythm, music and words. Also, «уста» is an ancient allusion to old-time traditions.

There’s quite a plenty of experimental music in Russia today. Firstly, my all-time favorites Аукцыон. Also, Крузенштерн и пароход. There’s a band in Petrozavodsk called Yarga sound system – former Ва-Та-Га. They sing ancient Russian songs under modern electronic rhythms. Perhaps, that’s where the olde art meets the modern sound. Such as Inna Zhelannaya. They all play progressive folk rock using DJ sets. These are the outnumbered crumbles of what I like and appreciate.   

Большое спасибо.

Discography:

1. "Сквозь дыру веков" (LP) 2010
2. "Ширез-навырез" (LP) 2013
3. "Феникс" (LP) 2015
4. "Дымок кадильный" (EP) 2016

Links:

https://soundcloud.com/treustye

https://www.facebook.com/%D0%A2%D0%A0%D0%95%D0%A3%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%AC%D0%95-534845883330181

http://treustye.bandcamp.com