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VIOLET SUN: "Loneliness In Supremacy"

Italian symphonic metal outfit VIOLET SUN and their debut album "Loneliness In Supremacy" release November 19 (MelodicRockRecords). The idea to create the band came in 2005 after Dario Grillo (Thy Majestie) heard the voice of female vocalist: Alessandra Amata, a singer of great talent of Catania well known in the Sicilian musical circle. Dario had some very interesting unpublished work that proposed to her. Alessandra immediately showed herself to be very enthusiastic about the project and so in a few months they began to work to the drawing up and the realization of the songs contained in the debut album. It's supposed to be a blended work in which the styles such as classic and opera music, heavy metal, oriental, progressive, AOR music blend together to create impactful melodies. This record places itself midway between a real Metal Opera (Avantasia, Aina, Nostradamus) and bands as Nightwish, Epica, Kamelot. Here's 'All About The Album' with multi-instrumentalist, Mr. DARIO GRILLO...

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

It's really too early to assess the reaction to our CD ‘cause it will be out the 19th November.

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

It was a long process. I started the songwriting in early 2004 (when I was still into Thy Majestie) and ended only in 2007. Then for the recording sessions we spent a couple of years to realize what you can hear in the CD. In short, really a long and troubled process. We are very busy people because of our work and we live in different cities too. So it was really hard to organize and manage it all. But in the end we can say we are very pleased with what we have been able to create.

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

Fortunately I, as well as producer, oversaw the album in detail and then I made almost exactly what I had in mind. I wanted to obtain something different for the rest I did not mean absolutely that our band pass for another female clone band. Alessandra also has a voice so special that it's really hard to compare it to today's singers. There are too many freaks in the current metal scene We do not want to look like anyone. We play the music that we like based on our personal feelings and emotions.

What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

As I said to you in the previous answer I've been the only producer of the album. I was very uncompromising with my brother Alex on drums, Alessandra on vocals and the special guests too. I try to be very professional in my work and I don't deny that during the recording sessions there were some moments of discouragement because some things did not come out as I felt them in my mind. However, we were clever enough to hide some weaknesses and show our strengths instead.

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

Yes, enough pleased .

Did the producer (you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

Not much, just some effect in a couple of songs. Behind the mixing there was a lot of preparatory work on pre-production. It was the real secret of the album.

How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't?

Honestly there’s little "live sound" on the album. I'm not a liar and then I couldn't say the opposite. It's a very complex record, masterfully arranged, full of details and atmosphere. The use of the choir, orchestra, oriental instruments makes it really difficult to reproduce exactly on stage. Surely if we will be playing live (and this will depend on the feedback) we'll use a minidisc to reproduce the many arrangements on the disc. Maybe we'd favor a more metal impact than symphonic

Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

I really don't know what song or lyric to choose. Each song has its own history, its own identity. Unlike the past, this time I worked hard on the themes of the disc, the meaning of what I wanted to express. Even the title "Loneliness in supremacy" is full of meaning on what is today's world, where we are going up.

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

It depends on what I want to express in that song. usually when I compose a song I always carry me from what I feel at that precise moment.

Does your vision for coming up with music get affected at all by time?

I can say that this album is very influenced by the time we are living It's not fantasy, not a concept album. It's a crude analysis of the shit we created as human being. We've been able to destroy the world that God has given us. We have trampled human dignity, peace, nature. We lost sight of the only thing that can really give meaning to our lives: love in its deepest sense, and not selfish.

Did the record company (business suits) interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

Absolutely not! and it could not be otherwise since I do not ever stooping to compromises when it comes to music.

Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

There were some very crazy moments during the sessions: when we had to re-record some vocals and guitar tracks again because the PC hard disk went destroyed and we did not any back up
But we reacted to all this with a big fat laugh.

How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan?

I really don’t know. I'm not a good salesman. I could use the usual ritual phrases that hundreds of musicians use such as: "It's the most beautiful album I've ever realized" or "we are the new sensational musical discovery of all the times”. But there is nothing like this. Music is a very personal thing . I just say to those who want to know us to hear something about us and then decide if to buy the album or not.

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

Not heroes or idols. We like only the good music well played and composed .

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

I just want to tell all those people who are tired of hearing the same music touted and sold by the label as a masterpiece to give a listen to our record. Not a quick and distracted listening. Use a good system or a pair of headphones. I am sure that something will hit you, I hope.
Sincerely,
Dario Grillo

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from www.myspace.com/violetsunofficial
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