Interview with Colmaar
I came across Colmaar by chance, most likely due to seeing a concert flyer for their show with NevBorn (read about the making of their album with Kevin Galland here) and hubris. (whose album was one of six recommendations from Lost in a Detail in our post-rock article). Not long after, I gave their debut album, Éternel, a listen and it captured my attention with its mix of well-crafted post-rock and post-metal landscapes with chanted vocals filled with emotion. A couple of weeks later, I listened to the album again during the train ride to Fribourg and the album has since continued to grow on me with each listen.
During the preparation of the interview, I also discovered that the band had been around for 14 years as When Icarus Falls before embarking on a fresh start. The line-up remains the same but there already seems to be a big difference between the two bands in terms of sound and evolution. It also made me curious how the same members can change their style and habits to keep the present separated from their past.
Éternel is a solid album from start to finish and is a fantastic start to this new chapter. I am also looking forward to getting a copy when it is released on No Sun Records (home of Orso who I interviewed in January this year).
I would like to thank Diego, the vocalist of Colmaar, for taking the time to reply to my questions, as well as Christoph Noth, who mixed and recorded the album, for his contribution too.
History and a new beginning:
Who is in the band and on which instruments?
There are five of us: Yann Cottier on guitars, Luis Cordeiro also on guitars, Claude Humbert-Droz on bass, Xavier Gigandet handling both drums and keys, and myself, Diego Mediano, on vocals.
Tell us about the history of the band (including a brief history of When Icarus Falls)
Colmaar emerged from the ashes of When Icarus Falls, a project we started nearly two decades ago. With When Icarus Falls, we built a substantial legacy—four albums and over 100 concerts across 12 countries. But eventually, we felt the need to change our musical approach under a new identity. We needed something fresh, something that resonated more deeply with who we've become as artists and individuals.
How did the idea to change from When Icarus Falls to Colmaar come about?
It was a natural evolution after several significant moments: a long hiatus following our last When Icarus Falls concert in 2019, the global pandemic that gave us time to reflect, and a profound desire to create something different. Something more personal and authentic. We wanted to make a clean break with our past because we simply weren't experiencing the same joy playing our old material anymore. The passion had shifted elsewhere.
What are your souvenirs as the first rehearsals as Colmaar?
There isn't one specific memory that stands out. Let's say it's more like a recollection of moments shrouded in a creative haze. Colmaar didn't suddenly appear during a rehearsal. It gradually appeared during the writing process of Funeste. The birth of the band was organic, almost unconscious, happening through the music itself rather than through a formal decision.
Where did the band's name come from?
It came from a running joke within the band that has been ongoing since our first European tour with When Icarus Falls. It involves local cuisine, a play on words between "cold" and "maar" (a volcanic crater), and obviously the town where this magical moment occurred.
Writing and recording Éternel
What have you done differently (musically and non-musically) since becoming Colmaar?
We've embraced kind of a new creative freedom. We simply play what we love without over-analyzing or questioning everything as we once did. Allowing ourselves to be maybe more free in our approach, completely owning our emotions, sound, and ideas. There's a raw authenticity to what we're creating now as it comes from a place of genuine expression rather than calculation.
Was there a reason from switching from English to French with the lyrics?
Writing and singing in French resonates differently because it's my mother tongue. There's an intimacy and emotional depth that emerges when I express myself in French that I couldn't fully access in English with When Icarus Falls. I feel more possessed by the music and the words. There's also less distance between what I feel and how I express it. The language carries the weight of my personal history and allows me to convey nuances that might otherwise be lost.
Did you always have the idea to mix post-rock/post-metal with vocals?
This mix has been the one constant thread throughout our musical journey. Since the beginning, we've been drawn to how the cinematic landscapes of post-rock create this perfect layer for the raw emotional power of post-metal vocals. There's something uniquely powerful in that contrast.
How did you compose/write the songs for the album? Do you have a particular method?
It's an organic creative process which can take many forms. A song can begin from something as simple as a guitar riff, a drum pattern or even a single note. From there, we build through layering until the piece takes an almost hypnotic turn. We don't force the process or follow rigid structures.
What comes first: the vocals or the music? Does the music or vocals have to be adapted afterwards?
