| |
|
 |
| |
|
Interview with
Elle Torry
Interview was conducted July 2010 by Steve Earles |
| |
Elle Torry is one of the most
talented young musicians on the underground metal scene,
having played with such names as The Meads of Asphodel,
Worms of Sabnock and Imperial Vengeance...here Elle
gives the insider story on her experiences of the world
of extreme metal!
You are a very accomplished musician…What sparked
your interest in music? How long have you been playing?
How many instruments can you play? And is there a limit
to how many instruments you’d like to be able to play?!
Are there any outstanding instruments you’d like to
learn (the didgeridoo in metal could be the next craze)
Thank you. That's very kind of you to say. Well, I
suppose you could say my interest in music came from
before I was born. I was surrounded by music and
musicians when my mother was carrying me and was always
taken to concerts when I was growing up. My parents
played a huge part, as they were always playing music at
home and performing.
Some of the composers which took my fancy were Holst,
Warlock, Grainger, Vivaldi and J. S. Bach, the latter,
standing out from all the rest!! My taste seemed to head
towards music for strings, and I began asking my Mum for
a Violin when I was 3. Being unsure of my interest, mum
made me a cardboard violin, thinking I just wanted
something to play with. To her despair, I promptly
destroyed said Violin, saying I wanted a real one. A few
months later I began lessons. Continuing my ever growing
passion for the Baroque, Classical and 19th century
composers, I decided to take up the oboe, the instrument
I was later to specialise with on my Music Degree. Music
has always been my life, my blood and purpose, so I
could mention far more influences and experiences but we
would be here all day. |
| |
| The Number of instruments I can play is a bit of a tough
one to answer as I am proficient on oboe, cor-anglais,
violin and guitar. I can find my way around a cello,
flute, recorder, clarinet and piano, but I would not say
I can 'play' them to a high enough standard to call
myself a player of them. I'd rather be a mistress of one
instrument than a jack of all, but I have always had a
strong love for each instrument to the same degree, but
just in different ways. The only difference being the
addiction to practicing guitar, which never happened
with the other instruments. Whether it's down to
experience, age and discipline I do not know, but guitar
is the only instrument I really practice nowadays. I'm
not one for regrets, but I do wonder sometimes what
would have happened had I not left it as late as 23 to
study the guitar properly.
I do not have any wish to learn
anymore instruments. I would love to have the time to
practice all 3 all day every day, that would be perfect,
but teaching and paying the bills gets in the way of
that. haha. I always wanted to study the sitar, but in
doing so, I feel I would need to wipe Western Classical
knowledge from my memory. Maybe in another life I'll
learn it!!
What are your musical influences?
This is probably covered in question one, but is still a
tough one to answer as I have SO many influences over
the last 30 years, but I failed to talk about guitar
influences. My love for metal started when I was about
11, when someone at school gave me a compilation tape.
Bands like Pantera, Metallica, Megadeth and Skid Row
started me off. I was always drawn to |
 |
fast lead
guitar melodies as a kid. I'd even turn up to orchestral
rehearsals, looking like a metal head. The person who
must have inspired me the most initially as a guitarist
is John Petrucci. Had it not been for Dream Theater then
I probably would have not been so determined to learn,
so I have a lot to thank him for. Jason Becker is
probably my favourite guitarist ever, but there are so
many amazing musicians in this world, it would be
difficult to condense.
Outside the field of music, what else has influenced
you?
Life has been my biggest influence! ....need I say
anymore?!
What were you first serious musical ventures?
Within the metal genre, I would say the European
'Extreme Noise Terror' tour with my first band Cold
Lazarus back in 2006. Up until then, my ventures had all
been within the Classical scene, performing with various
ensembles and orchestras.
You played with Worms of Sabnock for a while and I
believe you made some sort of musical contribution to
the Meads of Asphodel?
Indeed! I was approached by The Meads in summer 2007
when I was asked to do a solo for the cover 'You really
got me' by the Kinks. This lead to recording/rehearsing
with the Worms of Sabnock and The Meads, as they are
very closely linked, but due to logistical and line-up
changes early 2008 I decided it would be better to leave
my position as guitarist.
You are involved with Imperial Vengeance, could you
tell us about that?
Yes- this band is the perfect balance of everything for
me, allowing my classical background to come through in
many different ways. As you may know, the musical
creation for Imperial Vengeance is down to C. E.
