From the Road to the Ritual

Faun has been keeping busy. After a long tour through the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, they’re preparing for some of Europe’s biggest festivals, including M’era Luna and Mittelalterlich Phantasie Spectaculum (MPS). Despite the hectic schedule, their excitement for ‘Hex’ is obvious.

“It’s one of the biggest shows of the year,” Stephan said of their upcoming festival slot. “And with ‘Hex’ finally ready, it feels like the timing is perfect.”

How ‘Hex’ Came to Life

The making of ‘Hex’ began kind of unplanned. Pressure from label and management to keep producing music pushed the band to start writing again soon after their last release, ‘Pagan’. At first, there were just a couple of songs and they weren’t sure what direction things would take.

But as Adaya explained, “It’s like magic. You start with an idea, not knowing where it will lead. And suddenly you’re standing in front of a finished album where every song fits perfectly.”

The title ‘Hex’ plays with meanings across languages: in German, Hexe means witch, while in English “to hex” means casting a spell. That double sense became the seed for the album’s theme.

Reclaiming the Witch

More than folklore, ‘Hex’ carries a quiet but powerful social message. For both Stephan and Adaya, the figure of the witch isn’t about darkness, but it’s about female strength and empowerment.

“Throughout history, women were branded as evil just for being knowledgeable healers or independent thinkers,” Adaya reflected. “This album is about turning that narrative around.”

Stephan added: “Still today, children are afraid of the witch in fairy tales instead of the people who burned those women. That’s something we want to change.”

Songs Close to the Heart

Both musicians have deeply personal connections to the new material. Adaya was particularly moved by ‘Nimue’, a song inspired by Arthurian legend, where the sorceress grows powerful enough to surpass her teacher Merlin.

For Stephan, ‘Lament’ stands out as a farewell to Faun’s late technician, Jürgen: “Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps.” Another favorite is ‘Zauberin’ (“sorceress”), written during a turbulent time in his own life, symbolizing the power words can have to change everything.

A World of Sounds

True to Faun’s reputation for blending traditions, ‘Hex’ introduces new sonic experiments. One highlight is ‘Belladonna’, which builds on the cumbia rhythm of Latin America, fused with Irish folk melodies, electronic textures, and even electric guitars.

“Somehow, no matter what we add—dubstep, reggae, Latin rhythms—it always ends up sounding like Faun,” Stephan laughed.

Dreams Beyond the Stage

Looking ahead, Faun hopes to bring ‘Hex’ far and wide. Spain, the Nordics, and especially Asia are high on their wishlist. “We’ve never played Japan,” Stephan mused. “That would be incredible.”

They also dream of performing in unique venues: natural amphitheaters like Red Rocks or even vast underground caves. In fact, they once performed half a kilometer below ground in Germany which was an unforgettable (if technically challenging) experience.

“Hex, Drugs, and Rituals”

When asked to capture the spirit of the album in a single image, Adaya grinned: “Hex, drugs, and rituals.” Stephan agreed: “It’s psychedelic, it’s ritualistic—it’s going to be something special.”

With striking new artwork and an upcoming video for ‘Belladonna’ that will weave this imagery into motion, ‘Hex’ promises to be more than just an album. It’s a spell, a story, and a celebration.

Final Words

As our conversation wrapped up, both Stephan and Adaya were clear about what they hope fans take away: “This is one of the best works we’ve ever done,” Stephan said. “Even after two years of working on it, I can still listen from start to finish and love it. That’s rare.”

Adaya added with a smile: “So get the album, come to our shows, and share in the magic.”

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