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 sixth page. Enjoy.
- ON THIS PAGE -
Monika Pedersen/Sirenia - Sinderella/Hysterica - Ruby James
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Monika Futtrup Pedersen, I live in Stavanger, Norway now.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I've been singing my whole life and discovered music from my older brother, who introduced me to a lot of cool stuff.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- King Diamond and Mike Patton, they are so cool at what they do, and they mean it.. They mean a lot to me, make music to my heart.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Hmmmm I think a classic one, but don't know excatly wich, and Nile, "Annihilation of the wicked" and Nevermore, "This Godless endeavor".
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?
- I think it's great that we also have a chance to express our selves in the music we love.
When did you record music for the first time?
- When I was 7 years old with the scool choir.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- My fav are "Sundown" and "Downfall". And of the old it's "Sister Nightfall".
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?
- I just take a deep breath and if I'm prepared well, there is no need to be afraid.
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- I havn't been touring yet.
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- I think it's ok, many people like it here and we have a few more bands in the same category here in Stavanger.
What are you currently up to?
- Working and working out.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- That a guy once told me that our records with my old band Sinphonia, changed his life, to something better.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- I think it's a good way to communicate with people from all around the world. and I have a lot of friends here too.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- Yeah it's a shame, but I really don't know what to do about it. Maybe we should say that we will stop making music, to make people stop... he he.
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Yeah for a lot of different things, myspace, lifestyle forums and bands/magazines.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- I like to paint, and love the nature.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- I like horror, like Dean Koontz, but it's a long time ago I read a book actually.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- Jack Black, I like adventures, horror and some comedies , esspecially with Jack Black and Adam Sandler.
What favourite food do you have?
- A lot of meat and Cheese.
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?
- Hmmmm not excatly, but guys who try to kiss me on stage might mean something with it, he he.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- Yeah, I'm open to it.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- Ha ha, funny you ask about that, I have seen a UFO when I was a little girl together with my family. It was really cool and my parents believe it too.
What´s your take on that?
- I think it's COOOL!! but I´m also a bit scared.
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- Do what you want my dear. I have a younger sister and she started to listen to metal because of me, and that´s not a bad thing.
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- It was funny, liked the "strange" questions, take care and cheers.
At MySpace / Sirenia
Sinderella
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Sinderella.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- I have always played music since I was a child but discovered metal at the age of 14 and wanted to be a leadguitarist at first.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- Sebastian Bach singing and Dimebags guitarplaying.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Richie Kotzen "Into the black", Skid Row "Slave to the grind and my own "Best of Manowar".
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?
- Well it´s about time!! Still a long way to go though.
When did you record music for the first time?
- Maybe when I was 16.
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- "Heavymetalman" and "Undertaker" are my favourites now.
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?
- No problems, I love being on stage so much that har never been a problem for me.
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- Playing with WASP!! Ahhh but that was with my other band Sister Sin... it was a blast!
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- Hopefull I think.
What are you currently up to?
- To much he he, you will find out.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- The guitarist from WASP, Doug Blair told me that off stage I look like the pretty girl next door but on stage a was like a furious demon... That I like really much, I feel like I did succed when i heard that.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- Fitness.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- Comedies.
What favourite food do you have?
- Indianfood.
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?
- No.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- Yes.
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- No.
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- You go girl!!
At MySpace / Hysterica
Ruby James
What is your full name and where do you currently reside?
- Right now I am sorta based out of Charleston, South Carolina, but I am originally from Los Angeles.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered music.
- Music has really always been a part of my life. My granddad used to sing old cowboy songs to me and strum the guitar...and my mon introduced me to Fleetwood Mac. But I guess I started singing when I was about three years old....and I just haven't stopped.
Can you mention a few people or artists that inspired you and what they meant to you?
- Stevie Nicks, brings back the memories of my mom driving around with me in the car. Waylon Jennings, mainly cause that is what brings me back to where it all kinda started. My granddad only knew three chords, but his music really influenced me.
If you could pick three records to take with you to a desert island, which would they be?
- Why only three....Whiskey Town's "Pneumonia" would be one, I guess I would take "The Last Waltz" sound track by The Band and Francis from Austin, Texas.
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?
- Most things change over time and music really is no exception to that, but there have been many great females in music for decades. So, I think that probably more women just began to sing openly and when people like what they heard it just sorta became natural...
When did you record music for the first time?
- I guess I started recording with a little tape recorder in high school, but my first real recording was about ten years ago....nothing big....but at the time I thought that it was real cool to be able to do that. My dad still has those tapes by the way, the ones from the little tape recorder...and he actually listens to them...
If you have to pick out a few favourite tunes from your catalogue, which would they be?
- "Strayed", "Passengers" and "Happy Now", all of the songs are gonna be on my new cd that is going to be out real soon...
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?
