An interview with Ruby, the singer of Witchbreed.

Witchbreed is a metal band from Portugal. There are not many bands from Portugal. As a matter or fact, the only Portuguese bands I have seen the last twelve months were Moonspell and Ava Inferi. Witchbreed was founded in 2006 by bassist Ares (from Moonspell and Deepskin) and guitarist Dikk (also from Deepskin).

They recruited Rubina (or Ruby) as singer and Filipe Sousa as second guitar player and Tiago "Hollow" Lopes on drums. They just released their debute album, Heretic Rapture.

The first question: did you always wanted to become a singer and how did you got involved in the music business?

Well, I was born in a womb of a musical family, so we always had music around the house, since I was in kinder garden I used to sing in school plays , and you don’t want to become a singer it’s not like a profession that you learn , you are born with it or you don’t.. The music business it was a natural road that I took, once you got into good bands you get noticed.

Did you follow any singing lessons, and what do you do to keep your voice in top condition?

I was almost 10 years in a classical choir so I learned allot about techniques to keep your voice healthy , I think that’s the only thing I took out of it since I’m not a fan of operatic stuff !!

Well I drink allot of water, I warm up before going on stage even if just for a bit, and 2 days before the show I enter a hibernation mode !! Hehe

To what kind of music do you listen yourself?

I’m a musical sponge, I try to absorb everything that sounds good to me, no matter what’s the genre. Although I mostly listen to Metal, I try to keep my ears open to other stuff.

And what are your favourite bands and artists?

I really don’t have favourite ones.. One day I listen to a song and I really like it, then I don’t like the rest of the album and so on.. Right now I really like Septic Flesh and I always did like Anouk.

How did you got involved with Witchbreed?

It was quite fast, Ares found me in the internet and he sent me an email asking me if I wanted to do an audition to this new project that he was doing. So I went and 2 days later I was in the band.

Is Witchbreed your first band or did you have any other bands before Witchbreed?

No, I did had other bands before Witchbreed. But I was not living in the main land (Lisbon), I was living in an island called Madeira island, and my bands were from there.

Where did the name “Witchbreed” come from?

The name came from a Marvel Book and we were in the studio thinking of a name for this creation that we made and Ares opened the book and there was this image of this human with huge wings in chains .. It was an Witchbreed...

What makes Witchbreed unique compared to all the other female fronted metal bands in the world?

Everybody who listens to Heretic Rapture will answer that for you!

I know what makes us different.. From our black metal roots mixed with progressive thrashy riffs .. And... I don’t have an angelical voice!

There are not too many metal bands known from Portugal. Is it easy being “Metal” in Portugal?

It’s not easy being Metal anywhere in the world. It’s a very difficult market, you cannot live only by playing Metal now a days. So we Witchbreed fight as hard as we can to break this shackles in our feet.

You have just released your first full length album, Heretic Rapture. What is the idea behind the title of the album?

I will quote what Ares said :

Heretic Rapture stands for that exactly, a contrast of carnal and spiritual ecstasy, be it religious or not. It’s like merging two distinctive worlds of senses into a provocation of dogmas and rules. It’s a defying and mystifying paradigm for the world we live in, we took a "fantasy" kind of route just to make it bearable, otherwise bare naked human reality is too depressive and effortless.

Is song writing in Witchbreed teamwork or is there one “mastermind” in the band who does all the work?

Well Witchbreed is the creation of Ares and Dikk so yes they are the main «masterminds» behind the band, but every member of the band had full collaboration in the album, we are a band and that’s how it’s suppose to be .

 

 

 

 

And can you tell us something about the songs on the album?

The songs in the album are filled with strong emotions...

Very strong indeed.. you need to listen to the album two to three times to feel it growing on you...

There’s anger, hate, love, war, deceive, betrayal and loneliness ..

Heretic Rapture was produced, mixed and mastered by Waldemar Sorychta, who has worked before with Lacuna Coil, The Gathering and Moonspell. Did he have any influence on the music and the songs?

Waldemar came and when he started to pre-produced the songs, it was like he was playing with a puzzle, he took a part of a song and moved it to the other side of the song. So yes he had a huge influence on the songs.

Which one is your favourite live song?

I guess Symphony for the Fallen and Fire throne!!

As stated on your MySpace Witchbreed has covered an Iron Maiden song:

“On the verge of releasing our debut Heretic Rapture we decided to offer you all a petite hors d'oeuvre in the shape of our own version of Iron Maiden's classic Children of the Damned.
As you might know we are finally done with the Heretic Rapture recordings and because we couldn't  keep ourselves busy enough while we wait for the final product we decided to re-work on our first ever cover for a truly Metal classic, and actually is quite interesting how it sums up a big part of what Heretic Rapture sounds like, although this song is not included on the album nor it was recorded during the album sessions we recorded it by ourselves and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.”

Since I am an Iron Maiden fan, why did you choose Children of the Damned?

Because a Witchbreed is a children of the damned...

And will you do this song live or will it stay a studio affair?

We did that song live yes. But now we are concentrating on showing the new songs of the Heretic Rapture album.

Can you introduce us to the other members of Witchbreed?

Sure. It will be my pleasure. On the bass we have Ares, on the guitars Dikk, on the drums Tiago, on the guitars as well Filipe!!

Is it easy to combine Witchbreed with your personal life?

Yes it’s very easy actually... I recently got married (actually yesterday) hehehe

And my husband is also a musician and he supports me 100%, so it’s quite easy!!

What are your highlights with Witchbreed so far?

I guess working with Waldemar, releasing our baby Heretic Rapture , and hearing Bruce Dickinson saying good stuff about us in his show!!

... and do you have any negative experiences with the band?

No I don’t.. Witchbreed is not just a band... they are my brothers and i will love them to death!!

What more can we expect from Witchbreed in 2009 and beyond?

Only time can tell...

And, the last question, is there anything the reader should know that I have not asked?

In behalf of Witchbreed i want to say thank you to all the fans around the world supporting us!! The album is out there!!

 

Links :

Witchbreed Official MySpace

Ruby Roque Official MySpace