Interview Topic

We all know how awesome these guys are so post up some interviews, whether they are videos or plain text I'll have fun reading them if no one else does

Taken from: live-metal.net

How have the first few shows gone on the Hottest Chicks of Metal tour?

Sharon den Adel: They've been going very well, I must say. I was really surprised so many people knew our music and were singing the lyrics sometimes and all. And we didn't expect anything actually because we didn't know that there were people here already that knew us. But MySpace is so big here in America, and, also, we have got a MySpace, so probably a lot of people got into contact with each other that already knew us. It was really nice to see them travel. A lot of people came from far to see us—of course, not only us but the other bands playing. But people also came especially for us, which is really nice.

Now this your first official U.S. tour?

Yeah. It's more like an introduction tour, I think, because we are playing 40 minutes and our album is not released yet. It's going to be released the 24th of July, so I think it's more an introduction tour. That's how I see it.

So how exactly did you get involved with the tour?

I know that Roadrunner wanted to send us on tour to America and Lacuna Coil was searching for support acts, and somewhere they met each other. I think it's something that really fits together. And also all the bands are really nice, really good bands. It's a really nice package, I think. All bands got really good reaction, so that's a really good sign, I think.

Did you have any reservations in taking part in a tour promoting the hottest chicks in metal?

I didn't know that it was called by that. We are on the plane over here and “By the way, what is the hottest chicks of metal tour?” “That's the tour we're on.” “Uh .... OK.” [laughter] They never told me what they called it, so it was a little like, “Umm ... OK.” Whatever they want to call it.

Well, you're touring the U.S. for the first time, so I guess that's what's important.

Yeah. We've been on the Chainsaw Massacre tour once through Germany, and it was like “Chainsaw Massacre tour?” [laughter] It was a thrash metal band as the main act and you had Orphanage, which was a Dutch band, which was more rhythmical and very heavy band but not close to thrash metal, very melodical. And us, and we're like, "OK?" It was way back. It was like 10 years ago, our first tour we ever did. [laughter]

For people who aren't familiar with you yet in the U.S., how would you describe your sound?

I think I would call it melodic, symphonic rock. And with a lot of film influences, some metal influences and folk influences. Different kinds of genres we put in one kind of style and just mixed it. It's very cinematic I think ... storytelling.

Your new album, The Heart of Everything, is out in July, but what can you tell us about the making of that album?

We started writing songs at the end of 2005. We just released the Silent Force DVD. We started next year, August or something ,and we started recording for a half year. That's it, actually. And the making of—We wrote a lot of ideas and out of 200 ideas that we had—just small ideas, you know? Sometimes just a riff, sometimes just a vocal line. Then choosing from those ideas, the best ones we felt we could continue with. And that's what became The Heart of Everything, at least the songs that ended up on it.

How do you think the material is being received so far with it being out in Europe already?

Yeah, it's been out since March, and people reacted really well, I must say. We had sold out shows throughout Europe and quite big venues, not the biggest, but it's getting bigger every time we go tour and people get more familiar. Or maybe it's that or that they like the album better because we moved up to different venues because that venue was sold out, so then we went to a bigger venue. And it's a lot of countries like that. So it's really special for us to see everything growing. And also in England we did five shows which were all sold out and we've never toured there before. Also 1,500 people every night, 2000.

How did the collaboration come together with Keith Caputo of Life of Agony?

We saw him play many years ago at a festival in Holland with Life of Agony and it was raining. Yeah, it's always raining, that's how we feel. [laughter]

It's always raining in Holland?

With springtime this time of year the weather is sorta fucked up. I can't say it any [other] way. Like 30 degrees is a heat wave in springtime. It never is like this [here], but springtime is not normal for Holland. It's just really rainy and like one third of [this] temperature.

But at that time, 11 years, 12 years ago, we saw them play on a festival and it was raining and we couldn't get away because—sometimes you have these bands that totally—you stop and can't walk away because they're captivating, you know. That's what happened with that when we heard his singing and we're like, “My god, who is this?” You have that sometimes and we always remembered if we ever have a song that we have to call and maybe do something with him. Although our band was just starting up at the time, but you always have your wish list, of course and he was on our wish list for a long time. And we wrote the song and were just searching for someone who could sing it and he liked the song. Although it's totally different from Life of Agony, of course. He could do very many things and that's something he proves with this song.

You mentioned your wish list of people you'd like to work with—

Yeah, but there's so many that aren't around any more, so it's like you always have people which you really, really admire and he's one of them. But you know what else is that he [Caputo] is a really nice guy. I also worked with some people in the past on side projects who are really assholes. I can't even listen to their music anymore because they're not nice. So really, really [they] think they're high and mighty. He was totally not. He was very cool.

“Our Solemn Hour” rules on the new album, what is the meaning of Sanctus Espiritus?

