rozhovor_2017-08-20_Shadowside_en - HELLMAGAZINE

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This time, we would love to introduce another great band. For those who don´t know, Brazilian band  Shadowside have become well-known recently also here in Europe. So we decided to ask them couple of questions not only about their new record. Dani Nolden and Magnus Rosén answered all of my questions.

 
Hello. How are you? New album has just been released. How does it feel?

Dani: I’m doing well, thank you for asking! Hope you guys are doing great too! Well, it feels amazing. It’s hard to describe because we spent a long time negotiating with labels to make sure this album would get the release we felt it deserves, so when we inked the deal with EMP Label Group and Spiritual Beast for the release in USA, Europe and Japan, we strongly felt the album was going to be in really good hands. We are thrilled with how everything is going. People are saying positive things, especially about our new video for the song Alive and I couldn’t be happier! Things are going really, really well. I couldn’t be more thankful.

Magnus: It will be very nice to see the response of the new Shadowside album. We are all very excited about how the music and the message on the album has appeared. I find that our video has opened the door to our album “Shades of Humanity” in a very positive way.

It´s a nice day today in my home country, Slovakia. We have summer. You have winter in Brazil if I am correct. What´s the weather like? Which part of year do you prefer and why?

Dani: That’s correct, it’s winter time here, but it’s nothing like what you guys know as winter (laughs). We do get some cold temperatures in Brazil, but not in my hometown. I live in an island called Santos and I never get to wear my jackets here (laughs). I prefer winter time in Brazil because it gets way too hot during the summer. I love the cold. The happiest moment in my life was when I went to the north of Sweden to see the Aurora Borealis and it was -31º. I thought it was so awesome how my eye lashes would freeze and be covered in ice, you guys must hate it but it was incredible for this little crazy Brazilian here who never gets to see snow (laughs).

Magnus:I like all the seasons, which all have something new and different to offer.But a little relaxing time by the sea is never wrong in a sun lounge, smile.

Dani: You see how interesting it is... We always love what we have the least. I like the snow because I don't have it in Brazil. Magnus likes the sun, which we have all year long in Brazil. Life is so unfair (laughs).

It´s been more than 16 years since the release of your first single. How would you describe the journey in music?

Dani: It’s been a blast. Sometimes I can’t even believe it, because that’s something I always dreamed of, but I never truly believed it could come true. I think it still hasn’t fully sinked in yet. We’ve played in 30 countries and I still haven’t gotten used to it yet!

What did lead you to become a musician and a singer? What about your musical beginnings?

Dani: It was a little bit of fate. I always enjoyed music and singing, it was always something I was passionate about. However, my original plan was to be a professional athlete and that plan was going in the right direction when I was selected for the Santos FC youth female soccer team. Shortly after the season ended, I started playing for another team and during the pre-season, I got a pretty serious muscle injury and the doctor ordered me to fully rest for a few weeks. During that time, I had free time to sing more often and to think of music as a serious activity. When I was able to play soccer again, I realized I loved music more than I loved sports, so I quit the team to dedicate myself to music.

Magnus: When I was younger, I was very interested in sports like the others in Shadowside. But the dream of seeing the world with a bass over the shoulder became crucial.To express my feelings and also to use the instrument and the music to inspire humanity, giving love, peace and understanding became my mission in life.

Dani, you are now the only original member in the band and the only woman at the same time. Are you something like a boss in the band (laugh) ? No, really... is it difficult to be the only woman among all those men?

Dani: I don’t see myself as a boss, but everytime people ask that question to the boys, they say I am (laughs). I guess I can be a bit bossy sometimes (laughs). But really, we all make decisions together. Most of the time, they let me have the final word, but I never do that without asking everyone what they feel and think. And when it comes to the music itself, no one has the final word in anything. We discuss all the songs until everyone is 100% happy with things, so we can all feel proud of what we created.

It’s a bit difficult on the road sometimes, but I think it’s difficult for everyone. We all feel homesick, we all miss our families and loved ones. It’s not difficult being a girl in Shadowside because the guys are very respectful. I don’t know if that’s the case in other bands, but I have no trouble with the guys in Shadowside. They just roll their eyes and say "girls" everytime I go crazy searching for a mirror to put on make up, but that’s cool with me (laughs).

Magnus: Wonderful that we are guys and girls in the band.Most of us would like to be together in a mix of girls and boys, men and women.It provides diversity and development on different levels.

Let´s start talking about the new record. How long did you work on it? Tell us about some interesting or maybe even difficult things you experienced while working on it..

Dani: We seriously worked on it during 2015 and I think the most difficult thing I went through during the process was my treatment for depression. I just couldn’t find a reason to write one single line or melody. Depression had been going on for a long time already, but I didn’t realize it until it came to the point when I felt completely dead inside. I wasn’t sad, just numb. Nothing was exciting anymore and my creativity was just gone. The guys in the band were very understanding during that period and they kept working on songs until I had something to share. Then as things started getting better, I started writing songs, melodies, lyrics... I actually ended up writing most of the material I wrote for "Shades of Humanity" when I stayed with my grandmother in the hospital, she stayed there for two weeks after a surgery and my mother and I would take turns so she would always have someone with her there... and the night "shift" was mine. So since I had to do there as my grandmother was asleep most of the time, I would sit there with my computer and write lyrics all night long, while humming melodies and thinking of song arrangements and harmonies that I later showed to the guys. The songs that started there are Alive, Beast Inside and Insidious Me, as well as most of the melodies on the album and all the lyrics. Two very productive weeks (laughs).

