Interviews: LOVELORN DOLLS

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Gothic Rock band LOVELORN DOLLS from Belgium. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Kristell: First we had the name "Lovelorn", a word I discovered in a Leave's Eyes song. I thought it sounded good, that it resonated something familiar within me. Then we quickly signed with Alfa Matrix, and we discovered that another group already had that name. To avoid confusion, we decided to add "dolls" behind it. The dolls are us, and they are also the little girls that you see in each of our visuals.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Bernard: the music we play is a mix of our personal tastes. I'm more of a guitar guy so of course there must be guitars among the synths we use and abuse. Also, the gothic genre fits the more melancholic personalities.

Kristell: We didn't really choose to play that genre, it just happened. Because my musical tastes, since I was young, have been oriented towards melancholy, quite dark melodies, which give me chills. I also like fantasy cinema, manga, and surreal but romantic visual artists. All of this mixed together to form our style.

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

Bernard: Back in the early 2000s I discovered Kristell through the first EP and the Album Rent to Kill from Skeptical Minds. I was seduced by the songs and the voice. In 2010 I decided to write a concept album called Road to Consciousness. Kris was the first singer - among the 12 who participated - that I contacted. After that experience, we started to work together on the embryo of what would become Lovelorn Dolls.

Kristell: Bernard, if you remember correctly, we also did a gig together, you with your band, then me with my band on the same stage. That's where we must have met for the first time.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Bernard: this evolved a lot. I'm 56. I discovered heavy music when I was 11. At the time my favourite band was ACDC then I discovered Metallica which became my favourite. In the '90s and early 2000s, I was a big fan of Dream Theater and the prog metal genre. But since I do not stick to one genre I also listened a lot to female-fronted bands such as Epica, Lacuna Coil, and The Gathering. These bands are the common spot between Kris and myself.

Kristell: When I was a teenager, I had favorite bands like Placebo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Radiohead, and Depeche Mode. I think that deep down, these remain the same today because they have shaped who I am.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Kristell: I am inspired by my personal life, by the lives of others, and also by current events and what is happening in the world.

6. Where was your last gig? 

Bernard: except for the release party in 2018 for the Darker Ages album, the last gig I remember was in 2015... It was a festival in the Netherlands called Female Metal Event, where we shared the stage with Stream of Passion and Anneke Van Giersbergen among others.

7. Where would you like to act?

Kristell: We really like playing at festivals, there’s always a great atmosphere and we meet lots of people. We would like to play wherever we are invited! Opening for bands we like is also a good experience.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Bernard: On the album to come we already have two features. One with an American artist and the second one with a German singer of whom I've been a fan since 1999. So it was wonderful that he accepted to be featured on the album to come. For the future, it would be great if we could have a duet with Kris and singers such as Christina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex The Gathering).

Kristell: It's really interesting and exciting to do collaborations with other artists. We still hope to see the opportunity to repeat the experience many times!

9. Whom not?

Bernard: Never thought about this... I don't dislike any artist ... until he has proven him or herself to be a....hole.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Bernard: back in the 90s when I started to play live with metal bands I had a lot of stage fright. I must say that it is more frightening to play in front of 10 people than in front of 10.000. One advice: be prepared 150% so you can deliver 80% or 100% of your full potential. Also the most important is the rhythm section. You have to pick the best drummer and bassist possible and then the guitars, synths, and voice will be very easy to put on top of it. If your rhythm section sucks it will be a great source of stress.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Bernard: for Lovelorn Dolls the Birthday Massacre is for sure the band we were compared to since we started. But there may be other influences such as Lacuna Coil, and Rammstein.

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

Kristell: Fans don't ask us weird things. In general, they are very respectful and they just want to share with us. They ask for photos, signatures, that sort of thing, pretty mundane, right?

13. What do you think of your fans?

Our fans are super important. We need their support to move forward and to continue making music. As I said before, there is a kind of respect and goodwill between us.

14. What do you think of our site?

Kristell: Your site, like other music webzines, is super important to us artists. to make yourself known and heard. You give voice to more underground artists, and I wish you a long life! Respect to you!

15. Something to add?

Kristell: Our new EP "Beautiful Chaos" is released this 01/19/24 on all platforms with our new video clip. It will be followed by an album in May. Stay tuned!