Genre: Symphonic/Gothic Metal
Questions by: Nick Parastatidis
Answers by: Afroditi (Vocals)
Site: Facebook
1. Your music
draws heavily from ’90s gothic textures — if “Deus Profanus” were a forgotten
relic discovered in some ancient archive, what inscription would be carved on its
cover?
“Nothing is as
it seems.” A simple phrase, but one that echoes deeply through our music and
lyrics.
2. Gothic and
doom often explore the tension between light and shadow. What’s a moment in the
band’s journey where the “light” surprised you the most?
One of the most
unexpected “light” moments has been seeing the audience sing along with us —
unprompted, instinctively, like the songs already live within them. There’s
something magical about that shared recognition, especially when it comes during
a live performance. It reminds us that even in darkness, connection brings
light.
3. Each member
comes from projects with very different sonic identities. What’s one unexpected
habit or creative quirk from another member that shaped the new album in a way
you didn’t anticipate?
While there
weren’t specific creative quirks that reshaped the process, one track that
stands out is Tristessa. It's a deeply personal piece — the lyrics reflect the
grief of losing a loved one. That emotional weight shaped the atmosphere of the
album in an unspoken, but powerful way.
4. If “Echoes of
Eternity” was the band’s first message to the world, what message does “Deus
Profanus” send back in return?
“Deus Profanus”
continues the conversation by reminding us that appearances deceive. The
balance between light and shadow may not be as threatening as it’s made to seem
— and there’s always another perspective worth exploring.
5. Your sound
feels cinematic — if a filmmaker approached you to score a scene, what kind of
scene would Empty Mirror instinctively gravitate toward?
We’d
instinctively gravitate toward something that feels like a gothic fairytale or
a medieval tale — rich in atmosphere, steeped in emotion, and haunted by beauty
and decay. A scene filled with mystery, symbolism, and inner conflict would
feel like home to us.
6.
Ghostlands&Ravenlands Festival has a strong identity rooted in atmosphere
and storytelling. What part of your live performance do you think resonates
most with that ethos?
Definitely our
performance of Zephyros. It’s one of our most theatrical songs — especially in
the verses — and it demands a dramatic, almost ritualistic approach on stage.
That element of storytelling through voice, movement, and mood is something we
fully embrace, and it connects deeply with the spirit of
Ghostlands&Ravenlands.
7. What’s a
musical influence that fans would never guess plays a role in shaping your
compositions?
Speaking
personally, one unexpected influence came while writing the vocal lines for
Zephyros. The chorus is actually inspired by the female vocals and oriental
scale used in “Smack my bitch up” by The Prodigy. I’ve
always loved that vocal approach — it's fierce, hypnotic, and primal — and I
channeled that energy into our own sound in a way that still felt true to our
gothic roots.
8. If you could
freeze a single moment from your time in the studio recording “Deus Profanus”
and display it in a museum, what moment would it be and why?
It would be the
moment we were all together in the studio, laughing. Every band member was
present, and there was this shared energy — the kind you feel when something is
being born. That moment captured the spirit of Deus Profanus before it even
existed as an album. It wasn’t about the technical process, but about
connection, presence, and creation.
9. Your
dual-vocal dynamic adds a haunting dimension to your sound. What’s a moment on
stage where that interplay created something unplanned but magical?
It happened
during the first live performance of Man and Elf. The song itself has a
theatrical quality, and in that moment, we instinctively turned toward each
other and performed our parts as if we had become the characters. It was
completely unplanned, but something clicked — it created a tender, beautiful
moment that felt like pure storytelling through music.
10. Athens has a
unique underground metal culture. How does the city itself seep into your
songwriting — through its history, its chaos, or its silence?
There are
definitely traces of both chaos and silence in our music — that contrast is
part of living in Athens. But there’s also another face of the city that we try
to capture: something more raw and natural. For example, the lyric video we
filmed for Luminous Child was shot in the Hymettus mountain area — technically
still Athens, yet so far removed from its urban noise. That duality — between
the known and the hidden — is very present in what we create.
11. If Empty
Mirror could collaborate with an artist outside the metal world — someone completely
unexpected — who would challenge you in the best possible way?
It’s hard to
name just one artist, but I’ve often imagined collaborating with voices that
come from a completely different sonic realm — something ethereal and pure.
Artists like Enya or Celtic Woman bring a haunting serenity that would contrast
beautifully with our darker sound. That kind of collaboration would definitely
challenge us in unexpected and inspiring ways.
12. Looking
ahead, what emotion or concept do you feel is “calling” you for your next
creative chapter, even if it’s still undefined?
We’ve been
discussing the idea of exploring old fairytales and legends from rural Greece —
eerie stories, mythical creatures, strange sightings whispered across
generations. There’s something deeply haunting and poetic about this forgotten
folklore, and it feels like it’s calling to us. Whether through lyrics or
music, we’d love to give voice to those old shadows and let them take new form
in our sound.
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