Hey Firestorm,

Well do to multiple circumstances, I think it will be highly doubtful we ever tour.


1. Paul lives in California, while we live in New Mexico, and he has a family situation that simply doesn't allow for him to be away.

2. All three of us have to keep our day jobs and there is no way any of our employers would allow us enough time to tour on any level. gotta have money coming in to feed the pets and keep a roof over our heads.

3. Unless something really improved in S. Lee's health it really isn't feasable. The stress of the road, and not being able to get sufficient rest would play major havoc on her system which is already very fragile with her health conditions.

So given those factors, we are happy to simply make the best music we can, share it with as many people as we can, and hope they enjoy the music, and reach out to us, in friendship, where we can build a bond that hopefully is better and stronger than touring supplies.

Thanks for you question

Thanks for the answer.

your welcome,

I really wished things could be different, but unfortunately artists in this genre rarely get the chance to be able to make enough earnings to ditch the day job, and since we are all older musicians we have families bills and such that take precedence over being on the road.

Hello again.

Just popping in with another question, which singer / band do you currently regard as your favourite and what is it about them that makes them 'special'?

hey,

always happy to answer questions.

Well for me personally, singer wise it is Tom S Englund and his band Evergrey.

They reason for me is they walk the delicate balance between being a progressive band while still performing music that is accessible to the general Metal fan. He has a Voice I wished I had half of, avery deep, and soulful, and the band as a whole creates some of the best music IMO., both technically proficient, while being filled with creattive melodies, and rhythmic textures.

I talked with Paul over the weekend about this question and he stated that Dream Theater is his favorite, The prime reason is their music ability, and the quality of their albums. As a progressive musician he sees in them the goals he strives for himself in his playing and songwriting.

I will let S. Lee know she needs to answer as well...

Thanks again for the question.

Hey Firestorm!

That is a difficult question for me. I have so many "favorites" that picking one is almost impossible, almost. I would have to answer Lacuna Coil. As to what makes them special for me, that aspect of the question is more complicated. I completely "dig" the interplay of the male and female vocals. However, Christina's vocals and the lyrics are what draw me in and keep me listening!

S. Lee

Thanks for the answers.

As I've done a few interviews before it (in a manner of speaking) pleases me that you had to think hard about the answers.

Is there any chance that you can come to Europe especially to Croatia???

Ena, oh how we wished that was a possibility, even if only to visit with you and the rest of the friends we have made in Europe through this venture in our life. Unfortunately, even a social trip would be near impossible any time in the foreseeable future due to our responsibilities and duties here at home.

But it is something we have talked about, as we would really like to met and enjoy spending time with everyone.

If I paided all expenses (not likely) could we come to NM, to see you play?

well you could come, you all are all welcome anytime you want to visit us, I can't speak for Sue or Paul on the playing though... But I am sure something informal could always be fashioned.

Cool. Thanks for answering my half-ass question.

no problem, hopefully I answered it ok,

the main thing is we are a studio band, and somethings people don't realize with studio projects is that usually when the album is done or the song is finished that is the last time it is performed. As you are usually moving on to the next thing, the next project/album.

So none of us have practiced, played even contemplated the performance of any of the songs since they were recorded.

I know that is an odd concept for many to digest, but I have found it to be common among other musicians that are studio oriented compared to a performance musician who regularily gigs.

so doing anything Formal would still probably be out, however, something informal would be a different story, watching the recording process, jamming, etc...

the big thing is the or important thing to remember is that our home and heart is open to our friends, and that we would greatly enjoy spending time with you all, given a circumstance that provided that interaction.

Hello Fateless Tears, have been meaning to ask this :

Would you ever consider inviting extra musician(s) into what you have previously described as a "studio band" and what would you be looking for if you were to do so?

firestorm,

we have had guest musicians in past, on the song "Chrysalis" the soprano vocals are provided by Theresa Rollins, Paul was a Guest soloist on My Doom Box contributing on 4 songs, he became a full member during the promotion of that album. On the new album the student group "Metal Warhearts" which I advise, did a gang chant on a tune, and one of the students from that group is also on another song helping with vocals.

