With their new album Amnesia, Passengers In Panic continue to push boundaries with a sound rooted in metal and tradition. I spoke with Yohanna, the band’s vocalist, about the response to the new release, what defines their music, and how she approaches her voice. We also touched on the artists who shaped her and the challenges women still face in the heavy music scene.

Reuel

Hello Yohanna! I am so happy to chat with you! How are you doing?

Yohanna

Hello Reuel. I am super excited to have the opportunity to talk to you. I’m doing great. I’m currently enjoying a period of productivity, both with the band and in general. I’m looking forward to recharging my batteries so I’m ready for all the live shows with Passengers In Panic that have been arranged.

Reuel

This is great to hear! Congratulations on your new album! I have to say “Amnesia” is one of my favorite albums in 2025 so far! How are you feeling about the feedback you received from the fans so far?

Yohanna

We are truly honored. Thank you for your support and kind words. The feedback we’ve received so far for our new album, “Amnesia,” has been really touching. We truly have faith in our work, and it’s heartwarming to get love and support for what we believe in. We’re especially happy that everyone has picked a different track from our album. It’s a very personal album full of true stories, and it’s great to see that everyone has found their own shelter in these tracks. This next step of the band has been a long time coming, and we are very grateful for all of you who have supported us by streaming our music or buying our merchandise.

Reuel

How would you describe your music to our readers who haven’t had the chance to listen to Passengers In Panic yet?

Yohanna

This is probably the most difficult question: What is Passengers in Panic? Without a doubt, two things can be said: we love metal music, and all of us in the band grew up listening to Greek folk music. Thus came the combination of these two great loves of ours, which led to further experimentation using different Greek traditional instruments, such as the bagpipe, flute, clarinet, violin, and lute. Everyone in the band brings their own elements and influences, so there are elements of other metal genres as well, like progressive metal. If we could give a name to the genre we play, it would probably be folk heavy metal.

Reuel

Your vocal style feels like such a natural fit for your band’s music. Is that the way you’ve always sung, or did you find yourself adapting your voice to match the band’s sound?

Yohanna

The voice is also a musical instrument. It’s a real one, though. It takes proper care, practice, and experimentation until you find your sound and techniques that you can use. Since I started singing and taking voice lessons, my voice and, consequently, my tone have certainly evolved and perhaps changed due to the normal friction involved in finding what works for you. For example, my singing five years ago was very different from how I sing now. I lacked confidence and experience managing my voice back then. However, I still allowed myself to feel comfortable and express myself through my voice, and that hasn’t changed. The melodies and lyrics resonate deeply with me; they reflect my true self, and my voice flows naturally.

Reuel

Brilliant! Which song from the album receives the best reaction when you perform it live?

Yohanna

We haven’t performed the entire album live yet, but the cover of the Greek traditional folk song “Kaixis” and the song “Erase Me” have received a very positive reaction from the crowd at every show. They all become panicked passengers. I’m telling you, if we had played all the tracks from Amnesia live, it would definitely be “Sirens Call,” you know, as long as you listen to the traditional violin ending.

Reuel

Oh I love that song! 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?

Yohanna

As cliché as it sounds, I grew up holding a hairbrush like a microphone. I don’t remember when I first started singing, but I always remember doing it. It wasn’t long before I went to my first live show, Judas Priest in 2015. I was so inspired that I wanted to be on stage too. Consequently, I began attending more concerts, singing more, and aspiring to be in a band. From my first school band at 16 and some other subsequent musical attempts, in 2021 I joined Passengers In Panic. I grew up listening to Iron Maiden at home, and Linkin Park was one of the bands that influenced me the most musically. During my teenage years, I discovered my two greatest musical influences: Paradise Lost and Lacuna Coil. Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil is one of my main influences, and she was definitely a role model during my teenage years, giving me strength and inspiration through music.

Reuel

Wow thank you for sharing this journey with us. If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Yohanna

Over the years, many artists have influenced me in their own way. But if I could collaborate and work with one artist, it would undoubtedly be Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. He remains one of the most distinctive and timeless voices and personalities of the 2000s metal scene, and he certainly changed the game. Chester was one of a kind. He had an excellent vocal range and could sing eloquently in dierent genres of music. He wasn’t afraid to experiment and try new things. More than anything, though, he had genuine emotional expression. He approached everything he did with passion, emotion, and authenticity, and many listeners found a safe haven in his voice. Chester is the voice of my childhood. Close to him, I learned that emotion in music and artistic expression is important. Your sincerity and every emotion come through in what you’re doing.

Reuel

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?

Yohanna

Although the representation of women in heavy music has increased in recent years, there are still significant barriers and inequalities. There are sexist prejudices, and often a woman’s artistic abilities are downgraded, meaning she has to try harder than a male musician to be respected for her work. Our presence is clearly more visible and influential now, but there are still many steps to be taken. Although there are several festivals featuring bands with female members, the percentage of those bands playing at other main festivals or on major tours should gradually increase. We must all carry on doing what we are doing, keep going, stay united, and show that we are capable of so much and that we deserve the same opportunities as male artists and musicians. We prove through everything we achieve that we deserve every success and opportunity. We let our work speak for itself, demonstrating our capabilities.

Reuel

Well said! Thank you for your time, Yohanna, and for this interview! Is there anything else you’d like to conclude this interview with?

Yohanna

Thank you very much Reuel and FemMetal, for this great interview. I’d like to close by saying that everyone should support their local scene. Go to the shows, listen to the music, and buy the merchandise. Your support helps us and gives us the strength to continue, as well as all the other bands, making their own efforts.
I hope you enjoy our new album, Amnesia, and remember that no one is alone. No soul dies alone. Let us love ourselves, remember where we started and acknowledge how far we have come in all that we do.
Thank you for the support, and see you on the road!