Interview - Phantom Star: The Rise of the Cosmic Heavy Metal

 

By: Caco Garcia

Versão em Português 

Formed in 2024 in Curitiba (PR - Brazil), Phantom Star emerged with a well-defined proposal, bringing together experienced musicians who already had contact and friendships, and all this resulted in a natural personality and cohesion, reflected in the acclaimed debut album, released on June 20, 2026.

We talked with Matheus Luciano (vocals), who told us more about the great reception of Phantom Star's work, details about the album, and perspectives and expectations going forward. Check it out!

RtM: Phantom Star was born in 2024, but brings together musicians with a long history in Metal. How did this collective experience allow the band to emerge with such a solid identity right from the debut album?

Matheus Luciano: Phantom Star was born with a very well-defined direction. From the first meetings, we had absolute clarity about the sound we wanted to make and the goals we aimed to achieve as Heavy Metal musicians. There was no time wasted looking for a direction; the proposal was conscious from the first rehearsal. 

Added to that, the human factor made all the difference: we've been great friends for many years. This brotherhood and mutual respect create a natural harmony that goes far beyond technique. When you combine an artistic vision aligned with years of friendship and complicity, the synergy in the studio and on stage happens almost instinctively.

This chemistry between the members was the fuel that allowed the band to emerge with the solidity and maturity of a long-established group.

RtM: The debut presents a Heavy Metal that  yourselves define by epic, cosmic, and cinematic elements. How did this concept emerge, and what was the starting point for building this identity?

ML: This concept was born extremely naturally from the fusion of our passions not only in music, but also in the field of literature, cinema, and the arts in general. We've always been fascinated by bands that don't just focus on sound, but bring a theatrical and conceptual dimension—whether in aesthetics, stage presence, or the dramatic construction of their compositions.

For us, Heavy Metal has always been an immersive art. Combining the weight of the riffs with an epic narrative and a striking visual identity was an organic evolution of this shared taste. We wanted the listener to feel this theatricality from the very first second: in the atmosphere of the keyboards, the tempo changes, the lyrics, and even the album art. It's this richness of artistic references that gives Phantom Star its dramatic, cosmic, and cinematic aura.

RtM: It's possible to perceive influences from bands like Virgin Steele, King Diamond, Savatage, Queensrÿche, and Crimson Glory, but the result sounds quite original. How did you refine and balance the homage to these references with the search for your own sound?

ML: We are deeply honored by the mention of some of our greatest idols and direct influences. I believe the great secret to balancing homage with originality lies in how each member filters their references to express themselves authentically.

We know exactly the territory we're treading on — the universe of classic and traditional Heavy Metal — so we never need to adhere to rigid rules or worry about following ready-made formulas to "prove" that we are metal.

The priority has always been to use this baggage to build sincere arrangements with our own signature, without the intention of sounding like a dated copy or like bands that only repeat the past.

We treat these influences as a foundation, not as a limitation.

RtM: The lyrics touch on themes such as the Inquisition, mythology, fantasy, and other narratives. What else inspires the songwriting process: books, films, history, RPGs, fantasy literature?

ML: We consume a lot of these media in our daily lives. Books, games, RPGs, comic books, fantasy literature, and cinema have always been part of our routine and end up flowing naturally into the songwriting process. These are very rich sources for creating stories, metaphors, and scenarios that blend well with the weight of the music.

At the same time, we don't live isolated in a fantasy bubble. Everyday issues, personal experiences, and views on the world around us—including social and political aspects—also enter the equation. After all, as independent musicians in Brazil, it's inevitable to be impacted by the reality in which we live.

Using themes like the Inquisition or fantastical narratives is usually our way of talking about very current things, like fanaticism and the search for freedom. In the end, inspiration comes from everything we read, play, watch, and experience.

RtM: The vocal interpretation is quite striking due to its theatrical character, while the keyboards reinforce the entire cinematic atmosphere of the songs. From the beginning, did you have this concern about making each song sound like a small soundtrack?

ML: Absolutely. My interpretation aims to bring a unique dramatic weight, because I try not only to sing, but to truly interpret and bring each narrative to life, which imprints a very strong personality on the compositions.

The addition of keyboards, in fact, happened some time later in the band's formation, precisely to reinforce this intention. We felt we needed an element that would amplify this "storyteller" atmosphere that we love so much in Heavy Metal. The keyboard came to fill that space, creating the layers, the tension, and that cinematic atmosphere that makes each song function as a way to bring the listener into the lyrics.

RtM: The visual art of Phantom Star is also impressive, from the cover art to the identity in the promotional materials. How important is the visual concept to complement the band's musical experience?

ML: For us, visual art is simply indispensable. When we think of great references in Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, and Progressive Rock—with Iron Maiden perhaps being the most obvious and brilliant example—we realize that the visual concept has always been one of the fundamental pillars in building a band's identity.

We've always seen the cover art, illustrations, and all promotional material as a direct extension of our music, and not just as "packaging." Striking artwork prepares the listener for the album's atmosphere even before the first riff.

RtM: The title track "Phantom Star" seems to synthesize everything the band represents musically. Do you also see it as the song that best translates the essence of the group?

