By Steve Perrett

1/ Please introduce the band members.

First of all, let me say it's Antonietta answering your questions, hopefully my answers are satisfying. I'll do my best! 'EVEN VAST' are;

1. Antonietta Scilipoti (vocals & keyboards ),
2. Luca Martello (guitars),
3. Alessandro Piller (drums & electronic grooves),
4. Vincenzo Di Leo (bass)

2/ Can you give a brief history of Even Vast, when did you start? Where are you based?

Based in the smallest region of Italy (Aosta Valley) extreme North-West, we did start in the early ‘90's, when me and Luca created 'Chaos and Technocracy', a band marked with a big impact and a cool sound, quite innovative for that period. As a matter of fact, at that time it was really unusual to hear bands with female vocals into such an extreme musical context. Of that band was released stuff like couple of 7" EP's, a live MCD and various live gigs, some of which played in Austria and Germany.

After many line-up variations and contractual problems, we decided to split 'Chaos and Technocracy' up, officially in December ྜྷ, and to found a new band, 'EVEN VAST'. We signed a contract with BLACK LOTUS Records from Greece and our debut album "HEAR ME OUT" got released in June ྟ.

Between September and October ‘99 we recorded 3 new songs plus 1 cover, to release a MCD, “WHERE THE TREES STILL SPEAK" that got released in December 2000, by the German label ARS METALLI and re-released on limited edition picture LP by Belgian act PAINKILLER RECORDS.

After getting free from any contract with ARS METALLI we signed a deal with PAINKILLER RECORDS to release our second album "OUTSLEEPING" .

First, Painkiller Records released a CD single extracted from the new album “DAWNING GLOOM / SCARED FOR THE LAST TIME", then in January 2002, due to distribution problems, “OUTSLEEPING" album got released in Europe under license to bigger label MAUSOLEUM Records in May 2003.

After further line-up changes and evolution of music style, we are working on new material, to release our third full lenght album, and also on our old stuff, to re-arrange the songs for our live gigs.

3/ For those who don't know you, can you explain the type of music you play?

Well, it's never easy to give a specific definition of our music, all I can say is we do combine various influences. We come from "doom metal" old style (debut album) and from time to time our music has evolved, until we have improved in songwriting by reaching kind of "modern sound".

At present time we've added the use of electronic grooves, which give us a really different sound. I'd rather prefer to invite people to listen to our songs (from past to latest, to get their own idea on what we actually do) than give a wrong or incomplete definition! Hope you don't mind!

4/ Who writes the songs? Or is it all band members?

From debut album "HEAR ME OUT" up to last one "OUTSLEEPING", the songwriters were me and Luca (guitars), but with our actual line up, drummer and bass player are involved one way or another in writing new songs, they do give a good contribution to that. About lyrics it's me the one who writes them.

5/ Which is your favourite song you play?

Very hard to pick!! Specially now that we have re-arranged with electronics all the songs we do play live!

Really I don't know what to say!!!! I'm not able to give this kind of answer right now. Just to mention some, I can say,

1. "Once Again"
2. "Over",
3. "Dawning Gloom",
4. "After All",

but also the new songs we are working on, so, as you see, it's not easy to choose!

6/ Do you prefer to play live? Or do you prefer recording in the studio?

Both the things! In the name of all the members, I can tell you we do love to play live as much as we do love to record our music in studio! In past we have probably liked to play live most, because when recording in studio there was always lack of time to define things as we wanted to. But since last year we do hold our own personal recording studio H-SOUND STUDIO that we have built with our own hands!

We spend all of our free time in studio, to rehearse, to create, or simply to listen to music, as well as to meet and discuss of anything related to the band. The coolest thing is there's no one telling us our time's out! This way we can work in total relax, which turns to our advantage of course. We have good quality equipment & gears. By investing time and money we have improved our sound. So, at the present time we feel satisfied with both the situations, even if playing live and recording in studio are two different things! Satisfactions you have live are impossible to get in studio, and vice-versa.

7/ Which is the best gig you've played?

I think it could be the festival we played in Innsbruck, with Zerberus, Athargatis, Eternal Grieve, on March 14th 2003. It was great, a lot of fun and cool audience! We were the only "different" band playing that night, because it was supposed to be a festival of gothic bands, in fact we didn't play gothic at all!!! Our show was intense and the sound was really heavy! Cool night!

Pity that DEAD PAD (from U.K.) couldn't play, for a problem they had with their singer at that time!

8/ If you could play anywhere in the world, where would you choose to play?

Wherever there would be people interested to hear us, open minded and devoid of musical prejudices!!!!!!!!

9/ Who influences you most in your music?

1. Vincenzo: All from 80's into new wave music and post punk;
2. Alessandro: electronic and dance in general, plus sounds of pop from the 80's;
3. Luca: seventy rock and stoner bands from USA;
4. Antonietta: A lot of doom and dark wave bands as far as it concerns playing keyboards.

For vocals I dunno, I can say I love singers with particular style from various kind of music, from "Life Of Agony" to "Jingo De Lunch" and still "Life...But How To Live it", the list would be too long, so, I just can say I do love all the unconventional singers!

10/ List your Discs?

1. Debut cd "HEAR ME OUT" released in 1999 by Black Lotus Records from Greece; mcd
2. "WHERE THE TREES STILL SPEAK" released in 2000 by Ars Metalli from germany, re-issued on

   limited edition picture MLP by Painkiller records from Belgium;

3. "DAWNING GLOOM / SCARED FOR THE LAST TIME" cd single released in 2002 by Painkiller Records;
4. "OUTSLEEPING" cd released in 2003 by Mausoleum Records (in Europe), by Irond Ltd (in Russia and baltic States), by Hellion Records (in South America).

11/ Are there plans for a new CD?

Yes, of course. We are working on a new album that we hope to be released in 2005. At the present time we have composed a good number of new songs. Naturally we are taking all the time we need to work well, without pressure of any kind.

12/ Have you a list of any upcoming gigs?

Sure! One gig is planned on December 17th, at Transilvania Live (Milano). It's a festival we'll play together with other three bands ('MACBETH', 'SOUL TAKERS', 'LUNAE'). After that, we're engaged for another festival, at Hedon, (Zwolle) Holland, next January 28th. The festival is called MUSIC AGAINST CANCER and it's a no profit show we'll share with 'ORPHANAGE', 'VANKATOEN', 'TASTE OF INSANITY'. 'EVEN VAST' will be the only foreign band playing that festival. Of course we are trying to get more gigs for the future, to promote the new album as soon as it will be released.

13/ What plans do you have for the future, where do you see Even Vast in 5 years time?

Usual plans I suppose, I mean, we expect to go on with our activity by releasing new albums and playing live gigs around, as much as possible! About where we do see EVEN VAST in 5 years time, hum, too difficult to see our future!!! We just hope we will continue to play the music we like, by evolving and improving our style!!!

14/ Do you have a New Year message for the world?

Well, I wish people have good chances to do things they want to! Last but not least, Merry Christmas and Happy 2005 to you all!!!

Thanks Antonietta

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About Steve Perrett

A Songstuff staff member for sveral years, Steve plays guitar, writes songs and records his own material.

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