Interview - ATTIC FROST (Eng)

There are encounters one never forgets; shared moments that remain etched in our memories. We barely know one another, and yet, deep down, we sense that we are meant to get along and to share many more moments of genuine camaraderie.

This is precisely the feeling I experienced alongside Heini, whom I met at Return To The Bat-Cave 2023 and later during a joint tour. We shared the stage, bread, beer and laughter, and have since developed what could be called a mutual respect for each other’s musical creations.

For Heini is creative in more ways than one. Beyond his role as bassist in the remarkable band Cataphiles, he has been developing for several years a prolific solo project of striking quality: Attic Frost.

It felt essential to me to bring you the testimony of this artist, whom I consider to be one of the most gifted I have ever had the chance to meet. It is a true pleasure to support his work, so deeply sensitive and profoundly moving.

- Interview conducted by Xzvrey in 2025

Bandcamp Attic Frost

Bandcamp Violt Hour Transmission Records

1/ Hi Heini! It’s a real pleasure to welcome you to Jeu D’Ombre. I loved your latest album — in my opinion, it’s a real success. Have you received good feedback about it?

Hi, Xzvery. Thank you very much. I'm really glad you like the last album so much. Yes, the feedback has actually been consistently good so far. The reach of this project isn't overly large, so that's okay.

2/ Before getting into the heart of the matter, could you explain what Attic Frost is? What style of music would you

say you play? How long has the project been around? Are you handling everything on your own?

So-called attic frost occurs when warm, moist air enters a cold attic and condenses and freezes on the cold building components. In some cases, it can look like ghostly shapes in the dark. I found it very fitting in relation to what I want to do with the music. The name also refers to the coldness in the music and underscores the basic atmosphere very well.

The project has been around for almost six years now. I started it in February 2020, even though it took over a year for the first release to come out. And yes, I do everything myself here.

3/ For those who don’t know you yet: you’re also the bassist of the excellent band Cataphiles. What role does each

project play in your life?

You flatterer :D The thing is, I founded Attic Frost before Cataphiles even existed. In the early days, besides writing the first songs, a lot of it was about learning skills. I had little to no knowledge of recording programs and studio processes. I also had to learn how to use synthesizers, as I had never owned one before and had no idea about envelopes or modulation effects.

Attic Frost is therefore my own baby and Cataphiles is a joint project. Both bands are equally important to me, each in their own way. Attic Frost gives me the opportunity to show a different side of myself. Musically, it is also much more limited, as I can only draw on my own skills. The punk factor is also much more subdued and highlights more dark wave facets.

4/ Since 2021, your release rate has been incredibly high. You seem to be very inspired. What themes inspire you the most, by the way? What do you enjoy talking about in your music?

Quite simple—it's about things that affect me, both emotionally and politically. It's just not right that many people claim Goth to be unpolitical. For me, it's not. I myself am a political person, and that inevitably carries over into my music. It always resonates. Criticism of a society that is and will become alien to me in many ways, which would probably say the same about me. Constantly questioning, between rebelling and isolating myself. Being forced into structures that are not good for you. Torn between resisting or resigning yourself. You are, after all, part of this society and help shape it in small ways. So it's also important to point out injustices and not sit back and say that none of this concerns me. That's exhausting and, of course, always a question of your own reserves of strength.

Actually, it's about expressing everything that makes a person who they are. It is a broad cosmos that characterizes us as individuals. So there is no preference as to what I would like to express. It is more my environment, my own state of mind, and events that bring me to certain topics.

5/ Do you record everything yourself? Are there other people involved in the mixing, mastering, artwork, etc.?

Before recording a new volume, do you already have all the tracks in mind, or do you write and record more spontaneously, day by day?

Yes, I record everything myself. Often, while I'm working on a first mix, I already have new ideas. So I'm usually already working on a new album while the old one isn't even finished mixing yet. I record things when they pop into my head. That's why it's always unclear where the journey will take me with each album.

