Interviews: ETWAS

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Occult Symphonic Metal band, ETWAS from France. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

It was pretty by chance. Silver, our guitar player and composed, studied the german language at the moment. As he played music for a long time, he wanted to create a symphonic band with a short name, easy to remember and pronounce, and he chose « Etwas ». « Etwas » means « something » in german. The sound is nice, it is short because we didn’t want to complete sentences or several words to compose the band name. « Etwas » is easy and we like it.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Even we all four are fond of metal music, we don’t listen to the same kind. Our drummer likes death metal while our bass player prefers heavy metal. Silver and I rather like black metal. And we all are attracted by symphonic metal for a while, and we wanted to add the elements of the music we like and listen to the symphonic. Blasts, heavy rhythms, fast riffs, lyrical and guttural voices. We tried to make something unique with our different influences, to create a special universe and kind of music.

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

As I can remember, I always wanted to sing in a band, especially in a metal one because I grew up listening to metal bands. I remember listening to these singers and seeing what they do, living with passion, and telling myself « That’s what I want to do ».

4. Each band member's favorite band?

For Silver, maybe Anorexia Nervosa or Motionless in White. Florian is the less violent and likes classic heavy metal bands, like Shakra. Clément is more in death metal and really likes Lorna Shore. For my part, I think it is Cradle of Filth.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Many things influence us and overall things that interest us. They can be movies, serials, music, books, paintings, and documentaries. Everything touches the sensibility of each of us. And once we are all soaked, we start the composition around a theme we want to talk about. For instance, « It’s Alive » deals with necromancy and how a kind of dark wizard brings back a man to life; it is inspired by some Carach Angren lyrics and by the novel by Mary Shelley. « The Philosopher’s Stone » was written on the alchemy theme that is one of the occultism arts, we documented a lot.

6. Where was your last gig?

For now, we didn’t play yet because the show on February 25th was canceled very lately… However, we got an even better show to come on next April 7th in the south of France as the first part of Visions of Atlantis. We can’t wait to play !

7. Where would you like to act?

We would like to play in Scandinavia, where metal music was born. Things seem to be very different from here, speaking music.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Well, many bands! The big names of symphonic music. Already, it is an honor to play with Visions of Atlantis in April, and we would love to share the stages with many talented artists as they are. From Epica to Cradle of Filth, from Nightwish to Shadow of Intent, we like so many bands and it would be fantastic to play with.

9. Whom not?

Someone who doesn’t like our music. I think it is difficult to share when the passion is not the same.

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

For my part, I am a stressful person. So, it is very complicated for me to relax and take things at ease. So, yes, the stage is a fright but the answer of the crowd makes it disappear. The best tip is to be ready: know your songs to make them so natural for you that you don’t have to think about the rhythms, the lyrics… You have to know them perfectly. When the songs become a reflex, you just have to improve the way you play them. Be yourself, there’s no one to impress. And the reaction of the audience will give you more strength, more power, and more confidence.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Many bands from our teenage years to now. But if we could name some of them, they would be Nightwish, Epica, Evanescence, Blackthorn for the vocal technics. And Anorexia Nervosa, Carach Angren, Dimmu Borgir for the music composition. 

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

A guy sent us an email to get some autographs because he has a collection. And with his message, he joined some pictures of him, his face full of makeup and with a very very tiny skirt. There was no place for imagination.

13. What do you think of your fans?

They are faithful. They bought our EP, our album, and the merchandising we proposed. They come to our show if they can, and they follow us on social media, comment, and share. We really appreciate that.

14. What do you think of our site?

Very good to know more about metal bands and news. It is complete and made with passion and interest. So, congratulations!

15. Something to add?

Thank you for giving us some time to speak with us !