1. Can you introduce our readers to The Joy Of Nature?
The Joy of Nature is the musical vehicle of LC and his troupe of collaborators, trying to express the beauty and power of nature, of the nature of things. It was born on 1998 as The Joy of Nature and Discipline and the name was reduced to the current one on 2006.
2. How would you describe the musical style that you present on your albums?
It is mostly organic, made with folk instruments, sometimes ambient, sometimes psychedelic, other times avantgarde. It changes from record to record, but keeping a noticeable identity.
3. What are some of the lyrical subjects and topics you write about?
Many subjects and topics. It depends on what is being transmitted. There is no fixation for some specific topic.
4. What is the meaning and the inspiration behind the bands name?
It’s just a name that expresses a way of looking at the world.
5. Have you had any opportunities to do live shows yet, if so what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
We played this Summer at Lisbon and Oporto. Well, we presented something quite different from what is recorded. We used some improvisation, played a lot of unreleased material. The Joy of Nature live demands some concentration from the public, to have a connection with the crowd. When it happens that way, it is something very special. But if in this year’s shows we played more the avantgarde side of The Joy of Nature, in next performances we can just perform folk songs.
6. How has your music been received so far by neo-folk fans worldwide?
I don’t know quite well. It would be easier to ask them, how they receive it.
7. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
There’s a musical progress in The Joy of Nature’s music, but not concerning style. An album can be disturbing acoustic ambient and the next one can be an album of normal songs, more or less folkier. And another one may be quite close to avantgarde. Who knows the direction? Just see myself stripping of the music, turning it more pure.
8. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
When we listen to a lot of different things, it’s hard to know exactly what influenced us, but medieval music, traditional folk music, some classical and avantgarde composers, even some indie rock and post punk must have influenced us. Lately I’ve been listening to medieval music, Jandek, The National, Yo la Tengo, Charalambides, Debussy, Stravinsky, etc. Quite an eclectic selection.
9. Does Paganism play any role in your music?
Paganism is a word with a meaning that has been misunderstood. Pagan means something like peasant, so paganism is something like old peasant’s way. It’s a word that does not make sense to me anymore, so I can’t answer the question.
10. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
Cinema, literature, arts in general, anthropology, philosophy.
11. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?
Thank you for your interest!
https://thejoyofnature.bandcamp.com/
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