theNAME is a female fronted groovy rock/metal band with catchy songs, based in Haarlem, the Netherlands. At heart theNAME is metal, but in the newer, more dynamic songs there is a clear pop influence. Their own sound combined with musical elements from several different styles ensures a unique refreshing experience. Currently they are working on their new album. They also recorded their first music video last month at ‘de lichtfabriek’, Haarlem … this and more is discussed in the following interview with the members of theNAME.
TMR: Hello guys this is´The Metal Resource’ how are things going there in Haarlem?
Hadassa: Very good, thank you!
TMR: Will you Introduce yourself and the line-up please [name and instrument]
Hadassa: I’m the singer of the band.
Silas: I play guitar and do the backing vocals/screams.
Rens: I play guitar as well.
TMR: Tell us the brief history of ‘theNAME’.
Silas: I wanted to make groovy, rockin’ metal with catchy vocals. I had some tracks on the table and after many years searching for musicians we started to rock seriously. After Hadassa joined the band, we went to the next level and played a lot of interesting shows. Now we are doing the last steps of our first professional album with videoclip and the whole shebang.
TMR: Are you guys full time musicians ? If not what kind of job or school do you do beside the band ?
Rens: We are not full time musicians (yet : )) We all have jobs right now, so we’re all pretty busy.
Silas: I wish! Although my job is pretty cool as I work in the erotic industry.
Hadassa: I wish too : ) Though I have a cool job as well; I am a marketeer and event manager.
TMR: What is your musical background ? [for everyone personal]
Silas: Pretty much all music, but it all started with Kiss
Hadassa: Rock and pop mostly. I still love to combine those two and add some metal to it.
Rens: I’ve played in several rock/metal bands, that’s also what I mostly listen to.
TMR: Why the name ‘theNAME’ ? Is there a story behind it ?
Silas: I wanted to have a name that had some attitude and it had to be short and easy to remember. So theNAME stand for THE name in rock!
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘theNAME’ ? … how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influences you for writing music and lyrics ?
Silas: I write the music. It just happens. When I am on my way home, when I am in the middle of a conversation etc. I usually hear the whole band in my head already. So if I can, I run to my computer to record it.
Hadassa: It’s more funny though when his computer isn’t there. Cause he will sing all instruments then and record it all on his phone : ). Our process of writing music usually goes in this romantic kind of way. For me it works the same as I write the lyrics and he vocal lines. I usually get inspiration when I want to sleep and need to get up early or something. Sometimes we make time to write new stuff, but the best songs usually are created more fluently just when it happens.
Silas: We probably are inspired by what we have listened for years. I love Annihilator, Doro, Kiss and Disturbed for instance. But I don’t know if you can hear that in our music, I can though: )
TMR: How do you describe the music of ‘theNAME’ the best ?
Rens: Rough groovy metal with melodic, sensual female vocals and male screams. Our newer songs are more metal, but they still have quite catchy choruses.
TMR: How does ‘theNAME’ stands in life till events in the world, religion and politics and in which proportion stands that till your music and lyrics ?
Silas: It doesn’t at all and that actually is a conscious choice, I do not see the need to push my opinion to anyone.
Hadassa: When I first hear Silas’ new material, I try to feel where the music is about. Or at least what it seems to be about for me. I write new lyrics inspired by this feeling combined with how I feel, see things and how I am doing in my life at that point. So it comes from inside and we don’t feel the urge to put the outside world in it.
TMR: For a lot of bands the lyrics are just a accidental circumstance, but for some bands they use them to communicate ! ..can you tell us how that is for ‘theNAME’ ?
Hadassa: For me it’s a way to communicate. I put all my emotions, views and everything that upsets me or makes me happy in the lyrics. My lyrics are very personal. I think it would be cool if they could help people in the way they help me: just to let everything out en show the world your strength. But it is also ok for me if people just like the melodies, the sound and feel of our music. You can experience music in all kind of ways. Whatever suits you is good to me : )
TMR: Is there a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘theNAME’ ?
Hadassa: I’m just glad the band came to me asking if I was a singer when they needed one. Otherwise we would have never even met. And I would have missed a lot of cool experiences.
Silas: I enjoyed all the cool shows with bands like Epica, Y&T, Krypteria etc.
Rens: And the mini-tour with Six Magics! We had an amazing time with those guys from Chili playing in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
TMR: And the worst thing were ? [if there is one]
Silas: We don’t want to talk about that anymore : )
Hadassa: No we don’t : )
TMR: The last album you bought? [for everyone personal]
Rens: Did you say ‘bought’? : )
Silas: Must have been something like the last Kiss album.
Hadassa: I think something of Epica.
TMR: What makes you laugh? [for everyone personal]
Hadassa: All our funny video’s, our stupid band jokes and other stupid jokes apart from the band.
Silas: Every sick thing we did with Mike : )
Rens: There’s a decent amount of humor in the band. We have a insane bass player for instance.
TMR: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Silas: We generally practice every week and if needed for whatever reason we play more.
Rens: Having our own practice room is really great, we can stay there as long as we need.
