Interview withLeeni-Maria (vocals) of Kivimetsän Druidi
This April, the self-proclaimed “Finnish Fantasy-Metallers” KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI release their second studio album ‘Betrayal, Justice, Revenge’ just two years after their debut album ‘Shadowheart’. I’ve since had the pleasure of discussing with vocalist, Leeni-Maria, the new album, personal quirks, and the future of KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI.
Reflections of Darkness (RoD): Leeni-Maria, can you please tell the new readers what your position in the band is?
Leeni-Maria: I am the female vocalist and recently also one of the two lyricists of KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI.
RoD: What can someone expect when they pick up a KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI album, or when they show up at a performance?
Leeni-Maria: Some serious fantasy metal! Great contrasts! Many little "windows" into another world in which strange things are happening. Intense live shows. Though we don't actually even talk much. We mostly rush from one song to another. We are kind of shy that way.
RoD: What can we expect from the newest album 'Betrayal, Justice, Revenge'? How do you think you've evolved since 'Shadowheart'? Leeni-Maria: Much. ‘Shadowheart’ was a compilation of things - songs - happening between years 2002-2008. From the very beginning of the band to the making of the debut, and much happened musically between those years. So, ‘Shadowheart’ has a collection-like quality to it. Tracks differ greatly in style. Also we were not quite happy with the result of the sounds. ‘Betrayal…’ is more aggressive. The extremes we like to do in our music are present more steadily in most of the tracks and the result is more consistent, even though there are two tracks by other composers than before. The final sounds of ‘Betrayal…’ are much more the way we intended. I think we've learned much in the process.
RoD: What types of challenges do you face being the only female in the band? Is it difficult working in an environment of primarily males, or are you accustomed to it?
Leeni-Maria: There are no challenges as far as I'm concerned. But then people sometimes say that I'm kind of funny for a girl… which probably explains. Maybe I am accustomed to it, but I've never felt in the first place that it was difficult. These things are a matter of personality, not gender.
RoD: You've toured all over Europe and now America after the run of Heathenfest last year. Are there any severe differences between touring in your homeland and across seas? (Besides the obvious; homesickness, language, food, etc.)
Leeni-Maria: There are some great practical differences concerning the actual touring. Cars, gasoline and the way the cities are built. Europe is full of these old places with narrow streets where you can hardly get the tour bus close enough for load in, and after that the bus many times had to leave to park some place kilometres away from the venue at most. Also the Heathenfest bus cost less and was
much more comfortable - really like a home on wheels - than the European. Car culture is entirely different in the States, and the whole nation seems to be built for driving. Streets are wide, parking lots big and the bus was almost always just behind the corner. But this again is a practical difference. Concerning the shows - no, I don't feel anything was so much different. Audiences were just as exited. Venues were smaller, though. Oh, right now I just realised that you actually asked about touring in homeland. Well, there is a severe difference starting with the fact that we don't actually tour in Finland. We've done one, what, two-week thingy with BATTLELORE which one just might call a tour if one stretched the concept widely. We don't really have that much demand at the home front. Our main audiences are elsewhere in Europe and in America. RoD: Out of all of your performances, what show is most memorable to you?
Leeni-Maria: This is going to be hard to answer because I don't remember all of them. And the ones I do remember I cannot remember where and when they were. It all gets a little blurry after having made, let's say, several festival gigs in Europe. They all kind of blend together. Rock Tower in Lübeck was cool (do I even remember the name right?) and Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium was one with extremely good arrangements.
RoD: Your lyrics are based on the Fantasy story that guitarist Joni is currently writing. Can you enlighten us as to when this book may be released, or if he's planning to publish it at all?
Leeni-Maria: The book has not taken form yet and it might be that it never will. Joni
has written it "to the table drawer" but right now the ideas come out as Drudi's music so there hasn't been a need or a chance to pours them out as this book. There's no telling what will happen with it in the future. The world he created still remains the inspiration of the songs, though. RoD: How important is the visual image for the band? You seem to take presentation pretty seriously, and it appears to have paid off for you.
Leeni-Maria: Do we? Has it? I haven't noticed. Well, of course you're right. It is clear to us that we use the Druidi outfit, we use the war-paint and the make up (in my case) and the appearance is fantasy-like. It is simply logical. It would feel so weird to go out there play a show wearing, what, t-shirt and jeans. It would feel like… an atheist preaching religion?