As for adding musicians to tour no, we won't due to our primary jobs and S. Lee's health, touring quite frankly is quite out of the question.

As for added studio musicians outside of vocals or maybe a guest instrument outside of our core, probably not, as building and creating the songs is my primary escape for the rigors of work and society. It is my joy and passion to create the music and it is my vision, so adding outside musicians to the core, (gtr, bass, drums, keys) would just make headache and heartache for me as my vision would be changed. You can call it greedy, or egomania if you want, but to me it is my therapy, my solace.

Guest vocalists or musicians that fall outside of the core, will continue to happen as one never knows where my writing and creating will go. Having a real string trio or quartet would be nice, or even solo violin or viola, but the lack of classical string players in the are is high, i.e. none, and I don't have the contacts nor the money to pay any that would do it for a charge.

Thanks for the question,

Hey I have a question What inspired you to create the music you create today and is hard to write songs? I am struggling on writing songs myself and it would be great to have the help of a professional thank you

moorebratz,

Honestly, I have always had riffs and melodic ideas running around in my head, even back when I was a tiny tot I would hum things or bang on things in a rhythm.

What fuels my composing is really my emotions, how I feel at any given time. love, pain, hate, loathing, lust, desire, etc... However I am fairly cynical and dark so even happy tunes have a hint of sadness to them. Partly cause I find the Major key to be the most annoying series of notes ever created. Mainly though cause I can't see anyone ever being that damn happy...

How I write now is, anytime I have an idea, (that I remember) I record it to a metronome beat. Typically it is tracked on guitar, but sometimes piano, also sometimes completely composed using synth voices. I also transcribe it so it is easier to relearn as sometimes it can be years before a riffs gets used. Case in point two riffs on the new album I wrote 8 years ago and I am just now using.

Then when it comes time to write songs for an album, I look in my folder of riffs and start sorting out the files, looking at tempo, tuning, feel and tonality, next I start playing the riffs that fit the desired elements in different orders until a song forms. Usually additional riffs for sections are created off the stockpile of riffs.

Once the bare essence of the song is formed, I start tracking the parts starting with rhythm guitars or piano first. bear in mind any piano/synth fills that are cool is actually tracked with my guitar which has a pickup on it that transmits MIDI data, which then can trigger synths and samplers producing the sound of desired instrument, while playing guitar. I am a crappy keyboardist, just enough skills to get into trouble. This is done to a metronome playing the desired tempo. Next drums/percussion are tracked, then Bass guitar, and synths. I then do a rough mix of the song and give it to S. Lee or whoever is doing vocals, if it is a project she isn't involved in, to start working on vocal melodies and lyrics.

I rarely write lyrics, although this time around I co-wrote lyrics on 2 songs. At that time I also start working on solos and instrument melodies. I usually know where I want vocals and where I want solos, although I time or two that has changed. At this time I also give the rough mix to anyone contributing solos as well, so in the case of FT, Paul gets a copy of the project to start working on his guitar solos.

After lyrics and melodies are written we track them as well as solos.

At this point I put the project away for a couple weeks. To regain perspective and distance myself from the songs, then I start the process of mixing. once mixing is done I take a week again and then start mastering the project. I would love to be able to hand the mastering off to another person, but money and lack of local folks qualified to do it, make it so I must work on the projects start to finish.

Thanks that has helped a lot thank you very much

your welcome...

the main thing to me is if you have an idea get it jotted down as fast as you can, even if its you singing into a mini recorder. Keep track of those ideas, you be surprised how much you actually create when you aren't thinking about writing, or being pressured to write.

Hello Richard.

Had forgotten asked you above question as was promoting a live music event in London (happened last Sunday).

Thanks for the response.

Adam @ Firestorm Promotions