Unfortunately, I have hearing damage and can no longer hear certain frequencies. That's why I need help with the final mix. I always do that with my buddy Fabi from Sunsetter Recording Studio. He's a sound engineer and has his own studio, where we sit together and he optimizes the mix with me.

When everything sounds the way it should, he masters it right away.

6/ I love the energy your music conveys. Your latest album, A Sad Thought Made Dance, is a gem, blending emotion and intensity with incredible finesse. Is it important for you that the music remains dynamic?

It certainly does. Although, of course, every song has its own dynamic. The crux of the matter is always to arrange the songs in such a way that nothing is neglected. There's already quite a lot going on in most songs, and you quickly run the risk of the song seeming overloaded or the individual melodies competing with each other. I also want to convey a feeling with each song. That might be a synth line that only appears very faintly for 10 seconds somewhere in the background at one point. Nevertheless, it is immensely important at that moment to convey what I am trying to express.

7/ Let’s now approach a slightly more delicate topic: what are your influences in Attic Frost? Could you name a few artists or albums that you consider references for the project?

It's always difficult to say where all the influences come from or to clearly identify them, because ultimately it's always the sum of many things that may not seem related at first glance. Without punk, none of this would exist for me. The DIY attitude and the resulting empowerment to do things regardless of what others think. The main thing is that you see the point in it yourself. Just sitting down at an instrument and trying things out until it works halfway. That's basically the basis of my musical activity.

If you want to hear specific musical references, we can't ignore The Cure, who are a permanent influence on everything I do in terms of dark music. Lebanon Hanover was also important for Attic Frost in terms of their minimalism and the melancholy in their sound. At the same time, they also exuded a wonderful DIY attitude in the often very polished, glossy goth scene. When it comes to dense, wavy synth pads, I definitely have to mention Hørd, who influenced me. Not to forget the melancholy of Lycia in their guitar pads and the great atmosphere they create in their songs. The sweet sadness and deep despair that Velvet Acid Christ exude, especially in their non-primarily electronic pieces, has also left its mark.

8/ Another important point: in addition to playing all the instruments, you sing (!) — and your voice is fantastic 🎃.

Did you ever take singing lessons, or are you completely self-taught? Either way, your voice conveys emotion with brilliance and passion — it’s impressive.

Thank you very much. My voice is actually the instrument that I feel I have the least control over.

I've never taken singing lessons. I always try to interpret a feeling or a mood and then sing from the heart. I think you can achieve a lot that way if you do it with complete conviction. If the song lacks that, it won't work. Of course, there's also a lot of reverb and echo on the vocals, which covers up certain shortcomings ;-)

'A Sad Tought Made Dance' - What an album !

9/ Small aside: I know you really love Asylum Party, one of the gems of the French coldwave scene (also one of my favorite bands). Could you tell us why this group resonates so much with you and how you discovered their music?

Yes, I really like the band. However, it's more representative of a certain sound from a certain time.

I always call it the “French sound”, which is not meant to be disrespectful. I guess, the French post-punk/coldwave scene in the early to mid-80s had a very unique sound. The only other scene, in my opinion, that had something compareble in these genres was the Belgian scene. Bands such as Bunker/Bunkerstrasse, Guerre Froide, Neva, End of Data, Kas Product, Trisomie 21, and Asylum Party fascinated me back then and still do today. A wild mixture of aloof coldness and cuddly, warming melancholy.

But there's no need to dwell on the past, because the current French scene also has great bands to offer, such as Closed Mouth, Total Resistance, Canteleu, and Frustration, to name just a few.

10/ We’re halfway through. Time for a fun question: what’s your best memory of a drunken night out?

The best memory is to have no memory ;-D That would probably be the scariest one, at least.

Maybe I'll tell you more about it over our next beer together.

11/ Attic Frost is a solo project, but I was wondering: do you have plans to perform live one day and play your music in front of an audience? What would be the challenges involved in such an endeavor?

Yes, the big question that has accompanied the project since its inception. I would love to play the songs live. There are and have been several scenarios for this.