- Ummm, actually I don't really have stage fright...or if i did i don't remember it. I think I was just born to sing and any time I could do it I did....when I was real little, like 3 or 4 my mom and dad used to take me to this mexican place and I used to get up and sing "Isn't She Lovely" with the band. I wasn't afraid then, and now I just remember that this is what I am supposed to be doing....and I just do it...
What´s the best tour/s you´ve ever been involved in and why?
- The best tour I have had is the one that just ended, the band was amazing and we played from feb. 18th until march 5th going from Tampa, Florida to Baltimore, Maryland and back. Everyone in the band had a great time, we all got along and the audiences were real nice to us....we got to play the hardrock cafe in Baltimore, Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta and Wall st. in Orlando. I am ready to do it all again...and I think that we are hitting the road full band sometime the end of may and we are trying to do an acoustic run in april.
What´s the situation for your type of music where you live right now?
- Right now I am touring the east coast and the people have been real receptive to the music, we have been real lucky to have some great venues to play at and people come out. Sometimes it is real hard to get good press coverage though, I guess with sooo many bands out there you are just a number. If there is anything that I could or would have changed it would have to be the media's interest in the music and shows.
What are you currently up to?
- Well, I have been in Austin, Texas working on my new cd, which is being produced by Will Sexton and Mike Thompson and Charlie Sexton are playing on. We expect that to be out sometime between the end of march and the first of may, and I have been touring and doing lots of radio and tv recently.
What´s the best feedback you ever had from a listener?
- Usually when someone tells me that one of my songs have touched them personally. Recently I got a message from someone that had heard one of my songs and he told me that listening to that song helped him to deal with the death of his daughter. That kind of stuff is what makes it all worth while, to know that i am reaching someone with my music.
Do you take a personal interest in your MySpace page and what do you think of this new invention?
- Myspace has been great for independent artists, without it we wouldn't be able to get our music out there to be heard. And yes, I take a personal interest in my myspace, I want to connect with the people that listen to my music. I guess that maybe someday I won't be able to do that, but I will keep trying as long as I can.
Do you think the recording industry is out of touch and what would you change if you could?
- I try not to know that much about the record industry and just focus on my music and writing songs. I have people around me that think about the business stuff, they know more about that stuff than I do and I just focus on the music. I guess if I could talk to someone in the industry I would tell them to listen to more independent music. People are really turned on to that...that is where I have found some of my favorite artists...independent artists on myspace...
Do you surf the Internet and if so where do you usually go?
- Myspace, I go there a lot, it is like this vaccum that sucks you in....someday I am gonna realize I can't answer every message and comment.....and astrologyzone.com….I am a sucker for astrologyzone.com.
Do you have other major interests outside music?
- …Boys? I like to exercise and keep fit and I love the show 24.
What authors do you like and have you read anything good lately?
- Um, Tuaolo Coelho, Tom Robbins and Michael Ondaatje, I just finished the Bob Dylan memories and loved it…it was very inspiring.
What favourite actors in film and television do you have, and what do you enjoy to watch?
- Johnny Depp and everything he has been in, Sean Penn and Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson is amazing.
What favourite food do you have?
- Sushi… I love sushi, oh and crab legs…
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?
- Can´t remember any but the next guy that comes up to me with a pick up line I am gonna tell him that he is like the national football league on Tuesday…no game, go home. I normally would just give out the number to the zoo if someone with a bad pick up line asks for my phone number, but if you hear any good ones let me know... I might meet a cute boy I can use it on.
Do you have an interest in the paranormal, the unknown?
- I find it fasinating, but haven't had my own personal experiences with it. I did just play a venue in Columbus, Georgia that was supposed to be haunted and was hoping to see a ghost but didn't, but I think that the guy at the venue was burning stuff to drive the ghost away. I think he said it was sage....but it smelled a lot like thanksgiving...
Have you ever seen a UFO or do you know anybody that has had an experience that they´ve told you about?
- No, not really, but I would love to be abducted by aliens… I really think they might enjoy some musical entertainment….and if their spaceship goes really fast I could get to my shows real quick....just pull up in a UFO...
If you could give a piece of advice a younger sister that would like to follow in your footsteps, what would that be?
- Never give up and follow your dreams and your heart….I thought about giving up a few times, but something always makes you go back.…
Would you like to add something to this interview?
- There are amazing things happening my life right now, it makes me glad that i didn't give up. Once I stopped fighting it and started to live the life that I was meant to live some doors opened up for me and sent me to Austin, Texas to record my new cd. Will Sexton is producing the cd and Charlie Sexton and Mike Thompson from The Eagles are playing on it. There is lots of magic out there if you just open yourself up to it… and let it happen. Not too long ago I was trying to figure out how to get back on the road and just start touring, I couldn't figure it out, then I met these people from this small guitar company on the east coast and they have been an amazing help to me. And now i am like, amazed at all I have done and the people that I have met, the places that i have been, I just don't want it to end. I can't wait to get over to the U.K and tour and tour Europe.
At MySpace / Ruby James
Interviews made by Mike Eriksson (c), march 2007.
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