While I occasionally write down lyrical fragments or ideas independently, the music ultimately needs to come first in my creative process. I need it as the songs evokes specific emotions and dynamics that guide my writing. When I listen to our instrumental compositions, I allow myself to be completely immersed, entering an almost daydream-like state where the lyrics begin to form organically in response to what I'm hearing. Of course, once both things exist, there's often a refinement phase. We may adapt certain aspects of the song to ensure that the vocals and instrumentation enhance rather than compete with each other.
What was your experience of recording at la Fonderie?
The whole experience at la Fonderie was great as always, but what really stands out was this feeling of relief. You know, we had been working on these songs for years since our last album and always changing things, adjusting parts, rehearsing again and again. When you spend so much time with the music like this, it can become almost too much in your head. But there is something special that happens when you finally record. It's like you put an end to all the possibilities. You say: 'This is the version we choose.' After all the time spent wondering if a part could be better or different, recording gives you this moment where you just let go. At la Fonderie, it felt like we were finally allowing these songs to exist outside of ourselves. That was very freeing.
The album sees you working with Chris Noth and Magnus Lindberg to mix and master the album (as well as When Icarus Falls' last album). Was it an obvious choice? How was it to work with them again?
It was really a natural choice for us. We didn't need to think too much about it because we already knew that with Chris, we would have good communication during the recording process. He brings attention to details, professionalism, and just the right amount of suggestions to push us without completely changing our live songs. What was different this time is that we trusted Chris with both the recording AND the mixing. Magnus did also a tremendous job on the mastering. We are absolutely happy with this album because it shows exactly what we were trying to create. The sound captures our true identity.
Christoph Noth: When Colmaar reached out, I knew this was going to be a breeze – They have been doing their thing for a while now, so quite a few bits were perfectly aligned from the start. Live-tracking went down super smooth, they know their sounds in and out, and so the rest of the time we were able to focus on various ideas and options, and comparing one great idea against another great idea. Honestly, bands like this are the reason why I’m doing this to begin with.
What did you learn/keep in mind from when recording albums with When Icarus Falls to avoid or to incorporate in the recording sessions?
What we learned from each album is to be as prepared as possible before coming to the studio, and to not arrive with too many questions or doubts. But still, it's easy to get lost in the recording process and start questioning every little thing. Finding the balance between being prepared and staying open to the moment is always the challenge.
What are your memories of recording the album?
Always good ones. The atmosphere when recording is always relaxed but serious at the same time, and we keep the fun going. We work hard but we also laugh a lot. This balance is important for the creative process.
How did it feel to release Éternal and complete this step as Colmaar?
It felt like closing a chapter and opening a completely new book. There was this feeling of accomplishment but also excitement about starting something fresh. Like we finally put something behind us and now we can look forward.
Photo copyright: Brigou (www.brigou.ch)
The future
How was the record release concert at Bikini Test in March?
It was so great to be on stage again after such a long time. The concert went well and all this energy, all the hard work and the long period without playing came together in that moment. Being surrounded by friends, playing our new songs and seeing the reaction from the audience was definitely worth the wait. It gave us energy to continue.
The album will be released on No Sun Records in September 2025, how did the collaboration come about?
We have known Raul at No Sun Records for quite a while, and we even shared some stages together with our different bands. So it felt very natural to work with him on this vinyl release. The connection was already there, and we trust his vision.
How do you feel to be working with No Sun Records?
Raul is a great and dedicated person, and we share the same vision about music, promotion, and how to make the most of a release. It's important to work with people who understand what you want to achieve and who care about the music as much as you do.
Photo copyright: Brigou (www.brigou.ch)
Are you looking forward to the physical release?
Absolutely! Holding a record in your hands is completely different from just streaming it. We can't wait to actually touch the final result and start this new chapter with Colmaar. There's something special about having this physical object that represents all our work
Will there be record release concert for it?
We're working on it. We want to make something special for the vinyl release.
What else do you have planned for the future?
We're preparing a tour and trying to get ourselves 'out there' again. However, after being inactive for so many years, we see that the music scene and industry have changed a lot. We have to find our place again, understand how things work now. It's like starting fresh in some ways, but with the experience we already have.
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