Interview by Si Smith

Manic Movement have been around since 1993 and undergone seemingly quite severe stylistic and personnel changes over the years. From heavy metal to death metal to gothic metal, the band has remained a committed metal band throughout, as testified to by their longevity and their loyal fan base throughout all these changes. Current vocalist Virginia Fantoni has helped to usher the band bombastically into their current manifestation flying the flag for Belgian Female Fronted Metal. 

Firstly, thanks so much for talking to us at Femme Metal. The band Manic Movement has been going for a while, but your introduction to the band, Virginia, was fairly recent. What was your musical background before joining the band? 

Honestly, singing is really new for me.  I began this incredible adventure three years ago. I always stayed - and hope I will always stay - in the artistic way. When I was young I always wrote texts and poems for myself - that was a good way for me to exorcise my inner demons - and after the College I went two years at school to learn to draw comics strips. It allowed me to draw the booklet and the cover of the Manic Movement's new album "Hot Hot Hot". About singing, I even remember having good times with my sister during Sing Stars Karaoke! (lol)

I believe the band had quite a radical rethink of their sound and image shortly before you joined for the "Dark Glitter" album, starting as they did with more death metal vocals and no female lead. How has this change been received by fans of the band? Was it a smooth introduction for you into the band?

Smooth, sure! Many Death Metal fans don't like female metal in general, you know tastes and colours... and machos! (lol)  But we had the opportunity to meet many old fans who still follow the MM's trend. They appreciate and still listen to our music.

Belgium is surrounded by other countries that produce many gothic and female fronted bands -  was it difficult being accepted as another female fronted band coming from this part of Europe? How does Manic Movement try to stand out from the crowd?

This is very, very, very difficult. Fortunately, we just had the chance to sign a deal with Ravenheart Music (England) to promote and distribute our new album overseas. But there are many metal female fronted bands all over the world and to stand out from the crowd we had to find a gimmik that no female band already had... And Darky is born! Darky is a big devil pop (2,50 meters) who's coming on stage during the show, singing and chilling with the audience.

One of the first things that hits a listener at the start of the new album is that you are immediately plunged straight into the heart of the action. No long intros, no overture - before the first minute of the album is over (I timed it!), we are enjoying melodies, angelic vocals and choral themes. Does this represent a bolder statement from the band as to who you are and what you want to achieve with "Hot Hot Hot"?

We wanted to go to the heart of the action creating melodies that stay in the ear. The listener is immediately plunged into the atmosphere and the history of the song. The texts and the music are more accessible and attractive than before.  It's important that the listener lives and feels the songs deep inside his imagination.

Many of your songs deal with the darker side of life (eg "Song of The Devil", "Bleeeding Scars"), and your voice certainly lends it well to those dark gothic elegies.....are there any experiences of your own that you draw on at these times, or is it just your operatic and  performance skill that makes them so believable? Are there any particular stories or emotions you would like to communicate through your singing?

Every song is a part of my life. Each text explains an event or state of mind which came to me. I must confess that in the beginning that was not easy for me to reveal myself this way. It was like opening and offering my diary, but I'm sure it's better than a consultation by the psychologist! That was a dream for me to share my experiences and emotions with an audience... and it's stronger on stage. Maybe some people will find answers through my words...You speak about the sad "Bleeding Scars". This one was written in tribute to one of my best friends who died four years ago. "Song of The Devil" is a funny song that describes the arrival of a soul in Hell, faced with her inner vices and sins. You can hear our singing mascot, Darky. 

This album was recorded, mixed and mastered by yourselves, before being released by Moonzoo - Universal Belgium. Could you take us through some of the best and the worst times of the self-recording process....

Ollie (drummer) and Filip (keyboard) are used to recording albums by themselves for so many years. That wasn't new for them. The new technology helping, it took 6 months. The album was recorded in the Ollie's own studio, Manic Studio in Belgium (Deux-Acren). For me, the hardest song to record was "Kali Era". That was the first one to be registered and after three days, it was in the box! The best memory I have that was the recording of "String Puppets". At the beginning, the song was completely different from what it is now. Ollie and I had the idea to put a killer doll scream to open the song and add the laughter of children when I'm singing some parts with the voice of a little girl. That was really funny!

When in the process of planning and composing a new album, what part do each of the band members play? Does Olivier have the final say as the longest standing founder member or is the process more democratic than that? 

Olivier created everything. All the melodies of guitars, bass, some keyboard and vocal lines. Then that makes the music well mixed. Everything sounds good together. Only the guitar solo and the lyrics are respectively composed by Fré (lead guitar) and I.

The album was finally released in October 2010. Was it everything you had hoped it would be? Is there anything you would like to do differently for the next album?

We wanted an fresher album, more accessible and commercial than the previous one with more direct songs easier to remember. We are pleased with the result. With this album, we found a gimmick, Darky, and I think he will be our mascot for the next ones.