25/04/11
“We Toured America all summer and for the first time we went to South America, which was insane - the people over there are so crazy! There is a warmth to them, they are hungry for concerts and for events, so I really enjoyed the last tour.” After the U.S. tour (the fourth or fifth just to promote this album) and a few months on holiday, well, as ‘on holiday’ as one can be when you’re Cristina - engaged in promotional shoots, interviews, award ceremonies etc – the band begin to tour once again - “We’re starting our European and UK tour in Spain, playing three gigs over there, then Switzerland, then Germany, then the U.K. It’s like a mini UK tour with some extra dates round Europe! An American band will tell you that European audiences are better and European bands will say the U.S. audiences are better, but personally I don’t really see a difference. It comes down to the people attending the shows, not the place. Some shows are more crazy, some are more calm, but it doesn’t mean they enjoyed it more or less. When I see bands I don’t jump, I don’t do stage diving, I honestly stay at the back of the club because I want to see the whole of the stage, that doesn’t mean I’m not having a good time!”
The current release ‘Shallow Life’ was released in April 2009 and at the beginning of this year a deluxe digipak edition was released, but Cristina explains the motives behind it aren’t financial but fanatical. “It’s something everybody does. You always release a special edition with bonus tracks and special material, for collectors, for every avid fan that wants something special. The packaging is much better, a different version, it’s more interesting. It’s up to the fan whether they get it or not; you’re not forced to buy it! I like to have special editions of the albums that I really like.”
The promo pictures and packaging for this special edition are very glamorous and shiny, with Cristina and second vocalist Andrea looking very different to their usual black-clad selves. “We did that on purpose! You know the hardest thing from an artist’s eyes is communication. It might seem to be the easiest thing, because that’s what he does, communicate with people. It’s not easy to do and these pictures are the perfect example. They were representing the Shallow Life. I’m dressed as a pop princess and Andi is dressed as a pimp but a lot of people didn’t get it! They didn’t understand that it was ironic and they said ‘Oh, you completely changed your image!’. We looked at each other and asked ‘are we crazy?!’. It’s so clear that this is not our real image, it’s clear that when you come to our show, rock and metal are still the main elements. It’s difficult to make everybody on the same page.”
Despite the difficulties experienced when trying to be ironic through image, Cristina still enjoyed dressing up and playing the part, but has a different take on posing as herself and as a representation of her band. “I think I would be a hypocrite if I said posing and having my picture taken bothered me because I’m proud to be a woman and being a woman in a band you’re even more in the focus. When I think about every other band, the attention is always on the singer because they are the ones who translate in words what you want to say with your music. I think it’s normal, but people probably put even more attention and focus on me because I’m female. I don’t worry too much honestly.” Adorning calendars, posters and topping ‘Hottest Women in Metal’ polls across the globe is part of the job, but when asked who she would vote for to put in a male metal calendar her response is immediate and strong. “I think that’s stupid. Polls don’t necessarily translate with reality. Most of the time it’s not even ‘this person is the sexiest one’ or ‘this person is the best guitar player’, most of the time it translates to young people voting, because a lot of adults don’t vote because they don’t give a fuck about that. Not only that, but when I think about some polls, for example ‘best singer ever’ the winner is the singer of a band that is popular and some really good singers are always forgotten. I’ve never seen Mike Patton as best singer for example, not even in the top ten, and in my opinion he is one of the best. So I honestly don’t care and don’t trust in polls but magazines have to do that because they want to involve their readers. I’m pleased when I do win polls, I thank all my fans for voting and thinking I’m still good looking but I don’t really trust in polls at all.”
But as the fans’ reaction to her ‘new’ image proved, the way the band presents themselves is still an essential part of being Lacuna Coil and Cristina understands this – “I think that the look is an important part of a band, whether you say it or not. Kids want to relate to you even with the look as well as the music. Obviously I want everybody to listen to the music but I want them to focus on the look as well, why not?”
Aside from being one of the most stunning women in metal, both aesthetically and vocally, Cristina has other aspects to her music career. Last year she collaborated with the Rezophonic project to raise money for charity through a compilation album. This year she plans to do the same and seems genuinely excited about the prospect. “There is a new album with Rezophonic coming out with even more artists involved. This is a real project with real results; 70 wells have been built, as well as mosquito tents and schools, so there are a lot more people involved now. I’m involved again and I’ve recorded two songs already. I don’t know exactly when it’s going to be out, either end of this year or beginning of next year.”
As the interview comes to an end, a ridiculous offer to show her around Norwich the day after their gig produces a most surprising reaction. She genuinely checks her schedule, genuinely considers the offer… “When did you say the date was again? I don’t think we have a lot of days off. I think we have other shows we’re going to add, so I don’t think we’ll have time to see much of England. But when we have time we try to be tourists!”
A quick, parting question. When can fans expect something new from Italy’s metal icons? “We are already collecting ideas about the style and the concept, but nothing definite. We don’t want to say anything because in the past we’ve said something like that and then we just changed it all completely; we were inspired by something else. In October when we come back to Milan we’re going to get in the practice room and just play a bit more together and see where the music will lead us. We want to put an album out for next year but there are no songs yet.”
After Cristina cheerily says goodbye and the phone is hung-up it feels refreshing to have interviewed someone who speaks their mind and isn’t afraid to disagree, no matter how it might come across - someone who has managed to keep their feet on the ground despite the polls telling them how fabulous they are.
Lenore
Lacuna Coil come to the Waterfront on October 11th. For tickets, go to www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk or call 01603 508050.