AMANDA SOMERVILLE – English Version

We recently had a pleasant chat with Amanda Somerville, whose upcoming album Windows is very soon to be released. Here’s what she revealed, after a year spent on world tours and quite devoted to Metal.

Hello Amanda! Thank you very much for this interview 🙂 I hope you’re having a good time as you’re reading! Let’s start speaking about the experience on tour with Epica. How did it feel to be in Simone’s shoes?

Hello! Well, it was a pretty tight fit since I have big feet 🙂 All kidding aside, it was quite a challenge because the audience has, of course, certain expectations – usually quite high – and someone “foreign” will never be the same for them as the original performer. However, all went very well considering the difficult circumstances and the fans were very hospitable to me. It definitely helped that many of them knew me already from the work I’ve done with the Epicans over the years. But the Epicans are all such great guys – and lady! – and it was a great pleasure and honor to go on tour with them. I got quite attached to them all! I just wish Simone wouldn’t have had to go through the rough time with her illness that she did. She’s my girl!

And what about working with After Forever? What do you think of them, both as musicians and as people?

I think they’re all very good musicians and a trip to hang out with. I’ve worked the closest with Floor and Sander, of course, and they’re both very good friends of mine. Floor is great to work with because it’s kind of like driving a Ferrari as far as doing vocal coach work with her. It’s a funny metaphor, I suppose, but Italians should be able to understand what I mean! But aside from her incredible talent, she’s also a very sweet, fun girl and, being that we’re both Pisces, we just have always had that certain “click.” Sander is a freak, and I mean that in a totally positive way! He’s one of my dearest friends and I have the utmost respect for him, both as a musician and as a human being in general. Since working more intensely with him on his most recent project, HDK, that respect has only grown.

For Simone and Floor you were extremely important. How does it feel to be such an influential person for so many singers?

Oh, you know, I’m simply a glorified cheerleader. I just count myself as extremely fortunate that I get to work with such great people and gained two wonderful ladies as friends in the process!

You have worked with a lot of people: Tobias Sammet on his Avantasia project, After Forever, Epica, Kamelot… Who would you like to work with in the future, and why?

I love new challenges and creative people who test my limits. That’s why I’ve loved working with everyone mentioned above and I’m totally open to working with new people, as well. Pretty much anyone new always brings in a different aspect and challenge, but also each new album I work on with bands I’ve worked with before is also fun and interesting. To name specifics, though, I’d love to do a duet with Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel) because he’s my all-time favorite singer/songwriter.

What was the best collaboration? And the worst?

Now, now, you naughty journalists! Is this an interview or a gossip column? See, if I told you that, I’d have to call in a favor to my friend Guido in New York and then who would run Heavy Worlds? 😉

Something about your musical instruction. Did you study a lot? Where? In the past you’ve worked as a vocal coach, for example with Simone Simons. Do you still teach singing? Do you like it?

Being raised in a musical family, you get to pick up all kinds of tricks of the trade that are passed down through the generations. I’m self- or family-trained. I’m a bit of a rebel in the respect that I’ve never believed in formal training as the general rule to be a singer. For some people it’s the right route because they need that structure and want support with the technicalities of singing. It also depends on what kind of a singer you are and want to be. If your goal is to be the lead soprano in the world’s top opera houses, then you’d be best off to study classical voice. I’ve never focused on technique in the vocal coaching I’ve done per se, but more on the emotion and the dramatics of singing as a performance art. I don’t do work outside the studio giving lessons or the like, and I really don’t want to. I see myself first and foremost as an artist and that’s what my main priority and passion is; to write, record and perform. I’ve enjoyed working with the singers that I’ve worked with, but it’s definitely not an area I’d like to expand, career-wise.

You have now lived for a long time both in Europe and in America. Where do you feel at home the most? Musically speaking, are there more opportunities in the American music scene or in the European one? In Europe you’re known and appreciated mainly for your “metal side” (and I must admit that this is how I, myself, have known you), but what’s the impact of your “softer side” here in Europe and in America? I believe that it’s a bit harder to sell in the pop biz rather than in metal, but I may be wrong. What’s your impression?

