I interviewed Christianna from ELYSION on the 6th April, and I have been in touch with the Band's Management occasionally since. And I can tell you that they are very nice people. I myself rate Elysion very highly, their music being very catchy inoffensive Melodic Gothic Metal. So I thought that perhaps Christianna and the band would like to fill me in as to how things have been going in the Elysion Camp, since my interview last April (2010) with Christianna.
(Interview answered by Christianna (vocals) and Johnny Zero (guitars) ).
Hi Guys and Gal :) I have been following your band with some interest since I was blown away by your debut offering 'Silent Scream'. How have album sales been going since we last spoke?, as all the reviews I have read have been good ones. And good reviews normally generate respectable album sales.
Christianna:
Hello right back to you and a huge thanks on behalf of all Elysion for getting back to us for this additional chat, we bet it will be as interesting as the first one :) So, like you said, Silent Scr3am received a very warm welcome in relation to both feedback of the media and people’s response...we feel extremely satisfied with how everything went,either when this is reflected on the sales number or on the warmth in people’s heart (…and let me tell you the second counts way more).We are also thrilled about the response to our Japanese edition Release of Silent Scr3am,which followed our debut release few months later.All this feedback has generated great strength in us,but also great sense of responsibility for the future.We are trying to work harder and harder to make the best out of anything good anyone might have seen in us…
Do you get along well as a unit or has there been some silent screams amongst yourselves at times :) ?
Johnny Zero:
Well I guess it is obvious than in all families there are moments of disagreements ,it is only healthy.It goes like this for Elysion family too..we work as a team and we share the same dream,we have the same goal and we are blessed to chase this dream hand in hand with each other.This is enough to make us stay very close to each other and respect everyone’s different identity.It is very important that we trust one another completely ,it couldn’t have worked other wise.
Has the response to the debut album made you review your future ambitions or will you follow a similar path in the future?
Christianna:
I feel this might be a trap for us but we wish to avoid it.Having released an album that sounded welcome to many people,even with different tastes, might lead a band into following same steps and not taking any risks, after all why bother changing something when it works just fine…Elysion would’nt want to fall into this ’recipe’ trap. We composed Silent Scr3am because its music served our souls at the time.Have our identities changed? No.But we wish to evolve and explore new paths,try to offer something new.It’s a challenge I guess..But releasing a second album just to repeat ourselves and stay on the safe side is definitely not the Elysion way.
Indeed, that follows quite nicely into this question. I myself can never get fed up with the album, and as a consequence, I am now beginning to wonder if there is a follow up album on the cards? Is there?
Johnny:
It’s so rewarding to hear you say that you are not fed up with the album yet,especially since our music is so simple and one could say that once you have heard the album,it leaves you with nothing.Simplicity works,after all!During the past year,even with the release of the album being so recent,we never stopped composing.We don’t believe in deadlines,we write music because it is what makes us happy so we needn’t wait for any time to pass to come up with new material.We are already in studio,pre-produsing our second album and new songs are added every day so we have lots and lots to choose from.It’s hard to tell you when the second album will be ready but it won’t be very long :)
I know that Maxi Nil, your previous singer was involved in a lot of the songwriting for the debut album. Will Cristianna be involved in the songwriting for any future material and if so, will it impact on the finished product?
Christianna:
Christianna is so happy to be answering this question :)! Maxi Nil was a wonderful inspiration in Silent Scr3am,there’s no doubt about that!When I joined the band I was craving for the time to come for my being able to contribute my best ,put my own feelings into the music and maybe offer an extra shade of my own colours.I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am to be doing so for our second album.I’m lucky enough to be in a band where I am not only allowed to blend my ideas with the rest but highly encouraged to.I’ll be definitely involved in the songwriting,lyrics and generally in all i feel I have to share,so this is a wonderfully creative time for me.Can’t really put my finger on what the impact on the finished product will be,but I trust that our second album will contain the very best of us…
Onto touring now, have you been doing many gigs, and what has the response been like from the punters (the audience) from within your own country, and from other countries aswell?
Johnny:
We have spent all 2010 so far touring Greece and performing at as many places as we can,this was our original wish .We wanted to honor our local friends for their amazing support in our very first steps before spreading our wings towards further destinations.It has been a truly amazing year for us..we came to learn so much and grow an incredibly deep appreciation for the audience,seeing before our very eyes that no matter how different someone might be ,no matter anything,if you respect him he will return that respect.We will continue touring Greece in the very next months,and needless to say,2010 will be ending in the best possible way for Elysion,.
I understand that you may be coming to the UK in December. Are you able to confirm?
Christianna:
Johnny ended the previous question with a hint..I’ll have the honors to confirm:yes,we will gladly be coming to the UK in December,to perform in Hard Rock Hell Festival on the 4rth of the month.I can’t even stop smiling about it,neither of us can.It’s such an unbelievable honor,to share the stage with the endless list of rock and metal heroes that take part in the fest..Beyond that,it’s a great thrill because of the chance that we have to communicate our music and feelings with new friends..we are counting the days to find ourselves among all that amazing rock energy!Definitely best possible ,although early,Christmas gift for Elysion!
And are there any plans for a full blown UK tour as I feel the band will do well over here?
Johnny:
We are working on it…I don’t have any announceable details yet but we try our best :) There is also a possibility that some shows in the UK will be added to our schedule regarding the very next days after Hard Rock Hell,and we would love nothing more than to seize the opportunity to expand our visit to the UK for that matter! We wish this all works out so we get to play for as many wonderful people as we can there!
The female fronted scene is becoming rather crowded now, particularly the Goth Metal scene. Do you know what it is that perhaps makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd?
Christianna:
This is always a tough question..i have given it a lot of thought and my conclusion is that it is always about the Magic.There are thousands of talented musicians out there,millions of wonderful songs,people who work their asses off to make it to the scene..It has always been like this and it will always be.Some make it..some don’t.Taking for granted that the talent and the hard work are the most important factors,it then is a matter of magic to either make it or be swallowed by the stage.There has to be magic between the band and the people..there must be sparks of energy in a live show..this is my wish for Elysion ,this is what I see when I close my eyes.
Finally, there seems to be a few more bands appearing from Greece. Is this going to be a continuing trend do you know?
Johnny:
It’s always encouraging to see more and more bands from our homeland going beyong our boarders.We are proud of them all,especially for all up coming bands who strive to overcome all difficulties to follow their dream.We fully respect and support that,because it is what we do ourselves.I hope standards continue to go up…it’s hard but this makes us all want to be better at what we do,which is always good.We don’t see this as a contest,there can be may winners.All who respect themselves and music are winners,from where I stand.So may more and more bands present great albums,we need good music to keep our soul healthy these ugly times we live in…
Anyway, I hope you do not mind me asking these few questions in addition to the interview we had in April, and if you do come to the UK in December, I hope to meet up with you guys then.
Johnny and Christianna:
It has been awesome to get to chat with you again,we are grateful that you kept such interest in Elysion!We too look forward to meeting you in person in a few weeks time ,in what we trust will be a wonderful Festival and a great meeting of rockers from all Europe.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Dave Smith (Nov 6, 2010)