It's like a cry out, the holy spirit. And the song is about the fact that we haven't learned from war. It sounds like [that] because it's [Winston] Churchill talking [about] the second World War, of course, but we don't want to refer to the second World War exactly, but more the feeling of war and how propaganda works. A lot of times when you look back on history a lot of times it was propaganda, but a lot of times you see it as truth because it's somebody policing—sort of powers and stuff. But we haven't learned from that. We haven't learned from following people's lives. So people get sacrificed also for war and we don't learn from that. Here we are again in Iraq. A lot of things happen and again still a lot of stories are told that were not totally true and it's terrible. I think that's the feeling of a lot of people, so we just wrote a song about it.

Now that you're coming over to the U.S., are you worried about inevitable Evanescence comparisons?

In every country we get comparisons. Not only with Evanescence, but with Lacuna Coil when we're in Italy, Nightwish when we're in Finland, and they get compared when they come to our side of Europe. It's inevitable, although I think the bands are all very different. They sound all so different. That's what I like about this genre of music. You can't even call it a genre because the bands are so different from each other. It's sort of like the time you had the grunge period—like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and they said it all sounds the same, but looking back on it they're so different. They're so special in their own way and that's the same thing [here] I think. Although, of course, those are major bands, but it's just a comparison.

What was your musical background before the band. You guys all met in high school, but did you have any formal training as a singer?

No, I trained myself. You train yourself in the way, if you always listen to music you always sing along and try to do something which is not really totally in your reach, but try over and over again—the same thing as practicing with a real teacher. I didn't realize that I was practicing, and it's just stretching out your vocal chords and you're able to do more things. I started out with doing that when I was very young and I always played in a lot of bands even in prep school. I was in my first band when I was 12. It was a school band. Very ... you know ... it was 12 year olds. [laughter] But I was singing, so it just grew from that.

How are you treated by your male fans? Have you had any run-ins or stalkers or anything like that over the years?

Some people are a little bit weird you know, but 99 percent are very respectful and very nice. Also, because maybe the band is quite relaxed with the fans. Also, fans keep an eye on each other because if something goes wrong the relaxed feeling of the band it's going to be gone for everybody. And they respect our privacy and stuff like that. So no real encounters, no. It's really nice that I can say [that] after so many years, that we never really had problems.

What are your expectations of the new album in the U.S.?

Well, we don't have any expectations because it's such a big country and you never know where people will like your music. It's totally different tastes and we're going to come over here and play and see if people will like it. You can't change [it] if they don't. And if they do, then it's a another nice country we can go and play at and enjoy the culture. It's a big country. You could play a long time here. So it's just having fun for us, also. We also went last year to Japan for the first time. And it's such a contrast from Japan to America to Europe. People are so different and that's so nice when you get in a position [that] you get to play everywhere.

What are your plans immediately following this tour?

Well, I know because this is like an introductory tour, then a real tour for us. I think what's happening now is Roadrunner is looking at what they can do, to do a follow-up tour. Probably in the fall or maybe next year.

OK, well is there anything else you want to say?

Well, just to the people who really drove ... you know, a few people drove 12 hours to see us at one of the shows, and I just want to thank everyone who came from such far away to see us. It's a small club, but I think it's also nice in a way that they got to see us in a small club. It's more intimate. You get to meet everybody, talk a little bit. We went out with one of the fans and he was a chef in a restaurant. And it was like, “Bring us food on the tables!” And they were totally pampering us. It was crazy. We met them before and actually him and his friends came to Holland, actually a few times to see us. And he brought all these friends and one of these friends was the chef. They all took us to the restaurant and it was really nice. Those things don't happen in Europe anymore. It's really nice that we can do that here again. It feels like we're going back 12 years in time, starting from a very basic tour because it's really basic but really nice, really nice. It's also, it's like starting again and we have good memories of the beginning period, also. A second youth. I'm not in a mid-life crisis, by the way. [laughter] It is nice to be here.

thanks for the post Kayleigh

Not my translation..I found it on the official forum

Sharon about grandmothers, temples and Frans Bauer

Busy moments for lead singer Sharon from the symphonic metal band Within Temptation. She and her boys have success all over the world: their latest CD was released in 34 countries.

Who is Sharon?
Name: Sharon den Adel
Date of birth: 12 July 1974
Place of birth: Waddinxveen
Residence: Soest
Studies: Mavo (I think it’s typical Dutch) studied fashion/management
Relationship: with high school lover Robert Westerholt (guitar player Within Temptation). Together they have a daughter Luna (2).
Career: founded Within Temptation in 1996. The success begins in 2001 with ‘Ice Queen’. Europe, Japan, Australia, The United States and South-America follow a few years later. The band sold over 2 million CD’s and DVD’s, and won many awards like TMF- and 3FM- awards.