Alexander, who writes all the guitar parts and
orchestration. Just like when I was an orchestral
musician, I'm given the score, I learn it then perform
it. I really like that dynamic- it works really well for
me. I knew I had to be part of I.V. as soon as I heard
the demo tracks. It had the right flavour of everything
I like within music- a really good balance, topped with
just the right amount of shred. The first album, 'At the
Going Down of the Sun' was a fantastic opportunity for
me to use oboe, cor-anglais, violin and flute within the
band.
We are currently in the midst of
recording the orchestral parts for the second album 'The
Black Heart of Empire', which, I must say, is sounding
amazing. The I.V. guys recorded with the beautifully
talented Lori Lewis (Therion) a few weeks ago for one of
the tracks and the album is taking shape very nicely
from what I've heard. Next month we tour the UK with
Sabbat, which I'm really looking forward to. It's been a
few years now since I've been on tour, so getting out
there again will be awesome.
|
| |
What musical ambitions would you like to achieve,
a-in the world of metal, b-outside the world of metal?
I'd like to make a difference as a female guitarist.
Perhaps encouraging other girls to learn to play. I
really wish I'd had a female guitarist to inspire me
when I was younger, but it was only the men in metal who
did. I'd like to gain more experience as a session
musician, with both orchestral instruments and guitar.
As a teacher, I'd like to make people a little more
aware of the more rare breeds of instruments like oboe
and cor-anglais. It still seems far cooler to learn the
guitar.
I'll still continue writing my own music, but as yet, I
have no plans to really do anything with that. I like to
let it happen organically and never force the writing
process. I have a few more tracks, which I'm still
working on, but they'll come together when the time is
right.
Could you see yourself composing music for a film
sound track?
It's not something I've ever really considered to be
honest. I was asked whether someone could use the song
'Deepest Perfection' for a play called 'Brace', which I
later found was inspired by that song, but I suppose I
don't really consider myself a composer. I'm a performer
at heart. I'll never say never when it comes to anything
musical, so who knows perhaps it's something I'll
consider for the future.
Do you feel a musician is as
much influenced by say, their upbringing or environment
as scales and chord progressions? |
 |
A theoretical knowledge has been essential for my
learning, but not for everyone's. In fact, when I write
something I just purely go on emotion, nothing else, but
that works for the kind of music I write. All of my
students are taught scales and chords as it's good to
have this knowledge behind you to expand in the
direction you want. I know plenty of musicians, who are
self taught with a non theoretical background, but they
are some of the most fluid and amazing musicians I know.
In my eyes, music is universal, there should be no rules
or regulations to be able to create something amazing,
but it does help.
What do you think of the state of the metal genre
today, the effect of downloading on music, and the
future of the genre?
It's an ever expanding genre, with more diverse
crossovers of styles. Downloading is something I think
most musicians feel strongly about. I wouldn't give
instrumental lessons for free; it's my livelihood, so
why should a person take someone's hard work and
creativity without paying for it. You wouldn't walk out
of a shop without paying for an item, so why treat music
like that? I always like buying a CD with the whole
package: artwork, lyrics etc. Supporting a band you like
is very important. Social networking sites are proving
useful with the promotion in the music industry and I
don't see why people shouldn't listen to tracks on
there, but I see no sense in not buying them.
As a lady in the world of metal, have you experienced
much sexism or have you found it a positive experience?
Although it's a male majority genre I've not experienced
any negativity (yet) In fact, I've met some really
supportive musicians within the industry over the last
few years, who think it's great seeing a female
guitarist and in fact, I think we need more women
guitarists. The only thing I've experienced in the past
has been when approaching guitarists after shows- I
think some have automatically expected me to be some
kind of groupie, which, being a serious musician, just
makes me laugh. If I were a guy, it wouldn't even enter
their minds.
I just wouldn't give anyone with closed minded sexism
the time of day and have no respect for people who think
like that. At the end of the day, I'm a musician!!
That's what it comes down to. Some kind of sexism is
bound to happen at some point, but it's not going to
bother me, in fact, it's more likely to drive me. People
can think what they like.
Finally, anything you would personally like to add,
and thank you for your time, and good luck in future!
Thanks for the questions and well wishes!
Check out the myspace -
www.myspace.com/elletorry |
| |
|
