*When did you really get involved into music in general and into metal specific? Who was responsable for your interest in (metal) music?
Probably the fascination to music in general derives from our parents and families. Speaking of metal, most of us came in contact with it thanks to musical suggestions from friends when we were teens.
*Which artists or bands did influence you the most?
The work of some bands had a role on how we created our last album “Close”. Dead Can Dance and OM, for example. But speaking of ‘influences’ we tend more to ask ourselves why certain bands or albums sound the way they do.
*Which instrument do you play and how and when did you learn to play? Did you had lessons in school or private lessons? If so, was that because your parents expected that from you? Or did you learn to play the instruments by yourself? Do yo still follow some lessons?
Sara never took singing lessons, but the others did in their early teens. It all started as a personal spark of interest. It’s much more interesting to be an active part and create music or play an instrument, instead of just listening to it. Being very passionate about music since when we were kids, it was natural to approach playing. Namely, Alberto is the ‘entitled’ guy in the band, as he’s a graduated musician at the Conservatory of Vicenza, Italy.
*Do you follow other or are you intrested in other styles of music beside metal? If so, what is the kind of music you prefer to listen to?
Totally. For us, music is not a ‘contamination-proof’ tank. At the end of the day, a genre is just a label that is given to it. We are interested in anything that has a resonance inside of us. Whether that is music by Anouar Brahem or Sadistik Execution.
*Is music a full time job for you now or do you have a job beside music? If so, what kind of job are you doing? If you would be really succesful with music, would you quit your other job?
No, at the moment music is not a full time job. In normal life we are: a photographer, a web developer, a graphic designer, a glass worker. Most of us like our respective jobs, but making music for a living would definitely be cool. We’d definitely think about it, if that happens.
*If you could start a complete new band (something like an all star band) with other musicians on other instruments, which artists would you pick for wich instrument and why? Would you still go for a doom (metal) band?
Lemmy, Tony Iommi, Ringo, Yma Sumac. And Stevie Wonder somewhere!
*If you had been banned to an uninhabited island and you may pick 5 albums to listen to, wich albums would you choose and why?
Very difficult question, because every band member would express different choices, but in the ‘in common’ territory: Led Zeppelin – ‘IV’, The Beatles – ‘Abbey Road’, Motorhead – ‘Ace Of Spades’, Darkthrone – ‘Transilvanian Hunger’, Fabrizio De Andrè – ‘Creuza de mä’.
*Every new album of a band or an artist is the best one, so they say. So here is a chance to promote you album. Why should a music lover buy your album? What are the standout tracks for you on this new album and why?
Probably ‘Close’ might be a fit for people that are not afraid to hear something out of the box. The record features many acoustic instruments from the Middle East and Mediterranean, but still has a metal feel to all the album. Some of the tracks we like best are singles ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Dark Horse’.
– See “CD-Review” for a review (written in Dutch) for the new MESSA album ‘Close’ (Svart Records) –
*Is there a chance that you will promote these songs through live concerts? If so, would you prefer small clubs or big festivals? And is there a chance we can see MESSA in Belgium?
We’ll be embarking on a European Tour in April, we’ll play many songs from ‘Close’. Playing small clubs and bigger festivals are totally different experiences but we enjoy both of them. We like the “private” vibe that a small club carries, but we also like the more rock ‘n roll one of a festival. We have no gigs confirmed in Belgium yet, but things are moving fast so we might come to your country soon!