Hand of Juno
Interview conducted on July 29, 2021
By Dan Locke
Melissa Bruschi – Voice
Martina Nixe Riva – Guitar
Alice Lane – Bass Guitar
Elisa Helly Montin – Drums
What is your upbringing?
Alice : if we talk about upbringing in general, I’ve studied foreign languages.
In music, I’ve started playin’ bass when I was 14 self-taught. Then at the age of 19, I’ve started taking private lessons.
Melissa: In general Classical Studies, History of Art and Cultural Heritage. In music, I’ve studied the piano for 5 years, vocals since I was 15, and I’m still taking voice lessons at the moment.
Nixe: I attended classical studies and then got a degree in Modern Literature. I first got my first (classic) guitar at the age of 8, then switched to the electric while I was a teenager. I took lessons weekly till University, now I am taking lessons less frequently and exercise on my own mostly.
Helly: I started studying drums when I was 6 years old, I ended up studying with a drum teacher when I was 16 and I did my last two years in a master class with Sergio Pescara. Nowadays I keep on studying but independently and I also teach.
About school I left when I was 17, so I didn’t finish high school. I’ve always hated it. But this experience helped me – and also some teanchers – to understand that italian school system is in a failment and sucks.
How did you discover music?
Alice : I discovered music when I was 8-9 years old, I was always watching MTV (when it was good lol) instead of cartoons.
I loved watching Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ videclips.
Melissa: My father made me listen to music since I was a newborn, and I started going to music lessons when I was like 3 years old. Music has always been an important part of my life.
Nixe: My mom and dad had a huge influence on me. I have two memories of myself discovering music at a very young age (like… 4 or 5 years old?). I remember dancing on the Deep Purple vinyl “Live in Europe” in the living room with my dad… I guess that event also was an evidence of my love for partying ahaha! And then I remember that I was a very active child and I hated travelling by car for long, so my mom had the brilliant idea to give me a Walkman with the CD of Queen’s “Greatest Hits I” inside. That was definitely the beginning of a never-ending love story.
Helly: My parents made me listen to music since I was not yet born.
Iìve never been attached to any specific artist since I was 12 or 13 years old. From that age I started to being really interested to the name of the artists and songs that I was listening to. I’ve started to appreciate first rock music like Litfiba or Linkin Park. Then when I was 14 I bought St. Anger of Metallica. This album is the reason I’ve started to love metal and using double bass pedal!
How did you start to write music?
Alice : I’ve started writing music when I joined my first band in 2009, I wanted to express my thoughts through lyrics and the groovy presence of the bass in terms of sound.
Melissa: I started when I was 15, but I’ve never recorded anything when I was younger. I feel like it’s always been a way to express myself, it was a necessity.
Nixe: I can’t remember the exact moment when I started. Probably around pre-school, I remember myself with a recording device (a toy for children) and I kept singing and composing creepy songs all the time!
Helly: I’ve started doing it alone, by my self since 2017. In that year I won a worldwide drum contest and I had the chance to play in America. I wanted to present something original. Not a cover or a drum remix. So since that point I started to learn how to use music program in order to give birth, for real, to ideas that I just kept in my head for years!
In America I presented my very first song from my solo project called as me: Helly. Since then I never stopped composing original music. The feeling of making music is the best thing I have ever felt.
Before this new big step of my life, I always dreamt to be able to use computer and DAW to produce music. In particular I always felt so attracted to electronic music.
I used to look at some friends of mine who were real producers of hardcore, drum and bass or psytrance music. I took me a lot of year to be able to write my own music without asking technical help to others. Today I feel in a good position to be independent and to be able to help others to give shape to their own ideas. As my friends did for me!
Nowadays I am very excited to compose music for my band Hand of Juno and I love to give shape to the ideas of Alice, Nixe and Melissa as well.
Melissa- How did you start singing?
When I was 11 I quit piano lessons and I’ve decided to study opera singing. I’m still studying new techniques, for example at the moment I’m into harsh vocals.
Martina- How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first classic guitar was borrowed from one of my parents’ friends for some months. As a child, I tended to lose interest in everything after a very short time, so my mom and dad wanted to be sure that I was really convinced. Then my first electric guitar was purchased by my parents and some years ago I gave it to my best friend, which is a sound designer and uses it for his experiments!
Martina- What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make, and model? And does it have a name?
Currently I have a collaboration with ESP / LTD guitars. I couldn’t be happier because it’s always been my favourite guitar brand! At the time I’m using 3 guitars, which are:
ESP HORIZON E II see thru black sunburst got in 2018
LTD SN-1000 FR M black blast got in 2021
LTD M-1000 MS FM satin black got in 2021
I love them as if they were my children!
Alice- How did you get your first bass?
It’s been a gift from my mother.
