Interview By Robin Stryker

 

For lovers of female voices in metal, Sarah Jezebel Deva needs no introduction. Boasting a four-octave range (not that she ever boasts, far from it), Sarah was the founder, vocalist and lyricist for Angtoria, whose 2006 “God Has a Plan for Us All” album explored the dark realm of abuse, betrayal, self-injury and suicide. Sarah’s stunning vocal talent can also be heard on more than 25 albums by Cradle of Filth (every album from 1995 through 2008), Mortiis, Therion, The Kovenant (formerly Covenant) and many other bands.

2010 opens a new chapter for Sarah, with the February 15^th release of her solo album, “A Sign of Sublime”. Femme Metal is delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Sarah about her new album, her upcoming performance with The Kovenant, animal rights, ink and much more.

Welcome, Sarah! We’re so glad you could take time out to talk with us today.

Thank you for wanting to talk to me..... :)

Jumping right into things, you have described “A Sign of Sublime” as not falling within a particular genre of music and as an album that is not for the narrow-minded. Would you care to elaborate?

Well there is something for most musical tastes. There’s a few tracks with the extreme metal edge, some movie score type tracks, a piano track and just normal upbeat metal songs. Oh, and a cover song ;) Most albums are one set genre, so I would like to say this album is not.

You wrote the lyrics and vocal harmonies for the Angtoria album, “God Has a Plan for Us All.” Is the same true for “A Sign of Sublime”? If so, what did you draw on for inspiration?

Yes it is the same. I think it’s how most singers work. They will have their area of expertise or do what they think they are the best at. For me it is vocal harmonies and lyrics. I think you pick your subject for each song when you have got a feel for the mood of the song. Things just come together naturally I suppose. My inspiration just comes from everyday life, everyday problems and battles you face.

As I understand it, writing the music for “A Sign of Sublime” was Ken Newman’s (guitars) first major attempt at composing. How did you get in contact with Ken, and how did the collaborative process work out with the two of you living on different continents?

I put out a MySpace bulletin asking who could work Pro tools or Q Base. Got a lot of silly answers, like you do and a few serious ones from people who knew what they were doing musically. I suppose Ken was the unlucky one ;)

Ken did 5 tracks (And re wrote "Bitch", the cover song). It’s not like he had never written a song before but it was his first big thing. Everyone needs to be given a chance and I hope that he doesn’t regret it. Most of this was done via the internet. It’s the way it is these days. Bands do not have to be in the same town to write with each other, you just need to be mature enough to communicate as adults and sort through issues if and when they occur. I don’t suppose me singing riffs down his voicemail was very pleasurable ha ha.

Your close friends -- bassist Dave Pybus (Cradle of Filth, ex-Anathema) and keyboardist Martin Powell (ex-Cradle of Filth, Anathema, My Dying Bride) and drumming wunderkind Max Blunos (ex-Trigger The Bloodshed) round out the line-up on “A Sign of Sublime”. Can you give us a quick run-down on what each of the guys brought to the mix?

You forgot Chris Rehn from Angtoria ;) He and I did "The Devils Opera" and "New Born Failure" a few years back and I just think it was about time they were released. Dave obviously played bass and as usual, worked very very fast! Martin added so much, The intro, the keys to the title track and most importantly "Daddy’s Not Coming Home", which means the world to me. When I first heard how Martin had changed it from the original version, it made the hairs on my arms stand up. He is amazing, I do not think he realizes just how amazing he is. And Max... Max is like a muppet on speed ha ha... He has been drumming like that since he was 14 or something, maybe even earlier. He is a rare breed I think. I am lucky.

From reading your MySpace blog, it seems like recording “A Sign of Sublime” went surprisingly quickly and smoothly. Was recording your new album a different experience for you than recording previous albums? Since the recording process went so fast, did you finally manage to befriend the chickens at Rising Records’ super-secret farm/recording studio?

