Katra (www.myspace.com/katramusic) is an awesome band from Finland who take their name from their front lady. Their album 'Beast Within' was released a few weeks ago on Napalm Records. A label that fully supports our beloved genre. Below is the result of our recent chat with their lovely singer Katra:
Your label has given me the chance to interview you (and the band), and being a lover of the femme metal genre, well I just had to jump at this awesome opportunity.
-Thank you for interviewing us =)
Presumably, it has been a busy time for you and the band with the Finnish release of the cd (which I proudly own) and now the Napalm Records release in English, that I also proudly own. What is the mood like in the Katra camp having recorded such an accomplished album?
- The mood is just great. The journey has been long from the day we started the Katra-album recordings to this point where we are now. The feeling is great, enthusiastic and relieved.
Many people here in the UK may still not have heard of you. Can you tell me a little about yourself and the band?
- The Katra-band was formed in 2006, when I started gathering the band from my friends and former band mates. The first single Sahara was released in the fall 2006. On February 2007 we released our debut album KATRA in Finland and toured around the country. Every one of us have worked with music for a long time and played in different bands before Katra, for example: in MyFate, Bitch So sweet, Lovex, Essentia, Alcoholica, Nocturn, Coverstone, Minerva etc..
It seems that most members of the band have quite a musical pedigree. Your sound to my ears is akin to Tarja era Nightwish. Are you yourself a classically trained singer?
- I started playing piano, when I was six years old. At the age of 14 I changed classical singing as my major. Today I have done exams for classical singing, music theory and solfa in Pirkanmaa Music Institute.
Keeping that lovely voice of yours in top condition must be difficult. I presume you stay away from the demon drink and the awful cigarettes (I myself do not smoke), at least while touring. How do you keep your voice sounding as awesome as it is?
- Practising is the main key. Having enough sleep and rest is vital too. If I don’t practise or sleep enough it shows… and sounds =). I try to avoid stress and smoky rooms, but it’s almost impossible. I’m glad that smoking in the restaurants is now forbidden in Finland, so I don’t have to stress about that every time when I go out.
And are you one who locks themselves in the dressing room prior to a gig to do vocal/breathing exercises :)?
- Well, I don’t lock myself anywhere. I do it in front of the guys…I walk around the room making funny noises. Sometimes it makes the guys laugh.
Your debut cd 'Beast Within' is to my ears totally awesome, and I gave it a 9/10 review on my website. Can you tell me more about the songs on the record?
- Thank you! Every song is a bit blue, but in the end the message is that there’s still hope. For example: I wrote swear as a note to myself; Keep on your dreams and don’t let your life go to waste, though sometimes you may lose yourself.
And do you have any fave songs on this album?
-Swear and Beast within. They represent us at the moment and draw the line for future.
Was the recording process simple or did it bring major headaches on occasion?
- Everything went quite smoothly until the main hard disc crashed and the whole album was delayed for months.
And how long did it take to re record the album in English, and was recording the cd in a foreign language difficult, or was it easy?
- The recordings took almost a year minus the delayed months. I think singing in English was easier than in Finnish.
'Beast Within' I would imagine will go down a storm in Europe, backed by a strong label too. The female fronted rock/metal scene here in the UK could be better. Nonetheless, would you like to tour the UK given the chance?.
- I would love to come to tour the UK. I just visited London and enjoyed it really much. So it would be totally awesome.
And would a tour by any chance be in the pipeline do you know?
- There have been plans, but no specific dates yet.
Musically and spiritually who/what are your inspirations at the moment, and what sort of music do you listen too when you are chilling out either at home or on the tour bus?
- I listen to all kinds of music, but my inspirations at the moment are Danny Elfman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and My chemical Romance.
And what are you and the band's plans for the future?
-We will write new songs, do a music video and hopefully a tour.
Well good luck in all what you do, and we at Ravenheart Music wish you all the very best with this release. Finally is there anything that you would like to say to anybody across the world via this website?
Good autumn to everyone. Hope to see you at gigs!
Dave Smith (Sep 29, 2008)