Chiara
Malvestiti began in music as a teenager, taking classes in modern pop singing,
then discovering Symphonic Metal and Nightwish, and as she already demonstrated
a distinct and very natural voice for operatic singing, Chiara sought to
improve her skills. The Metal experience had an important chapter with Crysalys
debut, with the album "The Awakening of Gaya". (Leia a Versão em Português)
Due to
dedication to operatic singing, a career that demanded her full-time attention, she turned away from her Metal career, but in 2015, she was invited by Christofer
Johnsson to join Therion. Although not an easy decision due to her commitments
to classical music, Chiara accepted the invitation, and has been in the band
for three years, fitting perfectly and participating in important moments of
the group, such as the launch of the opera "Beloved Antichrist"and
one of the greatest tours in the history of Therion.
On her way
through South America on the Beloved Antichrist Tour, we did this interview
with the charming and talented Chiara, who told us a little more about her
career, these 3 years at Therion, her inspirations, her connection with nature
and also some first-hand news! Check it below! Sing for us, angel of music:
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| "Honestly I never was a "normal" opera singer, but an unconventional one." |
Chiara
Malvestiti: 3 years ago I recieved a mail from him where he asked me if I was
available for the band. At that time I
was focused only on Opera and I was doing rehearsals in theatre for a debut on
a Mascagni's Opera. Melissa Feerlak made my name when Christofer explaned her
what kind of specific soprano he was searching for. I felt confused at first, after 3 years or more
away from Metal it sounded like coming back home!
RtM; Did you
have been invited to audition and rehearsals with the band, right? Tell us how
were these auditions, you felt confident that it would be the new Therion’s
Soprano? What songs you sang with the band in the auditions?
Chiara: The
audition was via video, I had do sing
"Ginnungagap" and "The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah" in one
video without any interruption, Christofer needed a soprano with strong upper
register who would be able to sing powerful high notes easily. Then I went in
Sweden for rehearsals with the band.
RtM:
Christofer said many times he found the right girl, fitting very well in
"Therion’s family". Surely you must have felt flattered by his words.
And sure, you’ve captured the heart of the fans too. I’d like you talk about
it, that warmth received, since Lori was a very important part of the band. Did
you ever feel somehow apprehensive about he reception of the fans?
Chiara: Yes of
course I was glad about Christofer's words. Lori was very important for
Therion's history and she did a great job. We are different kind of soprano and
singer, but I think we both fit very good in Therion'sound in different ways,
everyone with her signature song. I don't feel apprehensive, I'm just myself
and I gave time to Therion's fans to know better me and my voice!
RtM: And about
the debut on stage with the band, in Istanbul? Tell us a little as was the
expectation. The days and hours leading up to the debut left you anxious or
nervous? And how did you feel at the end of the show?
Chiara: Yes I
felt VERY nervous that day! Everything was new for me, but after show everyone
(included me) were very happy about my debut on stage!
RtM: Speaking
of stage presence, Therion adopted some changes and more care with the stage
look even remember that Snowy Shaw was one of those responsible for this
change. And you, who has also accompanied the band, what do you think of the
changes? And your visual and stage performance in Therion? Did you think of
something specific, had any suggestions of the band, or simply followed your own
style?
Chiara:
Therion is an eccentric band, you know it, with many influences.
Honestly we
never spoke so much about it, everything was very natural, each one has is own
role on stage, the only word that bound everyone is a "Steampunk"
concept, but yes I keep my own style that grows with me every tour :).
 |
| "After 3 years or more away from Metal it sounded like coming back home!" |
Chiara: Yes!
You are right. I started with singing lesson when I was a teenager, studying
modern-pop singing. After 2 years I discovered Nightwish with Tarja Turunen and
my vocal coach said that my opera voice was very easy and natural, and I started to improve my skills studying
opera singing in Florence, the capital of Melodramma and in the Conservatory of
Music and I have many experiences on Operas, Recitals etc.. My first inspiration was Tarja, but my muses
were and are: Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Loreena Mc Kennitt and Tori Amos.
RtM: Talking
now about “Beloved Antichrist”, tell us
a little about your role in the album, and what can you tell us about this
oportunity, to be in the band in a memorable moment, because is a Project that
Christofer has been devoloping for years!
