1. So tell us how it is you became the new vocalist with Visions of Atlantis.
I was with Aesma Daeva, a symphonic metal band here in Minnesota for four years. We played a festival in Canada with the band Melechesh. Ashmedi, the singer, and I became really good friends after and he also works in the A&R business. I was feeling rather stuck with my band and knowing how popular symphonic metal is in Europe, he said he would put my name out there to some labels and see what is available. The next day, Napalm contacted me, told me about VoA and it was a fit for us both. Another thing that propelled me to join was the creative aspect and that I would be actually part of this process rather than just singing what I was given.
2. Will you working with Aesma Daeva at any point in the future?
No. I will always love their music, but I really cannot see myself being a part of them again.
3. Let's talk a bit about your musical training. You have a masters in music and vocal performance. That is an outstanding accomplishment. Was your original intent to perform, or did you plan on teaching music?
Thank you! My original intent was to teach elementary music. The first three years at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls was that focus. Then, a few professors talked me into changing to a performance degree and auditioning for graduate school. I auditioned at three schools which I thought were long-shots and got into my first choice, New England ConservatoryˇKMUCH to my surprise!
4.Did you envision yourself at the start of your vocal training singing for a metal band?
I started working with Aesma Daeva during my final year at UWRF, but that was only on a studio level. We started performing around the time I started graduate school and it was with me throughout my schooling. I really hadn't had any exposure to the metal world prior to that point, but I was quickly sucked into this world and actually, feel I have learned and grown far more in this genre of music rather than if I would have pursued a classical career. Maybe someday I will think about going classical again (or not), but I have too much heart invested in metal to ever give it up.
5. Do you think classical musical styling lends itself well to metal?
Do I ever! Metal is very reminiscent of the lush textures of the Romantic Era. It's strange though, whenever I talk to classical people and tell them what symphonic metal is, they cannot really picture it. When I show them an example of the music, there is instant recognition and appreciation. A few professors of mine were examples of this. I believe that due to the highly technical and strong musicality you see in metal musicians, this is a natural inclination. And well, I'm a huge believer that this style of music should and will some day be studied in music schools some day. If Jazz can be, then this certainly can be.
6. Many bands are fronted by strong, powerful female vocalists such as yourself. How does it make you feel to see females commanding a much stronger role in metal music?
I believe some music calls for a female and some for a male voice. I personally love a woman's voice soaring on top of heavy, charging musicˇKthe juxtaposition is stunning if well executed.
7. Tell us about the Asian tour, what were the high points for you?
Oh, the whole tour was a high point! Rock Empire and Pain Killer Magazine were so professional and they really put together a high-class production. Meeting new people is always the biggest highlight for me and to see a whole different world is an awe-inspiring experience for all of us in the band. We all feel very lucky to have been given the honor of being the first symphonic metal band to play in China. The DVD that was made in Beijing was a really fun process too and we cannot wait to see it and relive those moments.
8. Asian countries have a reputation for being great fans of metal, how were Visions of Atlantis recieved?
Being that symphonic metal is quite new there, we were happily surprised at the excitement and energy that the audience came in with. I would say we were received very well, but more importantly, that the audience understood our music and got into it.
9.The new album is called "Trinity" what can we expect from the new release?
This album is a shift in direction towards a more heavier and darker sound for VoA. The guitars are more prevalent and the orchestral parts are luscious and full! In EEI and Cast Away, the water/sea theme was more literal, whereas with this album it is more of a metaphorical, mystical element. The topics for the lyrics are very personal and mostly based on experiences. There is a lot of symbolism and metaphor within the lyrics and I hope that evokes some response from our listeners. Overall, this album is going in a more mature direction. Besides this, there are three new songwriters in the groupˇKwith that comes a natural shift in direction. I hope everyone likes it! The album will officially be released April 25th (May 8th in the US).
10. Tell us a little about the recording of the album, how did it go?
Well, we had some production delays because we switched producers in May. Fortunately, we ended up with Jan Vacik of Dreamscape Studios who was a perfect fit for us. The man is a genius and understood our needs and desires for our music. We had a great time with recording and production. In fact, we just finished the production process not long ago, which was long, but there are a lot of elements in this album that had to be absolutely perfect.
11. What are your hopes for the upcoming tour with Epica?
We hope to give our audiences great, fun concerts. We want people to have a good time with us!
12.What's one thing fans should know about you?
That I hate the word ˇ§fanˇ¨. ;) If you connect to us on a musical level, then we are friends. Also, don't be shy to say hi at concerts or online. We love to hear from our friends and we love to get your opinion on music or life in general! It goes without saying, thank you so much for all the continuous support. We appreciate you so much!