ML: Yes, definitely. Because it carries the band's own name, it was conceived to be a true declaration of intent and a synthesis of our work from the most epic point of view.

The title track translates very well the conceptual theme and, above all, the visual identity that we sought to bring to this first album. Musically, it delivers the perfect balance of our sound: it manages to navigate the most progressive, atmospheric, and elaborate nuances without ever abandoning the weight and energy of traditional Heavy Metal.

RtM: “I’Am the Storm” and “Witch Hunt” have been two that stand out in the public's preference.

ML: “I’m the Storm” and “Witch Hunt” have truly become fundamental pillars for us, and we believe that choosing them as singles was a very good decision!

RtM: Well, I'd like you to comment a little more on these two tracks, the inspirations, and how they were refined until the final version.

ML: “I’m the Storm,” besides a very catchy riff and a lot of melody, carries a message of sovereignty and the recovery of pride in our native peoples. It's a strong critique of the destruction and disrespect towards our nation.

The idea for the lyrics already existed well before certain unbelievable political events that we've seen recently in the country; It wasn't planned to release it at this specific moment, but the current context and the electoral scenario ended up making the message even more vivid and urgent.

A striking fact was that Lucas Shred joined on keyboards shortly after the release of this track, which allowed us to rework its dynamics and layers live with the very atmospheric keyboard that turned out incredible.

RtM: It really seems like it was conceived for this current moment. That's a very interesting perspective. And "Witch Hunt"?

ML: "Witch Hunt" explores a darker side, using the historical theme of witch hunts as a clear metaphor for fanaticism, persecution, and intolerance. We sought to bring this discussion directly to the present day, drawing an urgent parallel with the sad reality of femicide and violence against women—cases in which women continue to be persecuted, judged, and silenced, often simply for the way they dress or position themselves.

Musically, it has a more measured pace, long guitar solos, and very dramatic and theatrical vocal interpretations, drawing directly from masters like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate. The polishing in the studio was extremely quick, flowing with contributions and ideas from all the members. It works so well and transmits such a strong energy that it naturally became the opening track for our shows.

RtM: Complementing this topic, do you use these tracks that end up gaining more prominence with the public as a parameter for, perhaps, future directions? And it's interesting that many times bands bet that this or that song would be better received, and often that doesn't happen, and some unexpected highlights emerge.

ML: Absolutely. The audience's response is always a valuable barometer, but we believe that the direction for future compositions should come naturally.

The case of "Phantom Star" is the perfect example of this: being a long, technical track full of tempo changes, we didn't imagine it would gain such appeal.

The live performance was so immediate and became one of the album's highlights among fans. This kind of surprise is incredible because it shows that Heavy Metal listeners value complexity and depth when they are delivered with authenticity.

We see this debut album as a solid root that we have just planted. It established the foundations of Phantom Star's sound. For the next work, the idea is not simply to "copy the formula" of the most listened-to tracks, but rather to take all this positive reception and accumulated maturity to deepen and expand these ideas with even more weight, refinement, and identity.

RtM: Releasing such a naturally consistent debut, which has been receiving such a great reception, creates expectations for the future. Is there any direction you would like to explore in future works, or is there still much of this universe created in the first album to be developed?

ML: The public's response to our debut album gives us incredible energy to take the next steps. We feel that we have lit an important flame, but there is still a whole universe of this initial essence to be explored and expanded.
One of our biggest goals and dreams from the beginning is to create a 100% conceptual album — and that may be much closer to happening than you imagine. 

Our main references are masterpieces of the genre such as Abigail (King Diamond), Operation: Mindcrime (Queensrÿche) and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden).

We want this evolution to happen organically, but the focus is clear: the next chapter of Phantom Star will be designed to deliver a truly captivating, dark and terrifying story, where music and narrative merge in a transcendental way.

RtM: The album has also sparked interest from labels abroad, with releases on vinyl and cassette. Tell us more about these releases and if there are possibilities and contacts from the European continent or other markets.

ML: We are extremely happy with this response. Brazil is currently experiencing a fantastic moment for traditional Heavy Metal, thanks to the consistent work of bands we greatly admire, such as Trovão, Creatures, Hellway Train, Electric Poison, Facing Fear, Blades of Steel, and others. This strong scene is causing the European and international markets to look at metal made here with great respect and attention.

Classic Metal's distribution is excellent outside the country and has been fundamental in getting our music to new territories. We managed to close a partnership with the North American label Frequency Junction for an extremely limited vinyl edition, and also with the Bolivian label Maniac Forces for a beautiful cassette tape version.

RtM: That's great! A very significant return from this debut.

ML: Yes, and in addition to the direct feedback we're getting from Europe through our Bandcamp, we need to highlight the role of the NWOTHM Full Albums channel. They are giants in the task of showcasing classic Heavy Metal on a global stage, and we have a lot to thank Anderson and his team for this support. Ultimately, it's a very rich and vibrant movement, and we see enormous potential for the growth of this scene both abroad and in Brazil.

RtM: I heard from a source that you'll be participating in a horror short film, with music on the soundtrack and also acting. That's really cool! What can you tell us about this project?

