Artist Interview

This is an artist interview that I have written for my double page spread. I wrote this with my artist research, reader profile and artist profile in mind.

Bloody Mary is metal’s new raging artist. She arrived on the metal scene two years ago after being signed by the same man who manages the Swedish death metal band ‘vomitary’. Bloody Mary is screeching her way to the top with her first studio album ‘bloody Mary’ that debut at 24 on the official Death Metal album charts.

Your new album is extremely different to what we’re used to hearing from death metal artists, how would you define your type of music?

“I’d define it has pop metal, I know that sounds like a weird combination but that’s the only category I can place my music into (she shrugs) a lot of people say it’s death metal, but that genre is so ancient and amazing, I only imagine legends in that genre, not me!”

Your album is pretty hardcore; it includes a lot of screeching, and where is all that emotion from?

“All the songs on the album are based on real life experiences, and let’s face it; I haven’t had the easiest of childhoods. I suppressed a lot of my emotions throughout the years and when I was writing the album I though “Forget it” I’m letting it all out.”

Your debut single was ‘Mama where are you’ and that peaked at number fifteen on the UK top 40, what is that song about?

“’Mama where are you’ is about my mother’s suicide and how I felt so alone when I moved in with my grandparents. The song was like a cry for help, I wanted my mum, I wanted to know that she was there watching out for me, but at that point in my life I couldn’t feel her, I didn’t feel her presence, her warmth (she chokes up). The song was the first time I openly spoke about my mum, the song means so much to me.”

When did you decide to drop your last name and be known as ‘bloody Mary?’

“I’ve never liked my last name. It’s tied to my paternal side and I hate them. Mary Williams died when my mum did.” The ‘bloody’ came from the folklore, I just loved it, I loved how she put fear into people, and I wanted that effect when I was younger, so I chose the name when I was around 15.

What made you decide to start a YouTube channel, instead of reaching fame the traditional way?

“I know this sounds ridiculous but Justin bieber inspired me (she laughs) well believe it or not I used to be really into pop music, before I got signed that was the genre I used to write and sing in. I saw Justin’s success through YouTube and something just told me to go for it, so I did and look where it got me.

 Explain why you decided to release the song ‘Dear Ms Laiho’ is the song about Alexi Laiho?

“Yes! (She claps her hands in excitement) I love Alexi Laiho, I had to include the song in my album, and I wrote it a couple years ago when I was in a really dark place, she got me through so much, and her music did. I’d say this song is extremely melodic, its different to what I usually do but it’s more like a tribute song anyway and Alexi’s songs are mostly melodic death metal. 

How did you get the opportunity to tour with Exodus in March?

 “I met them when I was out in America last year, we hit it off immediately, I played them some of my songs and then they asked me to support them on their European leg, it all happened so fast but I’m  so grateful.”

 Do you have any plans on going on tour yourself?

 (She smiles) yes I do, hopefully by the end of year we’ll have everything sorted so I can do a European tour for my album. I’m really excited to do this and hopefully I’ll be able to bring my brothers with me , I haven’t seen them in so long.