Chiara: When I
went in Sweden for the first rehearsals 2 years ago they also asked me for an
audition for the Rock Opera's main female role, Johanna. I didn't have a clue
about everything, the character, the song, nothing. I just sang some primavista
scores and they immediately said I was perfect to sing her.
Johanna is a
sort of religious, fanatic priestess against Antichrist, a sort of Joan D'Arch,
older sister of Helena (Antichrist's wife). Her temperament is sacred, luminous
and combative at the same time.
RtM: What your
favorite songs of this new album?
Chiara: I love
"Seeds of time" even if is very short to perform on stage in a normal
Therion' show, but also "The Palace Ball" and
"Resurrection".
RtM: What
about your work as a classical singer? Tell to us a little also of how is to be
divided between these two worlds, the Classic and the Metal?
Chiara: At the
moment is not easy at all. Being an opera singer it means living just for it in
very aspect of your life, full time.
Many times happened that asked me to perform in classical concerts but in the
same periods I was on tour with Therion. Honestly I never was a
"normal" opera singer, but an unconventional one. In my mind I never
splitted at all my essence and I think it's one of my point of strenght or weakness, it depends from the
point of view.
RtM: And about
Crysalys?
Chiara:
Crysalys is proceeding very slowly for many reasons, initially for 3 years my
energy and especially time are focused on Therion and my job as a vocal coach
and Fabio (my boyfriend and composer-keyboard player of the band) is also very
busy with the his work as a composer for the media.
RtM: Tell us
more about the new album. You are organizing a crowdfunding, how’s going this
Project?
Chiara: The
album is almost finished, but as you know it takes a lot of time to record,
mix, burn, promote and support with the right image, shows, etc. The
songwriting is also very accurate and deserves a lot of care and attention, but
it's time to complete it and share it with the world. Yes, we would like to
crowdfunding, let's see where the future will take us.
RtM: Talking
more about Crysalys, I would also like you to talk a little about the first
album, “The Awakening of Gaya” and the
self-evaluation of your performance in it. By the way, I love the album, and
"Angelica" and "... and Let the Innocence Dream", are my
favorite songs.
Chiara: Thank
you! The Awakening of Gaia marked a very important point in my metal career. It
was a genuine, energic debut album and I still feel very proud and grateful to
it and what it represented, not only for us but for a lot of bands of the genre
I would say. Of course now after 7 years my idea of singing is very
different and refined but for that album is right how it was, the rage of
Mother Earth and her elements, a volcano of energy. It was definitively a part
of me, that I truly respect and brought me where I am now.
RtM: A
curiosity...about the Project Eve’s Apple, why it didn’t go ahead?
Chiara: I
don't know the real reasons why Eve's Apples stopped years ago, but I was very
sorry for it, I loved that period where many of us female metal singers of
different musical backgrounds and nations united our experiences to build
something different in the metal industry.
RtM: You told
me about a solo Project! Now, tell us a little more about it! In what style
will the songs be?
Chiara: Yes,
you were the first one I told about it! I had a sort of illumination for the
name when I was travelling through Brazil, your ancient Sun Goddess whispered
something me about it.
This project
borned many years ago in my mind but now is taking shape. It won't be symphonic
metal.
 |
| "This project borned many years ago in my mind but now is taking shape." |
Chiara: I can
only reveal you that it will be dedicated to The Goddess and my spirituality of
the Old Ways, the Cults of the Great Mother around the world in my astral and
real travels. It wont' be a band, I think will be a duo project with some
special guests as composers, musicians and singers. I can't wait to start it!
RtM: About
writing songs, what inspires you?
Chiara: The
Goddess. My Light and Fire within.
RtM: I remeber
that in your first time in America you had many gigs in a few days, and the
band made a joke with this, calling “No Sleep Tour”! He he he! This time, there
are again a lot o f concerts in few days.
Chiara: Omg
yes..it was my first tour with Therion and everyone of them told me that was
the hardest tour they ever made! This time is the longest ever in Latin America
(35 days, 24 shows and 11 gigs only in Mexico) only 3 weeks after 60 concerts
around Europe (the longest tour ever of the band in 31 years! It seems they
were waiting me for this new goals hahaha!
RtM: Tell us,
what care do you take to face these marathons?
