Last Sigh: You are living back in Norway from Sweden? How is life treating you there? Are you happy to be back in Norway? Where are your band-mates living?

Mortiis: They live in Sweden. Mortiis isnīt really a band, though, itīs sort of a project, where I get some people together when it is needed, which is mostly for shows. Life here is fine, I spend most of my time in solitude working on music and constantly fighting the bastards that constitute the record industry and the music consumers.

Last Sigh: You were on tour in the United States last fall, 1999. What were some of the more difficult situations on that tour and why? Any positive memories you would like to share with us about that tour? Are there any upcoming events with Mortiis you'd like us to be aware of in 2000?

Mortiis: So far nothing concrete is going on for 2000. Weīve had a nightmare trying to get a European tour going, and at this time it looks as if it will happen in the fall. Iīm spending the majority of my time writing and working on new music for my next album. We do have a few cool things lined up for that, though, that I really hope will come through.

The US tour of 99, well, to sum up the shitty memories: Cancelled shows in Florida, blown eardrums in Toronto, cancelled show in Chicago due to stage show, promoter doesnīt show up in Baltimore, spending several hours in emergency room in Baltimore, the story goes on. Positive memories: Getting some direly needed live experience, as well as doing the tour was cool in itself.

Last Sigh: Mortiis is a very controversial band. What do you think is the big deal here? Why the controversy in your opinion? Rumor has it in New York you scared a few people on the streets and were banned from playing a venue or two (?) on the 1999 US tour. What was this about and how did you feel about being censored?

Mortiis: I donīt really give a shit. The thing is, when people want to ban me or whatever and make this big deal out of it, theyīre doing me a favour, I get more free PR from it. And what a lot of people donīt realize is, that they are the creators of the monsters that they fear. I do not really claim to be an evil person since I do not consider myself to be an evil person, but a hell of a lot of people try to make me look like I am, and voila! another monster is conceived.

Last Sigh: Why the makeup/mask etc.? [How long does it take for you to put that on anyway?] What do you personify with the mask in your opinion? What is the philosophy or issues behind the mighty Mortiis and your music/lyrics in the past and the present? Has your philosophy or personal expression with your work changed over the years -- from what perspectives to what new ideas if any? Does being "Mortiis" create an alter-ego/life for your apart from your non-Mortiis self or isn't there any separation?

Mortiis: No real separation as far as I can tell. Iīm just being myself. Naturally, as you get older, see more of the world, your views and impressions of it and the people that inhabit it, will change. If it didnīt, Iīd be a fucking moron. My initial views of the world remains the same, though: People are undeniably very ignorant creatures, perverted by themselves and very, very hostile and negative to whatever is outside their safe little territorial bubble.

The philosophy behind Mortiis is used to create this alternative personality inhabiting an alternative world, being the creator and almighty God of this alternative place, and I was the medium through which it displayed itself. While this was cool and everything for a long time, I fell from my own grace when I realized that it was very cheesy, and I also lost faith in everything except for the fact that I am an individual and no body could ever take that away from me...Mortiis still remains, I will never go away from who I am, even though my entire "belief system" was more or less shattered. I entered a thundra of the mind, so to speak, and this will show very clearly on the next album. The transformation process usually takes between 60-90 minutes with the current gear I put on.

[Editor's Note: I was able to wittness the physical transformation Mortiis underwent for the Detroit show. It was an experience I won't forget.]

Last Sigh: You have a relatively new release out on Earache: Stargate [1999]. What is this all about? What can we expect for a follow up to this release? Have you chosen any new members to work with in the future on the Mortiis project? Do you have any plans for side-projects in the future, or does Mortiis take care of your creativity in your world of music?

Mortiis: I have talked to people but nothing is official. People can expect an album that is mighty different from what Mortiis used to be. It still has the sound, but as my world went away, I had to move on, or else I would have to go away with it. Side projects are non-existent and probably will for a long time, thereīs really no time for anything else right now. The Stargate was all about the will to survive, to conquer new worlds, expanding your territory. Honoring one of manīs most primal instincts, basically. All set in a very symbolical landscape, the old world, so to speak.

Last Sigh: Why did you get involved in the music you create and how long have you been interested in this sort of creative expression? Does your music sustain you or do you find you have to work outside of the Mortiis project? Do you have any formal training in regards to music?

Mortiis: I have no training whatsoever. Which I thought would be bleeding obvious to most people listening to some of the shite I have evoked over the years. I am poor as a church house rat if thatīs what you mean. I never had a real job in my life, though, I couldnīt possibly hold on to one. I picked strawberries once and got sacked on the second day. I got involved with music ten years ago, but didnīt start writing my own until I left Emperor. And for years I only wrote ambient soundscape type of music... Only recently did I start writing more structured music. The reason I got involved is basically because I love music and have always done that as far back as I can remember.

