ATROX
Interview with Monika (vocals)
Q>>
Hello Monika! I'm really glad I can talk to you because I enjoyed "Orgasm"
very much and I'd like to know more about this fantastic release... Let's start
with: how did you work on your vocal parts? They are quite unusual...
A>> Hehehe, not THAT unusual I think, but in a Metal setting they are
quite unusual. I worked with my vocal parts in a different way than on the previous
two Atrox releases. On those two I planned very much in detail what I was gonna
sing and improvised only a bit in studio while as on "Orgasm" I had
problems with getting into my usual methods so instead I improvised much in
studio. The vocals are more "normal" this time than before because
I had this feeling of guilt every time I did something weirder with my voice.
Our previous label boss gave me a hard time about my way of singing and it was
very difficult to forget about it so I was somehow forced into a "Monika
light" kind of thing hehehe... But at least it seems easier for the audience
to get into our music now that I have toned down a bit...
Q>> From
a more general viewpoint, how did you guys come up with the songs? Structures
are pretty weird and I imagine you all thought things through seriously, right?
A>> Oh yes of course... When we start working with songs we experiment
with the different parts for quite some time and we all like to present the
themes in different arrangements and to put together songs in both obvious and
not so obvious ways, within the same song. It can of course be a bit confusing
that you have to change your way of listening during one song, but I think it's
good for the mental health to learn such ways of thinking...
Q>> How did
you work in the studio? Was everything hundred percent prepared before you started
the recording process or did you bring last-minute changes?
A>> The songs were pretty well prepared but we did some extra unplanned
things in studio as well. I improvised quite a bit, Pete hadn't made his vocal
lines before in studio, Eivind added some new lead guitar lines and Tor Arne
changed his drum patterns and put on lots of percussion AND removed most of
it hehehe... And I didn't give the songs names before we were in studio, as
usual. It's so hard to decide what to call a song and it becomes hard for the
others to remember the new names of the songs; if I now say: let's play "Pre-Sense",
the other guys don't really know which song I mean hehehe...
Q>> Mentally
speaking, are you as wild as Kate Bush (I guess you are...) or is it just a
musical influence for you?
A>> Hehehe, I have no idea how wild Kate Bush is!!! It's funny, people
sometimes say that I must have learned everything from her, but I have only
done a thing I learned from listening to her in a record once, that's the little
noise in my voice on the beginning of "Panta Rei" from "Contentum".
But sometimes, when I do some vocals thinking "To hell with singing beautifully!"
I tend to sound like Kate Bush hehehe... Hey, while we're on the subject; I
think it's weird that people get mad at me for singing the way I do while she
is popular for doing her crazy voices. Well, I guess it has to do with the facts
that metalheads can be more conservative about the music style they like, they
are more afraid of changes to 2true metal" hehehe... And also Kate Bush
often keeps her craziest voices more in the background of the songs...
Q>> "Untrendy"
looks like the ideal adjective for Atrox... I guess you're not the kind of band
that makes compromises. Now, do you think you'll always stay true to your beliefs
or is there a possibility that you guys will "adapt" your style according
to the deals you might be offered in the future?
A>> Hmmm, as I told you about my vocals, I have kind of adapted, but not
voluntarily... Now Eivind (guitars) said something about that he'd like me to
continue singing in a bit toned down way as to not ruin the record sales that
might have become bigger now... And I feel I have a responsibility towards the
other guys and that I should respect their wishes to some degree... I feel very
bad about ruining it for the other guys... Atrox could have been a very well
known band if I didn't sing like I do... I've been thinking of doing the most
experimental and special things in another band. Pete (who used to play the
bass and sing in Atrox) and I have started to make music together under the
name Swarmling and I think maybe it would be better to do my fullblown vocalizing
there instead of Atrox. Or maybe I should do some solo thing. We'll see. As
for the instrumentation in Atrox we seldom have complaints and i don't think
any of us will ever want to adapt to any other people's wishes...
Q>> What
do you think about the trendy Metal bands with a female singer? Can you appreciate
some of them or not?
A>> Well, it depends what bands you mean... Evanescence, Lacuna Coil,
Gathering and the likes maybe? Hmmm, I can't think of any bands like that that
I REALLY like, but I can enjoy Jack Off Jill and Kidneythieves to some extent.
And Madder Mortem. Denali isn't a Metal band, but I mention them as well as
it's a good band. And I recently heard The Last Embrace and they have a really
good female singer, very strong and sensual voice. I thought the music wasn't
all that exciting but the voice amazes me and their drummer told me they're
making more intricate music now, so I'm looking forward to hearing more from
them.
Q>> Tell
me about the cover artwork that you've designed... I also saw a lot of crazy
pictures and drawings on your website... Where do you take your inspiration
from? Did you go to some kind of (bizarre) art school?
A>> I did a college thing with drawing and painting as the main thing
but it was really bad and I didn't learn anything there. The teachers didn't
like my style and never gave me any positive response - they preferred that
the students made abstract pictures even if they tried to paint realistic themselves.
Maybe they were afraid that I would be better than them? Well, I was... The
inspiration I have for drawing/painting/photos, music and lyrics is the same.
They are three sides of the same thing and they intertwine and influence each
other all the time. All these things are very much connected on the Atrox albums.
The pictures and music illustrate the lyrics, I write lyrics to fit with the
music and I make music that fits with the images...
Q>> Afrox,
Hatrox, Ratrox, etc. They're all very funny but which ones do you consider the
best/most suited?
A>> Fatrox!!! We'll all become like that in the end hehehe... I also have
a giant afro wig and I have urged the other guys to buy one too, but so far
they haven't done it hehehe... And Batrox... we should all wear bat costumes
all the time, I think... But the Fatrox thing is the most likely thing to become
real hehehe...
Q>> Do you
often play live? How does the public usually react?
A>> We've played very seldom actually but when we played people were very
positive even if they can have some problems with getting into the music if
they haven't heard it before. I must admit that I am not a big stage personality
- I'm shy and I don't headbang and I often have to play synth and sing at the
same time so it can be a bit boring as a live show, but if you've come to listen
to the music, then it's great of course. And if we play more often the shyness
will wear off...
Q>> This
is where you can let your mind wander free and add anything you want, in the
language that you want...
A>> Thanks for your support, goddammit, it was fucking great to do this
helluva great interview!!! Is this language OK? Hehehe of course it is... Soooooooo,
everyone check into "Orgasm" and our homepage: http://atrox-web.com
- do also check out my own homepage with paintings and freaks: http://mmmonika.g2gm.com
- have fun!
RNO