ML: Yes, it's true! We were invited by a film collective from PUC and I think that, at the moment they called us, they didn't even imagine how much our sound and our entire visual concept had to do with the film's story. It was a perfect match!

Some members acted directly in the short film, and it was an incredibly fun experience — and exhausting too, because filming requires a huge amount of dedication — but it was worth every second. In addition to acting, we will also be responsible for the film's soundtrack, with our compositions accompanying the scenes in addition to the soundtrack itself, which is being composed especially for the film.

It's a project that unites Heavy Metal and horror cinema. The recordings were incredible, and we'll be releasing more news and details about the launch soon!

RtM: Well, thank you very much for the interview, and finally, for those who don't yet know Phantom Star, what is the main message you would like the audience to take away after listening to the entire album for the first time?

ML: I would like the audience to feel that Heavy Metal continues to be vibrant, sincere, and full of energy to tell memorable stories. More than just listening to a sequence of tracks, our intention is that the complete listening experience be an immersive journey—that transports the person into our universe, makes them think about themes of our real world, and awakens that flame of Metal that has always captivated us.

Phantom Star are:

• Matheus Luciano – Vocals

• Lucas Licheski – Guitar

• Maurício “The Fox” – Guitar

• Ricke Nunes – Bass

• Maurício “Muh” Vastrinche – Drums

• Lucas Shred – Keyboards & backing vocals

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Interview: Secret Rule - "We Just Continue to Make Music, as We Have Always Done".

Secret Rule was founded in Italy, in 2013, and makes modern Metal, mixing heavy and melodic riffs, incursions of symphonic and electronic elements, combined with Angela Di Vicenzo's vocals, have built a strong musical identity.  (Versão em português)

The band also has a well elaborated planning, which allows it to release practically one album per year, despite all the difficulties of the current market, and earlier this year released "Against", via Pride & Joy Music.

The world pandemic, in which the area of ​​concerts and entertainment was greatly affected, changed a little and postponed some plans. But Secret Rule did not stop, and in this time of isolation and quarantine, they continued to plan and publicize their work, including even releasing another album! "Quarantine Sessions - The Other Side of Us", with versions of songs by artists that the members like.

We have talked with Angela Di Vicenzo, who told us a little more about the new albums, the way the band works, taking care of various details in addition to composition and production, such as, promotional photos, social media, booking and etc., also commented on the music market, and of course, how was this pandemic period in Italy, a country that was hit hard, and measures such as a Lock Down were necessary. Check it out below:

RtM: Talking about the most recent work, "Against", with each album the band shows news, what are the main changes in against for the others? I personally felt that more weight was put into the songs, keyboards are also more present.

Angela Di Vicenzo: Hi Carlos, yes, "Against" is the natural evolution of our sound. Surely, it's a bit more heavy and aggressive and there are more industrial sounds on this one. The real news is that we took care of the whole production of this CD by ourselves. We thought, wrote, recorded, mixed, and mastered everything by ourselves. We created the graphics, prepared the photos, every little detail was handled by us. It was a great challenge, but now we are fully satisfied with it.

RtM: The first single was "Purgatory", which also won a video. Comment more about this song and why you chose it for the first single?

Angela: We wanted something different. Often in recent years, people to describe our sound put us near symphonic metal. We found it a bit limiting, surely there are a lot of symphonic atmospheres in our music, but not only those. The riffing is more aggressive and totally different from symphonic bands, we use a lot of electronic loops and industrial sounds...these are not exactly what you find in symphonic music.  So, Purgatory was the right song to mark that something had changed. This message was mostly for other people, not for us...because we just continue to make music as we have always done.

"Today, a band before being a band must be an expert social media manager, an expert music manager, an expert promoter, and a booker then you can be a musician."

RtM: Two of my favorites are "Against" and "Deep Solitude", which has beautiful melodies and a catchy chorus. I would like you to tell us a little more about them and the inspiration for the lyrics.

Angela: Against is one of my favorite ones too. The new album started from that song and concept, in fact, it's also the album title. I suffer this world, this society. I can't understand how it’s possible to see so much violence, racism and injustice, and how everything is always guided by money and power. Getting back to the matter of the manipulation of society, everything is filtered through all media forms and worse still through the social networks. So this song is my scream inviting people to be stronger so they can face this life every day and fight for freedom.

Deep Solitude is about the difficulty we have in understanding our feelings. Because of this, we often end up hurting the people we love most. We're complicated. So often we fall into our solitude, misunderstood, unable to form and maintain relationships, but our silence is the loudest scream we have to ask for attention.

RtM: The label Change seems to have opened new doors, the band having a better treatment, several videos, releasing albums regularly, we even had a special limited edition of "Against". I would like you to comment on this and the viability of the bands to continue launching new albums, because they do not always get a return when they self-finance, or do not have adequate support from a label.

Angela: Today, if you wanna be a musician you have to come from a  rich family! (laughs)

This is the reality of things. Everything we do, we do by ourselves. As I said to you, we take care of everything and we pay for everything. Labels today, they offer very little help for distribution, nothing else.

For example, promotion on the webzines and magazines is not so important these days, because in most situations, the writers are very young people who work for free or for little money, without a musical background, without a musical culture, and your album ends up being reviewed by guys who are eighteen and who in a good number of cases listen to a different musical genre from what you play. Fortunately, there are also professional writers but it has become hard for them too to work.

