This is your first visit in Poland. How it happened that you decided to come here?
Well, a common misconception is that the band can go anywhere they like if they only ask someone. This, of course, is impossible, because no one will just book a band they don't know only because they asked to be booked. So, as with all our shows, we were asked. And I think it helped that Polish fans told many organisers about us. The organisers of the Festival already know us I think, so that's a good thing too!
What do you expect from this visit - from seeing Poland, Polish fans - are you preparing anything special for them?
Seeing as it is the first part of our "Earth Warrior" (the new album) Tour, we will be playing most or maybe even all of the songs on this album. We will also play some really old songs, but like every Omnia show it is always a mix of old and new. And we will try to learn 2 sentences in Polish, heh!
Have you ever heard Polish music, Polish groups so far?
Yes, we are big fans of the Warsaw Village Band since their first album. We also know Żywiołak, friends of ours once performed together with them and brought them to our attention. We really like what these bands do with old traditional music combined with modern influences.
You are coming to Poland after releasing a brand-new CD „Earth Warrior” - what does it content? What is so interesting about it, comparing to the previous 13 ones?
It is the first full-lenght studio album since "Wolf Love", so it features new musicians and is co-produced by Christopher Juul (Euzen, Valravn) so it sounds fantastic. The album has been received only positively and the most often heard comment is that it is a perfect mix of all the styles we play.
Why did you turn your interest to the pagan culture at the very beginning of Omnia? And why especial to a celtic one?
This is our heritage. Most people don't realize it, but the Celtic people were, 2000 years ago, everywhere in Europe, from Holland to Spain to Ireland to Austria. The Celtic were the "Native Europeans" so to speak, and the Romans and Christian era has destroyed most of their (iron and bronze age) cultures. We are from their blood and feel the need to continue the culture but in a modern way. We speak of respect and worship of Nature and Mother Earth, because she is the only thing that is important. Without Her, there is no life.
What was the role of the theather in the beginnings of Omnia?
Omnia was started by Steve Sic as a Gallo-Roman re-enactment group in 1996. Shows were mostly given in open-air historical museums and included (historically correct but entertaining) Gladiator Fights, Sacrificial Ceremonies, Theater and (self-composed but well-researched) Music on historical instruments. The first group was 16 people strong, and over the years changed many many times, until in 2002 there were 2 people left and Jenny joined with her very modern Neo-Celtic Harp. From then on, the music became the most important thing and the historical correctness was arbitrary and became an influence instead of a must.
Tell us please a few words about your hand-built instruments - are they copies or reconstructions of folk or ancient ones or are they completely new ones?
Some are reconstructions, like the double flutes, made by Steve Sic himself. But most of these instruments are modern versions, very well-built and custom-made instruments, they are based on ancient instruments but have been upgraded to what a 21st-century musician needs.
Where do you find inspiration for composing and for writing texts?
Life. Nature.
How important is Omnia’s stage image, have you ever thought of changing it?
We don't have an image, we are simply ourselves, amplified. We look like this. All art is Steve's. There's no way we could change that, haha!
Omnia tries to warn people against destruction of the environment. Do you think that your listeners would become more aware of enviromental problems after Omnia’s concert?
We sure hope so.
How do you cope with managing your self-made label in the commercial world dominated by the big industry?
We (Steve and Jenny) spend a lot of time behind computers…and answer our interviews ourselves ;-)
When Omnia started, the pagan and folk inspirations were not so popular, now it is a sort of revival with many groups and fans. What is your opinion about contemporary pagan and folk-metal scene in Europe?
It's really cool, we hope it grows. Many people have started to play instruments like hurdy gurdy, celtic harp, bodhran, didgeridoo and bouzouki, because we inspired them. There is going to be a wave of acoustic paganfolk bands in 10 years, if the world and or the humans are still around then...
What are your upcoming plans?
We are touring extensively, until half December. Then we rest.
At the very end, please, write a few words especially for the Readers of Folk24!
Hope to see you at our concert, we are very excited to play in Poland and meet our Polish fans!
Thank you very much for your time and answers! See you in Poland!