I could stand on stage alone. But for this version, too much would have to come from the tape, so that such a performance would quickly degenerate into a playback event, which I don't like. I want as much as possible to be played live.

My ideal scenario would be a trio. That would cover at least most of the string instruments and some of the synth lines. At the same time, though, I find it a little difficult. In general, I see the appeal of a band as being able to contribute yourself. But then, of course, I would be telling people what to play and how. So you would just be playing according to specifications, which might not be so appealing, as there would be little room for your own variations. It's not a band in the classic sense.

But all of this also requires a lot of preparation time. Due to other bands, we wouldn't be able to tour that much either. As you can see, I haven't found a satisfactory solution yet.

11.5/ A little indulgent moment: we recently toured together for three shows — Cataphiles + The Last Oath. For me, it was an immense pleasure. How did the rest of the tour go for you? Are you happy with your performances?

Yes, it was absolutely fantastic with you guys. But the rest of the tour was wonderful too. We played the last few concerts with Fangs on Fur and had a great time. We got to know new people and spent time with old friends. We had intense and enriching conversations, as well as funny shittalk. It was just a lot of fun. Personally, I only had one gig where I wasn't so happy with my own playing, not with the show itself.

This time, luckily, the car didn't break down until the last gig of the tour. Fortunately, our drummer Jan was able to fix the problem quickly and imaginatively.

The only thing that usually gets neglected on a tour like this is that we don't get to see much of the places where we play. Maybe a quick hour of sightseeing, but otherwise it's often sitting in the car, unloading, setting up, checking, eating, waiting, playing, dismantling, partying, sleeping—repeat.

But that's what we're passionate about :D

12/ Just in case, aside from Attic Frost and Cataphiles, are you involved in the Post-Punk/Goth scene (or music in general) in other ways? Organizing concerts, zines, radio, other bands?

The two bands now take up most of my time. Until recently, I was still organizing Feel the Darkness parties and festivals in Oldenburg with friends. However, the concert group has broken up. I'll just see where I end up next. If time allows and cool bands or friends ask me to, I still organize concerts in Bremen from time to time.

In the meantime, I'm also working on new bands and projects again. We'll see how much we hear about them in the near future. And last but not least, I'm also involved as a fan myself, soaking up music like a sponge, going to concerts, and buying records whenever possible.

13/ Could you explain what the Post-Punk/Goth universe represents to you? I’m talking both personally and more broadly. You have a free pass here, haha.

I can't say for sure. In general, I've had a penchant for darkness and morbid aesthetics since I was a child. I love horror stories and movies, and I enjoy wandering through cemeteries in the dark. That's a good start, I guess (and very cliche, now that I'm reading it :-).

I remember when I heard The Cure's “Pornography“ I was blown away by what was possible. With Christian Death's “Only Theatre of Pain“ I had the connection to Punk, I could relate to.

I've always been a bit at odds with the scene itself. In the mid to late 90s, when I started getting interested in this kind of music, I found the scene very arrogant. Of course, I can only refer to the people I met during that period. I found what I understood as the scene at the time to be very affected and condescending. Like, “What does that stupid little punk want? He has no idea.” People basked in their own self-absorbed aloofness and tended to be very exclusive. As a punk, you were also always perceived as some kind of “dirty kid“. When we organized concerts in our AZ, for example, the goths never wanted to come, because it was too dirty and too tick-infested for them :D

I never understood that, because I always saw the two scenes as belonging together due to their attitude as a counter-model to normative society.

With the post-punk revival around 2010, the whole thing picked up speed again for me. When many punks started playing post-punk, such as Belgrado. That's when I got more involved with the scene again, because I found myself among more like-minded people.

For example, we organized a concert with Belgrado and Bellicouse Minds at the Wagenplatz in Oldenburg. Shortly before, a house in the city center was spontaneously occupied, which was immediately cleared. For the bands, there was no question that the concert would start a little late, as they wanted to go there and show their support. Afterwards, they played their show, which I unfortunately didn't get to see much of, as I had to pick up the besters from the detention center :D

In general, this often-put-forward claim of being apolitical. I just want to party in peace and I don't care with whom. The argument is that you're open-minded and don't want to dictate or restrict other people just to avoid a possible unpleasant conflict. Then I see people walking around at parties wearing for example Death in June shirts. As a counterculture to the mainstream, I expect a little more than that.

