INTERVIEW: MYSTFALL

 

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Country: Greece

Questions by: Nick Parastatidis

Answers by: MYSTFALL (Marialena)

Site: Facebook

1. What inspired you to transition from your solo career into forming Mystfall with a full band?

I think that it`s very difficult for a solo artist to be able to do a career in the metal scene. I prefered to work with a team instead, cause in my opinion the band has more advantages in many ways.

2. Can you share the overarching theme or concept behind your debut album "Celestial Vision"?

The concept of the album is about the essence of existence. It talks about the internal search of the mankind. For all these questions that we are all looking for the answers continuously without giving up.

3. Marialena, as the lyricist, what themes are you most passionate about exploring through your lyrics?

As a person I am always searching for many things and I am also trying to understand what lies behind every single thing. So I think that I already answered in the previous question. Every track talks about the same topic with some little changes. Some songs talk about the society as for example “Kings of utopia”. One of my favourite songs of the album, cause it gave me the chance to write about many things that I had the need to share about the sickness of the society and our inner desire to live in a different world.

4. How would you describe the sound of Mystfall, and what influences from symphonic metal can we expect on "Celestial Vision"?

I could describe our sound more symphonic with some pinches of battle music and some more power points.As a classical singer, my main influences are bands like Epica and Nightwish, but I am also a huge fan of battle music like Two steps from Hell, so I always like to use Choirs and orchestras in the songs. This is something that we are going to give more intense in our next album.

5. Can you tell us about your collaborative process with Dionisis Christodoulatos in composing and arranging the debut album?

It`s always a pleasure for me to collaborate with so great and inspiring musicians. Dionisis knows very well my taste so it was very easy for me to explain what exactly I had in mind, cause I knew that he was going to give me a more great idea. He actually composed the songs and then I worked on the melodies and the lyrics. The full process took us less than one year.

6. How has the reception been for "Celestial Vision" since its release, and have any reviews particularly resonated with you?

 

We really took a very strong feedback from the album and we also had many good reviews. Unfortunatelly we didn`t go live for a long time since now for some personal reasons and that would certainly help our music if we did. Many reviews had many references about me but it`s absolutely reasonable cause I am the voice of the band.

7. Can you give us a sneak peek of what fans can expect from your next album? What direction are Stergios and Marialena taking the new compositions?

Firstly we are composing our next album with Dionisis again, cause Stergios couldn`t fit in the band. The second album is going to be more symphonic with some more theatrical parts. I am not going to say more. You are going to find out soon!

8. How do the diverse backgrounds of the band members contribute to the sound and vision of Mystfall?

To be honest the most of the times the vision belongs to one person and you are trying to find a team to work with. Some other times you may find more people that will share the same vision with you . In my case  the vision was mine and for that reason I changed bandmates many times. Right now I think that I have have found a good team that we share the same taste in music. So we always have many ideas and everyone puts pinches of  his personal taste in the songs.

9. How are you and the band feeling about performing at the Ghostlands&Ravenlands Festival 2025? Are there any specific preparations or expectations you have for the event?

We are very happy and grateful for this one cause it will be our debut show. So especially for me is a very important appearance because I have so many expectations of Mystfall. We are totally prepared and we are working a lot for the perfect result that we want. I am very proud cause I really like the music of all the bands and I think that`s going to be a great show!

10. This festival will introduce Mystfall to a new and potentially larger audience. What message or emotions do you hope to convey through your music to those who haven't heard you before?

The most important thing for an artist is to share his music without having any expectations. If you are in love with your stuff and you make your audience see it , then you have what you need. For me music is energy, expression and emotions and you can not measure them. 

11. If you had to choose one band from the festival lineup to be a must-see for fans, besides you, which one would you recommend and why?

I would recommend The Silent Rage for sure, cause they are a band that has proved it`s value through the years. They have collaborate with great musicians and their music is really powerfull.

12. If you could sum up your hopes and aspirations for this festival experience in a few words, what would you say? How would you like to be remembered by fans after your performance at the Ghostlands&Ravenlands Festival 2025?

Well, as I already said before that`s something which is not depending on you. My biggest win will be to get fans that will really feel our music. So it`s like an engagement cause it`s more qualitative to have some fans that will really love your music than to have many fans that will forget about you through the years. My main expectation is to be able to enjoy the show with all my heart and to express our music and feelings to the audience.