To-Mera
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
Forming in 2004 To-Mera – a high profile collaboration between Juliette "Julie" Kiss (of Hungarian atmospheric metallers Without Face) and Lee Barrett (Extreme Noise Terror, Elitist Records) - released one demo in July 2005 and signed with Candlelight Records later that year. September 2006 "Transcendental" was released through the prestigious Candlelight Records to critical acclaim in the worldwide metal scene and saw the band opening for the reunited Emperor and Swedish melodic death metallers Insomnium. Masterful Magazine caught up with vocalist/lyricist Julie Kiss to talk about the band's rapid rise from the underground and about their stunning debut "Transcendental".
First off, I'd like to thank you for taking time to speak with me today. At what point did the To-Mera concept/music/identity start to come together?
After I left my previous band Without Face I wanted to start another band that was quite heavy, technical and perhaps a bit unusual. It only really started to come together however when I met our guitarist Tom about a year later whose determination brought the whole thing to life. As for the band's identity, I guess we are only just discovering it. We have had some time reflecting on the first album now and see where we are going a lot clearer.
To-Mera was formed by Lee Barrett and yourself, Julie Kiss. You released a demo in July 2005 and shortly thereafter you signed to Candlelight Records (Emperor, Opeth, etc). Did you expect to get offered a record deal so quick after forming?
No, not at all! We were actually really surprised at how good the reaction was for the demo. We treated it a lot like a big experiment just to see what we can do together. We expected it would take another at least one or two demos to get a deal, but it all just happened really quickly!
Would you be as kind to explain the meaning behind the band's name?
Sure. I read the name in a book about Egypt that stated that the ancient Egyptians used to call Egypt To-Mera. I just loved the name immediately – it just sounds really unusual. Since then I was told that the spelling is not quite right, but hey... still sounds good!
Congratulations on your stunning debut "Transcendental" – it has surely become an amazing record. How long did the writing take for the album?
Oh, thank you! Much appreciated! I guess it took about a year and a half to get the album together. We really started working hard after the demo... we felt we were under serious pressure to create a good album after the positive reception of the demo.
What were some of the intentions the band strived for when crafting the new record?
We just wanted to do something that was interesting, melodic and unpredictable without getting lost in the craziness. It was also very important for us that the lyrics are in perfect harmony with the music – so we normally start with the lyrics and compose the music around it.
Is there a particular song that you prefer that you feel really stands out on the new album?
I really love 'Perfume'. It's a very abstract and theatrical song that really just has everything in it from the tribal drums to blast beat!
The production of "Transcendental" is great: every instrument is heard and has its own place. Where did you record "Transcendental"?
I'm sure our producer Brett [Caldas-Lima] would be happy to hear that. Well, you might be surprised to hear that we actually recorded the whole thing at the backroom of a Hungarian pub on a laptop. It was really a nightmare sometimes! We had every problem that could possibly occur during a recording. So, looking back; things could have turned out a lot worse than they did.
When you first started, what were some of your initial goals to accomplish with To-Mera? How, if any, have these goals changed since getting signed to Candlelight?
Well, as I mentioned before it all just started as a big experiment. We just wanted to start a band together and see what happens, see how we get on and what can create together. Now it's all a lot more serious, of course. We got signed to Candlelight and recently got a great booking agent, as well (Derek Kemp from The Agency Group who is also doing Dream Theatre and Porcupine Tree, for example). So, we feel we got a chance here and we would really like to use it as much as we can. Of course, it's every band's big dream to become a full-time act and it's not as easy as it sounds but we will do our best.
The feedback "Transcendental" is getting is all very praiseworthy, our magazine being no exception. What are your hopes for the new album?
The new material is in the vein of "Transcendental". However, we are now a bit wiser and are more confident about where we would like to go and what we would like to achieve. Which is basically a similar kind of thing to what we have done until now except better (hopefully). We would like to build on the use of different styles even more, especially as far as the vocals are concerned.
There is a promo video for the track 'Blood' available to download from your website (www.to-mera.com). Really neat, but very expensive, I'm sure. Were the costs split between the band and the label?
It wasn't too expensive actually – a lot of favours were called in order to make the shooting possible and, of course, Ray is a big magician. He's done a great job with the cutting.
Can you tell us something about director Ray Moody, who directed the video? Will you be working with him in the foreseeable future?
He normally works on special effects for films like "Harry Potter" but he is also a huge music fan (and a musician himself) who is devoted to improving the quality of underground metal videos. It was great to work with him and the whole crew and I do hope we can work together again in the future. The shooting was a lot of fun despite that fact that we froze to death on a supposedly hot August night!
How has the label been accommodating the band's needs?
They have been great actually – really supportive. It's a nice change after working with Earache Records in the past, haha.
With half of the band's members residing in the UK and the other half in Hungary. How difficult is it properly arrange regular rehearsals and write new material?
Actually, that's not the case anymore. We unfortunately had to part ways with our old drummer Akos [Pirisi]. So, now we are all based in the UK. It really makes a huge difference – we couldn't have continued the band seriously without regular rehearsals.
