JACOB HANSEN
(INVOCATOR , ANUBIS GATE, BEYOND TWILIGHT)

Interview - December 2007,
Denmark - Russia

- You're a musician, producer, engineer... Let's try from the beginning.

Sound has always been a great interest of mine. When I was young, I listened a lot to productions of the 50's, 60's and 70's, and I think that the way things sounded had an enormous impact on me. Especially ABBA, Beatles, Beach Boys, ELO (in the late 70's and early 80's) etc. After 10th grade I went to a school where they had this 4-track tape recorder, and I experimented a lot with it - recorded my own 1-man demos, playing all the instruments, etc. I think that was the very beginning.

- Invocator is your oldest project, isn't it? Could you tell about this Band?

Yes, it started back in 1987. Actually my first band was started in '86, but it wasn't that serious :-) We did our first Invocator show, February 1987, so we just experienced 20 years anniversary! Unbelievable! We've tried so many things with this band. We played in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, France etc. We toured Europe twice, first with Dark Angel and next with Cemetary and Morgana LeFay. But we've supported many big names throughout our active time. It was fun!

- For a long time you play in two other Projects - Beyond Twilight and Anubis Gate. All these Bands are very different. What style is more close to your spirit? And how do you share your time for all of them?

Well, melodic metal has always been very close to my heart. I had like Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick and Crimson Glory – Transcendence as fave albums back in the early 90's. I mean, I always wanted to play something more melodic. There wasn't that much room for such things in Invocator. So, I immediately said yes when I was asked to play guitar for Beyond Twilight. Finn (founder and dictator :-)) was a good friend of mine as well, so things went very natural. When Anubis Gate (featuring Jesper M. Jensen on guitars - who played bass on Invocator's first album) lost their singer, I thought: 'heck, why not give it a go!', and I recorded 2 songs for them to check out. They had some other singers auditioning, but since I knew all their material from being their producer, and they knew me very well, the said 'if you want to join, here's your chance', and I took it. It's been really great to do something that is not normal for me. I try to do things musically that is challenging to me. I've played Invocator-riffs for 20 years, and it was about time to try something new! Haha! None of the bands I'm in are very active. Invocator plays 6-8 shows per year. Anubis Gate maybe the same (hopefully), and Beyond Twilight never plays live. So it's not a big problem.

- If I understand correctly, you have found the right way for yourself by playing for 3 bands at the same time, which are different a little by their style... ;) Or no? Possibly, would be better to find something else – 4th and more melodic band? ;)) By the way, how many instruments do you play? Suppose, all of them... ;)

I’m not sure I need more bands, ha ha! I think they all have something different to offer. In Anubis Gate I am singing only (although on the album I play a couple of solos and rhythm guitars on 2 songs), and that’s very new to me. In Invocator I do screaming and playing guitar. In Beyond Twilight I only play guitars, and somebody else writes all the music. I think all these bands give me what I need in terms of creativity, although I’d like to do a lot of different things! I play drums, guitars, bass and some keyboards.

- What do you think about the future of the Bands, where do you play? 20 years are not so long for the Invocator – I assume you purpose to further play.

I have no intention of taking Invocator further. It’s an old band, and it’s mostly nostalgia for people. They wanna hear the old songs, and don’t really care about the new material :-) But you never know what will happen... As for the other bands, I think we just love to play music. It’s not about trying to become famous. I’m 37 and I have tried to tour Europe and Scandinavia. I’ve played with a lot of the big bands out there, so no need to explore that side of the music business.

- Beyond Twilight... I believe, impossible to look ahead, because everything belongs to the hands of the Band’s Creator… ;) But can you and other guys influence over image of the Band and change some decisions of the ‘dictator’? ;))) Guys who prefer to stay in shadow… How is closed your image n Beyond Twilight to you? You look as very gloomy guy on the promo pictures and video... ;)))

Beyond Twilight is a very weird band... All the musicians are quite eccentric, and of course I just follow the image of the band. I think it’s fun, although I would maybe have done something else if it was my band. I can influence on Finn’s decisions because he respects me, but on the other hand, I have the same respect for his ideas, so I better be careful where I disagree.

- Appositely, about your images... Which one is your true image? Or you can change them as an actor – so, maybe your roles are a different styles of your acting only? But anyway, which one is nearest to you?

I think I am myself in Anubis Gate, ha ha! That’s where there aren’t so many boundaries or restrictions to “what you can do” in metal. Anubis Gate doesn’t really care about what 'people' think. We’re making music for music lovers, and we really don’t have an image. Not a very strong one, I think. That makes a lot of things more relaxed and focused on the music, which is nice. I love being part of the crazy stuff in Beyond Twilight as well!

- And Anubis Gate at last... So, firstly you have tried of yourself as Anubis Gate’s singer. Seems, as everybody has found your experience as very lucky. Can we hope that Anubis Gate will fix on their choice to the next Band’s recording?

We’re already working on new material for the next album, and it seems they’re happy with me as their singer, so that’s great! Ha ha! Yes, I have gotten very positive response for the vocals on 'Andromeda Unchained', and that’s very pleasing. I’ve been singing for a very short time, and I can improve. Hopefully you’ll hear some improvement on the next album, which we will start to record this summer.

- Really? So soon!.. Nice to hear this! What’s fans say about your solo career? Many of them know you as a cool Invocator’s singer. But I can’t suppose that you have SO melodic voice... ;)

Most of the people that like Invocator will think Anubis Gate is crap, haha. But there are a lot of listeners that were really surprised to hear my 'melodic' voice, and actually thought it was great. I don’t have a problem with criticism. If you’re not into melodic metal, you’ll probably not like Anubis Gate anyway. No matter who’s singing! I tried to squeeze a little bit of the melodic voice into Invocator, but it was impossible. The fans would hate it! Haha!

- Yeah... This is really difficult do change the band’s image when the band has so long history... What's your personal opinion about the last Anubis Gate’s CD?

I think it’s a great album. The best they’ve done. There are some strong songs on the old albums as well, but they were limited song writers back then. I think there are still improvements for the band in terms of writing, and I hope that we will put some more weight in the melodies and not too much 'atmospheric stuff'. That’s how I hope the next album will be.

- In what time you have started your work in Studio? What about the Hansen's Studio pre-history?

I started my own studio in 2001. I had been working in another studio some years ahead of that, so I had clients and experience. The other studio was very small, and the gear limited, so when I started my own I knew what I wanted. I actually never thought it would go this far, but I was of course hoping this could earn my living. And it does! It's great to wake up in the morning and go to work. Fun 99% of the time!

- How many Bands visit the Studio and work there every year? Are they from Denmark in generally? Or many of them from abroad?

I have something like 35-40 productions every year, including some mastering jobs. I have maybe 3-4 Danish bands per year, and the rest is from Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Faraoe Islands, USA etc. It's great to meet new nationalities! There are so many nice people out there. Sometimes I think they're even nicer when they're not my fellow countrymen! :-)

- How many hours in your day? ;) I think much more than 24... ;)

I work 8 hours per day, but sometimes there are projects that require some more attention or something, and I give it a little more, as time and my family allows.

- So, which plans do you have on your Studio's work for the next year?

Maybe it’s too early to say too much there, but I am doing a new Communic record, Raunchy, Volbeat, Deadlock etc. There are some really exciting projects that I don’t wanna reveal now, as things might change.

- Hope we will keep in touch more closely at the next year. Hope also that the news of your Studio will be announced at the ProgScan site. :) Happy holidays for you! Wish you good luck at the next year!