Nevertheless, these aspects do exist, and Cataphiles allowed me to get to know another side of the scene. DIY structures that don't leave their own values at the entrance to the location, but incorporate them into their activities.

14/ What would be your wildest dreams? I mean, what would be truly amazing for you as an artist? And what would be great in life in general? (Yes, I know, that’s a dreamer’s question ^^).

I've already scaled back my dreams. It would just be nice if the music could support itself. Even better, of course, if I could just focus on that and didn't have to do any other paid work. Just doing what you feel like doing.

For life in general. It sounds a bit unspectacular, but I would consider myself overjoyed if I and my loved ones remained healthy and I could still have all my senses intact in old age. My greatest fear would probably be to vegetate somewhere, controlled by others.

15/ Before hitting you with two high-energy questions, let’s talk about food, haha. What are your favorite dishes and drinks?

Hmmm, food always depends on how I feel that day. As long it is vegetarian or even better vegan, a lot is possible. When it comes to drinks, I prefer good gin, but beer is always fine too.

16/ I can’t help but ask: do you already have ideas for a new album (or another format) for Attic Frost? Are you already working on new compositions?

Ha, ha, actually, the new album has already been recorded and I'm currently working on the pre-mix to fine-tune the last details. The album will be called “...and some will meet their shadow.” As the title suggests, the album has a rather dark and heavy undertone. In parts, it's also a little rawer than previous releases. It's about dealing with your own inner darkness, as well as the overwhelming gloom in the world. The album also deals with personal and political issues.

The latter includes the first single, “An Outcry,” which was released on October 7 and deals with the massive rise of right-wing politics. Uncharacteristically, it's an almost deathrock-esque piece, as the subject matter simply makes me angry and a melancholic ballad just didn't seem appropriate.

The complete album will finally be released on January 16. Fortunately, there will also be a small number of physical copies released by the label Violet Hour Transmissions, for which I am very grateful.

17/ One of my favorite Attic Frost tracks is Losing, from the latest album. Could you tell us a bit about how that track came to be? Honestly, I find it stunning — one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

Thank you very much. The song deals with the drifting apart of desires and expectations. The estrangement of two once familiar characters. A relationship is ongoing work and devotion, and of course that is not always in balance. But if the latter is permanently absent, this relationship will inevitably be perceived as unfulfilling for one party. Nevertheless, even in fulfilling relationships, there are always moments when you feel lonely or like you are losing the other person.

Accompanied by questions about whether you can still turn things around or whether you even want to.

As a little fun fact: The chorus was actually supposed to be sung quite differently. I changed it on a whim during the vocal recordings and have to say that I like it so much better this way, as it better conveys the longing aspect of the theme.

Cataphiles on stage

18/ We’re already nearing the end of this interview  time flies when you’re with someone you appreciate. I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again soon — that would be wonderful. Is there anything you’d like to say to the readers of Jeu D’Ombre before we wrap up?

Cancel your streaming accounts. Get rid of thinking, that everything has to be available at anytime. Support your beloved artists directly and not major companies, that misuse your money. Be curious again for the hidden stuff beneath the surface and make the effort to seach for it. There is a whole world, that the algorithm doesn't know about ;-)

19/ Dear friend, I’m truly happy to have had the opportunity to interview you, and I feel lucky to be able to shed light on your music. I hope to see you again soon, and thank you for taking the time to answer our zine’s questions.

With friendship

Thank you very, very much for your interest and giving me the opportunity doing this. It was fun to answer the detailed questions. It's immediately apparent that you've put a lot of thought into this and that you generally put your heart and soul into this zine. It's so cool that platforms like this still exist and that people like you run them. I wish you all the best for the zine, your bands and projects, and of course for yourself as a person.