Chiara: You
ask me how I face these marathons? I have to thank my classical backgrounds,
the strong vocal tecnique I learned from great opera singers, and also my
self-discipline. I have to say that it's not so obvious that an opera singer
can resist for such a long run performing almost every day 2 hours with few
hours (or nothing) of sleeping and long travels.The vocal job of a classical
singer it takes a lot of energy and it needs some specific rules.
This is what I
want to teach to my vocal students if they want to become professional singers.
RtM: In Mexico
Therion have a large fan base! And here in South America is also very
expressive, I believe that you have felt how much Therion is loved by the fans
here, and I would like to know the things that most caught your attention on
this second passage for Latin America?
Chiara: I'm in
Mexico now, today is the first day off we have after I recieved your interview.
Here in Latin America the fans and the crowd in general are great! So warm and
passionated, it's a gift for us recieving your energy during the show, in
general your roots are connected to the Sun and I'm sure you are so warm in
everything you do in your life. I also recieved a lot of gifts and precious
words and a lovely support for the loss of my grandaddy who died 5 days ago (interview made it in may 28th).
RtM: And about
you time in Porto Alegre? Your first time here, and the second of the band,
just Christofer and Sami was here in 2001. Did you like the reception? A pity
that we don’t have time to show you more from the city and Rio Grande do Sul.
Chiara: I
know! it's the worst part of the job that we are not able to visit nothing.
It's very rare that we have time or a day off close to something interesting.
Porto Alegre was great and you were so kind with us, I want to thank you again
for your gift, I love it!
RtM: You're
welcome dear Chiara, glad you liked to be here, and also liked the gift. Well,
maybe it's a difficult question, but could you tell us your three favorite
albums of Therion and make a short comment about them?
Chiara: My
favorite albums are Secret of The Runes, Lemuria and Gothic Kabbalah.
"Secret
of the Runes" it's the closest to me, the most pagan one and the one I
would had loved to record, "Lemuria" is the most magic, I love the
essence of Atlantis inside of it, "Gothic Kabbalah" is the first one
I listened many years ago when I started with metal, I still remember when I
saw "Son of the staves of time" video
for the first time, I was so young!
RtM: And in
your spare time, when you are not involved with music, what things do you like
to do? I know that you like series, and, well, we will have to wait until 2019
for the final season of Game of Thrones! If you could choose a final to the
history, how it will be? Há há há!
Chiara:
Ahahah! Yes GOT is one of my favorite ones, I didn't read the books and I don't
have any idea about how the final season will end, but I love to see Daenerys and
Jon Snow togheter with all the Dragons and Wolves!
RtM: And are you having time to wach some of your favorites series?
Chiara: No I don't have enough time
to watch them all :(
I interrupted to watch many of them, they're in
standby but then new series are out and I start to watch them in the few free
times I have before sleeping!
RtM: I know
you too are very connected to nature, the Goddess, animals. I would like you to
tell us a little bit about this side of yours, and also about how you see the
world today, where it seems that we urgently need more love and more respect with
others and nature.
Chiara: This
is the most importan part of me. I would like to dedicate my full life to this.
I'm followig my path as a Goddess' daughter in order to become a priestess of
Her and learning all her ancient arts and bring it to the world with my voice
and spirit. In this world where the Patriarchate destroyed her cults She is
still alive and is thank to both principles (Masculine and Feminine) if we can
find the balance, respect and the righ roles in our gorgeous planet.
 |
| "I'm followig my path as a Goddess' daughter in order to become a priestess of Her" |
RtM: And how
do you see the music scene in Italy, especially the Metal? Your country has
always shown good names. There are many difficulties for a band to stay in the
scenario?
Chiara:
Nowdays the scene in Italy is terrible. Yes there are a lot of good bands and
musicians but the situation is very negative in many aspects. If you want to emerge and play you have to
pay a lof of money, Metal Music especially I think that I can say after 12
years that I'm in this scenario, is the hardest genre to play in Italy. This is
very sad. I'm very disappointed by a lot of agencies and promoters here.
RtM: Chiara,
thanks for your kindness and attention, we wish much success to you, talented
and lovely person, and sure this two
things helped you to capture our hearts!
The final space is for you to send your message to fans, here in America
and around the world!
Chiara: Hola
amigos! I love you "SONS OF THE SUN"
You are in my heart and I feel so lucky to have the chance to perform to
your beautiful countries!
Interview: Carlos Garcia (With collaboration of Raquel de Avelar)
Chiara Malvestiti' sofficial FB page
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