Also, this is the first time we have songs written by all band members. Our previous album, "Inner Monster Out", already had everyone changing arrangemens, structures, melodies, which is why we credited the entire band as songwriters in the whole album. However, all initial ideas on that album came from our guitarist Raphael or myself. This time, we have "Drifter", which is a song that came from Fabio, those three that I mentioned earlier that came from me, "Unreality" and "Haunted" that came from Magnus, in partnership with Andy La Rocque, and the other songs came from Raphael. Then we all worked on those songs together, once again changing structures, melodies, tempo, arrangements, so once again we credited everyone as songwriters in the whole album. Although the initial ideas came from one person, the result after all the input from all the band members is much different from the original songs, so we feel this is a team effort.

Magnus: Those were very stimulating days in the studio, I think.Everyone was very positive and the feeling of being a part of the band felt very nice.The recording of the bass went into a furious temp, I think. 2 days a few hours, then my job was done.This is obviously due to the wonderful feel and the already very well written new music by Fabio, Raphael and Dani.

Plus 2 songs from me and Andy. This made me participate in Shadowside which was very stimulating.Having the confidence to record the bass my own way was also something that I appreciated a lot and looked at it like a benefit. Because it is not always like this when you are a new member of the band.

Very fun recording, I have to say, with the master producer Fredrik Nordström.

Is this album a big step for the band in comparing to the previous records?

Dani: Yes, definitely. Even our producer Fredrik Nordström said that. We are more confident and we focused a lot on balancing the energy of the chugging guitar riffs with the more melodic arrangements, and the intensity of angry vocals with beautiful melodies. We wanted to show people everything we like to do and capture as much of the live energy as possible.

You´ve had also a new support in the band, well-known European musician, Magnus Rosen. Has he brought any new inspirations to your music?

Dani: Yes, definitely! Magnus brought us the songs but he also brought his brilliant bass arrangements to the other ones. We gave him complete freedom to create his lines and to give suggestions. I think it worked out perfectly. Magnus playing is amazing. Even when he’s playing something simple, it always sounds strong and precise. And he knows well when to keep it simple and when to do something a bit more complicated. He plays exactly what the song needs.

Magnus: Thanks for this very nice words. It keeps my heart warm, smile.

Magnus is from Sweden. Isn´t it difficult to work because of the distance?

Dani: No, it’s going to be easier when we tour Europe and it doesn’t make much of a difference when we play in Brazil or in the US, since we have to play several dates in a row anyway, so all we have to do is meet a few days in advace for a few rehearsals.

Magnus: It's exciting to have the band on the other side of the globe.I think Brazil itself is very exciting. I have been lucky enough to tour there about 8 times.And now I'm a member of a band in this country.

Even though it is far away from Sweden, it's quite easy to fly. You take a dinner and cup of coffee, plus a movie, then you are on the other side of the world.

Shades of Humanity, that´s the title of your new album. Who has come up with the title and why this one?

Dani: I came up with a few titles, including Shades of Humanity, and that’s the one everyone liked the most. It’s about humanity having so many shades of grey and nothing is really black or white. It’s about the several aspects of human personality and the imperfections of all people... including ourselves.

What were the main inspiration for your lyrics?

Dani: I wrote a lot about those different aspects of humanity... about greed, hope, a conversation that I believe God, or whatever creator you may believe in, will have with us when everything is finally over... basically that we got everything wrong (laughs). There’s a song about abortion, which is not judgmental, as I don’t have a set opinion about the issue. I don’t feel I’m capable of judging anyone. I just imagined "What If"... it’s always interesting to consider different points of view, so I considered a very special "What if" on the song with that title. I tried to play around with a few different thoughts about this world.

What about the cover artwork? I can see a huge difference on this one. It is not so “dreamy“ if I can call it like this. It´s outspoken. There are four faces of yours representing something very dark in my view. Is this the way you see the world outside?

Dani: Yes, definitely. I see the world as a very dark place, but even if it is so, it can also be very beautiful. That’s why we put ourselves on the cover as unfinished drawings, marked by defects. We’re all like that. Everyone is flawed. And even with all the flaws, even with makind’s ability to destroy everything around us, there’s still the potential for something good. There is art in pretty much everything if you know where to look.

Is it difficult to be a musician nowadays?

Dani: It is, but I think it’s always been difficult. I’m not even talking about money, sales or the industry. It’s just hard in general since the life of a musician is chaotic. But it’s the life I chose and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Magnus: If you do not have a big dream and a mission, yes. At the same time, do not be afraid to work hard and long without knowing if you can ever survive on your music.This power and desire must come from within, otherwise you are in the wrong place.

Music is the power and the ability to move forward.

If the journey is successful, humility and gratitude should be in place.I think it is important to show respect for all other musicians and bands who struggle hard for their survival, without the great success.Inspiring and helping each other is important if there is opportunity.

Are you planning also some European dates with the new album? Any chance to see you in Slovakia?

Dani: Absolutely, I’d love to play in Slovakia again! We played there with Helloween and Gamma Ray in 2013 and I’d love to go back.

Magnus: It would be great to come back to Slovakia.

Final words to our readers...

Dani: I hope you guys enjoy Shades of Humanity and check out our new video for the song Alive, which is available at and on our official website.

Hope to see you all soon on the road!

Magnus: Love, Peace and Understanding. www.magnusrosen.com

Thank you very much for your time and I wish you all the best in music and also in your personal life. Greetings from Slovakia! Muito obrigada!

Dani: (smile) Thank you so much for the support!

Added: Dominika Nováková
Added: 20.08.2017
 
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