Telya Mélane - Whyzdom
Interview By Erwin Van Dijk
On June 1st the compilation double cd "Demonic and Divine" is released by Femme Metal Records. The cd is to support the Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer research UK. Whyzdom appears with the song "Daughter of the Night”.
For full tracklisting checkout Femme Metal Store.
Whyzdom is a gothic metal band from France. It is not the first female fronted metal band from France. Together with Kells, Eths and Markize we almost have a “New Wave of French
Female Fronted Bands”
This interview is with Telya Melane, the singer of Whyzdom.
About you:
Did you always wanted to become a singer?
I’ve been living in a musical environment since I was a child. Music has really been a part of me and my life. My mother, who was vocalist in a choir, transmitted this passion to me very early, so that classical music was rulling all our days at that time. Singing was a second nature and I think it became a way for me, to escape the real world, and to find myself in a different sphere. I simply began with transcribing all the melodies I heard on the piano, and with some time and passion I progressively developed some musical skills.
The first real musical shock I can remember is when I was five. I discovered Mozart’s “Magic Flute”. I was fascinated by its intense beauty and mystery. The “Queen Of The Night” aria was the first I tried to reproduce when I was 5. It’s really at that moment that this idea of becoming a singer came to me… and never left me…
Eighteen years later, it sounds so funny to finally be led to sing that song with a very similar title : Daughter Of The Night with Whyzdom. This must be a sign from destiny, I guess.
Who are your favourite singers and musicians?
Now I listen to very different kind of music. In France, I am particularly fond of a great artist : Mylene Farmer, as well as the overall mood and dark universe that surrounds her. She was actually the one who gave this hunger for being on stage.
I discovered metal music with Metallica. I also love Era, Muse. Let’s not forget Sarah Brightman who has a splendid voice that really moves me.
There are a lot of bands and artists that I like, so here is a very eclectic short list : Mylene Farmer, Metallica, Mozart , U2, Era, Muse, Sarah Brightman, Iron Maiden, Within Temptation, The Cranberries, Epica, the Corrs, Opeth, After Forever, Indochine, Therion, Celine Dion, Nightwish, Queen, Abba, Alanis Morissette, System Of A Down, The Scorpions, Sonata Artica…
And to what kind of music do you listen yourself?
When I listen to music, whatever genre it is, I firstly open my mind and let the music flow to feel the music and the voice inside. Then I see if it leads me somewhere else, let me fly away from where I stand.
Did you sing in any other bands before Whyzdom and do you any other bands right now?
Well, I had two other bands before. The first one played Nightwish covers. Then I was the singer of a progressive metal band, less than one year before joining Whyzdom. Finally I stopped working with the other ones, since it was the perfect match for me… and I have not enough time to be in several bands.
About Whyzdom:
What is the idea behind the band name?
Well, it’s a mix between “Wisdom” and “Why ?”. I think people use both pronunciations, and there’s no rule about that anyway. It was interesting to have concepts in our name, that contrast with the inherent violence of metal music.
How would you describe Whyzdom music? Because Gothic & Metal covers about everything with a guitar, bass and drums and female vocals these days.
I think that the most distinctive aspect of Whyzdom, the one that I like the most, is firstly the orchestral aspect. Vynce is really a good orchestrator and it sounds great and original. Very different from the other symphonic metal bands. Sometimes he shows us the orchestral parts alone, without the metal music, and it is really thrilling to hear even more clearly all the details of the orchestral arrangements.
Then I would say that I love that particular contrast in the music and in the words. The album is full of contrasts between airy and powerful parts, between dark lyrics and hope.
And what makes Whyzdom different compared to all the other female fronted bands in the world?
As I said before, I think that the use of the orchestra is different of what can be already heard. More contemporary orientated. That will be even more evident when you’ll listen to the whole album.
Who are the other members of Whyzdom?
Here they are !