Today, a band before being a band must be an expert social media manager, an expert music manager, an expert promoter, and a booker then you can be a musician. The World is going in this direction and those who are not prepared for this, will have a hard life.

We make one album per year because we want to do it. With or without a label. In the past few years we found a good person in the owner of Pride & Joy Music, she's one of the few correct people in this music market, surely it's very important...but with only this, you can't survive in this World. It’s not enough.

So, we plan our activity year after year...we know exactly what we'll do in the next 12 months. This is our secret. Planning, scheduling, working hard every day, every hour. 

 " (The Song) 'Purgatory' marks that something had changed... This message was mostly for other people, not for us...because we just continue to make music as we have always done."

RtM: You have released recently the album "Quarantine Sessions – The Other Side of Us", with versions of songs by artists that you like. Tell us a little about how the idea came about and how the recording process went.

Angela: During the quarantine, we planned to release a couple of videos of cover songs. When we released the Ozzy cover ("Gets me through") and Placebo's "The bitter end", we received a lot of requests from our fans who asked us to release a whole album of cover songs. So, we thought we would only if we were able to do it in two weeks...before the Quarantine ended otherwise it wouldn't have made sense.  

So, we chose the other songs and started immediately working on production...and in two weeks we were ready to release the album. It was self-produced and self-released. About the production, it was easy enough for us, because every one of us has their own studio and at the end of the sessions...Andy mixed and mastered it. So, everything was really fun.

RtM: And from this album, which songs did you like to do the most and why?

Angela: It's difficult to choose because all songs are so different. Surely I like "Not Afraid" because I like its energy and it has been a challenge for me to sing it. I'm not a rapper! LOL I love "Back to Black" because I love that song so much!

"I think I'm Paranoid" is so energic and rock, like "The Bitter End" too! "The Swan Song" because I love Sharon's voice and I had fun in singing that song with a different approach in respect to the original version. But at the end, I like all the songs!

"When we released Ozzy and Placebo covers, we received a lot of requests from our fans who asked us to release a whole album of cover songs."

RtM: Well, it's impossible not to ask how do you feel to have to go through this war climate there in Italy. Tell us a little about how these days have been and the routine there?

Angela: It's not a war climate, there is a lot of silence instead. Everyone is living their life locked in at home, with their family, spending their time with all those things they didn't have time to do during their ordinary life. I did the same. I'm spending more time with my cats Posi& Nega, I started to cook a lot of different cakes, and I worked much more on Secret Rule. 

I don't know if this virus was created or if it really was an accident, neither explanation is difficult for me to believe. But this has been another great challenge humanity has been called to face. There have been stupid people (I have seen people spit on other people to terrify people by threatening infection and those who didn't want to follow all rules) but also a lot of solidarity and surely, I want to see the positive side of the pandemic, the one which has moved people to take care of themselves. At this moment we're getting back to normality and we hope to return completely to normality for good.

RtM: And what have you been doing to pass the time, to maintain physical and mental sanity?

Angela: I feel good at home. I watched movies, I played with my cats and I worked with Secret Rule on new strategies. We're always in a hurry so we took advantage of all this time to plan the next steps to the best of our abilities. I started to exercise every day to keep in shape and I feel much better!

RtM: And how do you see the situation of bands and musicians in general now with this stop, without doing shows. And I think there is still no prospect of a return in the coming months.

Angela: Surely it's a difficult moment. For us, it's difficult because we miss the stage and the contact with our fans. The exchange of energy is the best side of being musicians. We had to postpone our tours and we hope we'll be able to do them in September and December. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, I saw a lot of bands expressing their money difficulties but after a while, all bands started streaming concerts and found other ways to connect with their fans. The chance to find another way to express oneself has also proved an art form, be it streaming concerts, online activities, inventing a new job, etc). As in any market and any company, a band has to accept the business risk and find other ways to survive. I think it's normal.

 "For us, it's difficult because we miss the stage and the contact with our fans."

RtM: Have you been watching many movies and series during the quarantine? Which do you recommend?

Angela: I fell in love with "La casa de Papel" of course and "Vis a Vis" that I've been watching all during the pandemic. I liked a lot the actress "Najwa Nimri" present in both the series. Then I watched "Glitch", but I think it's only for certain people. Anyway, I liked it. So if you haven’t seen "Vis a Vis", you should start with that :)

RtM: Ha ha ha!ok, i saw just some episodes, but i promise i will watch. Did you watch the movie "Rocket Man"? A really cool moment is when Wilson  sayds to young Elton John that "  You gotta kill the person you were born to be in order to become the person you want to be." what do you think about? What has the music changed about you?

Angela: Wow! That’s so true! When I started to sing, around age fifteen, I remember that I was soooo shy. Before going on stage, I had to run to the toilet…sometimes I also vomited beforehand. On stage, I was almost blocked. But I wanted to be different because I loved singing so much. So, day after day, I had to kill my "limits" and force myself to beat my shyness, my fears. When I looked at great singers like Cristina Scabbia or Sharon Den Adel, I remained so enchanted by their naturalness and spontaneity. It has been a long process and I always keep working on myself.

