Jotunheim

By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Photo provided by, Jotunheim

Meet Jotunheim

Some questions with Jotunheim

Thanks for putting this together with us. Can you tell us a little about your project Jotunheim?

I formed Jounheim October 2011. My favorite music is from Norway and Sweden so naturally the riffs I write reflect that. I had a few songs written so I asked a former High School friend if he would be interested in drumming. I haven't seen him in years up to that point and ran into him at a show where our former bands were sharing the stage. He agreed to join me and Jotunheim was officially formed.

Where is your favorite venue in NYC to see a show?

Back in the day, it was BB Kings and Nokia Theater. Nokia Theater had several name changes but those 2 were definitely my favorite. I saw many cool shows there. In terms of "local" venues, I enjoyed playing Blackthorn 51 but unfortunately that venue became a casualty of COVID's economic shutdown. As of now, Lucky 13 and Dingbatz are pretty badass venues.

Do you have any routines/rituals during a practice?

Not during practice but before every show I play, I listen to the Immortal album "Battles In the North" during my drive to the venue. I actually met Abbath outside of BB Kings once. It was surreal.

What attracts you to themes of mythology in your lyrics?

That goes back to the 1st question. The majority of bands that I listen to are from Norway and Sweden. Of course there are great bands that I listen to from other countries such as Poland and Germany but Norwegian and Swedish bands far out number them. Paganism was the "religion" in those Scandinavian countries so I started reading up on Norse Mythology and was intrigued with the stories and characters. That is how I came up with the name "Jotunheim". It was a combination of Norse Mythology and Immortal's Blashyrkh world.

With us two years out from the release of your album “Asgaard's Nemeses Rise” how does it feel looking back on the work you put out?

I am definitely proud of it. I worked really hard on the album. I dissected each riff in each song to come up with 2nd guitar parts so the end product was definitely rewarding. I have received and continue to receive positive feedback and praise from fans. I have already started teaching the guys songs for the follow-up album. Hoping to start recording it sometime next year.

When writing a song, do you privilege harmony, melody, or lyrics first?

Riffs, Riffs, Riffs. Once I come up with riffs, I then try to figure out what the 2nd guitar should do. I try different combinations of harmonies until I find ones that I am satisfied with. Once the guitar parts are done, I then concentrate on the lyrics.

Have you been playing any shows out lately? How has the energy been post shut-down?

We have played several shows post-COVID and it's been refreshing. We have received positive feedback and my performance feeds off the crowds' energy. It feels good seeing the crowd get into my music. It is definitely very rewarding. Our next show is Friday September 9, 2022 at Brooklyn's Lucky 13.

With you writing all the music and lyrics would you say there is still a collaborative element to your creative process  when recording?

I write all the music and lyrics but unfortunately I have no idea how to play drums. My new drummer, the Beheader, is a machine!!!!!! I email him the songs and he comes up with the drum parts on his own. When we rehearse, we see if the drum parts fit the riffs and adjust accordingly. Thankfully, the Beheader is a phenomenal drummer so it is very rare when we decide on a different drum approach on a riff.

How do you decide when a song is actually finished? Is it easy?

It takes me quite some time to complete a song. I do not believe in "filler" riffs. Each riff in each song serves a purpose. I need to be satisfied with every single riff. Also, time is an issue as Jotunheim is a hobby for me. With work and being an adult, there isn't a lot of time for me to concentrate on music.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.) 

Thank you for this interview. Our music is available on all major digital platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Youtube, Bandcamp, etc. I post updates weekly on Facebook and Instagram so be sure to follow us there for any updates. Cheers \m/