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Interview with Genevieve Rodda from Temtris. March 2018

Posted on: March 22nd, 2018 by Greg Jordan No Comments

I had a yap yesterday with lead singer Genevieve Rodda of Australian metal band Temtris. When you listen to Genevieve sing, she is such a powerhouse and strong life force. As you will discover here, music is a huge part of who she is.

 G’day Genevieve. Welcome to Metal Health and thanks for being here.

No problem at all 🙂

 What does good mental health mean to you?

For me it is all about a balanced life. I like to keep fit and i train Krav Maga once a week which is a street smart self defense system. I run at least twice a week to de-stress. I feel good when i eat well and try to follow a healthy diet 5 days a week but let myself relax on the weekends. I like to work hard but i like to party hard too and let loose with my friends at a show with a few vodkas.

 How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope?

I love gigging but it is stressful leaving my kids so when i am home i try to make the most of that time. We recently have had a break from shows and i am missing not singing live. We would all love to be able to live the touring scene but the reality is most musicians need a day job to survive. I work at a special needs school and it really gives you a good perspective on how awesome my life is when you see disadvantaged kids day after day.

 What motivates you? What keeps you going?

I am not very good at sitting still, i am a doer. But i do like to set goals and move forward and push myself in most things and i do not like to quit. If someone said i couldn’t do it that would make me chase it even more. My love for the metal scene keeps me striving and moving forward. Music is a great way to get anyone motivated even when you are having a bad day.

There have been times when i wondered if i should stop creating music and gigging but i think i would feel like some of my soul would be missing if i did that.

 Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

Yes i am. We all get down at times. I do believe things happen for a reason within reason and i always wait to see what the outcome is before i let it get to me or i will put on some metal and sing my lungs out, it always helps.

 Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

Been through my share like most people. I have had to part with so called friends who have treated me badly and abused my friendship. They thought that this was ok, It was not easy at the time to remove long term friends from my life and it helped to have a close friends i could talk to. Remembering that it won’t be like this forever and trying to focus on things to move forward and appreciating the good things in our life helps.

 What does making music mean to you? Why do you do it?

I like to write about life experiences and quite a few of our albums have been concept albums so we have themes we can write too. But it is the creation of the album including artwork, songs and the whole story coming together that i enjoy.

 When did you start making music individually and as a band? Was it like finding some buried treasure that you didn’t know you had, and how did making music fit in with the rest of your life?

I have been writing music from about 13 years of age when i started learning guitar. I use to like sitting in my room just playing guitar and putting together songs. I joined my first band at 14 and did my first gig then also. I decided after that first show that this was what i wanted to do and had a goal to be known as an Australian female metal singer in a professional band. After 4 albums and a fifth one on the way it has not always been easy continuing while raising two children and working but when your doing something that you love nothing can stand in your way, even time lol

 How important is it for the bass guitar and drums to be tight, and where do you see guitar and voice fitting in the groove.

A band should be tight and work as a team. We work really hard on our song structure to make the vocals work with the guitars. The song needs emotion to be able to convey to an audience

 i was just listening to Awakening from your first album, and Enter the asylum from the 4th record. I love your vocal approach. You convey a strong sense of purpose and really project the lyric.

Why do you sing? Is it simply the opportunity for self expression?

I want to be strong , i train to be strong and i guess i want be seen as a strong female in the metal scene so when i sing, i sing with conviction because i mean it.

 How was  the recording process for your last record? Did you bang it down live, or record an instrument at a time etc?

Drums and vocals were recording in Main Street studios Wollongong. The guitars were recorded in the guitarists own studios.

 So what are your plans? Some more touring or any dates you can mention? I believe album number 5 is coming out soon?

Next gig is the 5th May at The Bald Faced Stag Sydney. Our album Launch for the 5th album is set for later in the year if all goes as planned.

 Any other projects musical or otherwise happening?

All my focus is always on Temtris and always has been.

 Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

Talk to someone, find something you enjoy doing and focus on that. Surround yourself with positive people and don’t feel guilty about looking after yourself and saying NO!

Smile and remember tomorrow, things can get better.

 Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Genevieve. Wishing you safe travels, and all the best with the upcoming shows. Greg \Mh/.

