Atlantis Online will present a growing number of interviews with female artists in music, primarily from the rock and metal field. We present them back to back and this is the third page. Enjoy.
- ON THIS PAGE -
Karin/Sonic Syndicate - Hildr Valkyrie - Jenni/Interria
Karin Axelsson
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Karin Axelsson, I'm from the westcoast of Sweden.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I'm soon 21 years old, living together with my boyfriend. Music has always been one of my biggest interests and I've been singing since I was a child, but it wasn't until I started in Sonic Syndicate I learned how to play bass.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- I always get inspired by people around me, friends, family or just someone I meet at work. When it comes to artists I've been a huge fan to Marilyn Manson, Gwen Stefani and Evanescence. Especially Manson has been a big part of my teenage years and therefore his music and style has effected me a lot. Now days I listen to all kinds of music and get my inspiration from many ways. Right now I listen a lot to Pink´s new album, and I love it.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Evanescene "Fallen", Pink "I'm not dead", No Doubt "Tragic Kingdom".
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
-Yes, I think it's a good thing that more women are getting in to this kind of music, because I have to say it really is a mans world. It's not often I meet another girl when we're playing shows.
When did you record music for the first time?
-At home when I was a kid probably, with a tape recorder or something, haha.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- That's hard, cause there's so many different songs that means so much to me but hm... Disturbed "Down With the sickness", No Doubt "Just a girl", Sentenced "Everything is nothing", Thåström (Swedish rock singer) "Ingen Neråtsång", Evanescence "Forgive Me".
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
- Of course I am always a little bit nervous before a show, and I think you should be cause then you perform better, and you get a bigger rush out of doing it and having fun. Sometimes I am more nervous than other, it depends on the show.
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- I think the gig we did in Gothenburg this year at, "Göteborgskalaset" was one of the best we've done cause the audicence was so great! But there's been a lot of good ones and more to come!
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- In our town, Falkenberg there's a lot of good bands and many of them has gone far actually,so it's good.
What are you currently up to?
- I've just moved in together with my boyfriend and besides that I work as a personal assistant.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- There was one guy that came up to us after a show and he said: "Hey usually I hate the music you guys play, but man I tell you, this was some awesome show. I loved it!".
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- I think myspace is a really good way for musicians to spread their music easier and get in contact with other people. I try to be... as much as I can, both on my personal page and my bands.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- Don't know really what I would change. I mean now days you can do anything in a recording session and that is both good and bad. Some people might say that it's not as honest as it was before when all were in the same room recording at the same time, and some people think it sounds better and it's the best way to go. I think it's good you can do what you want, as long as you can do it live.
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- I'm on the internet a lot acutally, probably too much. I'm mainly on msn and our (the bands) private forum cause there we can all talk about important things and stuff. So mainly I use internet for the bands profit.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- Hm..Well I used to dream about being an author actually, haha, and I was working as a journalist for a period of time but now I don't write much anymore, so my main interests is just girly stuff like shopping and watching "Friends" on TV, haha! Besides from hanging out with the guys of course.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- Actually I don't read a lot. Right now the only thing I'm reading is "Nemi", a cartoon that is kind of like me.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- Is it to girlie if I say Johnny Depp? haha, no seriously I love him, he's good. Also I really like Angelina Jolie, she's the most beautiful woman on this earth. Most important of all, I am obsessed the the show "Friends", I have all the shows from the10 years it existed!
What favourite food do you have?
- Pasta, hot and spicy food.
I´m sure you´ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
- Hm..let me think...No I don't think I've heard a good one, haha!
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- Yes I have, but the thing is I can't decide weather I belive in the paranormal or not. Cause wierd things have happened to me, I've been dreaming stuff at nights that months later happended and that's happened several times.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- No I haven't.
What´s your take on that?
- I don't believe in UFOs or aliens, at least not until I see it.
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- That depends on what footsteps you mean. Musically, I say go for it! Don't let anyone push you down, just do what you believe in.
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- Thanks for taking interest in me and my band Sonic Syndicate, our new album "Only InHuman" will be out April 20!
At MySpace / Karin - Sonic Syndicate
Hildr Valkyrie
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- My real name is really non of importance. I live in beautiful Hellas!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- As far back as I can recall, I was always involved with music as long I had musicians in my family, my grandpa for example was a really good violin player and the one who made me discover the magic through the tunes.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- Of course! My bigger inspiration is Vratyas Vakyas (Falkenbach). I did loved his music and still I do (you can call me a Falkenbach freak), also was a good example for me that even alone it can be possible to create what many people create together!
When did you record music for the first time?
- As Hildr Valkyrie in 2003... but my very first records started back in 1996-1997 with the several bands I was involved with.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- "An Ode To Allfather Odhinn", "Valkyrja's Spoken Words" and "Father And Son" (the latter two from the upcoming release).
