By Adi Cohen - March 2009

You are here: Feedback › Interviews › Dol Theeta -The Universe Expands

The Expanding Universe Of Lightbridge

Thanasis Lightbridge is a Greek composer and keyboard player. He stands out for the irregular mixture in his albums, merging metal, electronic music and choirs altogether. In 2004 his first project, Dol Ammad, came to mind with the debut album "Star Tales". The second Dol Ammad album, "Ocean Dynamics" was released in 2006. Thanasis has his own label, Electronica Art Metal, in order to produce his releases. A third album, "The Universe Expands" which is a part of a new project named Dol Theeta is right here, hot from the stove. To celebrate this event we've caught a word with this extraordinary musician.

First of all, I'd like to say that I really like your work. I think it's highly innovative and I had many enjoyable hours with it! What had me fall for it was the fact that you actually took metal, classical music and electronic music and merged them into something new and completely different. Can you explain how the idea got you and describe the process of making?

That's great to hear, I am honored by your kind words! Being a fan of basically all types of music, I tried to combine the energy and power of metal music with the endless sonic palettes of electronic music and the ethereal qualities of choral singing. The process of making such music most of the time starts with sounds that I come up with on my synths or a drumbeat when I sit on my drums. I love drumming as much as synthesizers, the beat is the heart of everything. I believe that good music is universal and should be free of taboos and trends that people need to follow in order to feel that they "belong" somewhere. At the same time I enjoy this tag game like: Psychedelic / Space Grind / Vegetarian / Post Metal [Laughs]...

Tell us about your musical past. What were your influences? Which genres or bands molded you as a musician?

My main influence that got me into electronic music was Jean Michel Jarre who is something of a music hero for me. I mainly started exploring music through New Age artists like Vangelis, Mike Oldfield and Kitaro, from where I moved to classic electronica like Kraftwerk and later Orbital. After some years of experimenting with sounds and synthesizers I was shocked to discover the amazing world of heavy metal music. A music so stigmatized by its cliches and close-minded fanatics while at same time being an excellent ground for positive and truly progressive music thinking.

Many admit you've actually succeeded to create a new genre. How do you feel about it and why you name it "Aquatic"?

I certainly try to bend the rules and expand the horizons of the typical song making structures but there is not such a thing as a definite "success". It is a work in progress, an exciting experiment that I hope will never end actually! We decided to tag "Ocean Dynamics" as an "Aquatic Space Opera" because of the sci-fi oceanic theme that all the songs shared.

Wasn't it hard to create something completely unique when you were still unknown in the metal scene? Weren't you afraid that you'll drive away the "true metalheads" while the classical music lovers will simply ignore your work?

I never really had such concerns in my mind. If I wanted to make music to satisfy a certain commercial target group I certainly wouldn't have come up with Dol Ammad and Dol Theeta. It is true that the fans of my music are filtered from extremely diverse musical backgrounds and may not be from the die-hard metal or classic area but that's the whole point, discovering adventurous music explorers to share your journeys with!

"The Universe Expands" is a Dol Theeta release. Is it a new project? How does it differ from Dol Ammad? Is this the end of Dol Ammad?

No, no this is not the end of Dol Ammad! There will be 3 projects of the "Electronica Art Metal" experiment. These projects will have a different approach, a different side of this hybrid music fusion. I decided that all 3 will share the first name "Dol" in order to show the interconnection between them. Dol Ammad are the "epic" side, Dol Theeta are the "esoteric" side and the third project will be a more extreme-violent side which will appear in the future. We have just released the full Dol Theeta album "The Universe Expands" after the single "Goddess" release some months ago. Dol Theeta are mainly more atmospheric than Dol Ammad, some may think it's a "lighter" side but I believe the music involved in Dol Theeta is the most deep I have written so far.

The samples from the new album promise a mature album, and I must say that the artwork is stunning, much more impressive than the previous ones. What have you learned from the previous releases, what did you change? Which of them describes you at best?

Yes I also sense a kind of maturity in the music of the new album which is logical since I learn from my previous experiences and try to build on that. I don't like to think in formulas and certain patterns. Regarding the artwork it is truly amazing to have the great Werner Hornung as the artist in Dol Theeta. It was a big honor and I am shocked by the quality of his work. The art of Dol Ammad is more spacey and abstract, I also love those albums too. I really can't pick one release as the "best". As I said I like to progress and evolve through my experiences both in composition and production. Each album is a building block that you need to step on and raise yourself higher.

What is the meaning of the names "Dol Ammad" and "Dol Theeta"?

