1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?
I’m in the middle of promoting the album of course. I’m also trying to write new stuff, however the musical direction my writing is taking at the moment is a bit different from OMEGA POINT’s stuff. It’s more along the lines of “epic” and less “black metal”, you could say. So that’s why I don’t know if the next album will be an OMEGA POINT album or maybe some kind of solo record or even another project album.
2.So far you have released 2 albums this year, how do both of them differ musically?
The first album “The Descent” has a much rawer sound to it, it’s kinda more black metal than “Isolation”, you could say. You could say that I’ve explored a new sound for me with the first album and that I’ve taken it to the next step with “Isolation”. The second album is much more coherent than the first one. On the first one, I’ve had 3 singers and 2 bassists and no coherent lyrical concept, only outlines. On “Isolation” however, we don’t have such a mixture, we have Jonathan as the main singer, Maxi as the lyricist, Chris on drums and me doing the rest.
Also, what could explain the musical differences as well is that I’ve written “The Descent” in the middle of a personal, emotional crisis and “Isolation” is part of my recovery process. It still deals with a lot of the same moods, however the direction the music is taking is much clearer than on the first album.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on both of the recordings?
OMEGA POINT deals with emotions such as despair, hate, anger and sadness. Like I’ve said before, I’ve let the people writing lyrics for the first album most of their freedom, thus creating an interesting mixture of impressions of their darker sides. It deals with thoughts about suicide, taking farewell and emotional issues.
The second album “Isolation” is more of a story. It’s about a protagonist whose friend has killed himself and who now must face different dark and negative emotions. Still fighting against those, his emotional state slowly gets worse and in the he has to face the same problems his friend has faced.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Omega Point'?
Well, it’s kinda weird to explain to be honest. But I’ll try. In the end, when everything collapses – talking in a broader sense - it ultimately means that everything will be nullified. Meaning that for example all of humanities achievements, all the big accomplishments as well as all our personal problems and goals will be for nothing. That may seem like an interesting thought from the perspective of someone who’s feeling suicidal, to be honest, because it kind of gives you a feeling of security. Everybody has to die and, in the end, when mankind, earth or even the universe is on the breach of collapse, it won’t matter what you have done – or not done.
That’s at least how I’ve looked at this topic from time to time. This of course isn’t fully congruent with the spiritual belief of the “Omega Point”, where everything in the universe is spiraling towards a final point of unification.
The original idea for this name is based on the lyrics for the song “At Omega Point”, which is written by Thomas Jahnke from Sadistic Sacrament.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album?
This artwork was made by Danko Designs specifically for this album. You can of course interpret it in different ways. It could for example resemble a person that has hanged himself, though you cannot see the rope. It might be a metaphor for an “inner death”, the loss of your will to live. Of course, you can also interpret it as a person that is rising “into the light”, as in “rising to heaven”. But of course, you can interpret it in any way you want.
6.I have read that this is a studio project and your looking for a live line up to do some shows, how has that been working out so far?
That hasn’t been working out that well, to be honest. The singer Jonathan and me moving away hasn’t made trying to find a line up easier, which is why that is put on hold for the moment. I’m concentrating on song writing again now and I’m looking for another project I can take part in at my new center of life.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
I have looked for labels in the past but I’ve decided to stay unsigned for now. This project still is kind of small and for most big labels, you have to buy yourself in to get a deal if you’re smaller. If there are labels interested though I will always reconsider because label support makes promotion and selling your music much easier.
8.What are some of the other bands or musical projects that the musicians that played on the recordings are a part of?
Starting off with the most known bands, Chris Dovas is currently the touring drummer for Vital Remains and the regular drummer for the Symphonic Metal Band Seven Spires. Maxi, who has also written the lyrics for “Isolation”, is creating a concept album himself right now under the name of “Quiet Observer”, and the first album consisted of musicians by the bands Sektor and Sadistic Sacrament.
9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I want to continue with OMEGA POINT or some other personal projects for sure. Due to my affinity for covering, I could also see myself joining a touring band or another new band as a regular member.
I’m right now studying Sound And Music Production at the University Of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt, Germany, so producing other bands will also be coming up.
10.What are some of the bands or musical projects that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
At the moment, I like listening to bands like Myrkur, ColdWorld, Tantara, MaYan, Guilt Machine or Pain Of Salvation. Some of my evergreens are Wintersun, Coroner or Vektor.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
I love watching anime, other than that my life is pretty music-centered, I just love producing sounds, doing covers for my YouTube-Channel and making music in general. Sometimes I also like to code.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Yeah, thanks for the interview and the interesting questions. Of course I would be honoured if the people reading this would check out the album (https://open.spotify.com/album/37wdjT3nq0UsCbcoyU5IkU?si=qqtxIui4T5-6no5jBUrQdg).
Other than that, stay safe and stay creative, people. Hit me up if you need any second opinion on your music or some kind of production advice, or you just want to make a collaboration cover for YouTube - you can find my website here (http://ristridi.de)
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