Rockezine.com interview with Delain on Oct 16, 2006

with Martijn Westerholt on Oct 16, 2006


		Well, the first question that popped into my mind is, why did you decide on a project over a band? At the time, I could not find the right musicians for a band. I had a good network of musicians who could do the job, but they had their own bands. Slowly the whole thing just developed into a project. So actually the process.
		I know that you approached the guest musicians with demo tracks. Which of these track turned out way better than you expected? Every track actually. I think songs are suppose to grow during the production. So I was very surprised how every song turned out in the end.
		What was the touchest decision you had to make during the making of Lucidity? Ow, that`s a good question. There were a lot of tough decisions which had to be made. It`s very important to make use of everybody`s best quality`s. Everybody has his or her speciality, and you have to filter that out to get the best result possible. This was the biggest challenge in the project I guess.
		You’ve been a keyboard player and composer with Within Temtpation. How difficult was it to come up with a destinctive Delain sound? Actually I`m never busy with this kind of things on a conscious level. Also in terms of how the sound should be. I don`t care if one or 1000 other bands have a similar sound. I just write what I feel and what comes out of the heart.
		Where did you find the very talented female vocalist Charlotte Wessels and how important is she for het sound of Delain? That`s a funny story. I searched for a unknown (new) vocalist for the album, to help give Delain it`s own identity. I think this is much of the time the handicap of a project. I searched everywhere all over the country (although The Netherlands is not that big off course). I could not find anybody which could fit to the quality list I was looking for. (young, original own sound character, gifted in writing own melody lines and lyrics etc) In the end I found Charlotte who lived in the street my parents live. Orinally I only asked her to write some lyrics, but when I heard her voice, I knew the search was over. She`s a very important part of Delain. I think right now, there can be no Delain in this form without her.
		Despite the fact that you make an absolutely incredible album there must be one or two things you would have liked to see different. I want to know because I couldn’t find a single awkward note played. Haha, that`s a really smart question. There`s always stuff you would like to do better, but in the end you have to make the decision it`s finished, otherwise you can be stuck with a production indefinitely. In terms of writing I`m satisfied completely, in terms of some guitar sound /mixes there are some minor details I would have like to see differently. But in the end I`m very satisfied with the result of the album
we will keep the guest musician formula		I bet you’re already writing tracks for the second album. Which musician would you love to see make it’s appearance on the follow up? Delain is transformed into a band at this moment. We planning to do a lot of gigs, and for that I cannot make use of all guest musicians off course. Due to their agenda, and distance. So we have worked very hard to get a band together in the last three months. And I`m very glad with the group we have now. With this band we`re planning write the next album. But we will keep the guest musician formula, because it`s so refreshing to work with new musicians every time, and it always gives a surprising result. I already have some ideas, but ill keep that to myself for now.
		“Lucidity” is being released by Roadrunner Records. What did they offer Delain that no other record company could? A very enthusiastic team who really believe in Delain. A very good network in terms of distribution and promotion, both nationally as internationally. It`s a label which doesn`t have a lot of bands in this genre, which I think is a good thing is for Delain.
		Delain is planning to hit the clubs this year. Can we expect many of the guest musicians to make an appearance? I already answered part of this question. But yes, now and then one or more guest musicians will pop op sometime. This will keep it a real surprise every time.
		If you had 100.000 euro to spare for Delain, where would you spend it on? On the next album on top of the budget I will get, and to do more spectacular stuff live. Nice question. I hope I can think of this "problem" for real sometime
		Playing which venue or festival would be a dream come true? Roskilde and Wacken are still on the wish list.
		Finally: why should our readers check out ‘Lucidity’? Because it`s written right out of the heart, and some people will hear familiar sounds (guest musicians) in another setting.
(Geert Oldenmenger)