RtM: Thanks for the interview, always a pleasure to talk to you. Take care and hopefully soon we will overcome this pandemic and good things will come after all this.

Angela: Thank you Carlos, it's the same for me. Thank you for this space and to all the readers who support us.

Interview by: Carlos Garcia

Secret Rule Official site

Pride & Joy Music

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Listen to "Against" on Spotify

Listen to "Quarantine Sessions" on Spotify

       

       

       

Interview - Edguy: 25 Years of Monumental Power Metal

Four years after the release of their last studio album, "Space Police: Defenders of the Crown" (2014), to the satisfaction of fans, german band Edguy celebrates its 25th anniversary with the launch of "Monuments", which in its complete package consists of a double CD, which also includes 5 new songs, and an unpublished one, recorded at the time of "Savage Poetry", and a live CD and a DVD with a show recorded in 2004 in Brazil. 

(Versão em português AQUI)

The bassist Tobias Exxel, in the group since 1998, gave us an interview to tell us a bit more about this important brand of the band, and some other stuff. Check it!

RtM: Considering that the great majority of the bands, with the passage of time and coexistence, ends up wearing down and generating conflict between them, what is the secret of Edguy to maintain the harmony between the members of the band after all those years?

TE: Oh believe me, wehave some conflictsfrom time to time, and always had them ever since. That's quite normal and it happens in everyfamily.

RtM: In these 25 years of band Edguy has played in several countries, is there any country that the band never played and would like to play?

TE: Yes there are still many countries left, and the world is not enough anyway, haha. It's always a great experience to visit new countries, but even when we visit many countries for, let's say, the fifteenth time, there's still so much to explore and you always get to know new people. It's great to see how the Metal community is still growing in some countries. That said, I really would loveto play in India, Turkey or Iceland, just to mention a few.

"We are five people in the band, and we not necessarily have the same opinion about everything."

RtM: The album "Monuments" is celebrating the 25 years of the band, and it will have a DVD with the 2004 concert tour of the album "Hellfire Club". This DVD is about the show that happened in SP that should have become DVD, bu for technical reasons did not happen?

TE: Yes exactly, we just released three songs of this show back then on the Superheroes Mini DVD, but now we are alble to release the full show, and I'm really really happy and proud on it! We had to be patient, but finally we got it done and I think it fits perfectly to that huge Monuments package right now!

RtM: The art cover of "Monuments" was very well made and looks like a reference to "Mandrake", could you tell us more about how it was created?

TE: Yes, it was not drawn by the same artist, but it was wash-made in a very similar style. If you take a closer look, you will find many hints to all our albums and there are so many fine little details. I guess the title speaks for itself and it fits perfectly together. Since Mandrake the jester has always been a constant companion for Edguy, even though he has not appeared on every front cover, but he surely is the guardian of our Monuments!

RtM: Edguy intends to focus on the launch of "Monuments" and the commemorative tour or can we wait for the next years a new studio album?

TE: Let's wait and see. I would really love to work on a new album pretty soon, but we haven't made any plans together on this by now.

"Jens, Dirk and I had much more influence on the songwriting. I really hope we will be able to improve this way of working." (T. Exxel, about the new songs)

RtM: How do you see the evolution of the band's sound these days?

TE: That's always a difficult question to answer. I think we had a great carreer, and since we were able to go on our first tour for the Vain Glory Opera album, we appreciate that we have the chance to play our music all over the world for such a long time with such a beautiful and dedicated fanbase. This is something really really  special.

RtM: And is there anything you did that you did not do again?

TE: From this point of view I would say we made the whole lot of things in the right way, haven't we? hahaha! If I look at it more closely I might surely find little things, decisions, etc. of which I would have loved to do different. But somehow it doesn't make sense to think about it on and on. With the fact that we are five people in the band, and we not necessarily have the same opinion about everything, haha! 

RtM: During that time when Tobias Sammet was working on his Avantasia project, did you work to prepare the material for the album Monuments?

TE: We mainly just started after Tobi was finished with his Avantasia activities.

RtM: What is the level of participation that the members have in the compositions?

TB: On the new songs of the Monuments album we changed our way of working a little bit, just Jens, Dirk and I had much more influence on the songwriting. I really hope we will be able to improve this way of working , as a real team and take the time we need on the next album. We all are happy with the five new songs, and again we mixed up some cool rock stuff with some traditional Power Metal as we always love to do.

RtM: What have you been listening lately? Do you know many Brazilian bands?

TE: I've been listening to Metallica's Hardwired, Rush's Counterparts and many Scorpions songs as I always love to listen to. Of course I know our friends of Angra from Brazil and I am a big Megadeth fan too, I really think it's awesome to see Kiko playing guitar in this band !!!

RtM: Is there any possibility of the commemorative tour come to Brazil?

TB: Believe me, I really really hope so !!!

Interview: Faty Matos
Editing: Carlos Garcia

     

     

Check the video produced by Edguy's brazilian Fanpage:

     

Interview - Sonya Scarlet (Theatres Des Vampires): A Journey Inside Human Fears

"Is a journey inside human fears",was how Sonia Siccardi, better known in the world Metal as Sonya Scarlet, leader of Theatres des Vampires, mentioned as the creators of Vampiric Metal, defined to us the concept of the new album, "Candyland", released now the 14th of October.