Wow, it’s really hard to make an appointment for an interview with you.
Sharon: “Yes. I know it took some time, but at a certain moment we found out –the other band members and me- that we toured really a lot. We took a time-out and cancelled everything. Soon we’re going to South-America for three weeks, we really need to take our rest for that.”

How do you notice you need to calm down a bit?
“O, on everything. I have less patience and all the other bandmembers get irritated so much more easily. As well as that, some things happened in our families this time. When we were on tour in America last summer, my grandmother died and it didn’t really go well with one of the parents from some band members. Then you need to take time for yourself and the people at home.”

Was you grandmother special for you?
“Yes. My parents are real ‘expats’; my father had to travel a lot because of his work. When I was eighteen my parents left Holland again, but I stayed here and moved in together with Robert (Sharon’s boyfriend and the band’s guitar player). If there was something wrong, my grandmother took care of me. She was a really interested and active grandmother. I went to her burial, but I couldn’t do or arrange anything, because I was in America. You have the opportunity to wash the dead, before he or she will be buried. It would've really meant a lot to me if I could’ve done that with my mother. Not everybody has the strength to do that, but I’m someone who wants to face things. I think it’s scary, but also a valuable experience, to make someone beautiful before they close the coffin forever.
In many situations I want to be there from the beginning till the end. I’ll go to the bottom now, but if someone I love is dying I want to accompany this person till the end. Only then I have the feeling I’ve done it right.”

Fans ask a lot from you, how do you deal with that?
“Well, it’s hard for me to place limits. That’s something I’m learning now. I always want to be there for the fans. Ok, I’m not Frans Bauer asking my fans for coffee, but after a concert we usually take the time to meet our fans. Though sometimes I think: Not now. If I don’t feel well, or when I have a migraine attack or something; it can be due to all kind of things. Everybody has times they feel very well and times they don’t feel so well.”

Do fans all over the world react the same?
“We were in Croatia recently, and that was complete hysteria. Like with the Beatles, with screaming fans. But most of the time, luckily people don’t recognize me when I walk down the street with my normal clothes on. On stage I look more extravagant of course. I was at a fashion show from Marlies Dekkers recently, and in front of me there were a couple of TMF-veejay’s and Daphne Deckers. They were interviewed by a journalist, and they didn’t recognize me so I was sitting there, feeling great and as anonymous as any other person.”

Can you walk down the street abroad, without a bodyguard?
“Not in Mexico for example. At least not near the venue where we perform. Then we really get threatened by fans. As long as there’s a big man next to me, I’m not scared, haha. But two really relaxed fans showed us the Maya-temples. That was really special. Though we’re known by a very large group of people, not everyone knows us. We are not a mainstream band, and we don’t search for publicity. Although the last few years we got more well known, because of the airplay we got on MTV and TMF.”

You travel a lot around the world. What do you do with all those experiences?
“Sometimes I’m thinking about writing a book about all our experiences. A history about the band, and how we live through all these things. I don’t make notes, it’s all in my head. We are actually a wise group and took some free time to finish our studies. That wouldn't work now, we're too well known. Besides that many people work for us and we are responsible for them. This year we play more in Holland and Europe then last year, with the idea to get some rest and write new songs. Traveling is adventurously, but it also undermines you. First I had a romantic picture about it you know, nice food and shopping in a strange city, but that’s gone. That’s why I prefer our tour bus instead of the plane: at night we get in, have a drink and go to sleep, to wake up the next morning in another country.”

As a child you lived in many different countries. How did that shape you?
“I had a special childhood. Our family lived in Yemen, Surinam and Indonesia. I learnt a lot about other cultures. Regarding that I was a wise child: kids in Holland learn about countries far away in school and I actually saw the slums in Indonesia and the wild animals in Africa. I also changed school constantly, had to adjust to new cultures and I couldn’t built up friendships (which was a pity of course). I remember the anxiety involving the December murders in Surinam (1982). But then there was my sixth birthday which we celebrated on a safari with one candle on a hamburger, because there was no cake. Unforgettable. Also we traveled a lot. My parents were always in search for adventure and took my brother and me with them. When I came back to Holland at the age of ten, I felt older then other kids my age.”

Do you have time for friendships now?
“I have a couple of good friends. I neglected them actually. I realized that last year when we were so busy: you lose people if you don’t give them attention. They understand that you’re busy, but it still disintegrates. Now I’m trying to correct that. If people are special to you, then you have to show that. What I think is a pity of being famous, is that you don’t know if somebody is interested in you, or that you only get the attention because you’re famous. Still that doesn't frustrate me, cause eventually it will become clear. I have the right sensors for that.”

You have a daughter of two, Luna.
“Yes! She sometimes comes with us, together with a nanny. Sometimes she stays at home with her grandparents. Last year I was away from home too much. Luna was little, so it wasn’t a real problem; now it’s already harder for her to let go of me. And I don’t want her to get separation anxiety.”