The name "Dol Ammad" is taken from a video game named "Descent 3" and in that game it is the name of a fuel refinery station in planet Europa. Etymologically the word "Dol" could be derived either from Tolkien's world where it means "castle" (remember Dol Amroth) or the latin word "Dolor" which means pain. ("Dol" also used to be a measurement unit for pain). As for the word "Ammad" it seems that it is a Arab name meaning "Pillar / Column". So Dol Ammad could be the "Castle of Columns" or the "Columns of Pain"?! "Theeta" is a mutation of the word "Theta" which is the eight letter of the Greek alphabet. It is the first letter in my name and also my birth city Thessaloniki in Greece. This letter and its symbol have amazing history behind it.

Didn't you feel at some point that this is just "too much" for you? That maybe you should just give up and try something more mainstream?

Not really, I never started making music just for the sake of it or with certain targets. It just came naturally and I followed my heart. It is true that there are many frustrating moments in organizing and manufacturing such a big production but at the same time I don't think I could easily do something "mainstream". I think I have a certain microbe that messes everything up in my music! I see it in my life also. When I try to do or think something simple and easy I will always mess it up and end up taking the hardest and most extreme path...

What can we find in the new album? Do you follow the line you've walked before, or is it something completely different?

It is a different evolution of the same concept of blending electronics with metal/rock music. What was definitely different was a more improvisational approach on the composition and the recordings. I didn't prepare everything to the exact tiny note as I do with Dol Ammad. We sat down with Kortessa on the mic and experimented with the vibes of the songs. The singing style in each song is different from the next, something that I find very exciting. Also with Dim on the guitars the process was more freestyle and a bit abstract. Another noticeable addition in Dol Theeta are more ethnic sounds like bagpipes, flutes and violins.

How do you manage with the logistic side of your work? A full choir to move around with... How do you plan to set up gigs?

[Laughs]... I am afraid the logistic side of the Dol Ammad project is not allowing me to embark in live shows and any touring yet. I admit that I am raising the bar a little too high when I am thinking of a possible Dol Ammad live show but I have this bug that doesn't allow me to compromise easily in my music.

Tell us about your label, "Electronica Art Metal". Why did you decideto form your own label?

I decided that this was the way to go after the bankruptcy of my previous label and the ridiculous stupid deals I received from other labels most of whom required everything and promised nothing. It was and still is a hard step that requires more expenses and tons of more time but I haven't regretted it. I like to have total control over all the elements of the production and the manufacturing of the albums and also to have immediate contact with the fans and media. Thankfully I have found some very skilled coworkers that could help the label evolve more.

Can you picture yourself playing in a regular, "by-the-book" metal band, or are you a lone wolf type who always needs to break the limits, and prefer it this way?

No, I tried that a lot in the past with disastrous results. Although I am an easy going guy, I could be really hard to work with into an art-creating environment. I prefer to have the last word over everything and my strange approaches on music fusions aren't always easily shared by other musicians. It is lonelier but I prefer it.

I'm well aware of the strange romance between sci-fi/fantasy and metal, but yours sounds like a hopeless case... Some actually name you "The Luke Skywalker of metal"! Can you elaborate on your relation to sci-fi and how it is being expressed it in your work?

[Laughs]... This Skywalker quote is a killer! Truth is I am a sucker for all things sci-fi and I don't think I will ever present an album without some space themes and elements. I healthily worship the "Star Wars" universe but also enjoy more humorous approaches like the worlds of Douglas Adams. I am amazed by the work of Philip Pullman in the "Dark Materials" trilogy (and I hate how Hollywood massacred it in the first movie they did). All my music so far is sci-fi oriented, "Star Tales" is more action and direct while "Ocean Dynamics" is more serene like the movie "The Abyss". Dol Theeta's approach is a more esoteric "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "Blade Runner" type of feeling.

I must admit that "Ocean Dynamics" is very meditative in its own way…I used to have it right after the morning's coffee as a way of relaxation… It really feels as if you actually aimed to speak straight to the listener's soul or deeper sides, like an enigma to be discovered... Is it so?

Oh yes it's great for coffee during breakfast and also for tea before bed-time! I think all my music, and in the latest "Dol Theeta" more so, are food for thought and imagination. It reveals lots of new things each time you listen to it and if you manage to truly travel with it then I am pleased that I have done a good job.

What are you aiming at, in a long time perspective?

My main target is to release as many music as possible since I still have tons of material inside me and tons of ideas to experiment on. In the short term future I would like to release the next Dol Ammad EP and their third album and after that maybe the third "Dol" project which I am sure will shock lots of people!

Any last words to your listeners in Israel?

Thank you for your support and interest in our strange music! Also, all the best for a creative and peaceful new year.

http://metalist.co.il/InterviewPrivate.asp?id=344〈=eng