I wanted to learn to play bass so bad, so she surprised me with this special gift!
Alice- What is the model bass you have now?
Right now I’m endorsed by a Swiss brand called Tribe Guitars, I’ve more than one model of their bass guitars.
I own the following ones:
– Avalanche 5
– Wizard 4
– Spike 5
Elisa-How did you start your YouTube channel (Helly Drummer)?
Helly: I think the first video I loaded was a blast beat at 250 bpm! I think I was 17 years old. At that time I used to follow one drummer in particular: Luke Holland. I think he was one of the first to become a youtuber playing drums professionally. He was very inspiring for me in many different ways! Also because we are the same age. So I thought that I should start to load something and create my own channel. BUT…I still have to work on it!!
You are a fairly new band. How did your band form?
Nixe: The band was formed from the ashes of the band Killin’ Baudelaire, which no longer exists. Nixe (guitarist), Alice (bassist) and Helly (drummer) met Melissa (singer) and decided to found a new band called Hand of Juno.
How did you get your bands name?
Melissa: Alice came out with this name and we loved the concept and the sound of it.
Describe your music.
Melissa: Heavy, dark. I would say cyberpunk mixed with industrial vibes!
Helly: Dark, deep, industrial, aggressive. Well I could say fucking metal and something more that I cannot describe exactly.
What was your first performance at like?
Alice : My first performance as a bass player has been exciting, even if I was playing in a quite small club. But I still remember it J
Melissa: I was playing with my first band in a small club, it was a contest and we ultimately won, but I remember being so frightened to sing in front of the audience that I couldn’t even breathe properly!
Nixe: I did my first performance when I was 13 or 14, with a band formed for the final exhibition of the music school I was attending. I played and sang “Smells Like Teen Spirits” and it was one of the most wonderful sensations ever.
Helly: I was a kid, 14 years old. I played with my first band. We were playing some covers and also a few original rock/funk songs.
A few steps before going on the stage, my jeans broked. They broked exactly in the middle. I had to ask a sweatshirt to a guy who was in the backstage and wear it as a skirt! That was an unexpected “surprise”, which made my first live show so unique and blasting experience twice!
We did a good concert. I was already using double pedal at 180 bpm. At the end many guys, girls and adults_I can remember more than 15 people_ congratulated me. I was so excited! but I should say that in that moment I felt more touched and moved. It was a very deep feeling . I will remember it forever.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
What makes a good songwriter?
Alice : I think a good songwriter has the power to communicate emotions to the people who’s listenin’, not only, he’s the one who can put together words that perfectly match with the song in terms of metric and sound.
Melissa: Balance between innovations and traditions, it’s necessary to listen to lots of music of different genres, and also to be aware of what’s happening in the music market.
Nixe: the ability of telling a story and taking the listener to another dimension.
Helly: Being open minded and always creative, listening to a lot of many different kinds of music, being able to work with other people’s ideas. All of this without changing your inner self.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Melissa: The title it’s Beyond, I recorded it in 2019 with my other band (Metaphoric Mind).
Nixe: I think the first complete one was called “Afterschool Nightmare” (based on the homonymous manga) but it was never recorded professionally.
Helly: “Redempion” (for my soul) from my second band Livyathan. I think I was between 16 an 17 years old. We were playing black death metal. That song is so similar to “Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer” of Behemoth. The curious thing is that “Redempion” of my band, was recorded in 2014 and we recorded it in 2012. We were so strongly influenced by Behemoth, which is still my favourite extreme metal band!
Well… actually the very first song I ever recorded was called “shit, horses and flowers” and I was 14 years old, I recorded guitar, drums and wrote the lyrics as well. I hired my brother who was 10 years old as a singer, because he could scream so fucking load. And we recorded this super short thrash and trash metal song. This is still one of my favourite songs. lol.
What is the process of writing your music?
Melissa: Usually I work with my band mates, we start from a scratch and from that we build all the instruments. After that I proceed with vocals again and again, until I write something that satisfies me.
Nixe: I usually start with an idea that I share with my bandmates later, so we can work on it. It’s a creative process which can be different any time.
How was it to work with Silvia Pistolesi and Mattia Rubini?
Melissa: Nice people and great musicians, it’s been a pleasure working with them.
What is your favorite track on your album?
Alice : our album is still a work in progress, so we can say at the moment we don’t have a favourite track yet.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Melissa: I was born in the streaming music era, to me it’s ordinary and I find it appropriate to our lifestyle nowadays.
Nixe: I’m a Spotify addicted!
Helly: I do not use Spotify and similar stuff.
Helly how was it to play with Cristina from Lacuna Coil?
