I N T E R V I E W

Interview Marco Heubaum

Hello! I really thank you to answer to the Aux Portes Du Metals' questions! In three years, you've released three albums: Kill The Sun, Ravenheart, and India. Why did you do these albums so fast? And why had you wait two years before recording Salomé the Seventh Veil?

We had so many new ideas that we just couldn't wait to record them. As there were so many musical elements we wanted to experiment with, as we personally are into many different kinds of interesting music, we just wanted to do it. But we didn't "wait" before Salomé, we were on the road and wrote new songs, we didn't realize the difference of just a couple of months to the albums before. Yes, on the calendar it's a two year difference, but not so much difference if you count the months. Whatever, 2 years is not a long period. Most bands take two years or more. Our next album will not be out before 2009, too.

You've made three video clip: Ravenheart, Eversleeping and Save My Life. Why didn't you made one for the albums Kill The Sun and India? Is it a work you enjoy and find interesting?

Yes, we enjoyed the making of all three video clips much, it is an own kind of art, that gives a song a new or sharpened perspective, if it's a good one. The decision wether to make a video clip is always made by the record label. As a debut album Kill The Sun was too early for them I think, and after our second clip there came the time that no TV station would ever play clips of that musical direction anymore, because they only sent that pimp my pimp shit since then instead of special interest broadcasts. So the third video was just another try, but it could be that we will not do videoclips in the future anymore. Because why when nobody shows them? And they are very expensive.

Sometimes, I read or heard people who are saying that you do the same music in all your albums. What have you to say to this people?

I would say to them: Sorry for the hard words, but that's total bullshit! Just hear the first two albums for example; it is a difference like day and night. Or compare Songs like "Black Flame", "Ravenheart" and "India" or "Sisters of the Light", these Songs sound like being from different bands! Our songs are from a very broad variability, other bands of the "genre" we are often put in by the people don't even dare to think about doing this variability. Sorry, but this is really nonsense, seems like these statements are from people who just hear "Oh, heavy guitars and a female singer, so everything sounds the same" or hear nothing at all. They should listen to our songs before telling bullshit or just shut up!

You've done songs with a real special atmosphere as Like A Rose On The Grave Of Love or Sisters Of The Light. What were your moods when you wrote these songs and how found you these ideas for an Irish ode and for an Oriental song with a wild rhythm?

We are inspired by many music forms, and in folk music you find interesting elements and feelings you can create with them. We always love to combine these elements with our music. But in these songs it wasn't intended from the start, when we had the melodies and the feeling of the songs in the first place, we felt it had something to do with those folk music elements we then used for the songs. Of course, both songs are very different, and so are the emotions of them!

In Salomé The Seventh Veil, the first song, Save My Life remains us the songs you've done before, but the others songs have "their personality". Why have you do this choice to open the album? Is it a new start for your career?

It's exactly like you said: We knew that the voyage through the songs on this album would sometimes lead a bit away from what people knew from us before (although we ALWAYS did new things on every album), and so we wanted to start the voyage with something people know best from us.

: To my mind, the Salomé the Seventh Veils' lyrics are darker than the other songs you've created before. Can you explain why?

Not really. We don't think about what mood the lyrics must have. They just come as they are in the moment. Yes, I think some lyrics are really dark, but some with a winking eye. The music is more lighthearted than on India, in contrast to that.

Lisa's' singing is better than before. Is she more mature and self-assured about her voice? And can you speak to me about Lisa's' growl on Firestrom?

Lisa can growl like Death Metal, and so we wanted to surprise the people a bit who always think of her like an elf or something. She has a very variable voice, much more than other singers in the genre, and we wanted to show this. And the Song Firstorm needed such a voice in this part, other bands would ask a male growling guest singer, our singer can do both!

On this album, there is a guest (Mika Tauriainen from Entwine) on two songs: Emotional man and Only For The Stars In Your Eyes. Why did you ask him to sing in these two songs? And can you tell me more about these two songs?

This is because "...Stars" sounds like a Finnish goth rock song, and it we thought it would be so cool to have an original Finnish Rock singer on it! And Mika is a friend of ours, we toured together some years ago. And as he was in the studio, he just did the small part in "Emotional Man" also.

In the others albums, you've already have oriental influences (Kill The Sun, Back To the River, Return to India etc...) but with your fourth one, this characteristic of your music is more marked. Do you want to work on these tones in the future, or will you test other music?

I don't know about special elements we will use, we will see where the wind blows our ship! What I can promise is that it will be surprising as always, but more than ever!

I've read on the net that you are writing and recording your next album. Is it true?

No, that must be a news from the time we were writing and recording "Salomé", I think. But our label will release a "Best Of" Compilation this year. Maybe this was meant by the statement... A next studio album with new material will not be out before 2009.

You were on tour before Christmas, and you will be again on in April. What do you feel when you are on stage and giving to your song a new life?

It's one of the best moments you can have when you directly experience people enjoing your music. It's simply great.

You've already played in the Metal Female Voices Festival and in others festivals. What do you enjoy in this sort of event, and what do you feel about playing with others bands?

Festivals are always fun because you meet so many friends you don't meet elsewhere because you are all musicians and if you are on this side of the world, the other one's on the other... and I love the atmosphere of so many music in one place!

Until now, there's no gig in France, will we have a chance to see you one day?

We really hope so! We wanted to do shows in France in April, but the French promoters didn't want to do shows cause they said the fanbase is not big enough... so, it is not in our hands... but we really hope that this changes and that we can do shows in your beautiful country someday!

Finally, what can we hope for you in this year 2008? And have you a message for your French fans and our readers?

Yes, we wish you all the best, and check our music out if you don't know it. And if you know it and like it spread the word about it, maybe then we can meet live on stage in France someday! Keep the scene alive!

Thanks to give me your time. I really hope to see you and meet you in France! Keep playing the music you love!

Yeah, thank you, too! Bye!