Vynce Leff : Guitar, Orchestration
Regis Morin : Guitar
Tristan Demurger : Bass
Marc Ruhlmann : Keyboards
Nico Chaumeaux : Drums
And not to forget the The Dark Whispers Choir :
Stéfanie Raffaello : soprano
Ségolene Lecoeur : soprano
Elen Hervochon : soprano
Linzzy Yeon : soprano
Maud Fargetton : mezzo-soprano
Cyril Verna : Tenor
Why did Whyzdom decide to use a “real” choir on stage? Even big bands like Therion do not use a choir.
One sad thing about symphonic metal is that you generally have to use at least some prerecorded parts to reproduce the orchestra. It’s even more sad to have a prerecorded choir, because human voice can not be replaced by a machine. That’s why we have a real choir with us. Sometimes, we play without them, especially when we open for biggest bands and there’s little room left for us. But, really, it’s really fantastic to have them with us !
Why did Whyzdom choose the song “Daughter of the Night” for the Demonic and Divine album?
It’s the favourite song of all our fans, so the choice was quite natural !
And how did you (the band) got in touch with Femme Metal?
Oh, we just look at every forum on the internet about female fronted bands… and the Femme Metal Forum is one of the most important ones :) !
Is song writing teamwork in Whyzdom or is there a mastermind behind
the music?
Vynce does most of the music (Regis too, on some songs of the forthcoming album) and all the lyrics. He is much more experienced with that than I am. His work is fantastic. The songs are full of different feelings and emotions : anger, fear, rage, will, joy, pain. It’s thrilling to work as a singer with these words, because I have to transmit all these emotions, and even feel them myself.
Can you tell us something about the songs on Daughter of the Night, your first self released CD?
"The Witness"
It’s a song about war. It’s not here to naively demonstrate how bad war is, but to express the feelings of individuals in front of something horrible they’re part of, and over which they have no influence at all. It’s about the duality of human nature : a sword in one hand, a feather in the other one.
"Daughter Of the Night"
There’s a man between life and death, unconscious. In this very peculiar state, there’s uncertainty if he’s to recover or to die. The Daughter Of The Night is talking to him … she sounds friendly, but it’s unclear if the path she opens for him leads to life or death.
"The Train"
It’s about a nightmare: I am in a train but I don’t know why nor where it goes. There are strange people around me, looking like ghosts. I try to get out from the train by all means… but I realize in the end that this train is my life, and that those people are my friends and my family, trying to help me… and that getting out of the train is just… dying.
"On The Wings Of Time"
It’s a song about the fear of ageing.
And what is your favourite song?
My favourite song of the EP is Daughter Of The Night. The title reminds me of the Queen Of The Night from Mozart, the first music I tried to reproduce when I was a child.
Whyzdom is also busy with their debut album "From The Brink Of Infinity". Can you already reveal some details about this album?
Yes of course ! It is almost ready. The mastering is done by Markus Teske, who is the man behind Vanden Plas albums and who worked with great bands like Symphony X, Saga, Spock's Beard. It’s a quite long album – more than 65 minutes if I remember well. You will find new versions of the songs from the EP, and 7 more songs. The orchestra and the choir are there on almost all the songs, and well, it sounds like… Whyzdom ! We hope you’ll like it !
Whyzdom did win the Metal Female Voices Fest warm up contest last year and this means they will share the same stage with bands like Sirenia, Midnattsol, Autumn and Kivimetsan Druidi the 17th of October this year.
Do you have any special plans for this gig?
We don’t really have special plans. But, well, I think (correct me if I’m wrong) it will be the first time a band comes in Wieze with a 6 pieces choir… and what better place could we find to have our female vocalists sing with us, other than the METAL FEMALE VOICES FEST. I mean, the stage is incredible, so big. We are very excited to play there !
What are Whyzdom plans for the future?
Well, we are waiting to have the album released to send it to all festivals over the world. We hope to play our music everywhere people want to hear it ! Then we will work on the second album !
And the last question: Is there anything the reader should know that I have not asked?
Ah yes : you could have asked : “When will you do a concert with a real orchestra ?”. I would have answered : we’ll try to do that in 2010 !!!
Thank you for your time,
Thank you for your interview. I was really happy to answer your questions !
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