Helly: I was so excited. The last time I played on a stage was 1 year before this short live. I felt like I came back to my first live experience ever! Cristina is a great and kind person. I am really thankful to Mario Riso, drummer and creator of the project Rezophonic. It’s because of him that I had this chance. So I’m really grateful to him.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Alice : I’ve to admit I prefer digital music because I mainly listen to it when I’m travelling or working on my computer.
Therefore it’s a less complicated support.
Nixe: I think that vinyl is a really fascinating way to listen to music, but in this era the digital totally wins.
Helly: What really matters to me is having a huge sound system! But If I say that I love a band, I have to buy a CD or a t-shirt.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Alice : for sure “Down in a Hole” by Alice in Chains. It’s a song that reminds me of a specific time of my life. A period where I was very confused, but living very strong and contrasting emotions. To me it’s a calming song that directly speaks to my heart.
Helly: Is really hard to choose only one! So I will answer in my own way. The left hand of god of Behemoth. The reflecting god of Marilyn Manson. The Day The World Went Away of Nine Inch Nails. Rammstein of Rammstein. The reason is because these songs always give me a very unique emotion and feeling that I cannot even try to describe.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Nixe: well, of course Covid 19 has had a great impact on the music business in general. But hopefully we will get over it, so I would say that it “put to sleep” live music. The awakening has already begun and will grow stronger and more powerful than ever.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
Helly: It has been a disaster for any sort of work and for life it self and mental health.
During Covid-19. Almost everything got cancelled. Which included Metallica tour. Prior to the tour Metallica purchased a “cancellation, abandonment and no-appearance insurance” policy from Lloyd’s of London in any case of any potential postponement or cancellations. Lloyd’s of London refuse to payout of the policy because of the policy’s communicable disease exclusion. Do you think that Metallica is right or the insurance company is right.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Alice : I’ve been playing bass, a lot! I’ve used all that time to improve my playing and also take video collabs with other musicians.
It’s been useful after all J!
Melissa: I used all that time to write new songs and most importantly to improve my vocal skills, I learned how to growl and scream!
Nixe: besides working, I’ve played guitar and learned a lot of things about recording!
Helly: I played a lot and I spent time on making some new music. In particular I spend hours every day on stamina and speed. Since that period I’ve started to do some workouts.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Melissa: I tried to eat healthier and I continued to do my gym workouts at home! It helped me going through quarantine, sports are great stress relievers!
Nixe: I try to do things that make me happy. Like, playing, going walking in the woods and driving my boat.
Melissa- You were part of Star Gazers. Tell me about that project?
Mai fatto parte di questa cosa, voi ne sapete niente ragazze?
Helly: hahahahahahahha è un grande sto intervistatore
( I am corrected. This project was Alice’s)
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Alice : I’ve always had the hobby of cooking and of course during the quarantine I’ve had much more time to practice with that!
Melissa: I spent my days doing what I love, music and sports!
Nixe: during the worst part of quarantine, I re-discovered how beautiful it is to play the classic guitar!
Helly: Yes! Gym and readying. I read some stuff about Hinduism. Really interesting and deep.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Alice : Yes, unfortunately it is. I’ve never ever paid 1 € to play but I know some bands do that… I think that since there would be people paying, this phenomenon won’t ever end.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Alice : honestly I’m not really into that kind of stuff! There’s nothing like a real concert.
Emotions are not digital J
Helly: Holographic technology should be used only for visuals effects on REAL LIVE concerts or shows. Not for projecting “real” stuff, because this is a way not interesting of using something so cool! This should be use only for projecting art, so motion graphic arts and visuals.
What is your happy place?
Alice : My happy place is in Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai.
It’s a place that has given me so much peace and happiness and I can’t wait to have the chance to fly back there.
Melissa: Anywhere high up a mountain or on the beach by the sea, surrounded by nature.
Nixe: There’s a place that makes me feel “at home” and it’s Montreaux, Switzerland. I really don’t know why but I wish I could be there as many times as possible.
Helly: I think the best thing will be being happy wherever we go. But this is a hard state to get.
So I could also say…Anywhere with my best friends. But I really really love wild and calm places. Or crazy music festival as well!
Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenges and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.
TikTok has became a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners. In which it has become a place for music artist to earn revenue when people use their music. Which in many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to hug boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.
TikTok does this with the the algorithmically generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer.The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
Some of the on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Mick Jagger.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary,Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could became a force in the future of streaming music?
Helly: Right now I am not able to see a future useful and interesting about Tik tok .I find it very very and deeply disturbing. I cannot stand it. Maybe one day I will try to use it, for work of course.
With more and more live music happening. And the virus is still here. Are you willing to play large concerts and festivals and what precautions would you like to have in place?
Alice: at the moment we’re not planning to play any show or festival as we are still working on our first music release.
We’ll start to book shows when it’s out, so probably half 2022.
At that time we really hope the situation will improve.