How easy do you switch your mind, when you have to tour again?
“The week before I leave I’m not in a good mood, cause I hate it to leave Luna. Like last summer when we went to America, that was hard. But when you’re gone, it’s not that hard anymore, cause you know she’s in good hands. Still a child belongs with it’s parents, that’s why Robert (Luna’s father) and me have to divide the following years in a different way.”

I read somewhere that Robert and you have never been a sticky couple.
“That’s true. We never really show that we are a couple. On the one side it’s good for the atmosphere in the band, but on the other hand, we were on tour for a very long time, and we didn’t had much time together. When you notice that, you have to work on that like any other couple. We have to find a middle way, and definitely now that Luna is with us.”

On stage you’re a vamp. But in normal day life....?
“On stage I show another side of me. With a beautiful dress I feel more feminine and I can let myself go easily. Without these clothes I think I would find that more difficult. In normal day life I’m either quiet or very loud. There’s not much between that. I can talk very lively, but sometimes I also think: gray mouse, do something!”

What kind of music do you listen to?
“I used to listen to a lot of grunge music. I still do, but I also like Tori Amos and Kate Bush. I prefer emotional music. I don’t have much with pop music, but recently I took a liking to dance music. It has suddenly become really nice to dance, I never had that before! Suddenly I’m open for all kinds of music. We were already approached by a couple of DJ’s if they could make a remix from our songs, but for the first time I’m open for that. I would like it even more if I could write a dance song myself. Just to widen my horizon. Though I can let myself go in our music as well, cause it’s Celtic, symphonic, metal and rock. Still I sometimes think: why shouldn’t I take a day off and write a dance song?”

That was a great interview. And it totally deserved its own topic

http://www.metal-ways.com/163/13/interview-within-temptation-appelpop-tiel.html

Interesting interview if you asked me. I was hoping the theatre tour would be half acoustic / half electric! I'm really looking forward to hearing some songs differently. Something unexpected like The Howling acoustic...

Thanks for the interview.

I didnt realise the theatre tour would be sitting down. I dont think I'd want to be sitting whilst watching a bad.

Onno you going to the theatre tour then?

I wanna gooooo!!! I don't care if I'd have to sit down!

KellieBent wrote:

Thanks for the interview.

I didnt realise the theatre tour would be sitting down. I dont think I'd want to be sitting whilst watching a bad.

Onno you going to the theatre tour then?

Yes, I am. They come to my city on November 22nd, I couldn't let that chance go by, could I?

About the sitting down: you have to realise you can stand up, and you have a lot of space ^^ At Appelpop there was hardly any space to move and people kept pushing.

GAWDS you're so lucky you live where get to see them so much!!

:D:D

Still jealous though

Onno wrote:

http://www.metal-ways.com/163/13/interview-within-temptation-appelpop-tiel.html

Interesting interview if you asked me. I was hoping the theatre tour would be half acoustic / half electric! I'm really looking forward to hearing some songs differently. Something unexpected like The Howling acoustic...

Jane Doe would be amazing acoustically...or THOE. Hell the all of their songs

Thats so lucky

Yeah I suppose you can stand up and see clearly especially if your short like me

You'll have to tell us all about it

I would love to go see them in a place like that!

yes you have to!

http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/metal_hammer_tv/player/?id=509

Link to an Interview with Sharon and Ruud at Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2008 and she's weraring the red leather dress XD

Sharon likes bling bling

Good interview though Only short

"Bands who play on big stages are used to playing for big sta... crowds" Ah, she's adorable when she has trouble finding words.

I know So sweet

I'm not going to lie that was really funny

SHINY SHARON<3

There's an interview with Sharon in this week's Hitkrant, focussing on the subject of being the only girl among guys. I love this quote:

"Q: Are they extra sweet to you because you're the only woman?
A: No, they're just as rude to me as to the others. Untíl there's a threatening situation, then they're all little roosters who protect me."

That's amazing Can you possibly post the whole interview??

That'd be quite some translate-and-type work... Maybe, if more people request.

Aw, it's in Dutch??

Awww little roosters

I'd love to see the whole interview but I understand it'd be alot of translating Any new pics with the interview?

This picture comes from the Hitkrant shoot. In the magazine it's slightly bigger (you see more from her right leg and left arm) If it doesn't pop up somewhere, I'll scan it.



A fact that suprised me a little. Sharon says she likes to talk about K1, streetfighting.

Thanks. I love that pic it's gorgeous.

Yeah I already posted it in the Sharon photo topic. I swiped it from a dutch fan.

WT are on http://www.radio2.nl/ in like 5 mins.

Well thats what time I worked out seeing as England are 1 hr behind.

Click Luister Live at the left hand corner.