Anaria Artist Spotlight with Jessica Mercy

Anaria Artist Spotlight with Jessica Mercy
by Athena Hardy of Celtic Wolf Queen Reviews

Today I am featuring a metal band from the New England area called Anaria. Questions have been answered by Jessica Mercy who is the very talented and lovely singer of the band. She's always got some creative project going on whether it's making music, making art or making costumes.

CWQ: When did the band first form?

JM: Anaria has been around in some form or another for many years, but in earnest since about 2011. It began as a purely symphonic power metal project called Evince Ethos, and I am the only remaining member from those days.

CWQ: Did it take you a little while to figure out your sound or did everyone pretty much click right away?

JM: Anaria has been through a multitude of lineup changes, which is a fairly frequent thing in the music industry. The current trio is comprised of myself, Sergio Salvucci (my husband), and Dan Spinney. Our approach to sound is to not limit ourselves to one particular genre, an approach we all very much agree with based on our experience in the industry. The three of us get along great and are able to cohesively work as a team to achieve a vision, in spite of having day jobs and other projects. With previous lineups, there were definitely bumps along the way, but I think the group is the best incarnation it’s been and we are certainly unified in vision.

CWQ: Which bands would you say Anaria is most influenced by?

JM: In the past, we were influenced by bands like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, and Evanescence. We have maintained many of those heavy Gothic elements for sure, but to list influences nowadays would be tough. I am personally influenced by a host of artists, including classic opera singers from the mid-1900's, rocker ladies from the 80's and 90's such as Pat Benatar, and of course pop queens like Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and more. Sergio is influenced by bands like Opeth, and probably has the most “metal” background of the three of us having played in death metal bands for years. Dan is influenced by so many different bands, including Avenged Sevenfold and on the opposite end of the spectrum, Lakestreet Dive.

CWQ: You have done some New Age/Celtic music as well. Will you be doing more of that in the near future?

JM: I will be producing a lot more New Age/Celtic music! “To the Ancients” is the Celtic New Age project my husband and I created, and it’s kind of like the Gothic/epic version of Loreena McKennitt. We published a great album called “Invitation” in July of 2019 and have been sporadically producing singles since then. We have a few new singles in the tracking process, and a dynamite cover medley which I think people of nerdy inclination will especially appreciate!

CWQ: Are there any other genres of music you would like to experiment with?

JM: I have experimented with many genres, and plan to continue that trend in the future. I’d love to record some jazz. I’m also very into electronic music and pop. I have another project I’m working on which fuses Gothic music with electro-pop and downtempo pop. It’s largely inspired by the soundtrack of the TV show “Lucifer” which overall has this wonderful darkness and tragedy of human emotion with tones of sensuality. So far in the songs I’ve written, there are little bits of HIM influences in there, along with Delta Rae, Halsey, Florence & the Machine; it’s very “me.”

CWQ: Is this something you are hoping will completely replace your other jobs or are you doing this more as a hobby that you can just enjoy without the rigors of a full touring lifestyle?

JM: The short answer is yes; I would love for music to be my full-time career. But doing art as a career comes with its own challenges, so I think being a “full-time musician” looks a bit different than simply touring, and a lot of artists are not making much money doing tours nowadays. It relies a lot more on things like film placement and royalties to create sustainable income. Obviously this is my art, and I will always do it regardless of monetary gain because it’s far more important to me to create good art and inspire audiences and other artists.

CWQ: Do all the band mates like to socialize together on days other than times you are actively creating music together? If so, what types of things do you enjoy doing together?

JM: When all three of us are together, we have a great time, but we don’t spend a lot of time socializing outside of getting music-related tasks accomplished. I see Sergio daily as we are married and live together, so our lifestyles are very much fused with the business aspect. We have a studio in our basement and we’re just always working on art, whether it’s music, photos, or videos.

CWQ: What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

JM: Personally, I’ve always been striving for that “big break.” And I haven’t really had that yet. But I wouldn’t look at it as a failure or a shortcoming, there have been lots of little victories leading towards what I hope is imminent success. Every song we’ve recorded has been an accomplishment. Every show we’ve played has been an accomplishment. We have opened for Flyleaf and Lacuna Coil; that’s pretty awesome I think! For me, studying classical voice, performing each recital along the way, and seeing my voice progress from being a self-taught novice to a professional has been an accomplishment. I finished my first Gothic romance novel this year, that’s definitely an accomplishment. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and how far the band has come, and I truly think we will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

CWQ: Did 2020 interfere with any of the bands goals?