                                                                          (Versão em Português)         In this conversation with Road to Metal Sonya told us more about the album, her way of composing, the theatricality of her performances, her very unique way of dressing, the lyrics dealing with esotericism, occultism, fantastic stories, the dark side of the literature, and also her more personal side, the woman who takes care of her body, who has engagement in social causes, and more, as we recall the moment she became the only singer of the band, marking a new era for theTDV, and they have now 22 years of career, and will surely come many more, after all, vampires are eternal! Check out:

RtM: Hello Sonya, thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk about the new album, and also bring a little more about you and the band to the public in Brazil, for old fans, and surely new people who will know TDV’s work.

Sonya Scarlet: Thank you Carlos for your interview and support.

RtM: Let's start with the new album? The band always showed evolution in every new album, bringing new elements, and in "Candyland", we note more electronic elements, for example. What else of new  elements would you say you add on the new album? What may surprise fans?

Sonya: The new album continues to maintain the melancholic and damned atmosphere of previous works but its sound is more more direct, decisive and violent. "Candyland" is an aggressive album with a strong personality with a powerful guitar sound but  it’s not only that. There are also  moments of calm which envelop the  listener in the arms of an endless  melancholy, a feature that we continue to love totally. 

"...Surely different from the previous works, cause different was the attitude and the way of work  but still keeping our style...cause mind and heart are always in the vampiric mood."

RtM: "Moonlight Waltz" was my favorite so far, but "Candyland" is very close to take its place! It is difficult for an artist make comparisons between your albums, but analyzing in terms of sound, composition and production, you would say "Candyland" can become the most successful album, and considered the apex of the band so far?

Sonya: Yes, it is really difficult to compare two different album like "Moonlight Waltz" and "Candyland".I think thay are just different cause different is the inspiration that drove us to arrange it and different are people that worked on it. Our producer Christian Ice and me, together with the band,  worked hard everyday on "Candyland" after our split with Fabian, who decided to leave the band to follow his private interest and private life, still keeping a strong friendship with us. So we started from a different point of view, no more from the keyboards atmosphere but from my lyrics, arranging on them and on the rhythm of my words the whole album. So, what came out was a really powerful sound, with great guitar’s riffs , surely different from the previous works, cause different was the attitude and the way of work  but still keeping our style...cause mind and heart are always in the vampiric mood. 

RtM: How surged the idea to approach this issue on Pennhurst Asylum. Where did you get the sources to research the story more deeply?

Sonya: I have always had a particular interest for interesting and scary stories, about mysterious and abandoned places and about human madness and diseases. Some years ago I saw a documentary about  a place that I knew before, that story was unbelievable, the story of Pennhurst  Asylum and I was shocked once again to listen to that real  story. At that precise moment I decided the album title and  the mood of the whole album.. i decided to give back the voice to all people that suffers for their mental problems..that are closed in their own words...in their mind..forever lost.

RtM: I would like you to tell us a little more about the lyrical concept.

Sonya: In details, the name of the new album is inspired by a Pennhurst room, different from all others, with colored walls and bars on the windows. A room described as hell on earth by the inpatients of that  infamous asylum, where for decades adults and children with severe mental problems where hidden away from the public eye. 

A sad but alas true story, and the patients themselves renamed that room - with its brightly colored walls from which nobody could leave - Candyland.

Candyland is a journey through the corridors of the asylum, through the dread of those who - locked away inside the bulwarks of Pennhurst -  were left to live in the lone company of their deepest and most harrowing fears, told through their words, accompanied by their cry of desperation.

Never to be understood. Never to be free. Never to be truly alive.

"A sad but alas true story, and the patients themselves renamed that room - with its brightly colored walls from which nobody could leave - CANDYLAND."

RtM: At first impressions, when the album title was released, and the allusion to the Asylum Pennhurst, I thought it is a concept album about the events there, but I saw then that there are other issues, such as "Resurrection Mary" for example, which deals with an urban legend from Chicago. The themes of the lyrics have any specific connection? I see that there are many implicit things in the songs.

Sonya: It was surely my strongest inspiration for this album but it was not the only one.

"Candyland" is a journey inside human fears... we all have something that scares us ....that we cannot fight because, at the end,  it is part of us...something linked with our child fears, it is our dark half that screams...and sometimes we cannot control it...and we have to walk outside..in the dark side of the world, outside this society....every song has it’s own story, its own obsession....I go from human fears to licterature, the dark side of licterature such as  the "Masque of the Red Death" of E.A.Poe ("Seventh Room"), to Coleridge. “Opium shades” is my homage to Coleridge...I lost in his opium delirium while he was writing his Kubla Khan..

"Resurrection Mary"  for examples is inspired by a real ghost story of Chicago area. Since the 1930s, several men driving northeast along Archer Avenue between the Willowbrook Ballroom and Resurrection Cemetery have reported picking up a young female hitchhiker. This young woman is dressed somewhat formally in a white party dress, and is said to have light blond hair and blue eyes. she wears a thin shawl, dancing shoes, carries a small clutch purse. When the driver nears the Resurrection Cemetery, the young woman asks to be let out, whereupon she disappears into the cemetery...Each song has its own story...a really dark story..

