Dead Rhetoric: You’ve been on tour currently with The Sirens. How did this unique tour come about?
Kristine: The Sirens was formed not so long ago! We actually just returned from the first leg of the tour! It was such an amazing experience! I was lucky to meet Anneke at Masters of Rock (CZ) last summer. We had a few minutes only to talk in between our gigs, however, we agreed that we really should get together and tour together soon. We both had to smile then, thinking that we were, with Kari, the “originals” within our scene. Moreover, all three of us being mothers and still highly busy in music and art. Anneke told me that she had been in touch with Kari lately…And that was the “go” for the “Sirens”! I am more than excited and happy to soon be sharing stage with my ladies again! Our gigs are kind of magic. We also do have a really cool setlist which includes songs from our former bands, The Gathering, Theatre of Tragedy and 3rd and the Mortal, plus songs from our solo albums (also from Vervain), moreover, two own Sirens’ songs. Fans have been waiting for this for years and years. All three of us know that experience comes only with hard work and reflection upon your own standing point and progress. I am very proud to share stage with Kari and Anneke.
Dead Rhetoric: The Sirens just released two songs, do you see this as a possibility that you might all end up doing an album from this?
Kristine: I feel honored – a lot of people have been asking for an album or DVD release. A DVD is always connected to extra costs and a lot of technical planning and work. Perhaps we will do that some day, but nothing is planned so far. Concerning album releases, we released two songs online two weeks ago, “Sisters of the Earth” and “Embracing the Seasons”, which was the definite plan before the first leg of the tour. We play them live and our audience seems to enjoy them very, very much! Everything else will come after all the touring.
Dead Rhetoric: On Vervain you collaborated with Michelle Darkness and Doro Pesch on two songs. I know you’ve worked with Doro before, but how did these guest appearances take shape?
Kristine: These collaborations were just amazing! After recording my own vocals I thought: my perfect duet partner on “Love Decay” is Michelle Darkness – our long-time friend! His voice is just incredible and absolutely perfect for this song! It’s always a pleasure working with Michelle. I think End of Green, his own band, is an excellent band, by the way! I have good news: the videoclip (produced by Alexander Krull and Rainer “ZIPP” Fränzen) for this song is already online! Stay tuned for more news and great pictures! I hope that we can do this duet live together some day!
Secondly, a dream came true for me: Doro was here at Mastersound Studio recording this duet a while ago. “Stronghold of Angels” is truly one breathtaking power ballad – I just knew that Doro would be my perfect partner in duet here. Alex and Doro talked on the phone, we sent her the ballad, and a few days later she was here at Mastersound. We had so many crazy stories to exchange…in the end, the second day, we nearly missed her train! We left the studio with a 100km/h through the forest, Doro holding on to anything she could…but we made it!
She always gives her maximum! I have worked with her on stage and in the studio. She is always hard working and gives everything for her fans. She is amazing, first class, an incredible singer…and one of the most warm-hearted and lovely persons I have ever met.
Doro Pesch, both as a singer, and as a person, is definitely a role model for me. She is wonderful, just fantastic. We all have a lot to learn from her. She is the most down-to-earth and honest person and artist I know.
Dead Rhetoric: You’ve done a number of collaborations, particularly with your solo material, do you happen to have a favorite one?
Kristine: Oh that’s a tricky question! I’d rather put it this way: It’s my biggest dream to collaborate with Ozzy!
Dead Rhetoric: As one of the originators of the “beauty and the beast” vocal styling, is it surprising to see how far that particular style has come over the years?
Kristine: Oh yes, definitely! It’s funny to think about it…20 years ago I was co-founder of the world’s first gothic metal band with female voices “Theatre of Tragedy” in the early 90s and the “beauty and the beast” concept in metal. We had just no clue that we were this revolutionary up there in the Norwegian darkness! We were good friends, being into metal, getting together at a rehearsal room, being creative, combining contrasting elements like a first soprano angelic voice with doom metal and growls. We thought it was a great idea to combine contrasting elements.
Initially people we were hanging out with and our families seemed to really like it, which surprised us. We recorded a cheap demo for a small fee nearby Stavanger, Norway, and sent it out (copying the cassettes and the inlay ourselves) to ten labels. A couple of weeks later we signed a killer deal with German Massacre Records, recorded our first album in Sweden with Dan Swanö and went on a support tour with our friends from Atrocity – our fist gig was sold out with 800 people, which was my first real gig ever…incredible! I am very proud to see that a handful of bands are doing really well and standing upright for this genre, keeping “the beauty and the beast” concept alive and in a good light.
Dead Rhetoric: Likewise, when you started out, there weren’t a ton of females in metal. Do you find that you get cited often as an influence for any of the newer female vocalists?
Kristine: I do, and I feel more than honored. It’s a lovely compliment.
Dead Rhetoric: You often site Black Sabbath as a major influence. Have you ever had the opportunity to meet the band?
Kristine: I’ve been backstage twice, however, Ozzy was very ill, both times. I really would like to shake his hand some day and tell him myself what his music and singing has meant and means to me. Moreover, I would be very happy to have Ozzy’ s signature on my original Black Sabbath LP collection.
Dead Rhetoric: Are there any plans for Leaves Eyes at the moment?
Kristine: We are currently recording our sixth full-length album at Mastersound studio, highly inspired by Nordic mythology, my birthplace, and Vikings’ history. We will tour again from January onwards. Stay tuned for more news!
Dead Rhetoric: Is there any touring in the future planned for your solo work or Leaves Eyes?
Kristine: I will tour with The Sirens, second leg, in December. Then, as already mentioned, we will hit the roads again with Leaves’ Eyes.