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- Heh, I've never involved as far as Hildr Valkyrie in a tour! Being a one woman band and with such few releases, doesn't even allow me even to think about it! The truth is that I've been asked by many fans to go on a tour but of course even if I would loved to do that, I have a huge problem. I need to have sessions, budget and plus vocalists... something that really its not so easy to become true!!!
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- In Hellas the genre I chose to play is not popular at all, in some contrast to the rest of the Europe and America... but anyway, from the other point of view I can live as a normal human and not being asked from fans several questions whenever I go out, I can pass my night invisible listening to music and drinking my beer with my best friends!
What are you currently up to?
- For the time I'm preparing my second release and recording vocal lines for the 4th Folkearth album, soon I'll have to record vocals for Death Army and Morgan the bard, two Italian skillful bands! he big problem is that my second release will take much time to finish because I do everything on my own, I do not have anyone behind me, not even a sound engineer! I'm not complaining at all ;) I'm very proud of it!!! :)
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- Most of my listerers treats me nice! I can't separate one, to me even a "good job" is enough!
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- MySpace is a very good idea in my poor opinion and thankfuly to this site small artists have the opportunity to be listened by several listeners and also having a contact. It is very nice to feel the love and respect from the humans. I do appreciate the myspace a lot, and I use it fanaticly! hahah!
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- The word "industry" is very correct, in nowdays the most going for the money. They do music a product and this can be easy found into the music of the artists, few gives feelings in our days, usually they play just to earn money. Listening to such big bands cames to my mind a scene... like... "hmmm we run out of money, lets go to a studio to record a hit". What I would change? A lot of things, but if I say what I'll be banned from everywhere... lol but most of all I would loved to be all honest, labels and artists as well and respect the music if they wish to do good to that special gift which called music, also that goes to the listeners as well... I do not find it polite when someone has a rare demo and try to earn much money from it!
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Yes I do... a lot I can say! I usually surf in music pages... learning news and stuff from the bands I do love, to music forums... and maybe... a little chat with my closest persons over the net!
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- Major interests... no! My major activity is music for the time. When I find free time I try to spend it doing other creative things as well but not like I used at the past.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- When I'll say that I will going to read a book, it will not be a romantic story or a serial killer story... it will be something important for my knowledge and enlight my mind!
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- I never had a favourite actor... I'm not a TV maniac anyway! I do go to cinemas few times and only if the movie is epic (whenever a movie contains swords and shields... it might be good heheh). The only I do watch on TV (I confess) is cartoons ;) now you are going to think how I do combine those... well I admit I have still somewhere well hidden the child in me!
What favourite food do you have?
- Souvlaki of course!!! What else??? lol
I´m sure you´ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
- "When Love Is Lost Only Hate Remains"...Unfortunately true... very true!!!
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- As long I am a paranormal as well... why not? hahaha kidding!!!!
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- No, personaly never... neither someone I do know in person!
What´s your take on that?
- I can't say that I don't believe that on another galaxy there is no life... but for visiting us is extreme hard according the distance. I spend many hours on this subject during my short life as far... and I turned out to: if you think with a human mind... the possibilities are zero!
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- To have her mind down to earth, because if she let it fly up to the clouds/sky, the hardest part will be when fall from them because she will feel much pain and of course to be very careful!
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- I don't think that something is missing! :) Thank you very much for the interest and for your time creating this interview... I enjoyed it very much! Also I would like to thank all those who supported me and still do, I never believed that some day this will happen to me, not even in my craziest dreams! Thank you all and cheers with frozen beers!!!
Jenni Signorino
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Hi! I’m Jenni Signorino and l live in France, more precisely in Paris area.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I sing for Interria since the band’s creation, nearly two years ago. Everything began in 2000, when I met a girl who played guitar; and soon we’ve worked together on covers and songs of our own. Later I crossed the road of the french band Dying Tears, which was starting to be a little bit known over here, since they supported some famous bands as Paradise Lost. After a few years, when we decided to split, part of the band have founded Interria, and I was part of it.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- This would be a very long list, but I’ll try to make it short. As a matter of fact, I’m influenced by many artists in different kind of music : some singers like Tori Amos and Sharon from Within Temptation deeply gave me the will to sing and to make some gigs. This created the passion. I will also think about Skin for her impressive vocal technics.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Hope this won’t come now! Anathema – “Judgment”, Skunk Anansie – “Post Orgasmic Chill..”, Within temptation “Enter”.
There has been a huge surge, almost a paradigm shift in rock and metal the last few years, in that women are now counted in the hundreds in a field that used to be very much male oriented. Would you like to comment on this?
- We sometimes forget that women are here since a long time in rock and metal! Some girls like Janis Joplin burned the stage 40 years ago! And in the early 80’s many girls bands appeared in hard rock. Nowadays, this can be considered as a trend, something I personnaly find dangerous for music interest. But this also means that metal music is opening doors that were considered closed for a major part of the audience, this is important for the renewal for any kind of music.