Making off "Morgana Effect " video

RtM: Two of our favorite, besides the title track, are "Panasomnia" which has a very vibrant pace, and "Pierrot Lunaire,", and like "Candyland", has a more tense atmosphere, heavier, highlighting the beautiful melodies on guitar, and also your vocals, sometimes sensual, sometimes with operatic lines as well. I would like you to comment a bit more about these songs.

Sonya: I’m happy that you love these songs…they represent the gothic side of this album.

"Candyland" was the first song we arranged for the new album, everything started from there…

the song is about that damn  room seen through the eyes of a child ... a child who has been abandoned by her mother in that awful place and that, year after year, has seen other children die around her.. that world of pain and colored walls becomesmaller day by day ..the walls seemed to gather around her because the girl had grown up ... but no one could escape from Pennhurst.., even she.

"Pierrot Lunaire" is a deeply sad song and tells the story of a pierrot who would like to give a smile to the people around him, but because he is different from all others, having that so amazing  sadness inside his soul, the normal people ignore him... leaving him alone..but he wants to give himself to the world, and he decide to  rip his heart  from his chest..painting  a smile on his face with his blood... but people run  away screaming…

"Parasomnia" is a smash on your face, fast and crazy… the song is about a man who is afraid to fall asleep because in his nightmares someone tries to kill him, he's in a room of the mental hospital and draws crosses on the wall to mark the time and the passing of the days...without never sleep. Parasomnia is the night terror, the unconscious fear..

RtM: "Seventh Room" is also a song that I would like you to tell us more about, including on the participation of Fernando Ribeiro.

Sonya: I always loved Moonspell , they are a great band. Fernando has a great voice and he is an amazing frontman, so I decided to contact him. Fernando is really a kind person and a real professionist. He was happy about this new collaboration, as all the great artist he loves to share and to try new thing with music, and he did an excellent job sending me a so nice video about him recording "Seventh Room" track. A nice surprise. It’s a great honour and pleasure having his voice on our last work.  About the song, it is ispired by the Masque of the Red Death of E.A.Poe.

RtM: And about the visual, and more theatrical elements, for the tour of this new album, what are you  preparing?

Sonya: We are working on it, I'd like to make a long video to be projected on stage during the concert with strong images and also other stuff  I have in my mind.. but, let’s see! I hope you will see our new show soon.

RtM: Besides Gothic Metal, the style of the band normally is referred as "Vampiric Metal", including cited as the creator of this style. What do you think about this tag? Tags and subgenres are more negative or positive?

Sonya: I think tags help people to find things they like. It is not bad . Actually I’m just learning to use them on our social!! I’m not that good and I’m still trying to understand how they work!

 It is like a too tight dress that we try to put ourselves necessarily ..but the reality is that you can not describe the music in one word or in a tag. behind every band there are ideas, people, different influences and years of work

RtM: And your interest and connection with the theme of vampirism? How did  surge your interest in it, and also the opportunity to use this theme in a band?

Sonya: I have always been interested in gothic novels , occultism, vampirism and everything  from the dark side of the world and from  the invisible world, since I was very small. When I entered the band I found people who shared the same interests and it was perfect. there were  no coincidences. Coincidences do not exist.This was the fate. So I used the things I love to write my lyrics , inspired by licterature, art, poems, esoterism..

"I could freely express myself in the lyrics and in music and we are here, after many important albums, ready for the release of  "Candyland". I’m proud of my band ."

RtM: When you became the only singer of the group, the band ended up taking a new direction in terms of sound, you saw as a need to raise the band to another level, or was it a natural evolution of what was happening? Could you tell us more about how this transition was at the time?

Sonya: That was definitely been a very important moment in our career.  after our split with our former singer we decided to take two different ways.We have decided to go on with a more gothic metal sound, closer to our attitudes and our personality. That was a moment of  a great change for our band. At the beginning we looked for a new  male singer, then the band asked me to become the only singer of the band. they said it was the best choice at all.  It was an unforgettable moment, inside of me I had conflicting emotions, on the one hand I was very happy and grateful to the band for giving me that trust, on the other hand I was afraid, afraid to face that important change, I was afraid to fail. But It was been so natural instead, I could freely express myself in the lyrics and in music and we are here, after many important albums, ready for the release of "Candyland". I’m proud of my band .

RtM: The Theatres des Vampires, was also developing a more accurate and scenic visuals, and you sure are largely responsible. I'd like you to tell us more about it, these scenic and theatrical elements you use, you studied acting as well? And how it was emerging  your very characteristic manner of dress, and thus incorporating the band these theatrical elements?

Sonya: I never studied acting but I was for many years a classical dancer. I know the stage well, the first time I got on stage I was 5 years old. dance has taught me to express myself with the body, with movement, with the facial expression.. about clothes I have my talented fashion designer, Katja, from DIKTATOR FASHION LAB. Besides being a dear friend of mine , Katja is really a talented designer, the best at all,  and she knows every millimeter of my body and every song of Theatres Des Vampires... she knows my personality and she knows how to manages to create for me the perfect outfit, giving me the chance to express myself totally  and to represent my music in the best vampiric way!