JM: 2020 interfered with everyone’s goals, didn’t it? For Anaria, it did not impact us as much as it could have or as much as it impacted some of our friends in the industry. We don’t have a full line-up for shows, so shows probably weren’t happening this year anyway. It has given us the time to focus on getting the album done, and getting ourselves ready physically and emotionally to play shows again in 2021 (we hope).

CWQ: Do you have any special plans for the upcoming year?

JM: I plan to release a lot of music and videos this year, and make some awesome dresses and costumes. As a nerd convention-goer, that part of my life has been on hold due to the pandemic. So I’ve been sewing, singing, doing photo shoots, and writing. I’m really excited about all of it! It keeps me busy and helps me continue to grow as a creator.

https://www.facebook.com/AnariaBand/ 

https://www.instagram.com/anariaband/?igshid=1mrgwo0033s0m&fbclid=IwAR2BpeS4Z_sLO8qK6NSwW5gUunSWbnoX_JpzIZSnARQhXfUfdYhZhErhUN0

*** Photo credits to A Curious Production and 41st Casanova Productions (Gerry Vincent) ***

Artist Spotlight - Karen Gosselin

Interview with local artist Karen Gosselin
by Athena Hardy of Celtic Wolf Queen Reviews

Karen is a local New England artist whom I met through the comic convention scene. I always make sure to stop by her booth and see what new art pieces she has for sale. She is always a pleasure to talk with when she has some spare time between customers.

CWQ: Has art always been something you had a natural talent for since you were a child?

KG: Yes. It runs in the family. We all had an artistic direction, each one different. Mine leaned towards comics and fantasy art.

CWQ: Who would you say passed down the artist talent to you?

KG: My father. It was heavily represented on y father’s side of the family.

CWQ: When was the first time you showed your work? ( Ex. Talent show, town fair, vendor event etc? )

KG: I think it was at my first comic convention in VT when I was in my mid twenties. I got an award for "best up and coming artist". My first published story was in high school about a mountain lion hunting a deer. I don’t remember who published it. It was a local contest that I somehow won.

CWQ: What style of art do you prefer to create?

KG: I like realism, but I also enjoy some abstracts that have a hint of recognizable shapes and forms. Oils are my favorite.

CWQ: What is your favorite subject to draw?

KG: Fantasy fiction, creature creations/concepts. I also like turning abstract designs into animal forms to relieve stress.

CWQ: Which artists have inspired you the most?

KG: There are a lot. Some of them are friends. My first inspirations were Ray Harryhausen’s movies, "Clash of The Titans", "Seventh Voyage of Sinbad", "Golden Voyage of Sinbad", "Valley of Gwangi". As a kid, watching these movies, I WANTED to believe in the world he showed me. Fantastic, full of magic, adventures, creatures.

CWQ: You recently took a class to further your art knowledge. What did you gain from that experience?

KG: One of the many things I learned in the Illustrators Master Class was better composition, loosening up my painting style to create textures and "clustering" (drawing/painting groups of people or things to make a piece more interesting). The second time I learned more about brush strokes over blending (I still over blended. Bad habit I wanted to break). I also learned to have more confidence in my own skills.

CWQ: If you could, would you do art as a full time job? Why or why not?

KG: Maybe? Sometimes I enjoy the challenge. Others, I want to create my own worlds and characters and introduce them to everyone.

CWQ: Has the current state of the world affected your desire to create art?

KG: Yes. The anxiety makes it hard to create. It’s hard to focus past it sometimes, like an infinite wall. I took on a couple commissions to try and kick start my creative brain. So far the results have been rewarding. Honestly, I’m pretty proud of the stuff coming up. I think it’s some of the best and most challenging pieces I’ve created yet.

CWQ: What advice would you give someone just beginning their journey as an artist?

KG: Never give up. Even if you feel like something isn’t working in your art, keep creating, learning and finding ways to push yourself forward. Don’t redo a piece, learn from it. Most of all, be gentle with yourself. You aren’t going to understand it all right away and if you keep saying "I’ll put my work out there when it’s ready" it will never be ready. Put it out there and grow.

Facebook page for Karen's art: https://www.facebook.com/KarenGosselinArtandIllustration42/

Technical Issues

Ok well the blog I tried posting yesterday was not working.  I was having problems with my text not showing up.  I will try to figure this all out today so that I can get that new artist spotlight up.  Thanks for your patience!

