Interview By Marcy Bell

 

Jade Ell (vocals and piano) and Pelle Händén (keys) from Xanima reveal more about their new album "Inside Warrior" and take time to reflect also about Scandinavian music's culture, combining a solo career with a band project, mystery of life and… much more below. Enjoy!

So, Jade you’re a true artist, playing piano, writing songs and singing everywhere from cafes, to castles and concert halls. How did you get involved into Xanima project?

Xanima is my collaboration with Pelle Händén and the way we got in contact was actually due to two different things. First, the fact that Pelle got my name from a producer I used to wok with earlier for my first solo album and second that a friend we happen to have in common (without knowing it at the time) also mentioned my name for him as a possible co-writer. So he got in touch with me and sent me a cd with some of his music and I so started out trying some ideas on the tracks. Then I sent the files via internet so we ended up writing a couple of songs without having ever met in real life.
"Time" which is the bonus track on our album, "Inside Warrior" was my very first attempt at writing on one of Pelle's tracks.

How do you combine your solo career with Xanima? What are the differences?

What can I say, I eat, breathe and live music. For me it takes on different shapes and I have a need for different expressions. Whereas my own solo project is more stripped down I perform often solo, my Xanima side is much more complex, wild and a bit more theatric and big on stage. I Love being able to do just that, acting out the contrasts, reflecting life as it shows itself every day...

Tell to all Femme Metal’s readers the peculiarities of Xanima. Your songs are about mysteries in modern times, such as the mind of a serial killer, the phenomenon of poltergeist and Jonestown…

I just find it interesting to tell stories of ordinary and rare people, about their encounters and experiences, the biggest mysteries and cruelties happen around us and it's so much more interesting to be precise when telling it and performing it - shedding some light upon dark, hidden secrets that fascinate us. The power of our minds is so strong and a mystery in itself. I've seen how medicine has broken down a woman due to her mental illness…

And daily we witness the powers in the world rule and destroy.. The way one leader, Mr Jones -  could lead so many people into committing suicide - is both a fascinating and bizarre story that I feel important to keep in mind so that it won't happen again....

Do you think North European (Scandinavian) culture has influenced your view of life? You’re a good mix of Swedish and Danish influences…

Guess I'm a moonchild but I've always felt very connected with nature. I was brought up in Värmland, Sweden, surrounded by a dark forest with trees carrying fairytales on their branches.... Yes, I'm definitely a mixture of a "troll" and a "fairy"  'cause at the same time I love living in a lively city such as Copenhagen.

Give please some advices to young girls that would like to start an artistic career like yours.

One advice could be: make sure to find your own voice, hand on heart: what is important to you? What's the message inside of you that you just have to share with the rest of the world? Once we're finding the reason - and the way to present it - so many things fall into place by themselves. Most importantly, keep trying and never give up whatsoever. Learn as many instruments as possible - dare trying them all on - it doesn't have to be perfect! It's more important that is real  and that it comes from you! However you will soon discover what is your specialty then you can focus more on that. Think having your own studio set-up at home, where you can record ideas regularly - will make you come to faster decisions. It's all about making small decisions all along the way.

Do you have any groups in the Femme Metal scene that you like or give you inspiration?

Hm - when it comes to inspiration it's ever really other music that inspire me - since I'm always in my own process .... But I'd like to mention a new band:
"The Murder of My Sweet" - which is one of Daniel Flores bands (who also mixed our album "Inside Warrior") .

And I think Evanescence as a band has done a lot for spreading the word  - having a female vocalist with a strong attitude and style.

 

I asked some of the best musicians in Sweden, to participate, and turn our songs into a dynamic live setup and also record the guitar, bass and drums for the album.

Where did you record the songs?

All the music and sounds is recorded in my computer based environment synth “studio”, the vocals is recorded at Jade's own studio, View12 Studio in Copenhagen. When all the arrangements and sound is premixed, we take the production to Confident music studio and replace some of the “synth guitar, bass and drums with real humans

How do you describe Xanima music? Is it a sort of rock/electronic, isn’t it?

We paint our songs with a broad range of colors, and it becomes a mix of various styles, contrasts is important in the chemistry of our songwriting companionship, which sometimes goes metal, ambient, dark and light, progressive and rock. The red line is the outstanding way Jades voice binds it all together.

Now what are your plans for the future? Concerts around? Festivals?

We have a concert coming up soon in Stockholm, and the next album is under construction, hoping to have more concerts coming up for the next year of festivals in both Scandinavia and Europe .

Which songs do you like the most to sing live?

It is hard to say, but for me as a keyboardist one is “Poltergeist”.

Have you ever thought about making a cover song? And which one could be?

A song called “Wonderworld” by a almost forgotten band from the 70’s- Uriah Heep.

 

Latest Multimedia

 
Xanima - In the lens

xanima | MySpace Video

 

Links :

Jade Ell Official Profile

Xanima Official MySpace

Xanima Official Site

 

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