TMR: Where have you performed recently? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
Rens: We love to perform in all kind of venues and all sort of rockin’ festivals. I don’t think I can choose a favorite or even a least favorite. All shows are cool, though our aim is playing in the bigger venues.
TMR: How do you promote your band and shows ?
Hadassa: In every way we can think of : )
TMR: How do you prepare for a show? [for everyone personal]
Rens: By practicing a lot. Alone but also with the band.
Hadassa: By relaxing before the show and yelling ‘Titties’ right before we go on stage : )
TMR: Describe your show, visual and musically ? And tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
Rens: We give tight performances with the needed attitude, rock ‘n roll and sexyness. We love to rock and give a lot of energy. Looking at our instruments all show long is not our thing.
Hadassa: You should be there to have fun, drink beer and headbang with us : )
Silas: We have no shows coming up yet, ’cause we are busy with our new album and just recorded a videoclip which needed a lot of preparation.
TMR: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Silas: We always make a setlist. Usually right before a show. When we are gonna play again, it will be lots of new material.
Hadassa: I’m really excited to play all the new stuff live! We used to play Youth Gone Wild and metal versions of Hit Me Baby One More Time and a song of Kylie Minoque. I think it’s time for a new cover. We already have some cool options : )
TMR: Name some of your favorite bands to play with live [past and future] and tell us why ?
Hadassa: I loved to play with Epica, ’cause I love the band and their audience. I would also like to play with bands like Halestorm, Doro and Evanescence. ‘Cause I think they are great too.
Rens: There are so many cool bands out there, we wanna play with all of them : ) Doesn’t have to be with a female singer.
Silas: I’d like to play with Killswitch or Annihilator for instance. Jeff has been a huge example.
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked? [for everyone personal]
Silas: There are no dumb questions only stupid answers.
TMR: Do you have a life philosophy / favorite quote ? [for everyone personal]
Hadassa: We know that if you want to achieve something you have to fight for it. We are not gonna sit and wait untill it comes our way. I don’t think that I have a life philosophy. Except work hard, enjoy what you achieve and always keep rockin’.
Rens: That and enjoying life in general.
Hadassa: Indeed : )
Silas: Philosophy nah, quote.. uh… only ugly people say appearances don’t matter ; )
TMR: Are you visiting many gigs and what do you listen to these days? [for everyone personal]
Silas: We are so busy with theNAME that we dont’t have time to visit many other gigs. The last one I saw was Halestorm. Too bad though.
Hadassa: Same here : )
Rens: Dream Theater, Opeth, Textures. The last gig was Textures. We are also recording our album with their (ex) guitarist.
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
Hadassa: There is a small one. Haarlem is not really a big city, so that is expected. I think the scene is bigger than in other cities like Haarlem. Which is remarkable, ’cause Haarlem has a certain poshy vibe going on. Or maybe that is the reason : )
TMR: What’s your outlook on the record industry today?
Rens: We would still like to get a record deal, although it is not really necessary anymore. You can record wherever you want nowadays (if you were able to save some money at least : )) and promote your band easily yourself. Though it would be cool to have some extra support of a label.
TMR: You are currently working on a new album, can you tell us something about the recording proces ? When can the album be expected ?
Hadassa: We recorded a new album at the studio of producer Jochem Jacobs (ex guitarist Textures). It was great and very intense to do that. At the moment everything is recorded and the studio is mixing for us. We don’t know yet when we will release it. Stay tuned : )
TMR: In November 2010, ‘theNAME’ won the ‘Brainstorm Fest.’ band contest. You had the pleasure to open the second day of the festival. How do you look back on that show ?
Rens: That was a really cool show. Would be nice to play there again : )
TMR: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Silas: Not at the moment. First we will finish our CD and our new videoclip.
TMR: What are your plans for the near future?
Hadassa: We just recorded our first music video at April 23 and April 24 at De Lichtfabriek in Haarlem. Those days were very busy, but it was awesome to shoot the video. De Lichtfabriek is a beautiful atmospheric place and we managed to arrange a great team of crew members, models, extra’s and actors. Now we have to put the right images together. Next to that, we will finish our album and hopefully we will arrange a CD presentation : )
TMR: What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Silas: Never give up. Make sure you have a great band with great motivated musicians, keep making your music better and always fight to get the best out of it.
Hadassa: And don’t forget to enjoy it while you’re working hard : )
TMR: Guys thanks for your time and the interview, we wish ‘theNAME’ all the best … Is there anything you wanna say at last? [any final statement ?]
Rens: Check our website www.thename.nl and follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/theNAMErockmetal !
Hadassa: We hope to see you at our shows!
Silas: Rock on!
Hadassa: Thanks for the interview!
Band members:
Hadassa – Vocals
Silas – Guitar
Rens – Guitar
Mike – Bass
Nathan – Drums
Discography:
“Endless Remorse” [2002]
“Remedy” [2004]
“Recognition” [2006]
“Enchained” ep, [2009]
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Video below for: “Twisted” (live)