ASHES ARISE – Interview with Amy (guitarist) & Stéphanie (growling vocalist, bassist)

A woman in a Metal band does not surprise anyone anymore, maybe sometimes, if she’s growling (although there are more such women, and their vocal’s skilful are equally good as male’s growls). In some bands there are also female’s instrumentalists who stand equally in line with their colleagues. In spite of everything, there are still few typically female Metal bands. Then they usually play lighter Metal varieties. However, ASHES ARISE is a unique project created by an international female line-up and performing aggressive, technical, melodious Death Metal! – Pavel

Livius Pilavi: How did you begin a cooperation for ASHES ARISE by people from distant corners of the world? Who did take the initiative?

Amy: We began cooperating online when I reached out to multiplied music pages on facebook and placed ads elsewhere searching for other female musicians to start a project together. I had many songs that were uploaded on my personal soundcloud page and wanted to have them brought to life as I have never started my own band before.

Stéphanie: I was searching for another metal band project and wanted to work only with girls this time. I saw Amy’s announce on a female metal forum.

Pavel: So, how do you organize the rehearsals? On-line?

Amy: Our music is written and recorded in home studios. I will write the songs or have ideas, and send them to Stephanie online, after we discuss ideas of things that could be added or taken away to make a song feel more complete. Drums are added, Vocals are then added, bass, orchestra keys and lyrics last.

Livius Pilavi: Is it difficult to combine playing in several different bands at once (ASHES ARISE, UNSAFE, SOULS OF DISSOLUTION)?

Amy: It is not difficult as we do not necessarily have a time frame as to when we release music for Ashes Arise. I was able to play shows with Souls of Dissolution while working online with Ashes Arise as well.

Stéphanie: No it’s not difficult, I can work on several projects at the same time. Actually I work on 2 albums and have some rehearsals once a week with Unsafe.

Livius Pilavi: You play Melodic Death Metal. Is there a lot of interest in this type of Metal music in the US? As far as I know, in America the most popular are Nu Metal, Brutal Death Metal and Thrash Metal. Do a lot of people come to concerts?

Amy: Yes actually, I first heard of melodic death metal while I was playing guitar in a hardcore band. It immediately caught my attention and interest and I continued to search for other bands to listen to. I’ve attended many concerts and have seen Dark Tranquility several times, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Scar Symmetry, Soilwork and many others. Each show has been packed and sold out! There is a huge following here in the US for Melo death and each show has been amazing and memorable.

Livius Pilavi: Do you like Nu Metal?

Amy: I do like a few Nu metal bands as this is what I listened to before discovering melo-death. There is a nostalgia when looking back at nu metal and currently I’ll still listen if it comes on.

Stéphanie: it’s not my favorite style but there are some bands first albums that I listened to and like : Korn, Machine Head, Faith no more…

Pavel: Your arrangements are quite technical. How did you learn playing instruments?

Amy: My interest in music stemmed from my family. My father was a drummer as well as my brother, my mother sang and dabbled in piano. I first had an interest in playing the bass guitar, however when shopping at a store I realized I could not push down the strings and the instrument itself was way too big on me. I settled with a teal fender squire and began taking guitar lessons by the age of 14. By the time I was 18 I wanted to go to a music school once I graduated to study theory, however that didn’t work out and I ended up joining local bands instead.

Stéphanie: I started to learn to play bass alone at 18, when I could buy myself an instrument, using books & one video tape method (no Internet at that time ! 🙂 I practised a lot and after 2 years, I joined a metal hardcore band called Endless Fall in 1994. In 1998, I started my own band project Unsafe and never stopped. Then I had to replace a male singer at vocals for one of our studio album recording and I go on doing vocals since now. I learned to play guitar too to compose songs, to program drums, to record myself, to make a video clip, to do a cd cover.

Pavel: The vocal range is equally interesting – from bestial, hysterical growling yells to sung phrases (sometimes a bit of an opera or a lamentation). This female growling is really frightening and powerful. Stéphanie, do you growl intuitively, or maybe you’ve learned some technique to not tear your throat?

Stéphanie: I never sang before and learned to growl by myself, I never took lessons and had less than 6 months to be ready for a recording. It was hard at the beginning, but I found how to do it without tearing my throat.

Pavel: Does it seem to me that some clean vocals (usually those in higher tones) do not hit the notes a little? However, it does not have that meaning at the whole…

Amy: Perhaps! Some notes are tricky, especially the high ones ! However it was the best effort put forth by everyone for the task needed.

