Keltia is indeed a very particular artist. Her dark music is inspired by the the dark side of folklore that nourishes her music full of myths and legends, tribal chants, strange vocals almost summoning a vision of gothic fantasy very difficult to classify in a single genre, maybe sort of celtic-gothic. Keltia's project began in 2002 when Keltia, the leader of the group, started to perform alone with her harp in Belgian festival and concert places. She sings mostly in french and all the tracks of her debut studio album (published by the new label LimoHe music) are unique, strange and hers in many aspects accompanying herself with a Celtic harp that spices her compositions with an enchanting sound of a "classical" instrumment but approached differently. From here I want to encourage her in her carreer, and hopefully to meet her one day (if possible in a stagem being an artist myself dwelling in the realms of dark fae it really pleases me in particular to feel the vibe of this genre going ahead with such wondrous talents as this one in particular is). Thus I want to see her live one day enjoy what I do not doubt it will be a very beautiful performance. So here we go with some questions with her.... Step into Keltia's world!

Priscilla Hernandez: Your music has a shadow of dark faery spice and folklore. What lead you to
dive into this genre? What genre would you place your music in?

Keltia: Oh that’s a really good question but it’s not easy for me to give a precise answer. I guess folk, traditional cultures and myths were a part of my education. In my childhood, I used to read a lot of fairy tales and as my parents like celtic and folk music in general, I’ve listened to it a lot since a young age. As far as I remember, I’ve always been fascinated by ancient cultures, middle ages and so on… All that must have left a mark on my mind and my imagination which lead me to create this kind of music. But it’s really hard to tell… You know I didn’t really choose a genre when I began to compose.

But to tell you in what genre I would place my music is really impossible for me. I don’t really like to place my music into a kind of storage space with a label like “heavenly”or “celtic dark folk”. When I compose a new song, I don’t think about respecting the rules of a peculiar genre and some of my song’s can’t be compared with each other. Listen to “1666” and then to “Judas”, I don’t think it’s possible to find a storage space which could contain all the elements in reference with a specific genre contained in these two songs.

Priscilla Hernandez: You play celtic harp... when did you started to perform and how was you
ended up doing so?
Keltia: I began to play the celtic harp in december 2000. And I made my first real performance in april 2002… My father is the promoter of a celtic festival which first edition took place in 2000. During this festival, I had met a great belgian harpist who became my teacher. He learned me to play the harp in a “traditional way”, studying traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland and French Britanny. But I ended up using the harp as an accompaniment instrument for the songs I wrote. In the same way some musicians use a guitar or a piano as a support for their voice.
But you know, I think almost every little girl dreams one day of playing the harp. It’s such a magical instrument!

Priscilla Hernandez: Which are your music influences. What musicians do you admire?

Keltia: I guess I’ve been influenced by much more artists that those I can name here. Anyway my principal influence is with no doubts Kate Bush. I’m fascinated by the way she has to bring archetypal figures to life. Just look at her on the sleeve of “Hounds of love”, bending a bow. She’s no more a singer, she’s just Artemis, ancient Greek goddess of hunting. I really admire her capacity to take possession of our deepest beliefs and embody them. By the way, it was the subject my high school thesis.
Lisa Gerard from Dead Can Dance, Tori Amos and Björk have also left their mark in my musical style. But don’t think one can name all their influences. We’re always influenced by things we hear.

Priscilla Hernandez:Why the name 1666 for your debut album?

Keltia: I must confess that we chose this name especially for the fact that people would ask this question! There are many reasons, the first of them being that “1666” is the name of one of the last track of the album. The second is that I wanted to name the song with a number because numbers are mysterious and said to have some magical powers. The “666” of “1666” brings a dark note to the album.

But 1666 is not a mere number, this is also a date. In 1666, London went under a great fire which lasts for 3 days and destroyed a great part of the city. Strangely this fire made few victims but is said to have stopped the epidemy of plague which was about to deluge the city. These fact has stirred my imagination as an exemple of the merciless power of destruction of natural elements and in the same time their power of purification.

Priscilla Hernandez:How are your live performances?

Keltia: I always try to give some life to my shows. Not just playing the tracks from the album but trying to share my personal world with the audience. I like to dress with long skirts and corset, to put some ivy leaves in my hair.
I have just bought a headmike that allows me to move more on stage. I play electroharp and acoustic harp on stage so I’m now able to move from one to another without carrying the mike.
My two musicians, Seesayle and Wiz, play a lot of instruments and care about all technical aspects of the show so I can really concentrate on acting and performing.
Priscilla Hernandez: What is your music dream?

Keltia:That’s a difficult question. Few months ago, I would have answered you: “making an album which I would fulfil my expectations” but “1666” has satisfied this desire. For the first time I can listen to a track and say “Oh yes! This is exactly how I wanted it to sound like!” which was not possible before because I hadn’t anybody to help me with it. In fact, having few experience I just wasn’t able to achieve the results I had in mind. Fortunately I met Seesayle and Wiz who have about the same musical references as me and who were able to understand what I was struggling to make!

Now, I would like to make my music known to more people, to reach a greater audience abroad. So my goal would be to sign a contract a musical distributor who would make my albums more widely available.

Priscilla Hernandez: Future projects?I’m composing and working with my musicians on new songs related to the same mythological theme for maybe a new show Keltia: and, eventually, a new album but I don’t want to say too much about it because it’s still a bit too theorical! But if I can achieve it, it will be very interesting visually and musicaly, I think!

More about Keltia:

Official website: http://www.keltia.info

Listen to her in myspace: http://myspace.com/keltiamusic

+info about her album 1666 in NM (click the cover)

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