INTERVIEW: Julieta Ruiseco (KÄLAD)

KÄLAD is a young band from Mexico that is cruising through the Metal scene. Fronted by our interviewee for this article, Julieta Ruiseco, the band has a unique sound that is very hard to bind within a single label of a sub-genre. With orchestral elements fused in a modern Metal sound, KÄLAD seems to have picked a very progressive approach with their music. You can figure this out by yourself when you check their latest release – “After the Storm” (music video embedded below in the article).

Here’s our interview with Julieta who shared with us her views on different topics about music and society. Enjoy!

Hello, Julieta. It’s really wonderful to talk with you. How are you doing today?

Hey, Reuel! Greetings to the audience as well. I’m doing fantastic, thank you for asking.

You released a new single “After The Storm” recently with a music video. How are you feeling about the way the single was received by your fans?

I’ve had my ups and downs, to be honest. After the Storm has been received with open arms by a lot of people; however, we risked it all by experimenting a bit with a more modern sound that possibly made some fans say – huh? We knew this was going to happen, and I would do it again if I had to, just sometimes people are not that open to change.

Experimenting with art is never bad! I loved the song. How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard KÄLAD’s music before?

As you know, we’re a Latin American metal band, we try to keep ourselves updated with bands and what is heard in other countries, some have described KALAD as Modern Symphonic Metalcore, which I love! The best of symphonic metal with a hint of modern metal… and growls!

The music video for “After The Storm” is pretty impressive. You did a great job performing with such a powerful expression and also, and the graphics and animations are great. Who did you work with on the music video and how did you enjoy it?

It was a whole creative process, it was all self-produced by the band. Meaning pre-production, lights, filming, renders, direction, animation, post-production, everything was us!

That’s very impressive! I would have never guessed this all is self-produced. Great job! In order to get to know you better and from a different point of view, how about playing an imagination game? I will set a scenario in an alternate universe with new rules and see how you’d react to the different situations. Ready?

Shoot!

In a universe where you are made the queen of a country, what would be the first law you’d make?

Psychological treatment and medical treatment must be free and reachable for any human being, as well as alternative therapies.

In a universe where humans can choose either to be able to teleport from one place to another or travel back and forth in time, which superpower would you pick?

From those two? I’d choose to travel back and forth in time, it would be amazing to visit all those amazing historical moments!

In a universe where you’re the statue of liberty, what object would you be holding instead of a torch?

A ball of energy that contains all the answers of the universe. Like an oracle.

Nice! In a universe where money does not exist, but instead, people pay for things by making other people laugh, how rich would you be considered?

I would be wealthy, people have suggested that I go into stand-up comedy, haha!

You can definitely try that! In a universe where the senses of taste and hearing are mixed up together, what food would you imagine KÄLAD’s music would taste like?

It definitely would be an acquired taste, just as wine or scotch. You don’t know how tasty, elegant, intrinsic, and powerful the flavor is until you’ve tried it several times and understood its depths.

In a universe where making magic is real, what would your favourite spell do?

Communicate yourself face to face with other versions of you existing in the multi-universe so they can give you clear answers to all your questions on how to reach your full potential.

Great idea. Thank you for playing, Julieta! I hope you enjoyed this! What is next in your plans for KÄLAD after this music video? Will there be any big release soon?

We have a lot of exciting things going on for 2023, the agenda is getting full of surprises, definitely expect the announcement of the band members (cause as you know KALAD is only two people by now, and we have not held auditions) but that means we are going on tour! Also, the debut album and more surprises to come!

Have you ever faced any kind of sexism in your professional or personal life? How would you deal with sexist behaviour and what advice would you give young people around the world who face any kind of discrimination?

Yes, I have. It definitely crushed my dream of being in music over and over, I don’t know how much further I would be in my career if I hadn’t experienced sexism – however, my best advice is just to keep going, keep pushing, keep walking, every day a bit better, every day a bit more.

That’s great advice. Thank you for giving us this interview, Julieta. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just THANK YOU <3 from the bottom of my soul, thank you, Reuel, for this lovely time, thank you to all the team of FemMetal and to you reading this, thank you also.