Interview with Peter Vinton - local artist

 Interview with Peter Vinton - local artist

                  by Athena Hardy of Celtic Wolf Queen Reviews

      

      Today I am interviewing a local New England artist named Peter Vinton. I met Peter quite a few years back in the comic convention scene. I always enjoy stopping by his booth to see what new creations he has been working on and of course for some fun and nerdy conversation. (insert smirk here) Peter is always a pleasure to talk to and I'm very honored that he agreed to do this quick interview with me. So let's get started with the questions.

CWQ: As a child did you enjoy drawing or was this a passion that developed later in life?

PV: Been drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. By the time I was five, sequential art (usually involving a blend of dinosaurs and superheroes) was turning up everywhere in my household: on the dining room table, on the bathroom wall, and on any paperwork that Dad was careless enough to bring home from work.

CWQ: Did you get your love of art from your parents?

PV: While my parents (particularly my Mom) encouraged my art, neither of them are particularly gifted in that area or much interested in the subject. However in more recent years I think I’ve traced my inherited abilities to my maternal great-grandmother, Agnes Foley. Her illustrations and sculptures appeared all over the house, to the point where I wasn’t truly aware of them, growing up. Animals seemed to be a favourite subject for her but it looks as though she was a serious Disney nerd, waaaay before it was cool. Great-Grandma Foley also gives the impression of being a little obsessive about starting a piece right then and there, sometimes (by the look of it) before she was 100% sure she had all the right materials at hand! She left behind a great many unfinished sculptures and sketches, which I of course treasure.

CWQ: Was there any artist in particular that really inspired you?

PV: See Great-Grandma Agnes Foley, above. My late friend George N. Stamides, who is specially featured in Book II of The Monitor’s Guild.

Other artists that have directly informed my style are: Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Michael Whelan, Luis Royo, the Brothers Hildebrandt, Alex Ross, Rowena Morrill, Larry Elmore, Robert McGinnis and Steve Hanks (seriously, I wanna be those last two when I grow up!), and lately, Fabian Perez. Perez is this generation’s John Singer Sargent and I don’t make that assertion lightly.

CWQ: What would you say is your favorite type of art to draw and paint?

PV: Am definitely a pen-and-ink man, that has become clear over the years. It just seems to be where I operate at my best level, and reliably produce exactly what I originally envisioned in my imagination.

On that subject I need to add to the above list of inspirations: specifically, the master-level inkers such as Larry Hama, Brian Stelfreeze, Blair Shedd, Neal Adams, Babs Tarr, Mark Morales, Al Williamson, Paolo Pantalena, George Pérez, Bill Mantlo, Mark McKenna, the late and much-missed Paul Ryan, and lately, Demi Lang –her pen and ink work is nothing short of divine.

CWQ: Do you enjoy trying new styles of art and things outside of your comfort zone?

PV: Enjoy? No. Seeing the vital necessity of, and doing so anyway? Yes. [grin] Every artist needs to do so from time to time. In fact 2020 is shaping up to be a transitional year for me on that very subject –I’m exploring some uncomfortably new stuff and haven’t the faintest idea how --or where-- it’s going to go. It's kind of like Doctor Who –every several years you just have to toss out everything you think you know and ruthlessly change it all up, whether you were ready or not.

CWQ: What was the first event you showed your artwork at?

PV: New York Comic Con 2008. (Just in time to get caught up in the hype surrounding the release of the newest superhero movie, “Iron Man.” There was… cautious optimism but it was definitely NOT the flick that everyone was excitedly talking about!)

I learned SO much from my fellow denizens of Artists’ Alley, that weekend. Shout-out to Steve Walker of The Sons Of Liberty fame, the legendary Molly Crabapple, and god-tier artist Greg Horn for their invaluable guidance (whether or not they even knew they were giving me any).

Also met Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno, and Ron Perlman that weekend as fellow professionals and not as a squee’ing fanboy (which I totally WAS), so all in all it was a pretty seismic occasion. [nerdgasm]

CWQ: Do you find it difficult to suddenly have to draw a commission as opposed to when you have an inspiration to do something?

PV: In all honesty yes. [grin] But I suspect that’s the blessing/curse of every artist –of course we’d rather be in uninterrupted communion with The Muse at all times. On the other hand, there’s the equally sacred duty of seeing to it that the artist eats.

CWQ: Do you have any other creative hobbies that you enjoy besides drawing?