Been great chatting with you and thanks \m/

Look out for album # 5 and upcoming shows. Links to band pages – 

https://www.facebook.com/Temtris/

http://www.temtris.com

Heavy metal is good for our mental health

Posted on: February 23rd, 2018 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Greetings everyone,

We know metal is good for us, and here’s a news story from Australia’s ABC news supporting this. Well done to Liam Frost-Camilleri for organising the Beyond black gig in Ballarat, Australia which saw bands raise money for the mental health organisation Beyond blue. Here’s the link to the story – Greg \MH/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-19/heavy-metal-helps-soothe-the-soul/9450576

Thunder Spell. Metal from Brazil! Interview January 2017.

Posted on: January 24th, 2017 by Greg Jordan No Comments

– Hello Thunder Spell. Welcome to Metalhealth and thanks for being here.

– What does good mental health mean to you?

That to say this of well with the life and to itself, to seek to balance the good things of the life, health and leisure are the excential in this chemistry, to practice sport, to have a healthy life, and very good, to listen to very heavy metal also helps, that leaves the Healthy mind, you can be sure.

–  How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big gig/event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope?

Outside the road and the shows we live a very normal life, we have our professions outside the life of heavy metal musician, we work to maintain a good life, among other things, family, friends, etc. No, before we travel, we leave everything ready for our absence, we try to anticipate our tasks as much as possible, so that when we return we have not delayed much and neither prejudiced our tasks during our trips.

– What motivates you? What keeps you going?

Many things, but I think the main motivation is to be able to show our work to other people, meet new people, and meet people who like our music, our band, that’s priceless. We continue for this reason and the will will crazy and eternal will play heavy metal, this keeps the band. This ideal, we fight for it, to keep the flame of the metal burning.

– Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

Yes. As I say, forward ball that comes back people eating hot dog, I always think of the future, entrepreneurial vision, expand with new ideas, new horizons. You always have to think about the solution and not the problem, I think to be optimistic This is it, problems will always exist, it is up to you to let them be defeated by them or not, I do not let them defeat me.

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

I believe that even for those who have everything, it becomes difficult not to have difficulties, which ends up becoming a difficulty. We are not different from anyone, we have gone through many difficulties, but always trying to solve the best way possible. As I said before, always thinking of the solution, if you give in to the problems when they arise you are already born defeated, dead, we are born To win, we will not surrender, surrender for anything, alias we will not surrender for nothing, metal to death, this is philosophy of life, win, aim for victory and persist in their goals, their achievements, until the world Become small for them.

– What does making music mean to you? Why do you do it?

It represents a personal satisfaction in being able to show people what you love, to make music and to play them is very rewarding, to know that people like what you did, to have the satisfaction of having done something special. Because it’s what we like to do, we only think about composing, playing heavy metal, every day, it’s our addiction, our poison, it leaves us poisonous too, always wanting to do more and more, playing heavy metal is everything, we do not think Stop

– You have a new album coming out called Battle Scream. Do you have a release date for the album? How was the recording process for this record? Did you bang it down live, or record one instrument at a time etc? 

In fact we have already released it, we are now releasing this album and doing shows to show our new work, and this has been very gratifying, because the recording process was quite long, we recorded in two studios, but in the end it came out as wanted agent , Well worth the wait. We recorded each instrument and voice one at a time, we had some unforeseen ones too, so it was time consuming.

– Congratulations! So what are your plans with Battle Scream?  Some more touring or any dates you can mention? I see you have some big shows coming up.  Any other projects musical or otherwise happening?

Currently we are doing shows here in our country, but soon we hope to play in other countries, including in Europe because at the moment, we are not much time to make a great tour, but we are playing in major festivals here in Brazil, such as Maniacs metal Meeting, one of the biggest festivals in the south of the country, we had the honor of playing it, but we are organizing to do a very nice tour. yes, we are in a tribute to the English Raven band, with the music Fire Power, and now we are going Participate in a tribute to the Motorhead with the song one night stand, this for us was a special step for the band.

– Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

Do not let them down, try always to give your best in everything, always try to overcome each day, more and more, seeking the good vibes that heavy metal and other things can give you, do not grieve your heart , Metal is for the strong, if you listen and identify with that sound, you are a strong person, you are a winner, even if you do not know, seek the warrior that sleeps inside you, wake the beast, make him shout to Everyone hear, and know that you are a winner. Do not give up on your dreams, do not give up on heavy metal, it will never give up on you, heavy metal will never die.

– Thank you Thunder Spell for taking the time to talk with us. Let’s hope we can see you in Australia soon! Safe travels, and all the best with the album and your future plans.

Greg \MH/.

 

Band links –

https://www.facebook.com/thunderspellmetal/

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=f0NHOTinyqA

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=8yLMEmeOVtc 

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=okCM7lGoks8