Tular (www.myspace.com/tularofficial ) is a project started by Francesca Martini (Lead Vocals) and Emanuele Palmieri (Lead Guitar) in the summer of 2005 as the natural product of their passions. Fast forward to June 2008, and I recently had the honour of talking to this awesome Italian band.......so here goes....
1..Tell me a little about Tular's history, and the name?
Francesca: Tular is an ancient Etruscan word that means “borderline”. This word explains our vision of life, still on the line between fantasy and real life.
2..Your debut album "The Truth Behind The Mask" I consider to be excellent, can you tell me more about the songs on the record?
Francesca: Twelve good songs chosen among more than twenty.
Emanuele: And there are not two that are similar to each other
3..Have you any indication regards sales of the cd?
Francesca: We have contacts from all over the world and new friends and fans everyday, so I guess this is a clear signal that the distribution and the sales are going well. Unfortunately at this time we haven’t figures to support this.
4..Are there any particular meanings to the songs and do you have any preferred tracks?
Francesca: All the songs are like our name and behind the fantasy styled lyrics there are hidden meanings that talk about the real world. For example "Witch" is a song about a resurrected burnt witch, but is also a song against prejudice and racism.
Emanuele: I don’t know… may be as many say, the last one is the better… so may be “Heroes”… You can’t ask a parent if they have got a preferred son.... lol
5..Was the recording of this current album simple, or did it give you major headaches?
Emanuele: We love the studio time and the major headaches were from the research of our sound and groove. We arranged 4 or 5 versions of most tracks because we are strongly oriented to not to be similar to great bands and create our unique sound.
6..Have you had any reaction to the release of the CD from America or Europe?
Francesca: Yes, the growing number of visitors, friends and email from our internet sites. Radio stations ask for our music… and two days ago an Australian music show too… exciting!
Emanuele: Yes it is “Asylum” an Australian show transmitted in USA too.
7..I totally love your style of music and especially Francesca’s ‘innocent’ vocal style. Do you think this is the way forward for this genre of music?
Francesca: Is to audience the judgement, I just try to be myself.
Emanuele: I love this girl lol
8..Have you been involved with any other projects over the years that you would like to let us in on?
Francesca: Of course, in many years we all had some cool experiences but personally none of them was so close to my spirit and to my music feelings as Tular is.
9..Despite Within Temptation making waves here recently (thanks to Roadrunner Records getting behind this band), the female fronted rock/metal scene here in the UK could and should be better. What are your expectations of the rock scene as a whole in mainland Europe and more so the UK?
Emanuele: High! Lol
10..Would you hope to tour here again in the UK, perhaps other than London, may be Birmingham (our second city)?
Emanuele: UK is the temple of music. I guess every single town has lots of music lovers to conquer so we would love tour everywhere in UK! I hope it will be soon.
11..Musically and spiritually who and what are your inspirations?
Francesca: Emanuele and me came from different paths, and our paths are far away from gothic metal. I’m grown with 70’s bands such as Pink Floyd or Genesis and singer like Tori Amos and Bjork, Manu is an old fan of Bon Jovi and Metallica. When we begun to make our music we really tried to create something new.
Emanuele: And I guess we’ve found our way… we are miles away from the great bands such as Nightwish, Within Temptation or Epica be cause of our Mediterranean sound and this is a good thing. Personally I like better to be lower rated than be titled as an “almost cover band of”
12..What have you learned about the music industry so far and what tips if any can you give to others?
Hold on, improve yourselves everyday and promote your music everywhere: good things come for those who wait, but for those who seek too-
13..Finally is there anything that you would like to say to your fanbase you are developing in Europe and in particular the UK?
Francesca: Yes! Thanks a lot guys. Be a musician is hard sometimes but you make it more easier. We love you all.
Emanuele: Get ready to rock when we’ll stop to your town.
Dave Smith (Aug 1, 2008)