The music business can be quite strange. I grew up through the Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Status Quo kinda era. We then moved into the 80's...Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and the like. And early females in rock had always fascinated me - Heart, Cher, Robin Beck, Leigh Mattey from Romeo's Daughter etc, etc. Then in 2006 I formed Ravenheart Music. And since it's conception, the number of class female fronted bands, signed or unsigned continues to blow me away. And then, I innocently went to a gig in Burton on Trent some weeks ago, to check out a band called Winter In Eden from NE England. They kind of took my head away, and I had to go to Denmark to recover it. Back with my head in place, I have now decided to interview the band.
Can we be introduced to the members of the band?, and can you tell us about the birth of Winter In Eden, and how you guys (and gal) all came together?
Hi, we are Winter in Eden, a five piece Symphonic Rock/Metal band from the North East of England. The band is Vicky Johnson (vocals), Steve Johnson (keyboards), Sam Cull (guitar), Ian Heddle (bass) and Wayne McAloon (drums). Vicky and Steve have known each other since they were 12 and have worked together musically since then. Ian and Wayne have also known each other since their late teens playing in numerous bands. Vicky, Steve and Sam started to work together about 3 or 4 years ago and met Ian and Wayne approximately 2 years later. Winter in Eden was ultimately born about a year ago.
Interesting name “ Winter In Eden” - can you elaborate?
The name describes the band exactly. It expresses the idea of contrasts. The masculine and feminine aspects. The wheel of the year and how the seasons constantly change, which for us is a metaphor for our hugely different musical backgrounds. But most importantly literally the idea of Winter in Eden. The idea of how perfection and absolute beauty can be ruined and brought to nothing by one careless act and what the consequences of this can be.
And what made you get into the music business in the first place.
Purely and simply our love of music. Playing live is one of the best feelings. Everything else is just a bonus.
And have any band members been involved in any other musical projects in the past, or are currently involved in any other projects?
We’ve all been involved in a variety of diverse musical projects in the past but this project feels very special and we are all just focused on Winter in Eden at the minute
And for those who are unfamiliar with your band, can you describe to them your style of music?
We don’t like to pigeon hole ourselves, we simply write the music we feel compelled to create whatever style that is. Others have described our music as Symphonic/ Gothic Rock / Metal.
I myself have never really associated the NE England as being the hot bed of all things rock or metal, but I am a southerner! :) What is the music scene really like up there?
There are some good metal bands in this area that we have played with. Its the same as anywhere else, you’ve just got to go to the right venues and it’s so important that people get out there and support the live music scene.
Your EP 'At The Edge Of The World' is frikin' awesome and I mean that. Can you run through the three tracks with us, explaining their lyrical meanings etc?
Vicky - Cheers Dave!! Frikin’ is such a great word J
'Fate Will Oblige' is about the untimely death of a young girl and how you can’t escape your fate. There is a slight twist in that we’ve almost changed our fate – the Eden theme coming back in. 'At the Edge of the World' is about the battle of Anglesey, which finally saw the demise of Celtic Britain, and also the futility of war in general. Wayne has a great passion for the history of this period, and his songwriting is strongly influenced by it. 'Cry' is also about death (there is a theme occurring here). For me it is about people I have loved and lost especially my brother Andrew who died of cancer. It’s about connecting with them, remembering and wondering “what if”. It can also be about relationships. People can relate to the song in different ways because the lyrics have so many potential meanings.
Where did you record the CD and how was your experience in the studio?
We recorded the EP at Trinity Heights Studios in Newcastle with the legendary Fred Purser (ex Tygers of Pan Tang). It was fantastic – we loved every minute. We really connected as a band and found our sound. This is why we going back to see Fred in January and record the album.
And what has the media reaction been like so far to the record?
We’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction to the EP and have been quite humbled. The fans reaction on our myspace since the uploading of the tracks has been immense – we are so very grateful.
Reactions to your band at gigs I have been too has been nothing short of amazing. The punters love you and so they should! However, do you personally feel that the female fronted rock and metal scene here in the UK can be grossly overlooked by certain sections of the media?
I think there is no doubt it has been overlooked especially in the UK. 50% of our myspace fan base is in the US. In fact the metal scene in the UK seems to have been overlooked by the media. Unfortunately, original live music generally seems to have been squeezed out by TV media driven /spoon-fed regurgitated music.
Moving on, I can chill out to all types of music. Musically, who or what are your musical inspirations at the moment, and what/who do you listen to when you are chilling out or relaxing?
Vicky - It depends what kind of mood I am in as to what kind of music I listen to - there is not one specific genre of music. If I like it I like it.
Steve – I like listening to film soundtracks as it gives me so many ideas for orchestration. It always makes me wish I had an orchestra to direct. A real chill out album I’m listening to at the moment is Isabliss by Amethystium. Absolution by Muse is often in the CD player too.
Wayne - My musical tastes and influences are hugely wide and varied. Just checked my current i-pod playlist and I've got stuff on there ranging from Robert Johnson to Green Day to Slayer! Current favourite at the moment: Seasick Steve - Man from another time.
Sam- I kind of go through phases of listening to one band/genre a lot then changing every couple of months. Always listening to a bit of Led Zeppelin and Dream Theatre though, and do love old Genesis stuff with Peter Gabriel
What do you do in your spare time when you are not making music and doing the dreaded dayjob?
Vicky and Steve - It is not often that we have spare time as we are usually playing, making, or listening to music (including going to see other bands) but otherwise if we are not catching up with family or have friends round we like to try and chill out, sleep, walk, eat out, go to the cinema (rock n roll!!!!).
Wayne - Drumming, playing the guitar, writing songs, drinking, checking out other bands & trying to keep on top of our website!! :o)
I don't have another life. Music is my life & my life is music!
And what band/artist would you just love to tour with and hang out with?
Vicky – Tuomas Holopainen / Marie Fredriksson / Mark King.
Steve – Mike Oldfield / Muse / Hans Zimmer /Jack Black / Peter Gabriel.
Sam – John Petrucci / Jimmy Page / Steve Vai / Dave Gilmour, would love to just talk to them and gain some of their guitar knowledge.
Ian – Led Zep, AC/DC, Bob Dylan.
Wayne - AC/DC, Poison, Metallica, Motley Crue. Loads of others, but they're all dead or split up! All time favourites would have been Thin Lizzy & Led Zeppelin. Wow!!
And what are your band's plans regards recording a full album?
As mentioned earlier we’re looking forward to going back into the studio in the January to record a full album.
Well, thank you for your time and good luck in all your future endeavours. We at Ravenheart have fallen in love with Winter In Eden and I advise that record companies start to form an orderly queue here. Finally is there anything that you would like to say to anybody across the world via this website?
Thank you so much for your support so far, especially everyone who has come to see our shows, downloaded our music and left great comments on our websites!
Steve- Korg – I would love some sponsorship!!!
Dave Smith (Nov 24, 2009)