Steel Notes Magazine Steel Notes Magazine - Winter 2017/18 | Page 41

Steel Notes Magazine www.steelnotesmagazine.com music genres, softer and more intense, and tend not to classify music as much. Maybe that comes from my experience in songwriting, and from knowing how personal a song can be. able to start over, and not giving up. It’s about moving to a better understanding of life. I feel like the songs came to me like gifts, little opportunities to explain something. And I was able to capture them and record them. I started writing "You Break" in 2001, and "Come Alive" was written in the Summer and Autumn of 2016, just before delivering the album to the record label. So it happened in the span of about 15 years. I would write and record any time I had the chance, ability and/or inspiration. There were times when I didn't know if I'd ever have enough songs to complete an album, but I kept going, and I'm glad I did. What kind of music is most appealing to you nowadays? You have been playing with Doro for such a long time. What does this band mean to you? In a word, family. We have seen and been through a lot together. Just like family. How would you describe the “Queen of Metal”? One word to define your experience with the band? The Queen of Metal is the legend that carries the torch of heavy metal, and is so deservedly respected. One word to describe my experience with the Doro band: adventure. Also, I never stop learning with them, which is great. You just released your second solo album: “Regenerations”. Introspective music, softer sounds, cool arrangements. Can you describe the project, its origins and its meaning? How long did it take you from the beginning to completion (release date)? It's autobiographical and represents the changes I went through during making it. It allows me to express things that I would not have been able to express in any other way. The title "Regenerations" refers to the concept of being I'm really into lyrics and storytelling. It doesn't really matter what genre it is. As long as the words and sounds are compelling, I'll like it. Songs can cure the soul, when you hear them at the right moment. Many years playing, long tours… How have you been keeping up with the rock-star lifestyle from a physical perspective? When we first started touring I was younger, I could handle heavy traveling, and not getting a lot of sleep. As time went on, my body started to give small signs of physical tiredness, and I had to adapt. I try to eat healthier, and rest as much as possible . The priority is my performance on stage, I want to have as much energy as I can for that. Live or studio? Both give some kind of satisfaction that the other doesn't. But I will say that, since I have a home studio, I really enjoy spending time writing, recording and mixing. What’s your relationship with the past? Do you like to talk about your memories and experiences, or do you prefer to stay focused on the present and keep looking forward? Steel Notes Magazine www.steelnotesmagazine.com 41