Interviews: Shades Of Sorrow

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Metal band Shades Of Sorrow from Canada. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Mike: It was just picked from a list of names that pascal and I came up with. It seemed to be the best of the list.

Pascal: I think me and Mike came up with the name, no specific meaning, it just sounded cool.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Monise: I've always loved heavier music so it just felt right.

Julien: We all grew up listening to this type of music in all of its different forms. It's only natural that we gravitate towards heavy music.

Mike: I’ve always loved music on the heavier side. I wanted to write stuff that I liked to listen too.

Pascal: It just came naturally, we did not set it to get something, in particular, just get the best music we can come with.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Monise: I didn't know them before. I only joined the band several years after they formed. I knew their music and followed them on Facebook, which is where I found out that they were looking for a singer.

Julien: No, I got in the band in 2010 after I saw an ad online that they were looking for a bass player. I checked out the music and thought it was really good. I learned a few of the songs and did the audition and it gelled right away. 

Mike: Pascal and I met while playing for another project and when that fell apart we started this one. Everyone else I met when they tried out for the band.  

Pascal: No me and Mike played with someone else before, that's how we met. i didn't know Julien, and I knew Monise a little bit, but not personally, she was taking singing lessons, where I teach, and she knew about the band and talk to me about coming for an audition when she learns that we were looking for a new signer.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Monise: I have a hard time choosing just one favorite band, but some standouts would be Nightwish, Iron Maiden, The Tea Party, and Tori Amos. 


Mike: I’ll pick 2. Pantera and Guns N Roses.

Julien: My favorite band changes pretty often. But if I have to choose one, I would go with System of a Down.

Pascal: My favorites are, the Beatles, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, etc.. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Monise: I mostly write about personal experiences, but I try to make it vague enough that it can be interpreted towards different situations and be relatable. 

Mike: I just always wanted to play. Anything I’m listening to can influence what I write.

Julien: I usually get inspired by other music. From any genre. It can be anything from how a song is structured to a drumbeat to how a two-note interval sound one after the other.

Pascal: For myself, nothing special, I just have an idea of a riff or two and just connect them together, I am not the most prolific writer in the band.

6. Where was your last gig?

Monise: Our last gig was in our hometown with some friends of ours called "The Continuance".

Julien: In a sketchy bar in our hometown. "Sketchy bar" will often be part of that answer.

7. Where would you like to act?

Monise: We would love to play in Europe. A European tour would be a dream come true.

Julien: I would love to play something like Heavy Montreal one day. Even if it's on the smaller stage.

Mike: I would love to do a tour in Europe.

Pascal: Anywhere we never played before, across western Canada, the U.S.A, and Europe. 8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Monise: Playing with Nightwish would be amazing!

Julien: I would love to open for Mastodon.

Mike: Really anyone who would have us haha. If I am picking specific bands I’d like to play with In Flames, Epica, Lacuna Coil…I think we would fit well with those bands.

Pascal: Any band I name at question 4, except for the Beatles and Zeppelin, for obvious reasons. 9. Whom not?

Monise: I don't know if there's anyone specific whom I would not want to play with. I'm pretty open to playing with anyone. We've played with bands and artists of many different styles and often times it makes for a great show. As long as everyone is enjoying themselves, I'm in.

Julien: I would play with any artist of any genre as long as they aren't difficult to work with.

Mike: Assholes haha

Pascal: I don't know, maybe some band that their crowd would be very hostile with us.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Monise: I still get nervous before playing shows. The best advice I can give is, be scared, and do it anyway. Once you get up there, you settle into your groove and then the fear turns into excitement.

Julien: It's normal to have stage fright. I still have it sometimes before a show but as soon as the music starts it goes away pretty fast. As a tip I would say make sure you know the songs very well. Being confident in your playing makes one less thing to worry about on stage.

Mike: I did at first but it eventually went away. For me, it was just working through it. My desire to perform outweighed my fear. Pascal-No not really, just excited before sometimes, the butterflies in the stomach sometimes.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Monise: Nightwish, Iron Maiden, Heart

Julien: As for writing goes, I draw inspiration from bands like Kyuss, System of a Down, Mastodon, Tool, Opeth. 

Mike: Pantera, Guns n Roses, Incubus Pascal-The Beatles, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, etc...

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Monise: A threesome. We were on tour and a young woman approached me and asked if I wanted to go home with her and her boyfriend. I declined but thanked her for the compliment.

Julien: I have never had a fan ask me for something weird. But hopefully, it will happen soon. I'm looking forward to it.

Mike: Nothing weird yet, but I’m hopeful lol.

Pascal: That we sound like Hailstorm? Just a joke, I don't have any memory of a fan telling me something bizarre about the music or the band.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Monise: I think they're great! I am so appreciative of everyone who is interested in our music.

Julien: I love our fans, thank you all for giving a shit and coming out to see us and listening to our music.

Mike: Our fans are great.

Pascal: They are great, they get it, we don't fit in the scene around here, a lot of bands are much heavier than we are, and some peoples won't admit that they like our band because of that. but our fans are open about it.

14. What do you think of our site?

Monise: It's super cool! I love that there is so much information about all these different bands. It's great!

Julien: Websites like this are so important for underground metal. It's a great way to discover new music.

Mike: I love it. It’s very easy to navigate and lots of info on lots of bands. 

Pascal: For what I saw it is pretty cool, you guys doing something really interesting.

15. Something add?

Monise: I just want to say thank you for the interview, and thank you to everyone who has shown an interest in our music.

Mike: Thank you for the support. We hope everyone likes the new album and hopefully, we get to see you at the shows.

Julien: Thank you for the support!

Pascal: Just want to thank you for the interview, we need all the exposure we can get, and we hope the new album will do great for us. thank you.