Livius Pilavi: The cover-art of your album depicts three witches summoning some sinister creature from the underworld. Are you witches? Do you believe in magic?

Amy: Haha, No we are not witches, however I do believe in the spiritual world. I don’t know about Steph or Emily however, I suppose the cover art depicts from the song summoner.

Stéphanie: I’ve seen a very interesting exhibition about witchcraft, in Toledo (Spain) this summer, it was like a big cabinet of curiosities with fake monsters, mummies heads, plants & poisons used by witches, book of spells… I like science and history in fact and everything a bit strange that I can see in museums!

Livius Pilavi: Are the lyrics of ASHES ARISE songs an important part of your message or they are just an addition? What about are the lyrics?

Amy: Emily has written the lyrics and has a very imaginative mind and is able to create many stories based on inner turmoil and the ability to rise above. This album specifically was to make a ‘come back’ into the music scene as I was away and took a break from music for some time. It was a resurgence back from the darkness inside that came before it.

Livius Pilavi: You released the album with your own funds. Why? There was no interest in such great music from any label?

Amy: We have not really shopped for labels, we just wanted to have something we all enjoyed doing and wanted to share it with others.

Stéphanie: I like the Do It Yourself aspect of the project, to do an album from the beginning to its release makes me learn more things like the mix sound, the making of a cd…

Livius Pilavi: Can we expect some songs from ASHES ARISE sung in the language of Molière in the future?

Stéphanie: No you can’t ! 🙂 I don’t really like songs in French language in metal bands. We are an international project, Shakespeare language is our communication language as well as the language of our songs.

Livius Pilavi: Is it possible to keep Metal playing in USA and France without being at the METALLICA popularity level? Do you earn some refund? I am Pole and I know that in Poland many bands have to add to their passion.

Amy: Ahh I am polish as well! Haha. This is all for the love of music, and something to do to release stress in my daily life. It is very rewarding to hear the final product of something you’ve collaborated with others and are proud of your work and just hope others can feel and hear the hardwork and dedication we all put into each song. It’s not about profit, and even my experience with other bands, what you make profit wise usually goes back into the band for merchandise, gas to get to the next show or if you’re lucky a meal.

Stéphanie: No it’s not easy to win money playing metal music. I am in a metal band since 24 years, played at many shows, made several albums, it cost more than what I won. But it’s not a problem, playing and working on music is very important for me, I never stopped going regularly to shows, I saw so many métal bands and want to see more ! and I use most of my free time for music.

Livius Pilavi: Stéphanie, USA have great Metal bands. And what French Metal bands you could recommend. I know very few French bands, including MUTIILATION, MISANTHROPE.

Stéphanie: There are interesting french métal bands like : Scarve (who made 2 incredible albums !), SUP, Loudblast, Gorod, Gojira.

Pavel: Ahh, there are a lot of them … MISANTHROPE, LOUDBLAST, GOJIRA are the beginning of the list … BLUT AUS NORD, ANOREXIA NERVOSA, MASSACRA… many interesting bands do not exist anymore… Do you generally know any female Metal bands?

Amy: My first concert ever was Kittie and perhaps that was my initial desire to start an all female metal band. I have listened to others such as Nervosa and Frantic Amber and have very much liked what I have heard!

Stéphanie: With Unsafe, I played at a show with Crucified Barbara, but I haven’t seen many all female metal bands…

Pavel: How do fans of Metal music react to a female Metal band? Have you met with the jealousy of other women or with sexist comments from metalheads?

Amy: I have never experienced jealousy of other women. Sexist comments have happened yes. You Just keep on doing what you do and learn to grow some thick skin.

Stéphanie: No i did not have sexist remarks, only jokes. I met many people curious about this project as there are not a lot of all female metal bands. And I had funny remarks by friends that made me laugh like :”you should put a dress if you want more success for your project” or “ you could have taken off your coat in your video clip ! 🙂

Pavel: What are your plans for the future in connection with ASHES ARISE?

Amy: My plans are to continue with this project and grow as individuals/musicians. To always strive to do better. To evolve after time passes and to always be proud of what we have created.

Stéphanie: I think we can make another album improving our style and sound. We have already started to work on it. That’s cool!

Pavel: Thank you for the interview. Good luck! The final spell belongs to You…

Amy & Stéphanie: Thank you Livius Pilavi & Pavel for the interview ! We hope you’ll enjoy our next release!