RoD: Do you use any specific warm-ups before you sing? Or any home remedies such as hot tea or honey?
Leeni-Maria: It pays well to be actually, physically warm before the show, even sweating slightly, if this can be arranged because then all the muscles of the body are warm and flexible and that makes a great difference. Some say that one shouldn't make oneself breathless before the show because voice will be raspy or something. I don't think it does any harm, but it might make you need to clear your throat in the middle of phrases. Doing aerobic exercises, that is moving yourself breathless for thirty to forty minutes builds up your stamina and you'll be able to breathe easier on stage even when things get hectic.
RoD: What musicians have inspired you the most in your career? Why? Leeni-Maria: From Metal genre it probably was Alice Cooper who is to blame that I got into heavy music. From heavy rock to where we stand now. In between was THE CURE which taught me much of what I am and that it is okay to be that. Peter Steele still is one of the few male singers that I much appreciate. My classical school teachers have been great inspiration, and these days also my co-students at the conservatory. We learn much from one another. In the Metal genre it was Floor Jansen from AFTER FOREVER who so far has made the greatest impression in the style closest to what I wish to do. An entirely different style artist is HAGALAZ' RUNEDANCE, which probably closest of all has the mentality that I feel important to me with the Druidi.
RoD: What are a few of your guilty habits and pleasures? Do they interfere with your music?
Leeni-Maria: Well, no, unless you count in the worst of my guilty habits by far and that is making myself over-busy, over-demanded, over-employed or at least over-occupied my thinking hell, I can manage all this at the same time. I am actually right now facing the point where I have to accept that I can't and I must give up something. Some of these might be movies, TV-shows, dancing, homemaking - I really kind of like washing the dishes and organizing things and ironing sheets and stuff! - Making my own moisturizers, sewing my own Druidi clothes, cooking from the scratch. It all just takes too much time.
RoD: Do you follow a specific diet when you're on tour? I've heard plenty of horror-stories of an artist eating the wrong thing before they get on stage, and “regretting it later” if you know what I mean.
Leeni-Maria: Oooo, horrible! Such accidents have so far not happened to me but then I usually always eat after the show. I can't and I wouldn't beforehand - it is difficult and actually a little unhealthy to sing with a full belly, especially if you are supposed to jump up and down at the same time. It's like with any physical exercise, you shouldn't eat just before.
RoD: Have you had to address any problems while on tour when it comes to hygiene? Being a woman, has there ever been a situation that you felt was more unacceptable for you than the dudes? (Example: No shower access for a week, or something to that effect) Leeni-Maria: Tour managers these days take great pains to keep the divas happy. I've never had to complain about anything. We have quite automatically been offered such things as steady showers (although quite often cold, but hey, you can't have everything can you) and understanding drivers ("sure, we'll make a stop soon enough"). Such things as my own dressing room have even been offered to arrange in larger venues where it is possible. But I don't really need courtesies like that. My needs don't really accede those of the "dudes", that would feel stupid even to me. The fact that some backstage have been mouldy and cold and make you sick like finally happened in the last European tour affect also the guys and especially Joni since he vocalizes too - and is pretty prone to flu, even more so than myself. Each tour seems to begin with him more or less sick at some point. Perhaps things have changed and the tour managers and such have learnt to keep the girls satisfied. A woman in a metal band is after all quite common these days. Own attitude also does a lot, since there just are going to be these next-to-nothing little venues, you'd better to for an example have your own make up mirror with you 'cause there just might not be one in the backstage though we did ask for it.
RoD: Where do you see KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI in another 10 years? Where do you hope to see yourself?
Leeni-Maria: I hope we will have released at least three more albums. I hope we will be much more popular. I hope we will by then have made headliner tours for about eight years, maybe about two per year or so. I hope our story-telling will have gotten focused a little more and we'll have made this beautiful, wholesome world into which all our stories seamlessly fall.
RoD: Is there anything you'd like to share with us here at Reflections of Darkness, or to any of your fans reading?
Leeni-Maria: Check out the new album. Come see us live! Dryads are not to be trusted with your heart. Rock ‘n’ Troll!
RoD: Thank you for your time, Leeni, we anticipate the upcoming album!
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