Interview by Jessica C.

1. How did the band get together? Brief history how you got started.
The guys, Jon Hoare, Andy Pester and Dion Smith started the band in 1998 and I joined in 1999. Rich Shillitoe joined us for a few months on Dark Waters.

The three of them have known each other for many years, having played together in other bands, etc. I replied to an advert Jon put for a singer on a local newspaper and that was how the band was formed.

2. What were some of your influences? What was the first thing in your life that made you say “I want to play music”?
My influences might be coming from before I was born!!!

Music has always been important in my family and I grew up to the sound of Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, AC/DC amongst others. Not quite the usual lullaby…! I always enjoyed singing, then one day I decided to take it further and sing in a choir. Although I loved it, it lacked, to me, the creative and personal side of playing/singing in a band. I was well into Heavenly Voices and gothic music when I started singing for Tears of Ea, a French Atmospheric Black Metal band. Through them, I discovered more the metal scene. Singing in Mercury Rain has been a very nice continuity although the still is quite different from Tears of Ea. In the meantime, the discovery of oriental music and more specifically Arab female singers, Bulgarian music, medieval and classic music, etc broadened my horizons and moulded my style.

3. What is some of the music you listen to now?
The Gathering (Probably my favourite band), Therion, Lacuna Coil, Dead Can Dance, amongst some classical (Gorecki, Allegri, etc.), medieval and, for want of a better word, “world” music (Spanish, Corsican, etc.)

4. Can you tell us about some of your first musical instruments, gear you started with and what you play now? Do you have a favorite?
I don’t play any instrument, but I always wished I did! I’d like to be able to play the bass, the cello, oboe or the keyboards. Maybe one day, when I’ve got more time in my hands, … if ever!

5. Talk about your newest release, how it came together musically (writing) as well as how it was recorded.
“Dark Waters” is a complete “homemade” product, recorded in Jon’s home studio. It was a very long and rather laborious process as we experienced a lot of problems during the writing and the recording. A lot was due to IT gremlins….
Jon dealt with the production, we all helped with the mix. The mastering was done independently, with a professional.

The way we write evolves. I suppose the way we write is atypical, as we usually don’t jam together to come up with new ideas. We tend to work at home, or in pair.

For Dark Waters, we used to proceed this way: Jon starts a melody on the synth, Dion would then add some guitar lines. Or I would come up with some ideas: lyric or melody wise. Then Andy works on the drums. After all that “skeleton” work is done, we go back to our different parts, make amendments and develop the ideas.
Some tracks were written very early, January 2001 for “Broëlla”. They evolved continually in the two years of the writing of the album. Some others were in a long gestation for many months. That was the case for “Marie Morgane”: written just after our first demo “Where Angels Fear”, it was cast aside to be resumed at the end of 2002.

6. Describe a live show, what can someone expect to experience at your performance? How do you decide on a setlist?
I suppose the expectations depend on who watches us; it depends on the person’s sensibility. Generally, we try to vary the songs in the set, to take the public on a journey: the first song, as an opener, has to be an attention grabber. That’s why we usually start with “The chosen one”. The lighting and the “mise en scène” are just like in theatre: it helps to place the public in context. It creates an atmosphere. For that reason we like to use a smoke machine. We vary the songs so that the public’s attention is always solicited, be it with a heavy song, catchy tune or a slow and melancholic ballade that can be quite intimate.

7. How do you like being on the road touring? Things you like/ things you don’t?
We haven’t done much touring yet, but for what we have done, we have all loved it!
It is mostly a very good experience. It’s very exciting to go to different places, meet different people.

There was only one date that will stick in our mind for the bad memories it evokes. A town we gigged in with 2 other bands was very rough, we felt harassed when we went in the centre to grab something to eat. Some of the guys had their car broken into and their merchandise stolen. There was a very bad atmosphere in that place. Strangely enough, the public was one of the warmest though and that day we had a cracking night with the other 2 bands.
We like festivals best. Always a good atmosphere, plenty of people to meet and plenty of scope for a great time!

8. Any funny stories or encounters you had while on tour you can tell us about?
After one of our gig, a fan approached me and asked me to sign a paper plate he had. I was looking in my bag for a pen, taking out all my “survival kit”. When he saw my lipstick, he said that would do. So, in the end, he left with a kiss on a plate…!

9. How do you feel about the current music scene in America / Europe and elsewhere in the world?
Globally, I think it is abysmal. Most of the stuff that go on the radio or on TV are extremely commercial. It seems to be all to do with how much money a band/singer can generate or how much boobs you can show. It’s nothing about music to my mind. I suppose it is getting better though with the emergence of some rock bands appreciated by a wide public. I hope it is not only a fashion accessory and I hope it will open the mentalities a bit more, especially when metal music is still villainied, when people who wear black and long hair must be guilty of something.

As for the underground scene, I suppose it is the same principle everywhere. There are regions / cities where Metal / Goth, etc music is more popular. It is the case in the north of England (Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds) and in London (“Capital” effect). It is easier to acquire a public, to play in pubs, clubs, etc. Germany, Scandinavia and the Netherlands are much more open to this music where lots of festival and gigs take place regularly.

For a metal band in the UK, it can be extremely difficult to emerge, playing from one small and obscure pub to the other before being able to perform on a major stage. This is one of the major low point in the UK I believe.

10. What lies in the future for your band?
Firstly, we have our new album to finish: “St Matthieu”. It should be released in September. We are currently working hard on it as we are getting very near the completion deadline. It will comprise of 9 songs and a DVD featuring the video clip of “Shadow’s Scent”, one of the new tracks (It was filmed in Scotland, on the site of Eilean Donan, the Castle where Highlander was filmed!), and some live footage from BLOODSTOCK 03 where we played. The new album is more mature and more progressive. It is another concept album. Death, grief and pain are core elements in St Matthieu, as the legends of the sea were in Dark Waters. This album will be heavier but also more atmospheric. After September, we plan to tour in Europe and hopefully beyond!

We are talking to a couple of labels. Some distribution deals are being discussed too for Brazil, Canada and Japan. We hope the outcome will be very positive.

11. Is there any thing you’d like to ad or say? Our website is currently being updated, in line with the launch of the new album. When it is back on line, you will be able to download the video of Shadow’s Scent. In the meantime, you can still check out for news, keep in touch, etc. on our forum: http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/index.php?

Thanks again for taking the time to talk to us and share a little of yourself.

Thank you Jessica!