Lets find out who Asylum Pyre is
Interview conducted on June 03, 2019
by Dan Locke
A wind of change over the metal sphere. Power, melody, emotions. A perfect mix of modern and traditional metal led by an extraordinary lead vocalist allied with an unbelievable variety in atmospheres.
Asylum Pyre plays each song as if it were the last, as if its life was on trial. A rare intensity and choruses that will all stick to your head.
Add to this a whole pre-apocalyptical universe in which each band members plays a double-game character and you’ve got an intense and unforgettable artistical experience!
Band Members
Ombeline “OXY” Duprat : vocals
Johann “JAE” Cadot : guitars, vocals, programming
Pierre-Emmanuel “WIK” Pélisson : guitars
Fabien “HED” Mira : bass
Thomas “KAS” Calegari : drums
Dan Locke: Oxy- You were a trained saxophonist with Mathieu Alvado. Did you learn to play any other instruments while you were growing up? At what age? And how did you meet Mathieu?
Hey there! Well, I started to learn saxophone with Mathieu Alvado at the little school of music in my city, when I was 13/14yo. Biggest cities were located at 150km and I would have loved to join the Conservatoire but it was not permitted due to distance. At first, I wanted to learn organ, but it was not possible (little town, I said?). I was fascinated by Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D minor and it was my obsession. I can remember listening to it, on the bus, during a school trip. I was 9yo and clearly asocial.
How did you go about writing, producing and creating your debut album under the name of Seadem back in 2009?
Well, I started this project on my own. Someone told me one day: you should sing! I said: « Why not? but I don’t even know how to compose a song ». At this time, I was writing a lot, I was in love with silence. Seadem is the short name of the Latin sentence Semper Eadem. Those words have been engraved behind a ring I’m wearing. I created and produced all by myself, except for the artwork which has been made by the label. Seadem is my dark side: gothic and tribal elements, sometimes using EBM sounds. Dark is beautiful. My motto: Eros & Thanatos.
In 2014 you teamed up with Tom to create your next part of your journey of Seadem. Why did you switch gears by adding another member to your project?
Tom is a friend of mine and I was looking for someone who could bring fresh things for Seadem. New sound, new musical orientation. I wanted to create something more « easy listening »
In 2015 you started to lending your voice to many different projects ranging from rap to metal. Can you name some of the projects you have to lend your voice to?
Life is made of opportunities. As a human being more than a singer, I’m naturally inclined to discover and try new things. I was listening to the trip-hop band Kognitif on YouTube and said to myself « I would love to sing for this guy ». I contacted him and he said « Yes! ». Then, I recorded a song for this one-man band, the song is called « Whatever ». While I was recording, my friend Alex, very talented guitarist of the French band Atlantis Chronicles needed a female voice for one of his customers, an African rap maker. I said: « I’m in ». I also recorded St James Infirmary for the Council of Paris.
Have you done any voice-overs for films or cartoons yet?
Not yet but I would love!
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
First of all: classical music and progressive rock such as IQ, Marillion, Pendragon. As a teenager, people were joking about me, because of my goth look and my musical taste. Even if I was enjoying every kind of music! I was fond of Supertramp, Pixies, UK Rock of the 60’s/70’s. And I started to listen to Cradle of Filth and a bunch of black metal bands. But also, symphonic metal, jazz, soul… Love the atmosphere.
What are your guilty pleasures in music?
In this time, I’m listening a lot Jimmy Somerville, especially the song « You make me feel ». Love funk music! Sometimes, while working and arguing with people, I do enjoy trap music, with bass boosted. Ok, I’m turning more and more aggressive in the negotiations (smile).
And singing Lorraine Ellison or Alicia Keys!!
What was your first and last concert that you went to see?
Oh, it was I guess, Emir Kusturika and the No Smoking Orchestra. Ahah, I do love also music from the Balkans. The last one was a month ago, Cradle of Filth!
In 2016 you joined Asylum Pyre while still working on your third album for Seadem along with you still lending your voice on other projects. How did you do that?
At least, I haven’t recorded Seadem and decided to take a break with my other projects and stay focus on the new album. Well, I also recorded with The Experiment no Q, a steampunk band led by Paolo Vallerga, featuring some Therion’s members. And I!
Doing that same time, you recorded The Nightmare before Christmas – Oogie Boogie Song. How did that come about?
I love playing with my voice! On the new album « N°4 », you can listen to a bunch of different vocals, spoken, slam/rap, fry distortion, Britney Spears style. I do love that kind of movies with high theatrical interpretations.
Why did you join Asylum Pyre?
I knew the band before joining them. I appreciated what they were doing, seeing them live. Previous singer, Chaos Heidi, now in the band F.U.C.K., left the band in 2016. Johann, leader of the band, was looking for a new female vocalist. Steve Cheney, a very talented guitarist involved in many Parisian bands, advised Johann about me. I met Johann for an audition. It was not so easy and definitely, it was an unconventional audition but at least, he chose me! It’s not only about music but about friendship, state of mind, etc. I fell in love with the new songs and Johann offered me the possibility to explore my entire vocal range and facilities. What I’ve done, I guess!
Can you explain this more, N°4, as an ironic reference to Chanel’s N°5 is the finest fragrance Asylum Pyre could possibly offer?
Well spotted! But why not in the future, at least? We are in 2052, the world collapsed, and the irony is everywhere. We project ourselves into a post-apocalyptic universe that we have explored under different facets and address topics such as cynicism, especially through the beauty queen who must wear a mask to breathe, but who keeps a diadem to stay classy … Moreover, we can put the title of the album, N ° 4, in relation with the ranges proposed by Chanel brand. Behind, there is a whole underlying criticism of the world in which we live that is being developed!
Asylum Pyre has been around since 2009. What have you added to the development of the band?
The band has been founded in 2006 by Johann Cadot. Every member, every experience has been something great, helping the band in a good way. About me, I don’t know really. You know, I think being in a band is like being in a relationship. Sometimes, you bring things to people the things they need at the right time. I think it happened like this in Asylum Pyre. I said to Johann: ok, I can sing in that way, clear, polyphonic, weird things, Britney Spears. What can we do? Everything? Perfect!
What is the difference in French metal and United State/UK metal?
I don’t know really the difference between both marketplaces. I can just speak about France which is a very difficult country for metal music. Venues cost a lot, especially in Paris, public venues are not so reachable when you’re not famous because these venues need also to reach their break-even point so… We spend a lot of money promoting our music, but we need in France to create a true metal music market. Luckily, because of festivals like Hellfest, public authorities know now this kind of music is not only about passion but about money. Maybe this is sad but from another angle, we can hope to reach a new audience. We need a broadcast chain, venues, audience, to make it bigger and more valuable. Our music has true value, but we have to spread the word that passion isn’t enough, we need diffusion, we need financial assistance, we need to structure that market.
How is the new album doing?
The album is doing very well! People from all around the world are buying it, from South America to Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Iran. That’s incredible. We would love to play in each country we have been sending the album… Not possible at now, but maybe in the future, who knows?
Who would you like to support you on a world-wide Headlining tour?
Avantasia would be great! Johann Cadot is fond of this band, which is truly an inspiration! Beast in Black would be incredible too. We already have had the chance to have Yannis Papadopoulos vocals on the song “Sex, Drugs and Scars”. Why not with Devin Townsend or Amaranthe !
How do you see yourself in five years?
Running the world with Asylum Pyre, meeting people from all over the world, sharing our passion and speaking about ecology in a different way. It would be great, having the opportunity to spread our message in a musical way.
Anything in closing for your fans?
See you somewhere in Europe this autumn 😉
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