What is the songwriting process for To-Mera like? Who brings the ideas? Are the songs born during rehearsals? Who is the main songwriter?
Most of the music is written by Tom [MacLean], our guitarist. The songwriting process varies from song to song – sometimes some of the vocals and lyrics are first (I write those) and Tom composes the music around them, while other times I write the lyrics after the music. Although, we can now rehearse regularly we still write the songs on the computer and we go to the rehearsals all prepared and ready to put the songs together. We just find it's much more effective like that.
To-Mera's music is quite complex, often jazzy and unmistakeably technical, both in riffs as in general song structure. About how much do you guys practice on average?
It's different with all of us, I guess – with the band it's usually once of twice a week (approx 4-5 hours), but we all practice a lot individually too – at teachers and/or in other projects as well by ourselves.
Julie, your voice is incredible on the record, both in vocal lines and the techniques you use. Will you expand upon the vocal range and abilities on future records?
Oh, thank you. Actually, after I left WF I didn't sing for a long while, so I was a bit worried whether I will be able to get back in shape by the recording. But I did practice a lot and so it's nice to hear that someone appreciates the vocals. The thing is I have a fantastic new singing teacher who teaches different styles and technique at a prestigious college in London. I will try and use my newly acquired skills a lot on the new record.
A lot of atmospheric female-fronted metal bands often fall into the same trap; writing too much ballads and slow songs. To-Mera however seems to have found a natural equilibrium between intimate mellow balladry and heavy up-tempo metallic cuts.
Yeah, there are quite a few different tempos and styles when you listen to the tracks. The reason for that is partly connected to the lyrics and is partly because we just basically wanted to make the material as diverse as possible.
With such an innovative blend of many styles, I think the musicians have a broad interest in different genres and bands too. Can you tell a bit more about the music that inspires you or like to listen to?
I listen to a lot of different things from the crazy technical music of Sikth and Ephel Duath to Bad Religion, The Tea Party, Jeff Buckley, Pain Of Salvation, Symphony X, Sense Field, Soilwork, Nevermore, Dream Theatre, musicals, classical music, Disturbed, Evanescence, Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt etc. It depends on my mood really. I have no preference to style – a good song is a good song regardless.
To-Mera is, obviously, made up of very skilled musicians. Can you tell a bit more of their background? Are they schooled or did they – except for you and Lee Barrett - play in other bands before?
Tom [MacLean] started out as a self-taught guitarist but later studied jazz guitar at the Trinity College of Music. He had a few little projects, in fact he still has a little jazz band, but nothing serious. Hugo [Sheppard], our keyboard player is also a self-taught musician - he also plays the guitar and sings really well. He has a couple of other projects too, in fact he just recorded his solo album in the vein of Jeff Buckley and others...ehm, Paul [Westwood] the drummer is probably the most schooled musician out of all of us – he used to drum in National Youth Orchestra.
The arrangements on the album are very tasteful. Who is responsible for them?
Mainly our guitarist, Tom. He is the main songwriter in the band.
What is the significance of the album's title, "Transcendental". Where were you coming from lyrically on this one?
It means 'abstract' or 'out of the ordinary' which we thought was fitting, given the amount a different styles and heaviness mixed with the female vocals. Lyrically it's very varied as well. Some of the lyrics are quite personal while others were inspired by stories/poems from Lovecraft, Suskind and a Hungarian poet called 'Radnoti'.
Do you feel that the band's live set can be easily digested by those who have not had the opportunity to hear the band's music previously?
Well, as our bass player said once: "if you don't like one of the riffs don't worry: the next is only seconds away". Seriously though, our audience comes from various backgrounds and so at least at most gigs people seem to find something in our music that's to their taste. Either that or they just get seriously confused.
Do you have any live activities scheduled for the coming months in support of your incredible debut? I read something about a European tour currently being tracked and routed.
We have some gigs coming up in the UK in February and March. I'm not sure what will happen with the tour you have heard about too – it's a nightmare sometimes to get these things together...Anyway, our own agency is working on getting a support slot for one of the bigger tours for April/May and we have been invited for some summer fests as well so it's looking promising!
How do you envision the band in a few years time; where do you hope it will get you?
I don't have any illusions, to be honest – I know perfectly well how difficult it is for a band to get somewhere these days. Especially in the age of internet downloads. Oh and especially when they play progressive metal. But then, it's not about the money anyway. We just want to make music because we enjoy it – and if we get anywhere in the process then that's great!
What's in the cards for To-Mera in the next twelve to eighteen months?
Lots of gigs, hopefully all over the place and then we plan to record the new album at the end of the year. After that...well, that's very far away.
Well, closing, I do wish to extend my praise for a killer debut record, for those ordained to appreciate it, and give the last words to you to say what ever you want.
Thanks very much for the interview! For those interested, you can download a couple of songs from "Transcendental" at www.myspace.com/tomeraband . All the tourdates are there too, so please do come and see us, if there's a date close to you. Cheers!
Site: www.to-mera.com
Booking: derekkemp@theagencygroup.com
