Anna Maria Rose is one of the most exciting voices in Metal, captivating, powerful, and impossible to ignore. With her band, Tales of Time, she is gearing up for the release of their debut EP, but first, they’re set to drop the single “The Journey” with a music video on February 14, 2025.
In this interview, we dive into her musical path, the influences that have shaped her sound, and what the future holds for her ever-evolving journey in music.
Lucy
Hello Anna x Tales of Time is still in its early years, yet you’ve already built a strong presence. What has been the most rewarding part of this journey so far?
Anna Maria Rose
Hey Lucy! For me personally, having written the songs, it’s been pretty surreal to actually have other people listen to them! It’s been a really fantastic experience to get out and play them live with a full band behind me, to a crowd of people and watching their reactions to it!
Lucy
You’ve worked on many different projects, including classical, Metal, and musical theatre. How have these experiences shaped the way you approach music today?
Anna Maria Rose
Being born into a musical household has meant that I’ve been around a whole host of different genres of music from a very young age from jazz to opera to rock and have been lucky enough to perform as a classical soprano singer, musical theatre performer and musician over the years. Being exposed to a plethora of different experiences has formed long-lasting impressions in my mind that I can refer to when composing and the more I do, the more it changes and expands still!
Lucy
Your debut EP is on the horizon, and you’ve recently revealed the cover art—which I am madly in love with. What can listeners expect in terms of sound and themes?
Anna Maria Rose
Oh gosh, erm…I guess it’s kind of got something for everyone I guess. You’ve got ‘The Journey’ which has some speedy complex rhythms and dense vocal and orchestral arrangements with a traditional power metal style solo. Another song has a more Amaranthe darker vibe and there’s even a short, fun, and fast Gloryhammer-style song in there somewhere. Oh and then there’s the more metalcore number of course…
Lucy
Aside from Tales of Time, you’re also known for placing your majestic voice on covers of iconic Metal songs. What draws you to a particular song when choosing one to reinterpret?
Anna Maria Rose
I enjoy covering songs that I like (and I like a LOT of songs!) Typically I like songs where I can ad-lib a little bit or really show off my vocal range or different vocal techniques. Although, It does takes me a few days to decide the perfect song! I’m soon going to be working on a more ambient softer number and I can’t wait to record it!
Lucy
Looking back on your musical journey, was there a moment that felt like a turning point for you?
Anna Maria Rose
I’m not sure that there was a massive moment where everything changed for me. One thing I always remember though is when I was finally able to understand EXACTLY what I needed to feel whilst singing in a very physical way which was definitely a moment of growth for me in terms of my vocal style and range! It was quite revelatory!
Lucy
Your classical training gives you great control over your voice. Have you ever had moments where you let emotion take over instead of technique?
Anna Maria Rose
I think that so many classical pieces lend themselves to deep evocative moments and emotions and I think it’s super important to be able to dip into those feelings when you need to, or when the piece calls for it. I don’t think I’ve ever let emotion take the reigns as such, but music is so powerful at times and showing your vulnerability in a performance can actually enhance it! However, I think I’m pretty good at using whatever I need to get the right outcome!
Lucy
With so many influences in your career, do you ever feel pressure to fit into a certain style, or do you prefer to explore freely?
Anna Maria Rose
I’m at the stage now where I know who I am, I know what I’m capable of and I like writing what I like writing. So, for me, it’s just whatever headspace I’m in at the moment I sit down and write! I prefer to let things happen organically. My creativity really flows when I just let myself do whatever I feel like at that moment in time (even if it’s 3am in the morning!) – though if someone asks me to write a song in a certain style, that’s not a problem!
Lucy
If one of your songs could be the soundtrack to a story or a movie, what kind of story would it tell?
Anna Maria Rose
I think one of the first songs I wrote for Tales of Time – Back to the River – is such a profound song with a beautiful moral of people taking a step back and letting nature flourish again. Also, our latest song The Journey is about hope and positivity and shows how the past might have been bad, but that things can come together in the end!
Lucy
If you could perform a dream duet with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Anna Maria Rose
Tarja Turunen. The album ‘Once’ was a massive release for me growing up and she has been a real hero of mine ever since! I also am a huge Rammstein fan, and have always enjoyed the more controversial and provocative sort of performances in metal. If I could ever somehow lend my voice to them, I would be a very happy person indeed!