Goodness. I could write a book for you on that multi-faceted question! First of all, I feel very comfortable on both continents, however I couldn’t imagine staying in one place for the rest of my life. There are too many things that I like and dislike about one or the other, that’s why I go back and forth so often and have homes in both places. For the 2nd part of the question, I think there is no way to separate my “soft” and my “metal” sides. I am all of the above and everything in-between, so whatever impact I’ve had has come from who you simply know as Amanda Somerville, the entire package. And I have my issues with the term “impact,” anyway. I don’t think I’ve had much of an impact on any scene, but I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished thus far in my life. As far as pop being a more difficult market to break into than metal, that could be a correct assumption simply because of the overwhelming numbers of the masses that are into pop music and the vast amount of musicians trying to make pop music. But I wouldn’t categorize myself as simply “pop.” If you’d have to categorize me, I suppose it would be alternative pop / rock / indie.

Let’s now talk about Windows, is it almost ready? Among the songs I’ve listened to on MySpace there is one I have definitely been into last year and that’s Inner Whore. The lyrics are quite original, could you explain them?

YES!!! Yay! By the end of this month I should have a shipment of a bunch of plastic boxes with those silver disc-thingies in them on my doorstep and I can’t wait! 🙂 You can even pre-order it already here and that’s all very exciting for me! And I’m happy that your inner whore was able to connect with mine. 😉 The lyrics are actually pretty self-explanatory; we all have a naughty little tart inside of us that tries to make us do things that we shouldn’t and some people bring that urge out in us especially strongly.

Do you already know its release date?

It will be available to order exclusively from my website for release on the first of December, but will be available on iTunes and through other methods of distribution, both digital and physical, around late December / early January. Since it’s an independent release (I’m doing everything myself), iTunes and other companies can’t guarantee a specific release date, so I have to take it as it goes through. But I’m very happy to be doing this all independently!

What’s your favourite one among your solo songs?

I can’t play favorites with my songs. It’s like asking a mother who their favorite child is. I really couldn’t pick one because they’re all very personal and special to me and represent different parts of me each in a unique way.

What’s your favourite Avantasia song, then?

All right, HERE I can name favorites! But I can’t name just one: The Scarecrow, The Story Ain’t Over (makes me cry every time I hear it!), Lost In Space, Twisted Mind, The Toy Master, and Sign of the Cross.

How and when did you and Tobias meet?

Way back when we did Aina and he sang on it.

Windows sounds completely different from your previous release, the Metal Opera of the Aina project. This shows your versatility in music. What is your favourite genre as a vocalist? And as a listener?

You are all about favorites, aren’t you? 😉 Ha ha! Not me. I would go all-the-way crazy if I would be limited to only one genre or style of singing. I guess it’s because I’m a borderline schizophrenic. (I’m totally kidding!)

In the metal scene you’re sort of a freelancer: you work a lot, but never just with one band. In the last years a lot of female fronted metal bands lost their original singers, what do you think about this phenomenon?

Well, I don’t think it’s such a phenomenon, actually. Being in a band is akin to a marriage, but with a lot more than just 2 people (which is hard enough as it is!) and with the added stress of having to perform and write songs together and be in the scrutiny of the general public. I think that people grow and change so much that it gets increasingly difficult to accomodate everyone’s changes into a compatible group setting. People grow apart, develop different tastes, mature at varying rates, become perhaps more ego-driven as their success rates rise, and all of these aspects can lead to an ultimate parting of ways.

If Nightwish were still looking for their frontwoman, would you apply?

I’m most comfortable as a solo artist. I’m always open to consider anything if anyone approaches me, but I generally don’t see myself as ever being in a band. That’s always subject to change, of course, but I’m happy being solo.

Same answer if I asked about joining another band?

Yes: see the previous question 😉

So after the experience on tour with Epica don’t you feel like setting up a band in which you could be the frontwoman?

Hm, we might see a pattern here. See the previous questions once again!

As we spoke about MySpace and such stuff, I know you look after your MySpace page yourself, you stop by on your fans’ pages and also leave comments when someone adds you. This is very nice of you, as a fan I can assure you that such a behaviour from an artist is always very appreciated. What’s your opinion speaking of such a kind of networking?

Well, I loved doing it, however it became such a huge task to do so everyday that I had to cease my comment-leaving practice, unfortunately! Since I do everything myself, I just can’t devote the massive amount of time it takes anymore to leave everyone personal comments or answer every email. I wish I could because I think it’s very rewarding all the way around to have good contact with everyone who appreciates your work. I respond randomly to some people who particularly touch me with their messages and I’ll always try to do that, but with thousands of friends, it tends to overwhelm me sometimes. I think MySpace and other social networking sites are a great platform for artists and their audiences to get closer to one-another. I can make an announcement and share personal and professional news and details with all of my “peeps” (I’m not a big fan of the term “fan”;-) in one go through MySpace or Twitter, etc., and I think that’s exciting and fulfilling in a way. I’ve almost never sent out a friend request through MySpace, though I know it’s common practice for bands and artists to do mass friend-adding. I just think that’s shameless, forceful advertising and never felt comfortable with that. If people want to befriend me because they’ve found me randomly or like the work I’ve done, then that’s great, but I don’t feel good about shoving myself down people’s throats. Some of my “advisors” have been trying to change that view of mine since I signed up on MySpace, but they didn’t succeed yet!

