Meet Snovonne, a musician and director with many talents and projects. In this interview, she talks about her recent work, collaborations with other artists, and her filmmaking projects. Discover her creative process, musical influences, and views on women in heavy music today in this exciting interview!
Reuel
Hello Snovonne! I am happy to be able to chat with you. How are you doing?
Snovonne
I’m good, thank you! Happy to chat with you too, thanks for your time.
Reuel
You’re a very busy person working on many projects. What have you been up to lately, music-wise?
Snovonne
Well, this year has been primarily about my new solo album. I finished the majority of the production here in Italy, in Eddy Cavazza’s studio (Silent Ghost Production). Then I moved to Stockholm, to Simon Johansson’s studio (SolnaSound Production) where we tracked live drums with Johan Koleberg (Wolf, ex-Hammerfall, ex-Therion), guitars with Simon (Soilwork, Wolf) himself and we finished some of my vocals. I have a few other special Swedish guests on this album too, so we are currently working on those parts.
I’m also working on the first Shadow Architects album, which is a brand new Swedish metal project started by Anders Modd (Black Ink River) and above mentioned Simon Johansson. I’ve been invited to do the background vocals and choirs, which I’m very excited about. It’s an old-school, yet modern, dystopian metal with incredible musicians, and it’s a lot of fun! In the meantime, we are getting ready to release some new videos with The Designs, an electro-metal project I have with my partner Billy T. Cooper (ex-JTR Sickert). We’ll also be playing some shows later this year. We’ve been working on new material and hoping to start production of the new album early next year.
As far as Inner Fear, this year all members were pretty busy with other projects but I do know that Marthus is working on new material, so we will be re-entering those waters soon I think 🙂 Our video “The Farm”, which I directed, will be presented at the American Horrors Film Festival in Wisconsin, USA this October. I will be there premiering my short-film “COPE [Illustrations of the Mind]”. Recently I’ve also started working on a collab with Mishkin Fitzgerald (Crimson Veil, Bird Eats Baby). Mishkin is a very special, multitalented lady whom I’ve grown to adore. We’ve only just started but it’s already sounding great!
Reuel
Wow! That’s exciting! Is it challenging to balance all the different music projects you have?
Snovonne
Absolutely. But somehow, no matter what I do, I cannot help be involved in other projects. I love music and art too much… collaborating with such talented artists is just so enjoyable. It’s like drugs and I can’t say no!
Reuel
How would you describe your solo music to someone who never heard you before?
Snovonne
I like using the description rock/metal cabaret + pop baroque. There’s elements from different genres… there’s soul, there’s dark pop, jazzy elements… and it’s frequently wrapped in a cozy rock/metal blanket 🙂
Reuel
Can you tell us a little about your musical background? What musicians had the most influence on you growing up and inspired you to become an artist yourself?
Snovonne
I’ve always listened to many different things. I didn’t even realize there’s genre definitions until I got to high school, where suddenly kids were so quick to express which music they love and which they hate, which frankly I found pretty restricting and annoying. I grew up with soul/r&b, which is probably where I get my vocal arrangements from. Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, all the Missy Elliot and Timbaland productions… I have also been exposed to jazz and classical music, mainly because of my grandfather and all the music classes I took. Rock and metal made its way into my life very early on, I’ve always related to attitude, drive and distortion. And I have always had a thing for the creepy and the dark. Marilyn Manson was a big deal for me, because he encompassed all my visual artistic tastes and I loved his variety. He’s been with me since I was like 11-12 and to this day, for me, Antichrist Superstar is the best album ever (Mechanical Animals and Holy Wood follow right after). I also always loved Nine Inch Nails and a lot of the 90’s grunge. Definitely had punk and hardcore bands I enjoyed too. I crank up some Sick Of It All to this day. My music shelves have always been very colorful also because I found it important to learn from. When I was a kid I wanted to be writing and producing music only… for other artists. I never thought I’d be the one singing the songs until I got older and realized I was too close to the things I’m writing to give them to someone else.
Reuel
This is a rich musical background! If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Snovonne
Probably Marilyn Manson, given the reasons above. David Bowie for the sheer creativity and open mind. And many more…
Reuel
Apart from your music career, you are also a director. Does your experience in filmmaking influence your music in any way, perhaps by incorporating elements from filmmaking into how you perceive and create music?
Snovonne
Yes, totally. For me it’s like one thing. It’s one entity – emotion – which consists of the audio and the visual. I see colors and shapes when I hear music and that automatically sends my brain on a trip to visualizing the video or photography to go with it. And to be honest, that’s the best part. It’s what keeps me from getting bored. Especially when working on my solo music, because I’m close to it, I usually know what needs to happen with the visuals before I even finish the song. I have a video planned for every song on the new album, the only problem is, as usual, the time. But I’m trying to be ahead, I already started filming, even though the album’s not finished yet. It works vice versa too. Often I change or add an arrangement in the music because I know it will work great in the video. This is also why I love filming other bands and my business specializes in music videos. It’s very fulfilling and exciting interpreting songs visually.
Reuel
Brilliant. How do you feel about the representation of women in heavy music today, and what do you think can be done to promote more inclusivity and support for female musicians?
Snovonne
Well, I feel like women have always held their own. And the struggle has been and always will be a primary driving creative force. On one hand, I’m glad that today, female-fronted bands get more attention than before, on the other, I’m hoping that the focus stays on the talent, not on the business convenience. Integrity is important and unfortunately, that’s the first thing out the door when business takes precedence. I’m thankful for communities like yours who support female talent regardless of what is or isn’t in fashion currently.
Reuel
It’s our pleasure! Thank you for your time, Snovonne, and for this interview! Is there anything else you’d like to conclude this interview with?
Snovonne
I appreciate your time and thank you for all you do! Hopefully, I get to see you at live shows sometime next year. And to all indie horror fans in the US – come drop by the American Horrors Film Festival in Lake Geneva, WI October 5th! … We’ll have a lot of fun!