I must have written a bulletin drunk or something because it wasn’t quick and it wasn’t smooth ;) It was recorded over maybe 16 months... I was staying in Australia for a while which held me and the album back a lot. The album was recorded in Sweden, UK, USA and Australia over different periods. This was the first time I was in full control, so what I thought I knew and had learned over the years, well it didn’t mean anything in the end. I had a vision, an idea in my head that I kinda had to try and develop on my own and of course you have to compromise too because the people working with me are not me, and I am not them. I didn’t want to hold anyone back from being who they were and I didn’t want to be held back but still, I had the final say which was nice but it still never turned out how I would have like it. You take chances, you don’t fail, you just learn from things. Oh the chickens, cute little things.... They are free to roam and do what they like without the fear of some twat eating them.

Speaking of farm animals, you are an advocate for animal rights and social responsibility through veganism. What prompted you to embrace a vegan lifestyle and speak out on behalf of animals?

Education and learning about what’s right and wrong. Example: We are told that dairy is so good for us yet it’s the biggest cause of heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol, Diabetes, skin conditions, you name it. Our bodies can not digest milk well, the fact it’s mother’s milk anyway & contains pus. If dairy was so good for us, why does it make us ill and eventually kill us? (Same with all saturated fat, mostly meat fat) then you have magazines saying "Oh yes, that is true but everything in moderation". Ok, when have you ever heard any doctor say "Vegetables and fruit should be eaten in moderation"? You haven’t, because you can basically eat as much as you want without it giving you killer diseases. But people do not do the research. People do not care where their lipstick came from, what was kicked around for them to wear the latest boots. It’s ignorance. People eating burgers and taking one bite out of it and throwing it in the trash, makes you wanna grab them and rub that burger in their face. That animal was butchered for you, so show some respect and finish your food! Animals being skinned alive for fur and left to bleed to death in the floor (That’s seals, cats, dogs and anything that can make some catwalk model look even more ugly) chemicals being rubbed into wounds or eyes? For what? For beauty? For greed? It’s disgusting. Test on humans! We wear the stuff, not some innocent animal that has been breed to be tested on and butchered. It’s just overall disrespect and nastiness. I do not have enough time to go into all of this, there’s just too much to cover but all I can say is there is no blood on my hands. I THINK before I buy. I never really used to. Watch a DVD called "Earthlings", it may wake some people up. It did me.

It’s not just animals either, it’s people, it’s children. Humans are the most destructive being on this planet. We are the only species that destroys out surroundings. Slavery, rape, murder, we are disgusting and we take everything for granted. I try to make people more aware of sexual abuse and rape too. I want to try and make a difference. People ask me, I will tell. I do not care if I fail as a singer but if I can help someone, help change their life, honestly, I am happy.

I trust that no spiders were harmed in making the "A Sign of Sublime" music video. How does one go about finding a half-dressed slave boy for spider-dropping fun? And what can you tell us about the other actors in the video?

There were sooo many spiders. Really huge ones too. My boyfriend was going to come to the video shoot, glad he didn’t, he can’t handle even seeing one on TV. He doesn’t kill them of course but he runs like a girl ha ha...

My half dressed slave boy? He actually works at the recording studio. So he was just helping out for the day and I asked him to kinda strip and lay on that freezing ground. Poor guy. He loved it though. Actors, well, there is only one more. The guy in the chair. He is the drummer’s dad. He has been in a few other videos before and I can say he is a total natural in front of the camera and so so funny. He wasn’t embarrassed and anything goes with him.

You recorded a cover of "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks but it does not appear on the track list for "A Sign of Sublime". Are you planning on releasing it in the future, perhaps as a bonus track or single?

It’s for the limited edition digi pack version! :)

 

 The new pictures of you show a bit of ink peeking over your shoulder. Why did you decide to go under the tattoo needle again? Do the tattoos have any special meaning for you?

I love tattoos... never a hard choice once you have the tattoo bug ;) I have a Donkey on my bum ;) I love Donkeys! But as for special meanings, no. I had them all for a reason but do not regret any. Once I will get covered up soon though and I want to add to my back. I hope to get some more work done very soon in fact.

Shifting from tattoo ink to journalistic ink, are you still a columnist for the extreme music magazine, Zero Tolerance?

