[IN MUTE] – interview with Steffi (vocalist)

Allegedly [IN MUTE] is the most extreme band from Spain, in which a female growls. At present we know that in the Metal world female with growled singing have made themselves (and for their bands) good reputation. Many of these types of female singers have such an aggressive and powerful scream and growling that it does not detract for the band, but on the contrary, it makes this band unique. And their vocals are equally with men’s in terms of power, brutality and monstrous-demonic emissions. I think that for a few, or maybe for a dozen years, female growling will be something common, because of the growing interest of women in this topic.

Hello Steffi! How is to be a vocalist in a metal band? Especially since the rest of the members are male and the genre of the music is stereotypically male.

Being a vocalist in a metal band is exciting, I just love it, it’s what I always wanted to do, my dream. It is the possibility of being able to have the luxury of getting on the stage to get everything I have inside the most raw, just as I feel it. I can be myself without being afraid of anything, it is the most courageous version of me. Well, regarding the subject of the genre, nothing special to mention, in the band we are good friends, we share a lot, we paddle in the same direction and we really support each other. It might be a stereotypically masculine gender, but we seem to break those stereotypes and show that nothing happens, at least nothing wrong but quite the opposite 🙂

Did you get some lessons of growling, or maybe just you learned this intuitively?

I did not receive lessons of growling, at that time I could not find anyone to teach it. I had to research a lot and make many attempts. The trial / error was what marked the way. I received singing lessons from the age of 9 and it was very necessary to have that knowledge to apply it to the new technique that I wanted to develop. It has been a long time since then and now it seems very distant, but it was not easy without the support of information that we have today.

What do you do if you feel sore throat after the concert? Do you especially care of yourself?

First of all do not talk, acoustic competition is the worst thing you can do when you have a sore throat, as you strain your strings. I drink a lot of water at room temperature, no cold drinks, thyme infusions, honey and lemon, propolis. I avoid dehydrating or irritating foods and drinks, no ice, coffee, alcohol, sugar, fats, etc. And above all rest.

Can you recommend any band with a growling woman on vocals, of course besides [IN MUTE]?

I love Tatiana’s voice from the band JINJER. It’s a perfect combination of melodic and growl voice, really interesting.

Why is the team name written in hard brackets? Some bands to pay more attention for themselves and they use these types of characters in the band names…

The brackets hold meaning in themselves. It keeps the name of the band enclosed [IN MUTE], in mute, enclosed, boxed, compressed, imprisoned. At the moment the music starts all these boundaries and barriers imposed from outside are broken. We think it’s more visual this way.

The cover-art of the album “Gea” was created by Lukasz Jaszak, my compatriot. How did you contact with him? Why he?

We liked so much his work in covers of Decapited or Vomitory, so we realised to write him down and ask if he was available. Lucky us, he was! And with only sending him the story, he returned the cover as it is. It was so easy to work with him, and we’re very satisfied with the result.

On the new album the lyrics are already in English. How do they arise? What matters do they concern?

The whole theme in the album is based in a story that made up our bassist Pedro, in which Gea gets conscious of the human kind as a disease and try to solve it with not a good end. It’s collected in the first three tracks, as a thematic trilogy, and then the other lyrics are based on the different aspects we have to improve of ourselves, and some other facts that are concerning the present moment.

The release of “Gea” has entrusted for Art Gates Records. Why this label? Are you satisfied with the cooperation?

Art Gates Records seemed the best option to release Gea. We know them and their work, and it’s a path in which we can work together, not only being told to do one thing or another. They have the experience we need to complete a succesful project, and they have also the possibility of carrying us outside our borders, one of the first things we want to do in this new era. Things are working alright, so of course, we’re very satisfied!

At present you are touring in Spain. How does the audience respond to your music?

Very well! Crowds in Spain are awesome, we always feel liked and accepted, and we’re also pickind the seeds we’ve been planting for more than a decade. We’ve made a lot of friends, and making new ones, and it’s a blast when you feel that good energy up in the stage. We still have lots of venues to visit here, and we can’t wait to do it!

And what is the reaction to your presence on a stage?

The crowd usually likes our energy on the stage, the whole band has a compact movement and a lot of interaction with the public, I like to get off the stage when I have the option, to have the audience close, to shake them or push them (hahaha).

Are any dudes obscene for you?

Not really, the public is very respectful, I have never had any problems in any concert above or below the stage.
Rather, they tend to have respect and some fear (just a little bit). At the end of the day people come to enjoy the show, the music. And that’s what they do.

Where do you play in the near future?

We have some festivals here in Spain, and also the rest of the spanish tour, but we’re working hard to get out and visit new countries, and re-visit the ones we went already. The whole plan is to play, play and play, as far away as possible. We are planning a tour so far away and a Europear Tour of course, we will update all the news when the right moment has arrive.

Today many bands care about their merchandising. You also offer your gadgets and have internet sales. Especially your official website focuses primarily on sales…

In the social nets era, you find easy to get in touch with your fans and provide info that matters very fast. Facebook, instagram, youtube, are working as a library of your things of interest, and a small auto-financed band needs merchandising sales to survive. It’s very important, because there’re few ways to get money in this world, and a good oriented merch helps you to get the next step and complete the whole band incomes so you can play every night. And also it feels great when someone across the world wants your cd or t-shirt. Thinking of one guy wearing your stuff in Japan for example it’s an honour.

On the video for the song “Human Obsolescence” the couple sitting back to back masturbate before the tablet computers, probably making virtual sex. Does this scene bring a specific message? Currently, a virtual sex is increasingly more accepted. Do you think this is a positive or maybe a negative phenomenon?

It talks about another of the des-humanization process we’re suffering. It’s not an open complaint about virtual sex or so, it’s talking about the way we’re taking isolating ourselves. Every kind of acceptation of new trends is possitive, but without forgetting that makes us humans and the significance of keeping in touch with everyone and the world we live in.

In the scene there is a couple on the same bed, turning their backs on each other, masturbating in front of their computer, but the revealing thing about the matter is that on the wall there is a photo of the same couple in a very happy moment. To what extent of dehumanization. What extent of dehumanization we have arrived to, to turn our back on that someone who is there so close.

Ok. Thanks for the interview! In the end I’ll ask you for some interesting message to readers…

Thank you very much for the interview, we’re here for everything you need. And for the readers we can only ask them to listen to our music, come to our concerts if they can, and follow us in the usual ways, facebook, instagram, twitter and our website www.inmute.com . Cheers from Spain!!