The Netherlands – Listen class, we at Digital Beat Magazine have an assignment for you!! What do you get when two musical worlds collide? What does it take to make opera work in a metal world and vice versa? Who has what it takes to pull it off? Can you think of a classical composer (or two) that would thrive in the world of symphonic metal? If so, who may that be? Do you like to hunt for Easter eggs? Are you up for a challenge? If so, this is the interview for you!! At the end, you will all be assigned to check out the first seven videos of the album. Listen and watch. With each one, see what story it tells to you. If so compelled, be sure to comment on the video and retell the story you saw and / or reveal how the video made you feel.
I had the opportunity to do a wonderfully fun interview with metal soprano Dianne van Giersbergen (AKA Dianne for her current project). Of course we started with an introductory question about how she got to where she is today. From her first lesson at 4 years old, to her education and early music influences and projects, to her upcoming waterfall release strategy solo album, “Soulward Bound“, you will get the scoop! Check out her answer below.
This led into question two, which started with my first experience with Dianne’s vocals, and I am sure many can say the same, that being taking in her first video with Xandria, “Nightfall“. She talked about the video itself, the location, her choice of dress, her jewelry evolution (she designs all her own jewelry, Precious Metal Jewelry), and the Easter eggs hidden throughout “Soulward Bound” In a later question, I promise Dianne that I will take a homework assignment to find all the Easter eggs and do a thesis on my findings. Our readers should on the project as well. Be sure to check out the current videos and be sure to comment with any little tidbit you may find!!
We then dove into the whole idea of a concept album. “Soulward Bound” is Dianne’s story after Xandria, started five years to the day after she left the band. From the first release, “After The Storm” to the most recent, “The Quietude” and beyond, it is a tale about the five years leading up to the album… released over five years! What an interesting way of doing it. For the record, there are three singles left to be released, at one every six months, do the math.
In this video Dianne talks about the story behind the music, the classical approach (from libretto to the music) as it applied to the album and to each track. She talks about the selection of musicians and that the selection was different for each piece based on the feelings it had to convey. Each single tells of another step in Dianne’s evolution. One unique piece that she talked about was single number three, “A Symphonic Tragedy“, which tells the tale of her fear of and conquering the surgery that could have cost her the voice we all love. You have to watch to the end because there is an outtake moment that turned into a more serious conversation on art in general.
Next, the interview went in the direction of the classical influences of the album. As we talked, it turned into somewhat of a discussion about classical purism vs. classical influenced and just the role classical music plays into much of what we hear today. She talked a bit about Sting’s incorporation of classical music and then went into the most classical piece on the album thus far, “The Quietude” in which she was able to bring in her vocal mentor whom she studied with at the conservatory, Elena Vink.
The interview had been quite insightful up to now and also fun, but it was about to get even more fun. I admit, I had prepared Dianne for this question, so she was somewhat prepared. Listen to the response below… which does she prefer, operatic metal or metal opera?
The next two questions go hand in hand so I will put them together. Dianne is blessed as she has been around many more live performances than most of us could ever imagine. I asked what was the most metal opera she has ever heard as well as what was the most operatic metal. Check out her responses below.
As the night in The Netherlands drew to a close, we finished up with a couple fun questions. To my surprise, we even got into a bit of a physics lesson of sorts. What would it take to break a glass with your voice? Even if you could do it, would it be wise? Find out the answer to this and more below!!
All good things must come to an end. Well, in a way, this end was just the beginning to a little research that I need to do. I could certainly use some help from the readers as well. This was a wonderful interview. I had such a great time and learned so much!! The homework for today is to look much closer at the videos, and listen closer as well, released to date for “Soulward Bound“. Check out the videos, leave a comment for Dianne telling her what you saw.
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Soulward Bound Tracks to Date
After the Storm
Unleash the Siren
A Symphonic Tragedy
Flameborn
The Elders’ Call
Phantom of War
The Quietude