Last Sigh: Who if anyone or what influenced you to create Mortiis? Was there anyone in your younger years who helped you on the path, anyone whom you would like to thank? What is a typical day like in the life of Mortiis?

Mortiis: Typical day right now: Get up in the afternoon, check my emails, eventually Iīll respond to some, then Iīll start working on music and checking mails in between for the rest of the day, usually early at night Iīll make myself a meal, eat it and watch a stupid sitcom Iīve seen 40 times before, return to the music, possibly interrupted by phone calls and other things for the rest of the night. Usually I stay up until 4 or 5 in the morning before I got to sleep, so Iīm actually going to sleep earlier than I used to. I used to get up at 8 at night and work through the night and then go do my errands and go back home and go to sleep. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it is not very practical if you want to get other things done, such as robbing banks.

No one really helped me on this so called path, other than Heavy Metal in itself, thatīs the only thing I can think of. Musically Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk got me into keyboards and shit, so I suppose my thank you list would contain Heavy Metal, Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Howīs that for a contradictory thank you list?

Last Sigh: If there was one person you could work with in the studio or a live performance, who would that be and why?

Mortiis: I have no idea. I do not consider myself good enough to work with a lot of people, really.

Last Sigh: Mortiis is a very successful project. How do you feel about your stardom/popularity? If it has it changed your life, how so and to what extent? Would you ever have come to the United States had it not been for Mortiis? You seem to frequently upset quite a few people with the Mortiis project. How do you feel about this? How do you feel about people hating you and your music/expression/art.

Mortiis: I think they can fuck off. If they really want me to go away, they should ignore me. Any other action just fuels the fucking fire. I probably wouldnīt have seen much reason to go over to the States if it wasnīt for Mortiis. I mean, now there is, since I have a girlfriend that lives there, but we met as a direct result of my music, so... I wouldnīt call Mortiis all that successful, I am well known, but that doesnīt really mean that we move a million units. We have a very long way to go still, and I am painfully reminded about that everyday. But I guess itīs what keeps me hungry. I can live with my "stardom" and my "popularity" as well as my "[being] impopular" (which is by far the most amusing).

Last Sigh: What happened with the move off Cold Meat Industries? How long were you with them? Why the move to Earache?

Mortiis: I just wanted to move on to the next level basically, easy as that. Nobody else really wanted to sign us on, so we went with Earache, which offered the most interesting deal out of the ones that actually did show some interest. Nope, no more albums are coming through CMI.

Last Sigh: Could you give us a couple of your favourite quotes, movies or books last viewed or read?

Mortiis: A definite fav book is Nightworld by F. Paul Wilson. Havenīt watched any really ground breaking good movies lately. My current fav quote is my own, from the BBC TV show "Insider Tracks":
"Iīm not narrow-minded but everyone else can fuck off!"
(obviously said in a joking manner) and also myself from yesterday when demonstrating a sound that sounded like a sound John Carpenter wouldīve used in any early horror movie he did: "This oneīs pretty John".

Last Sigh: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians who are just starting out with their careers? Any complaints about the state of affairs of this music business that you feel needs to changed or improved? What about MP3 technology? Does it seem to help or hinder you in terms of getting your music heard or sold or isn't it an issue?

Mortiis: At this point it can only help. We donīt really sell that much, so MP3īs is a good way to promote and spread the music. If I sold a million albums and it had a noticeable effect on record sales, it would be a different story, but such is not the case. Iīm not that involved in the music biz, so I donīt really know what could and should be changed, which makes me sound like a complete ignoramus, but so be it. Me advise aspiring musicians? As far as Iīm concerned Iīm pretty fucking aspiring myself. A good advice would be: Never, ever listen to anything I have to say. Hehe.

Last Sigh: Is there a fan base in the United States a person can join? If so, how can a person join?

Mortiis: Thereīs a way to join a mailing list on the web site: www.mortiis.com

Last Sigh: Do you have any further comments you would like to share with us?

Mortiis: Hmm...Not really. Iīm boring today.

Last Sigh: What is it you enjoy most about this music business/scene? Touring, meeting fans, writing music etc?

Mortiis: I havenīt really been given the chance to do a lot of the things other bands do. So far I enjoy the artistic freedom that I have, and the unavoidable day they try to take that away from me, I will happily tell them to put a shotgun  up their ass and fire it.

Last Sigh: Thanks for working with us at Last Sigh. I wish you a fruitful future.

Mortiis: Thank you.