LUMINE CRIPTICA is a Gothic Metal band from Argentina fronted by Sabrina Filipcic. I was offered their 5 track CD to review by their bassist Cristian Trefny (who also does occasional growls). I took up the offer and I am glad I did, as their EP is good. Rather curious as to what the music scene is like in Argentina, I set up an interview with the band, and here it is...
Can we be introduced to the members of the band and be given a brief history of the band?
This is a five-piece band; Sabrina Filipcic (Vocals & Keys), Cristian Trefny (Bass & Growls), Tomas Limeres (Drums), Martin Principe (Guitars) and Andres Bustamante (Guitars). The band was officially formed in the middle 2008 when the project consolidates and we finished writing the songs that you can hear on our album. During 2009 we took all the time that was necessary to record on our studio and try to make all the arrangements we can come up to make the songs great. Finally we release the album in 2010 and start promotion with gigs, interviews, tours in Argentina, etc...
And have any band members been involved in other musical projects?
Everyone but me (Cristian) has different projects because they mainly dedicate professionally to music. So they are session musicians for example for another bands, but not exclusively metal. I dedicate entirely to LUMINE CRIPTICA in the musical facet of my life (it takes a long time and hard work to take a band where you want) and I’m also a Graphic Designer (that’s how I make my living :) )
Can you tell us about your EP 'Fading Into Darkness'?
We want to make a great first impression as a band. That’s why we decide to release directly “Fading Into Darkness” and not a demo with a lousy sound to introduce us to the people. Although it has 5 songs we think of it as a full album cos we recorded that way, the best we can…and also there are only 5 song but they last 5.30 min+ each!
And can you give us an English translation for 'LumineCriptica' although I think I may have an idea?
LUMINE CRIPTICA is not in any particular language…It may sound a little Latin, but it really isn’t. It’s more an idea we want to transmit with our name, and that would be the opposite, the confrontation between the light (Lumine) and something cryptic, hidden (Criptica). We think of our music that way also…the opposition between the melodic part and the heavy part…the fast tempo, and the down tempo…We think our name reflects perfectly what we are.
The music to my ears is very good. Apart from Ravenheart Music's reaction, have you had any other media reaction so far to the record?
First of all, thanks for your kind words! And yes, fortunately the press reacts very well to our record. We had a lot our reviews all remarking possitive aspects of our music. And not only in Argentina, but all over the world. Recently we had a great review at Terrorizer magazine that we are very proud of!
And for those unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your music, and do you have any personal fave tracks on the CD?
As I was telling you above, I would describe our music as based on opposites: The melodic voice of Sabrina over a really heavy rhythm base…acoustic sections and riffs full of blast beat…My growls and the angelic choirs of Sabrina. But mainly I wanna highlight that we pay a lot of attention to the melody of the song. We don’t write a blast beat only for the sake of “being heavy”, it has to get along with the song and has a purpose of being there accompanying the melody.
We all know Argentina as a footballing nation, but there doesn't seem to be much metal music emerging from the country. What is the rock and metal scene like there at the moment and in South America in general?
Argentina is a very “Metal” country. We have a LOT of bands and some of them are really good. But the reality is that is very difficult for the majority of us to cross the ocean and being notice in Europe…or even cross the border! A lot of the guilty relies on the promoters and the people in music business that rip off the bands money and don’t let them grow. I’m gonna tell you only one thing that explains the situation of the bands in Argentina: when there is an international concert, let’s say Nightwish, the bands who wants to open the show for them has to pay…and I’m telling you a LOT of money (U$S 2000)…otherwise they wont let you. Being things that way how can a band survive?
A question for Sabrina - being a female fronting a rock/metal band. Although there shouldn't be, is there ever a problem with being taken seriously as some still see rock & metal music as a male domain?
No, i dont think so, or at least i haven't noticed yet. Maybe a couple of years ago it was different but now, the most of the bands we play with has female members…and not only as vocalist. Luckily the metal people has open their minds and respects and enjoy a metal band with a girl as a member.
And Sabrina, have you had any classical training and how do you look after your voice?
I try to practice every day, and I’ve took lessons to take care of my voice. It’s my instrument and I carry it with my every day so I have to be very very careful. I’ve studied with opera singers but i don’t have an opera style of singing. I try to develop my own style and being recognize as “myself” not “another girl who sing”. I try to have a kind of controlled aggression when I sing…but yes, sometimes there are fragments of the songs that have operatic nuances
And Cristian, do you find the harsher vocal style can play havoc with your vocal chords on occasion, especially after a live show?
When I started singing like this a long time ago, yes, it was a hard time for my vocal chords. But this kind of singing is a technique as any kind of singing…once you develop it “if it hurts, you must be doing something wrong”. So I can play a show and the minute I walk down the stage I’m just perfect…sweaty, but my voice is perfect hahaha
And taking the band as a whole, who would you class as your influences as I do hear a kinda mix of Nightwish and subtle Cradle of Filth influences coming through on this EP? Some great musicianship I might add!
You nailed it! We love Nightwish AND Cradle of Filth! Our influences are many and every member of the band has it faves. I think that’s what makes the bans as a whole: every member adding his own influences to the Lumine Criptica’s recipe.I can name Dark Tranquillity, Lamb of God, DimmuBorgir, Lacuna Coil beside the bands I mentioned early.
Do you play many live gigs in Argentina?
We try to play as many gigs as we can. But it’s not our main goal now, cos there are not many good places to play in Argentina. The most has shitty sounds or are not comfortable at all for the audience…so we prefer to play less concerts but in better places.
And do you prefer to play live or spend the time in the studio?
They are two completely different aspects of being a musician and we love both. When you are in the studio you’re creating, experimenting with new sounds or type of compositions…It’s a kind of magic what happens there. And playing live is the relief. The adrenalin of being on stage playing metal cant compare to anything. To answer your question I might say I can spend all the year long on tour playing live…but I don’t think I can spend a whole year in the studio…it’s too stressful!
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?
At the time, as we’re not in “writing mode” I cant tell you exactly if something is inspiring me…cos I’m not writing music! Hahaha But I can tell you that any kind of music can inspire me to write…I listen everything and I say “hey, look how they resolve that bridge! We can do something like that in our song”. And I’m not talking about stealing…maybe is only about the mood of the song. And regarding “relax time” and trying to name you non metal bands, I love funk music: Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten…great bass players and great musicians too.
Presumably music is not your full time careers, so do any members of the band have any interesting day jobs?
As I was telling you before, besides me that I’m a graphic designer, the rest of the band are musicians: they give lessons of their instruments and they are session musicians…so all their life is related to music!
And do any of you have any hobbies when not making music?
My hobby is learning to play different instruments…so I think I live and breath music! I don’t have any particular hobby…I love music so much that I spend every second of my life attach to it. One guitarist and the drummer practice martial arts as a hobby…
What band/artist would you just love to tour with and hang out with?
If I can ask for anything I would ask to play in Wacken instead of touring with a particular band. Is really my dream to share those three metal days with all kind of metal bands. That would be really cool.
Do you have any plans to record a full length album?
Of course! We’re gonna start writing the material for our new album in November. We have the plan to record it during the first months of 2011. But we still have a lot of promotion to do with “Fading into Darkness” so we’re not gonna rush into it.
Well, thank you for your time and good luck in all your future endeavours. We at Ravenheart wish you all the very best for the future. Finally is there anything that you would like to say to anybody across the world via this website?
Thanks to you for giving us this space! And we want to invite everybody to download the Digital Edition of our album at:-
www.myspace.com/luminecriptica. Hope you like it!
Dave Smith (Sep 6, 2010)