PV: Music is my other passion, specifically the piano: I studied classical and jazz, and have played keyboard in some really REALLY mediocre-but-fun bands over the years. My kids (one son and one daughter) seem to have inherited a weirdly-balanced mix of both the artistic and the musical, which will hopefully serve them well!

CWQ: What creation are you the most proud of?

PV: Pond Pals, an 18” x 24” pastel-and-coloured-pencil piece that came into being in 1995. Very transformative phase, that. Runner-up would almost certainly be my graphic novel series, The Monitor’s Guild.

CWQ: What advice would you give to young aspiring artists?

PV: Baby steps: take the time to learn and practice and make LOTS of mistakes –after all, most artistic careers are measured in decades, not months. This is rarely a young person’s profession. Also: severely limit your gratis gigs and don’t be afraid to charge honestly for total time spent on a project.   

You can find Peter's art at:

Website http://www.petervintonjr.com/?fbclid=IwAR0WoPw3g25yIJRvJmUbVSB7z7U0T5pIEOg2iWMguvU9_njX-6CWJE29V9c

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/petervintonjr/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/peter.vinton.jr/?fbclid=IwAR3MB7HSWrplcAAJwsOZA6HOGc80mb0nWUlbIzdtLEkH3p2PPhxsF94jFc4

Twitter PeterVintonJr

Photo of Peter and I at Super Megafest 2019

I'm back!

Whew!  I got a bit lost over the holidays as we all tend to do.  I also had to house sit and cat sit for 2 weeks so that was keeping me busy as well.  I've got some great new content coming up.  It's already in the works and I'm very excited to share it with you!  Thanks for your patience everyone!

Leah – Ancient Winter album review

Hey everyone, it's Celtic Wolf Queen Reviews here. The album I am reviewing today is the brand new album from Canadian independent artist Leah. It was released on Nov 15^th of 2019 through crowdfunding efforts. This album is a little bit different than her previous work because it's a Winter holiday themed album. Typically she is a Celtic Metal songwriter who has been described as the “metal Enya.” If you haven't heard of Leah, I strongly encourage you to look her up and give a listen.

The first track called The Whole World Summons opens with a feeling that you have walked into the Great Hall of a medieval castle. A chorus of angelic voices leads you further in, awakening a curiosity to know, see and feel more. It is the perfect beginning to this Winter themed album.

The second track called Light Of The World has a very Middle Eastern tone which is rightly so given the story being told is of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It has a very relaxing blend of Middle Eastern sound with what one could call New Age.

The third track called Upon Your Destiny has a very mellow and calming effect. The lyrics are very comforting and uplifting to the soul which we could all use more of in life.

The fourth track called Redemption starts of with some amazing wind instruments and right as Leah starts singing you can tell the song is going to be nothing short of AMAZING! Although this album as a whole is very low key, this song does have noticeable peaks that send a fire straight through me. I also love the ever present Celtic sound in this track.

The fifth track called The Messenger is a very brief track that almost serves as an intermission in the album. It sounds like something you would hear in a scene from Lord Of The Rings. I can picture being greeted by the radiant Elves of Lothlorien.

The sixth track is called Gaudete which is a 16^th century Latin religious holiday song. It has a chipper, upbeat tune which is fitting because part of it's translation means to rejoice. It does indeed have a joyful sound to it.

The seventh track called Puer Natus immediately makes me want to dance and celebrate which I feel is perfect considering it is a medieval Latin hymn speaking of the wondrous birth of a special child in Bethlehem. The birth of a child is always a good cause for celebration.

The eighth and final track called Noel Nouvelet starts off with very minimal music and focuses on Leah's hauntingly beautiful voice. It is believed to be a 15^th century French Christmas carol. The pace and feel of this song provides a perfect ending to the album as it gives a feeling of a journey being over almost in a way that the end credits of a movie bring you out with a renewed hope and energy.

Well, that was my first review and I am so honored that I could do this for Leah. She is not only an amazing and talented artist but a genuine, down to earth, kind hearted human being. You can find Leah's new album on the following platforms.

Spotify: bit.ly/ancientwinterspotify

iTunes: bit.ly/ancientwinterit

Apple Music: bit.ly/ancientwinterap

Amazon: bit.ly/ancientwinteramz

Amazon.ca: bit.ly/ancientwinteramzca

Google Play: bit.ly/ancientwintergpl

Leah Shop: bit.ly/ancientwinter

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my review blogging site!  I will be posting reviews of music, movies, restaurants and products.  I would love to hear your opinions on the topics I post about.  I am hoping to hone my writing skills during this process as well.  Thank you for being here!