On your personal YouTube channel there are also the videos of your latest experiences on the road!! Thanks for sharing that! I took a look at some of the vids of Avantasia’s tour you put there. Well, now I’m really curious and willing to know something more about the tour life and everything related to it… It’s a funny game, so let’s gossip now for our readers’ curiosity!!

Haha! Well, you’re very welcome. It was a lot of fun for me, too!

So let’s begin!

1) Watching movies is generally the favourite pastime of a band on the road… What was the best movie you watched in the tourbus with Avantasia? And with Epica?

You know what? I didn’t watch any movies while I was on the road with Avantasia. There were too many interesting things to do than sit and watch a movie! And with Epica, I brought something like 50 DVDs with me for the guys, but I only watched fragments of maybe 3!!

2) What was the best catering service you were offered? You even took pictures of Japanese food [as seen on her MySpace @ this link], was it so special, apart from the teddy bears on the container?

Oh, we had so much good food, but I can’t remember any specifics except for the catering I’d eaten before I got sooooooo sick in Chile, becaue of that very fact! I had a ton of fun with the food in Japan and was very impressed with it because I could eat it! I must explain that I don’t eat any kind of edibles that come out of the water (at least ones that aren’t vegetables). So I thought I would have a tough time in Japan since so much of their diet is traditionally seafood-based, but there was plenty to eat for a silly girl like me. And, yes, it was very unique and cute with all of the little cartoon figures on everything!

3) Which Avantasian is the best “drinker”? Jorn was always drinking from a big can of beer, hence… I think he will win the contest, huh?

You guessed that one right, although Tobi & Felix are pretty high up the drinking charts as well!!!

4) I cannot believe no one tried to flirt with you or with Cloudy Yang. Who did it? C’mon tell us! 😀

What? What’s “flirting”, anyway? Actually, to tell the truth, Cloudy is the biggest flirt ever, so everyone was running away from her to escape her man-eating ways, but don’t tell anyone! 😉 (I must say that I’m being totally sarcastic since Cloudy is a very shy and modest lady!)

5) This one is even naughtier: did anybody succeed with girls? Were there groupies on the tourbus? 😛

Ha!! With Epica, absolutely no groupies. With Avantasia, we were always in hotels, so I have nooooooo idea if anyone took advantage of their rock star privileges!

Ok, let’s get back to a (just a little bit :P) more serious tone and stop playing 😛
Would you please describe each Avantasian in a few words?

Tobias Sammet: A gracious and talented “boss,” always fair and a ton of fun to be around!

Andre Matos: Our Captain! I’ve known Andre a long time now (since Virgo) and he is a stunning artist and wonderful person.

Jorn Lande: The incredible Viking 🙂 I LOVE hearing this man’s voice and he can ALWAYS make me laugh till my sides ache!

Sascha Paeth: The Paeth-riarch of the Gate Studio Family! Sascha is one amazing dude and I love and respect him like no other.

Oli Hartmann: A heck of a musician and a fun, sweet guy with an awe-inspiring smile.

Miro: My hero! And another family member. No one can do what Miro can do; he’s the Meister of the keys!

Bob Catley: The Pro and a big, English darling!

Felix: Crazy, crazy, crazy! And I mean that in the most endearing way. Really, an awesome guy all the way around. Charming, talented, driven, fun – crazy! 🙂

Cloudy Yang: Still waters run very deep. A talented, beautiful and lovely lady!

Robert Hunecke: Another part of my musical family, this man is so incredibly gifted (a master behind ANY instrument) and is an extremely good human being.

That was the last question. Thank you very much Amanda. If you want to tell anything to Heavy Worlds readers, please do.

You are most warmly welcome! Thank you for a nice “chat”. And I’d like to say, “Thank you” to the Heavy Worlds readers for their interest and support! Come visit me @ www.amandasomerville.com.

See you in Italy when you come back, whatever the band you’ll be performing with!

Grazie, baci, ciao e ci vediamo!!