RtM: And to keep all this energy on stage, as well your characteristic sensuality, what precautions you take to keep your fitness and beauty? Well, being a vampire, I believe it is easy to remain always beautiful and full of energy! He he

Sonya: To be forever young you have to really work hard instead! He he

I love to take care about myself, I always go to the gym cause I’m a very sporty person and it’s so good for my body and my soul. It ias important for my equilibrium otherwise a become too nervous probably.. I love trekking, skiing and doing all the sports that came in your mind...even surfing..but  I'm not that good in this  ... indeed I am always a vampire!

RtM: And your expectations about the future?

Sonya: I hope I can continue what I'm already doing, I am grateful and proud of what we reached today, and I want to  thank all the people and fans who believe in us, if we are here today to do this interview, with a new album,  is only because of you all. I hope to go on in the best way , spreading our music all around the world.

RtM: Groups of 70’s, like Alice Cooper and Kiss raised to another level this question to turn a rock show into a spectacle, and since then always appear interesting representatives, like TDV, King Diamond, Rammstein, Ghost and also your fellow Deathless Legacy . How do you see this scenario today? What younger bands do you think have incorporated best this question to give something more to the audience?

Sonya: I think that every band has its own personality and must express it as they prefer. There are bands that love to have a great visual effect and other bands that focus  on the music without caring much about the rest, , both of which are perfect. everyone has to do what he feels and what he thinks and always being himself. for us visual is a very important part cause it is part of us, of our way of being, of what we want to convey to our audience. We want to embrace our fans in a kind of amazing nightmare.

I love all the bands you named and I love their shows. I think today taking care about the image and the music is important. But most important thing is to have something to say, a personality and a great sound.

"To be forever young you have to really work hard instead!

I love to take care about myself, I always go to the gym cause I’m a very sporty person.... Indeed I am always a vampire!"

RtM: TDV already have  22 years of career, What a general report do you make these more than two decades? And the future? I believe that we will have many decades of Theatres Des Vampires ahead.

Sonya: honestly we did not realize that all these years have passed !!! We have certainly seen many changes in our band, both as line up like that musical evolution but honestly our resources and energy will never run out, I personally am already thinking about the nextalbum, about which issues will inspire me, to create new lyrics... I love to start everything from the beginning once again...this is a bloody train that never stops!!

RtM: You're also a person engaged in social projects, I would like to tell us a little about.

Sonya: Helping those who are less fortunate than us is very important and gives a different meaning to life. We realize that real life is another, it is different, it is made of thousands of little things that,  in our selfishness , we can not even see in this society. we were born in the lucky part of the world even if we cry every day and we are never satisfied .I have seen many poor countries, I have seen children rummaging in a big garbage dump in Nicaragua , searching for  food and looking for objects to sell, I saw destroyed countries like Nepal after the earthquake that foundations like jay nepal, of which I am part, are trying to help day by day working with nepali people, with their hands in the mud to help those people.

 "Helping those who are less fortunate than us is very important, and gives a different meaning to life. 

Rtm: And i would to know your opinion about the society and human being nowadays.

Sonya: I think there are lot of amazing people all around, I’ve been so lucky cause I met many of them..what scare me lot of is probably the new generation...they have no idea about the world, the music, the life itself..they just follow new trends without believing in something.But not all of them are the same. I know many youg people that are really smart , and many of them follow Theatres des Vampires, great guys! Proud of you!

RtM: And when you're not involved in musical projects, what you like to do in your leisure time? Reading, travel, cinema?

Sonya: I love movies but I hate going to cinema...and I never go! I hate to sit close to people I don’t know cause for me, watching a movie, is a relaxing moment, so I prefer to do in in my house, with my friends and lot of beers...and blood! The thing I like most is travelling and visiting different countries everytime but a beer with friends is one of the best thing at all. friends and family are really important for me.

RtM: And a tour here on South America? We hope that this time be realized, because in 2012, unfortunately you have been prevented from landing in Venezuela, affecting the entire tour here in South America! Did you received some explanation for such an attitude of the authorities of that country?

Sonya: Unfortunately, the cancellation of the tour was caused by the inability to get in venezuela. we were stopped at the border and forced immediately to turn back doing so 24 hours of  flight. Honestly I do not want to talk about it, it was been such a bad situation and I really hope to not see these  kind of things again. Anyway, after that we came again to South America and in Brazil too after some months and it was amazing. Now, we really hope to come back next year with our new album candyland. We’re looking forward to come back to Brazil and Latino America!

RtM: Sonya was a pleasure talking with you, and bring some news to your fans here, and show a little more about you and the band for potential new fans! Success, and we hope to see you here in Brazil soon!

Sonya: Thanx guys for your interview. Today I’m really happy cause in a couple of days there will be the official release of Candyland . I know this interview will be published after it but I want to share with you my feelings…we worked hard 3 years to do it and finally, here we are!

So, I really really hope to go to Brazil guys, we will try to do our best to come again. Thank you for your attention and for your support! BLOOD IS LIFE!


Interview: Carlos Garcia, with colaboration of Raquel de Avelar

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