KELLS (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for answering to our questions. What’s currently keeping KELLS busy?
Virg : Hi! The album has been out since January 20, so we are now busy answering some interviews, preparing another video clip, and of course, preparing the upcoming tour ! Last week, we prepared the show during 3 days in a venue called “La Tannerie”, we have been working on the new setlist, the new light show, our new sound, so as to present something great the fans!
– First of all, as some people in Spain don’t know about you yet, would you mind to share some history of the band?
Virg : Kells really became a band when Fabrice (ex-keyboarder and co-founder) and I met Patrick (Guitar) in 2004. We composed the whole « Gaia » album together in nearly 6 months and it was released in November 2005. To be able to tour, Guillaume (drums) and Jérémie (bass) joined the band. In 2007, The line-up changed considerably : Jérémie was replaced by Laurent, Guillaume by Jano, and Fabrice left, each one because Kells was growing too fast and their personal lives couldn’t fit anymore.
For more than a year, while touring in the meantime, we composed the « Lueurs » album, which was released on February 2009. And for the same reasons as Guillaume, Fabrice and Jérémie, Jano happened to leave us in 2010. Julien Nicolas (Drums) joined and we began touring all around Europe with Tarja Turunen, Epica, Leave’s eyes and Revamp, but never ending to write the songs that are part of « Anachromie », released last January 20, 2012.
– You have recently released your third album, “Anachromie”. How has been its feedback so far?
Virg : “Anachromie” has been out for a month now, and it seems that both the press and the fans have praised this record. We are very happy about that because somehow we had chosen to take artistic risks, not to repeat ourselves and to renew our image, and people liked it!
– This has been your first record with Season of Mist, a really well-known label. Do you think this new cooperation will help you to get more success or recognition worldwide?
Virg : Season of Mist were already willing to distribute « Gaia » in 2007, but for some reasons (« Gaia » was already distributed by Adipocere Records), it was not possible… So when I offered Season of Mist to distribute « Lueurs », they accepted immediately, without even listenning to it. Then, « Lueurs » sold quite well and that’s why they accepted to add us fully to their artist roster ! And we are really proud of this ! Of course, they’re doing great on the record, we are everywhere, and I think this is bringing us recognition from the professionals. As long as you’re a self-made product, you are not taken seriously, you know…
– I think your music has a Rock basis from where you are performing a really thick and Heavy alternative Rock with nu/modern Metal elements and a lot of groove. This shows your sound can’t really be described with one single word so, how could you describe your sound?
Virg : I am glad you noticed we don’t play usual female fronted metal. People tend to compare our sound to every existing female fronted metal band, but actually, yes, we’re a rock/metal band, we’re mixing genres that are not usually mixed, we have groovy rhythms such as in the nu-metal genre, sharp riffs and screams such as in the metalcore genre, we add to this symphonic elements, and we have a rock energy with slight atmospheric and trip-hop influences… I think you’re right, it’s difficult to classify Kells in only one case, that’s why we decided to say we perform rock/metal generally speaking or modern metal.
– On “Anachromie” you are constantly mixing brutality with many interesting melodies; is easy to get a good balance?
Virg : I don’t know. We never wondered about that. That’s just our way of writing. Everything comes up very naturally. We almost all listen to the same kind of music… I like rock music (Phoenix, Face Tomorrow, Incubus, 30secondstomars, Skunk Anansie), djent metal (Periphery, Circles), metalcore (In this moment, Killswitch Engage), nü-metal (Korn, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach), pop (The Cranberries, The Cardigans)… Pat is really open-minded, he listens to a wide range of music from metal, rock (« At the drivin ) to funk music with a brass ensemble! Lo is fond of metal, dubstep and electro, and Ju listens to many different things as well, he likes rock, funk, reggae, African music, jazz… Our influences for Kells come from various musical horizons, that’s what we like in music, as far as you stay coherent in the creation process, it works!
– And is it easy to add symphonic details to such a heavy sound? As most Symphonic Metal bands have a smoother musical foundation.
Virg : For the 2 first albums, we made the mistake not to be careful about the orchestral arrangements, so we happened to sacrifice the guitar riffs and rhythms during the mixing. During the writing process of “Anachromie”, that’s something we took care about. We made sure it would not handicap what we wanted to expose mostly : the brutality and energy of the guitar, bass and drums. Orchestral parts are only there to add a melodic, melancholic or even dramatic dimension to the composition. We are an energetic band before everything else.
– In fact this is something that make you guys stand out. Do you think this is positive or the Metal community is not really open-minded in general?
Virg : I read many times that we had somehow a “progressive” facette since we melt opposed genres. That’s what make us stand out in a way, but that’s also why some metal head don’t like our sound. Maybe we’re trespassing the line (laugh). I don’t think we’re reinventing music, we just want to make efficient music with catchy riffs and melodies. If people find it interesting, we’re glad, but if they don’t like, we don’t mind.
– Anyway, it lately seems to be a huge interest for female-fronted bands. Have you noticed this as a band?
Virg : I think it is sad that “female fronted metal bands” became a kind of genre. People don’t say there is a Male fronted one. That’s quite reducing because people don’t mind the genre anymore… I mean there’s a huge difference between Epica, Lacuna Coil and Arch Enemy. I don’t understand why they’re not considered for what they play instead of being considered because there is a woman singing…
– Virginie, I read some people are comparing you to Amy Lee, Cristina Scabbia or to Angela Gossow on harsher parts. How do you feel about this kind of comparisons?
Virg : I am proud. I could have been compared to worse! Amy and Cristina use their pop voice like I do, and sometimes they sing belting, like I do too. As for Angela Gossow, she sometimes screams high like I do, so, Yes, I can understand the comparisons, even though I think I’m not a mere copy of the 3 and have my own particularities.
– Anyway, what are your influences as vocalist? As your voice and performance is impressive, specially because of your wide spectrum or different vocal ranges and tonalities.
Virg : When I was a teenager, my favorite singer ever was Dolores O’Riordan. I have been singing hours on Alanis Morissette, The Cardigans, NoDoubt, Ks Choice, Skunk Anansie… But then I trained upon pop singers such as Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys which helped me develop the belting aspect in my voice, you know when I use a more powerful sound… And then I began growling with Killswitch Engage… I think this varied musical background helped me work on a wide vocal range. And I am happy I am rather free to sing whatever I want (apart from the operatic way of singing that I have never worked upon and find myself very bad lol)
– This being said, I could say both vocals and guitars are something that make this album be really enjoyable and dynamic. Is this something important for you?
Virg : Of course, we’re not trying to renew anything, we just want to please ourselves playing something we find catchy, dynamic and rocking! So we’re happy if people enjoy what we like to do!
– And finally, what are the near-future plans for KELLS?
Virg : We are working on another video clip extracted from Anachromie. Next week, we’re leaving for a tour in France, Switzerland, and Belgium, and we’re now working on the second leg of the tour, to visit the rest of Europe and your beautiful country that is Spain! 2 years ago, we had the chance to play in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Almeria, Granada and Sevilla, and we love your country! Hope we will back soon porque me gusta mucho tu pais y la gente! Nos gusta mucho tapear en la calles jeje
– That has been everything from my side, thank you once more for your time. If you now want to add some final words, last lines are all yours.
Virg : We would like to thank the people that have read this interview and our fans! Without you we’re nothing! Thank you also for your interest! Muchas gracias por tu apoyo!