Nope. It was never an on going thing. It was just an idea I had and I was lucky. I was getting busy and was on the road with CoF and couldn’t meet deadlines, so I didn’t want to let anyone down. It was fun though. I like to write but only if I feel I have something good to say and that is a matter of opinion huh ;)

For people who have been following your career, the elephant in the room has got to be your status with Cradle of Filth and Angtoria. According to your Facebook page, you are no longer involved with Cradle of Filth. How do you feel about parting ways with the band?

One word? HAPPY!

Why was "A Sign of Sublime" a solo album, instead of Angtoria’s second album?

Two totally different record companies, record deals and styles. This is just a project. I just want to sing. There is no hidden agenda! Chris and Tommy are busy building a life for their families, so when the time is right, there will be another Angtoria album :)

In response to the Angtoria song, "God Has a Plan for Us All" there was an outpouring of emotions from people who were sexually, physically or mentally abuse by someone they trusted. Were you surprised by the hundreds of letters and messages you received?

Totally. Very shocked. Even to this day I get emails saying how that song helped. I never planned it! There was no set intention behind it. It’s just a subject that is dear to me and people around me. I think people think that people who are famous have the most perfect life. Maybe this song made people realize we are all just human. Maybe they could connect with me? Maybe I opened up some wounds and closed some wounds? Either way, I am very grateful for the response it had. I am no doctor. Do not have all the answers but whoever comes to me, I try to help.

Sarah, you have been quite open about your own dysfunctional childhood and some of the set-backs in your adult life. You are also one of the few well-known singers who writes back to fans. Is it difficult to balance being a person who values your privacy with being a public figure whose fans want to know every detail of your life?

I wouldn’t say difficult. You get the odd few people who want to know the in’s and out’s of a ducks arse, want to move in with you and sleep in your bed but I do have to draw the line, so they do get ignored! Sorry. 99% of the time, I reply, I am me! Some people find honesty rude and I am afraid I have to be honest, it’s that simple. Don’t ask me a question if you have already answered it for me in your head. Don’t ask for the truth if you can not handle it but also, do not ask me anything too personal, that’s just respect. I spend about 2 hours a day online talking to fans because I feel it is the right thing to do. They support me, so why shouldn’t I give them something back? I am not above them! I can teach them things and they can teach me. I love to help people to or at least try. I get a lot of abused kids come to me, even adults and parents, just saying thank you to me. How my lyrics had helped them or their child. Means the world to me and I can’t tell ya the amount of emails that have made me cry. I never planned on opening any doors for people, but it’s great to know I have also closed some doors for them and they can move on.

The Inferno Festival in Norway is coming up soon, where you will reunite with current and former members of The Kovenant to perform the entire "Nexus Polaris" album. The album earned the band a Norwegian Grammy in 1998 for Best Hard Rock Band, and you have called "Nexus Polaris" one of the albums that you are proudest of. How did this gig come about?

Well Hellhammer sent me a phone message. He told me how he had been contacted and asked if I wanted to do it. I then emailed Psy Coma, he knew nothing about it, said it would be cool if it happened and would look into it. He then came back to me and said "Yes, we are being offered a show at Inferno". So the rest is history and let’s see what happens. It will be great if it does happen. We are not the same people we were 12 years ago! Adults now and wiser! We all get on better than ever I would say.

We would love to see you perform "A Sign of Sublime" live. What are your plans for 2010?

The world may end next month ;) But I am sure there will be shows but it all depends on album sales. No money comes in, no tour support. I think people think that when you sign an album deal, you are automatically rich. Record companies are like banks and currently I am in debt! The joy! :) So yeah, I need the money to tour, so fingers crossed huh! Other plans apart from world domination? More music, Getting engaged and having a family! The clock is ticking ;)

Thank you very much, Sarah. Do you have any parting words for your fans at Femme Metal?

Just please buy the album, give it a chance and thank you for the support! :)

 

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Links

Sarah Jezabel Deva Official MySpace

Sarah Jezabel Deva Official Facebook Page

 

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