A Viking folk music project by German producer and vocalist Melina Ariane Rapp.
Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?
I’m 34 years old and I’m from Germany. I like to create music, do martial arts, and I
work as a mechanical engineer.
We know you as Askadia and Aria Siren, what does “Askadia” & “Aria Siren” mean and does the names mean something special for you?
Let’s start with Aria Siren. It was my first music project, and I chose the name because sirens, the singing fantasy creatures, always fascinated me. I wanted something related to singing, something mystical, which can also be found in my music. Aria comes from my middle name Ariane.
The name “Askadia” comes from the goddess Skadi, surrounded by two A’s.
Nordic mythology always fascinated me.
Tell us about your music project as Askadia & Aria Siren?
With Aria Siren, I create cinematic music – sometimes atmospheric, sometimes with an epic character. Askadia on the other hand provides space for mystical Nordic Folk & fierce Viking music. I sing of burials of
warriors, quarrel and reconciliation, old Nordic wisdoms, and the elements of nature.
The “main instrument” in the majority of my songs is my voice.
How did it start with producing music and how long have you been producing music?
The producing is rather new – I started releasing songs in 2023. Music, however, has been part of my life since I was a child. I started playing the piano at the age of 6 and enjoyed singing even before. Soon after that, I joined choirs, orchestras and theater groups as a composer and musician.
Have you always produced this kind of music, or have you been on a journey?
I think it’s a constant journey, and I enjoy it. But certain moods and tones of voice always reoccur naturally, I think that’s how you recognize your individual style.
Do you make other kinds of music than what we know you for now a days?
Yes, I have a classical background. Sometimes I really enjoy singing “Deutsche Kunstlieder” (German art
songs) by Richard Strauss or Franz Schubert. Singing to metal is also great when you are in the mood for belting. ☺
Have you been in a band?
If the orchestras and theater groups don’t count – No.
You have made some collabs would you like to share with whom?
I had the good fortune to collaborate with really great musicians in 2023 and 2024, among them are Pawl D. Beats, Eric Heitmann, Sagason and Björn Hoppen (known from music projects like Bjorth and Foresaga). I enjoy collaborations very much, they are a great way to get and provide new impulses and merge the specific styles of two or more musicians
Would you like to do more collabs?
Absolutely, I’m looking forward to more collaborations in the future!
Do you have a favorite track yourself or maybe a band?
Not just one. ☺ I’ve always loved Viking music and movie scores or orchestral soundtracks. From Nordic music, I particularly enjoy “Trollabundin” by Eivør, “Drengr” by Bjorth, and “Viking War Drums” by Pawl D. Beats. Examples for orchestral soundtracks I like are “A Kaleidoscope Of Mathematics” by James Horner, “Wolf King” by Nick Phoenix, and the “Ori and the Blind Forest” soundtrack by Gareth Coker.
Do you believe in the old ways yourself or maybe the history?
I’m very interested in history. As a child, I often dreamed of living in an earlier era, the hectic modern life is not always good for the mind. Also, Nordic mythology is so detailed and fascinating. Regarding religious aspects, I’m an agnostic. So I would never claim that gods do not exist – I cannot prove their existence, nor their non-existence
Where do you find your inspiration?
Mostly in nature. I grew up in a small village with 3000 inhabitants in the middle of the woods. I spent the majority of my childhood in these woods – listening to the wind whooshing through the branches, watching animals and building little camps in the forest. And even today, a nice long walk helps to relax and gain inspiration.
Do you feel it is easy to find inspiration for your own music?
It depends. My head is working on new harmonies and melodies all the time, if I want it or not – but I don’t have time to turn them all into songs. Lyrics on the other hand don’t come easy, I tend to overthink when I’m writing them.
Do you have any music education, or have you learned yourself?
Since I was a child, I had piano lessons, sang in choir, theater groups, and orchestras. I never got a real singing education though. That’s the beauty of singing – for many instruments like piano, you first need to train certain techniques before you can create music – but when it comes to singing, you just can do it right away. The same goes for drums, hand pan etc., those “intuitive instruments” I like the most.
Do you play any instruments?
I play piano, percussion, flute, a little guitar and strings. When I was in the orchestra, I got to play whatever was missing, which was very nice – like xylophone, shaker etc. ☺
Can it be hard to find time for the music when work and life in general comes in?
Yes, that can be hard. I work full-time as a mechanical engineer, and I can create music in the evenings and on the weekends. But when you really want to do something, you always find time for it – it’s a matter of prioritization
Do you have any other interest like sport, crafting or carving – maybe gaming?
I’ve learned a bunch of martial arts, about 10 I’d say. And I always enjoyed crafting and painting. And of course I had years in which I played a looot of video games, I still enjoy playing The Witcher III, Conan Exiles, The Settlers, Skyrim and many more. Thinking about playing Valheim next! 😀
But of course my main hobby is creating music now, so less martial arts and gaming at the moment.
Do you have any new releases track/album?
Until next year, no release is planned. But there are a couple of songs in the pipeline. ☺
We would like to thank you for answering our questions about your music, and glad we could do this written interview…
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MY NORSE MUSIC PROJECT: ASKADIA