When did you record music for the first time?
- My first real studio experience was the recording of the second album of Dying Tears, “Spleen and Hope”. This was in 2003.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- Sorry for this answer but, you know, this material is not listenable yet for you! I feel so proud of the work I’m doing on the songs that will be released on our first album! Actually I’m so proud of each member of Interria, we are all working very hard each and every day to make this sound as great as possible.
Many seasoned artists still fear that moment right before showtime, how did you learn how to deal with that and how is it for you these days?
- It’s getting better after years, but you can’t forget the fear when you go on stage just before the show. On that time, I fear for the sound quality, for my voice, for the reaction of the audience.. But without this strong feeling it wouldn’t be so exciting! It’s a real chance to live such kind of moments, even once in a lifetime.
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- I prefer seeing forward to think about it... Sure that the gig we’ll make on october at the Metal Female Voice Festival will bring something unforgetable! So, the best is yet to come...
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- Many things are changing right now. In France, playing rock was very hard a few years ago, because it was considered as useless, since it’s still better to listen to international bands. French music only succeded in “French touch” electro music and classical great singers as Edith Piaf or Serge Gainsbourg. Nowadays people are getting more fond of rock music, many bands have the possibility to make gigs with good technical conditions, and that’s a good point.
What are you currently up to?
- We all spend time to launch INTERRIA at the highest possible level. We aim to give the best of each of us for that. It’s a priority. So actually we’re working on the songs that would be released on the first album. We play them during our rehearsals, and we foresee to record them in demo versions next month.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- As INTERRIA’s course is quite short, the best feedback we had was during our first show, last october in Paris. The room was nearly full, this presence proved the interest for our young band. We had a great time, some people even know the songs of our EP! The best gift is to feel all the attention of the audience, when sometimes emotion can be read in eyes.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- MySpace have brought a kind of ideal : the disappearing of all the fronteers! You are not acting in a single country anymore; everybody can listen to your sound. People are now more curious, they have the possibility to discover many bands, from any place over the world. So, I’m personally very involved in making INTERRIA present on mySpace.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- For the reasons I told you before, Music industry realized all by itself that everything must be reviewed! People have the possibility to discover many bands, and not what is broadcast on radio and TV anymore. A large presence on medias is not the insurance of commercial succes anymore. Quality is expected by the audience, able to “test” new bands, news sounds. Major companies must think about that, rather than spend time on courts because of another illegal download affair... That would be the way I would change Music industry : being closer to the audience, and not thinking about how to elaborate the best market trend possible, the one that will bring a million copies sold!
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Of course.. A lot of MySpace, that keeps me informed about what is done everywhere, and brings new contacts. I also visit our forum, to be in touch with the fans ! http://www.ecclipse.net/forum/ , and other general french metal forums.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- I wish I had time left! Music takes us a lot of time.. from my side I try to take care of myself as much as I can : have rest, make sport, and spend time with my family. I’m also fond of reading, and of cinema. I like to see concerts as well, end of january I’ll see in Paris one of my favorite bands, Archive.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- I enjoy quite a lot Sweig, Camus, Barjavel, actually I’m reading the last book of Jean d’Ormesson, "Creation of the World ". The closest to me, "Tao T King" from Lao Tseu.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- My favorite french actors are Romain Duris, Clovis Cornillac, Jacques Villeret, Albert Dupontel. Otherwise, for foreign actors, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Asia Argento, Christina Ricci. On TV I’m generally interested in report documents (world and nature, animal life).
What favourite food do you have?
- Italian food of course! I like foreign food : Indian, Japanese and Chinese.
I´m sure you´ve heard many bad pickup lines, did you ever actually hear a good one that made you think that this person is perhaps interesting?
- I’m afraid not. This is complicated because it is not natural, you can easily see what the other person aims. I prefer more simple and sincere ways to communicate. Seduction is much better when it goes through suggestion.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- Personal experience brought me to believe in paranormal events! Every day life have its part of strange happenings. But it never was something I wanted to reach, as a spiritual game...
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- Yes... It happened once.
What´s your take on that?
- Nothing like a kind of trauma, or obsession. Just the doubt to face Army’s new material tests?
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- You have to be very patient, for each step. You have to open wide your eyes to the world, to be able to analyse both in positive and negative aspects, to nourish yourself of many experiences. Of course you have to work a lot, and always very hard, but most of all, everything is useless if you have no dreams and hopes.
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- Thanks for this interview, and for the interest showed to us! See ya on www.interria.net, and check there for our sound - free downlaod ! Just a few word to conclude, it's philosophy of life :
Truth what we want to express Is not the absolute truth / The name we give it / Is not the immutable name” - Lao Tseu
At MySpace / Interria
Interviews made by Mike Eriksson (c), january 2007.
