Page 12 - Metal Hammer Issue 334 - UK (May 2020)

IN THIS MOMENT

step at a time but I love live shows and Twinkle the chihuahua
that feeling of being able to perform just out of shot
just as much as the music.”

What’s the hardest thing about being
the frontwoman of an internationally
famous metal band?
@itsedenexile (Twitter)
“My biggest challenge is being away
from my family. My family is the most
important thing in the world to me –
they’re my lifeline, my everything.
The time you have with the people you
love is more precious than anything in
this world, more than fame or money.
It’s hard for families to be torn apart
and there’s a lot of sacrifices families
have to make, so I want to just honour
them and love them because they know
a lot of what I do is for them too. We’re
really learning to balance things out
so if I have to be gone from home for
two months, then I need to be home
for another two months.”

What was it like covering Phil Collins’
iconic classic hit, In the Air Tonight?
@Jon_Gronsdahl (Twitter)
“I love that song, it’s so beautiful and
haunting and totally has its own lane.
Embracing songs I’ve always loved and
being able to do our own thing with – there’s definitely powerful women
them is something I’ve come to love. out there representing right now.
I remember first hearing that song and No matter who you are, you can’t let
thinking, ‘Wow, what is this?’ Even anything hold you back, so even if there
when you heard that song when you powerful, then the next might just is a stigma saying it’s harder, do what
were little, it brought a certain emotion be me and a piano. I’m an obsessive you do and you’ll make it happen.”
and mystery over you. Maybe you just person about this; my mind is
couldn’t place your finger on it or continuously thinking about it and You’ve collaborated with some
understand it back then. All the great I can’t stop it.” amazing artists – anyone else left on
songs are scary to cover; you don’t want your hit list?
to touch them because they’re so Do you have any pets? Devin Bryant (email)
perfect, but you’ve got to think of it in Cat Hadder (email) Trent Reznor would be a dream to work
the way that you’re not trying to make “Yes and if I didn’t tour for a living, with, plus Chino Moreno from Deftones
it better, you’re just trying to do your I’d have so many animals! Right now who’s been my favourite singer for
interpretation of it. So when I let go of I only have a chihuahua, Twinkle, and a long time, his voice is super-angelic
that pressure, I love it.” she’s fierce, she’s like my little dragon. and so real. Probably Maynard James
She goes everywhere with me, she Keenan for his voice, and Stevie Nicks
How do you come up with your flies and tours with me, goes to video would be amazing. I’m also in love
costumes for the live shows? shoots, so whoever hangs out with with Wardruna, their music is just
Hayley Leith (email) me hangs out with my dragon. I love insanely beautiful.”
“It starts with the music first so while animals more than people and my
the music is happening, I’ll come up dream is to have an animal sanctuary Maria, what makes you truly happy?
with an energy for the album, put someday, own a bunch of land and live @russell_trench (Twitter)
pictures and colours together to make on the water.” “My family, love and peace – for me
an artistic moodboard of imagery to and for everyone else. I’m always
share with my bandmates, the label Do you think there’s a stigma or saying ‘give me some peace’ and
and producers etc. I listen to a song and hesitance for management hiring I choose peace over drama, over a lot
start feeling what emotions it evokes female crew members within the of things, and I always try to seek
or what it means to me; something music industry? that. I’m a naturally anxious person so
might evoke reds and oranges, fires @kaya_anna (Twitter) I have to keep my surroundings almost
and something visually stunning or “I don’t think so. If you look at my hypnotising me onto a nice, healthy
crew, we’re all women. When we roll wavelength. My house is like a spa:
“I’M OBSESSIVE through, we have more women in our there’s water fountains and fires,

crew than we do men and they’re
there’s tranquil music playing and
ABOUT OUR SHOWS. badasses all over the place. I’m seeing smells of oils burning at all times!”
a lot of women in other camps too
I CAN’T STOP” – tour managers etc. I have a female MOTHER IS OUT NOW
VIA ATLANTIC
stage manager, a female tour manager

12 METALHAMMER.COM