Mauna Sol took the stage at Quantic on October 19, delivering an electrifying performance that resonated with the crowd. In light of this occasion, we had the opportunity to speak with George Costan, a passionate member of the band, eager to make a significant impact in the metal scene.
George Costan on stage, 19.10.2024
© Florin Diaconescu
DinÎntunerec: My greetings, George! It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. Can you tell us a bit about how the band came together in 2019 and how the project evolved from Marius Licu’s original instrumental vision?
George Costan: At first, there wasn’t any clear vision for the project. It all started with Marius, the guitarist, who also plays in The Thirteenth Sun. He just wanted to create some black metal-inspired music, and he mentioned this to me in the spring of 2016.
He asked if I’d be interested in doing vocals. We had worked on some casual projects together years ago, with me as the vocalist and him as the guitarist. While those weren’t serious, we’ve known each other for over 20 years, so he wanted me to be part of this new idea.
I agreed to give it a try, though I wasn’t sure since I hadn’t done vocals for about 10 years. Marius started composing some riffs, but after a while, we had to put everything on hold because of different life commitments.
By late 2019, Marius decided to revive the project and began recruiting other members. He reached out to me again, knowing I had some short stories written that could be useful. By early 2020, just before the pandemic, the five of us, now the current lineup, got together in the rehearsal space and began jamming his ideas and developing them into actual songs.
Mauna Sol on stage, 19.10.2024
© Florin Diaconescu
DinÎntunerec: Alright. Did you ever have a moment where it felt overwhelming or like it was more than you could handle?
George Costan: Not really with the band or the music itself, but I did go through some personal struggles, including dealing with depression. It almost got the best of me, and I had to step away from the band for a few months. After some time, though, I rejoined.
Marius really wanted me back, and this all happened in 2021. By the end of that year, we were almost ready to head into the studio. But because of COVID, everything got delayed. We had to cancel our studio booking and focus on rescheduling. So, it was all about trying to make that work.
DinÎntunerec: With the diverse backgrounds of each member, from black metal to more experimental sounds, how do you manage creative differences in the band when working on new material?
George Costan: Well, for starters, we’re all different individuals, but we actually see that as an advantage. And we have great chemistry as a band. I know it sounds unusual, but there’s a strong democratic spirit in the group. We make it a point to communicate as much as possible, aiming for consensus rather than getting caught up in conflicts, egos, or anything like that.
Our shared focus is on the final product, and we try to use our varied mentalities and backgrounds to our advantage, rather than seeing them as divisive.
DinÎntunerec: Got you. Now, let’s focus on you as the vocalist. I’m curious—how do you influence the stories behind the songs? You’re a writer too, in a way, so I imagine you have some input in shaping those narratives.
George Costan: Thank you for the compliment. Well, I come from an academic background in history, which helps me approach storytelling with a structured mindset. While I haven’t done a ton of research, my studies have taught me how to craft a narrative from start to finish. For the songs and our upcoming album, which is currently in the mixing phase, I wrote a short story that serves as a narrative guideline. It weaves together various elements—religion, Eastern civilizations, and concepts like the ascetic lifestyle and hesychasm, which fascinate me.
This story became the foundation for the lyrical themes, where I explored different historical periods and civilizations. Sometimes, the references are more subtle; other times, they’re more visual. My goal was to align these concepts with the emotions that Marius’s music evoked in me, creating a cohesive connection between the music and the lyrics.
DinÎntunerec: So, is it only Marius who creates the instrumental parts?
George Costan: Yes, exactly. We relied on instinct and reached decisions through consensus, and overall, the process went quite smoothly.
DinÎntunerec: Great! Can you take us behind the scenes and describe more about your songwriting process?
George Costan: It’s actually pretty straightforward. We follow a natural flow. Marius would present a lot of material—especially for the first album. For the second one, we’ll get to that when the time comes. But for the first, he showed us a bunch of ideas, and since we had already agreed on the story, I’d tell him, “This part feels like it matches this section of the narrative, let’s explore that”. So, we just followed our instincts, going with what felt right.
Afterward, I would work on aligning the specific parts of the story with the music, trying to ensure that the writing matched the emotional tone. We also arranged the songs based on how they fit the narrative, and while it seems like a complicated process when you break it down, everything flowed really smoothly. Listening to it now, it doesn’t feel overly complex—but looking back, I guess it kind of was.
DinÎntunerec: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the songwriting process?
George Costan: One of the biggest challenges has been managing our time, as we all have jobs and various other commitments that can be distracting at times. If I wasn’t getting sidetracked, it would be another member.
We always strive to be transparent with each other and communicate openly, and we’ve managed to work through these challenges. Our main focus remains on the final output, and it feels like we’ve achieved something significant so far.
DinÎntunerec: And… What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment as a band so far?
George Costan: That’s a tough question. Since we started, we’ve faced numerous challenges due to our busy schedules, and of course, we’ve had our share of doubts—both individually and as a band—partly because of our limited experience in the music scene. But I think our greatest accomplishment is that we truly listen to one another.
Whenever someone is feeling down, the others step in to support him, and I find that really unique. I know that two out of the five of us had little to no live experience, and I’m not sure if anyone besides Marius had any studio experience.
But being able to uplift each other from moments of doubt or depression feels like the greatest accomplishment a band could hope for. It shows that the band is greater than the sum of its parts.
Mauna Sol on stage, 19.10.2024
© Valentina Gănescu
DinÎntunerec: I see. This is indeed unique. And do you know what else was unique? Your performance tonight. You just opened for Sur Austru’s album launch on October 19 at Quantic. How did it feel to be part of such a significant event, and what does this opportunity represent for Mauna Sol?
George Costan: I feel like I’ve grown since the last time I performed here. When I opened for Groza, I was still grappling with stage fright.
DinÎntunerec: “Stage fright”? Why?
George Costan: I think it’s just part of who I am. But this time, I felt very at ease. I also missed playing live with the guys; we haven’t had a gig since April at Rockstadt.
I missed performing here at Quantic as well, especially since our show with Groza was nearly two years ago. Honestly, I don’t think there’s much more to say—it’s just great to be playing here again.
DinÎntunerec: Speaking of that show, you performed a song called “A New Life”. That one fascinated me. Can you share the inspiration behind that track and how it ties into the overall themes of your music?
George Costan: I think we’ve played “A New Life” at almost every gig. Instrumentally, it was one of the first riffs that Marius composed for this project, and it felt like a storm to me. When he first showed it to me, it really came across as a complete song right from the start. I wrote the lyrics shortly before rejoining the band and told the guys: “If you want to keep them, that’s fine; if not, that’s okay too”.
I just felt compelled to write those lyrics for this song, as they represented a personal rebirth for me. Although I’m not a fan of that phrasing.
DinÎntunerec: Can you elaborate it?
George Costan: Yeah. The context behind the song was about personal healing. It was more about finding an escape from a life that no longer served me. I don’t want to center it solely on my experiences, though; my intention was to capture the feeling of breaking free from a life that had run its course and embarking on a new journey filled with fresh challenges.
Of course, every new beginning comes with its own set of obstacles, often larger and more daunting than before. That was the essence I aimed to convey.
However, I want to emphasize that it’s not about me personally. I always strive to keep the focus on the music itself, using my feelings as a source of inspiration and expression.
George Costan on stage, 19.10.2024
© Florin Diaconescu
DinÎntunerec: Is there a song that resonates with you on a personal level, one that feels uniquely significant to you and not necessarily to the other members?
George Costan: To be honest, no single song reflects my personality 100%. I tend to downplay that aspect to keep the focus on the band and the overall output. I do have some favorites, but I wouldn’t say any of them deeply resonates with me.
For instance, “Mirage” stands out, and I think it’s a favorite among the band as well. It’s the longest, most intricate, and emotional track we have. The song embodies a Renunciant rhetoric centered on letting go of everything that has defined you up until now and genuinely starting over to become the ideal person you aspire to be.
It draws on a rich tapestry of influences, from Christian asceticism to Islam and shamanism, as well as various elements from Asia. It is the most significant to me on a personal level.
DinÎntunerec: Yes, because I believe you had a deep connection with that part of the world.
George Costan: Yeah. I’ve been fascinated by it since college, spending a lot of time exploring its meaning and trying to understand what it truly means to renounce everything that has defined you up to that point and completely lose yourself in the present.
DinÎntunerec: Lastly, do you have a message for your audience?
George Costan: Well, follow us on social media. We’re working hard to release our debut album, which we hope to have ready by early 2025. It’s great to see that people are still attending metal concerts and supporting the underground scene. From what we’ve seen, our audiences have truly enjoyed our performances, and we appreciate that!
Mauna Sol on stage, 19.10.2024
© Florin Diaconescu
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