METAL PIT INTERVIEW
Interview with Veronica Freeman of BENEDICTUM. Interview by NICK. June 2009.
Benedictum is the headliner of this year's Flight of the Valkyrie's festival and I am sure their
vocalist needs no introduction to Metal fans worldwide so without further delay I give you....
Miss Veronica Freeman........
THE METAL PIT: Greetings Veronica,thanks for stopping by the Metal Pit to chat about the festival.
Veronica Freeman: Well the pleasure is indeed all mine!
THE METAL PIT: This is the second year Benedictum has been asked to play the Flight of the Valkyrie's festival,but this year you are headlining the event.Other than the obvious amount of playing time being more,how much different is it to
do a headlining set as opposed to where you played on the bill last time?
Veronica: To be honest this whole thing was quite a surprise for us. We got a call asking if we wanted to do the show again and a few calls later we were told we were headlining. Cool!!! I don’t see it as being too different because last year we added a few songs so we could do a special thing with Dani from Shadowside so we will just make it a return party this year! Cant wait!
THE METAL PIT: How do the guys in the band feel about a festival that celebrates "Female voices"?
Veronica: That is the biggest blessing I have. These guys are so cool about this stuff. They LOVE women ha ha ha! Seriously though, I have always thought it takes that much more of a man to work with a female fronted situation. Sometimes the dynamic is just a bit different but for the most part we are just one big family anyway so that is cool. They will have as much fun or more than I will I assure you!
THE METAL PIT: Do you know how long your set will be and what can fans expect to hear?
Veronica: We will throw in some different tunes from last time, I would really like to do Uncreation in the set. Also have had some requests for Balls to The Wall again since we brought people up on stage so this time I want the whole damn crowd involved. One kick ass sing along! We will probably play for about 90min
THE METAL PIT: You always seem to have some sort of surprise up your sleeve Veronica when it comes to your live set, any hints you can give us for this year?
Veronica: If you bribe me I might tell you but since no bribes have come my way….. I aint talkin’
THE METAL PIT: Benedictum is a band that has had a huge following in Europe and it seems that finally the rest of the planet has caught up with the fact that this band cannot be ignored any longer.Can you explain the band's success overseas and why
it took a while for people to wake the Hell up everywhere else?
Veronica: Aaah yes… well our label was based out of Europe and the bulk of the promotion was there as well. We have been told we have a very European sound so that helped us too. It is so very true that we are just being discovered out here. Now it appears we are getting some cool shows in the States and we are thrilled. The week before FOV we are headlining our first show here in Phoenix at the Clubhouse on June 20th,
then we play the Colorado Springs Music Festival on July 25th and have a show in the works at the House of Blues in Anaheim CA so I am thrilled with the prospects of what is going on over here!
THE METAL PIT: There are some very talented and interesting bands on the bill this year, have you had a chance to chat with any of them or been able to hear their music?
Veronica: The rest of the band has but I have not. I am constantly in overwhelm stage so today is catch up day for me and I plan to do just that! Honestly I plan on planting my happy ass right there in the venue and being a fan of every band that is playing. I want to enjoy the show too!
THE METAL PIT: Do you feel you might be able to give some advice to the newer bands about what to expect at the festival?
Veronica: I think it will be a bit fewer bands this year which may actually be a better thing. Stick and move I always say…. and all I know is that when we were there last year there was an awesome eclectic mix of music as well and the atmosphere was totally cool!
THE METAL PIT: You command so much respect from your fans as a musician and as a person,what is it that you think makes fans identify with you and this band so well?
Veronica: Wow what a cool thing to say! I think it is because we keep it as down to earth as possible. For me personally, getting to do something I love is a GIFT so I hang on to each moment and want to have fun with it. The rest of the band is pretty much that way too, we get down to business but really don’t have time for attitudes and all of that. I mean give me a break, the music business is tough enough as it is, we should stick together not try to compete or cut others down. That’s how we look at it. I cant control what others do but I choose to see it that way.
THE METAL PIT: Is there a difference between the European fans at your live shows as opposed to those in the U.S. and Canada?
Veronica: Havent played in Canada yet.. HINT HINT
As far as the actual fans… not really that much of a difference once they get into it. On a broader spectrum I would say that European fans as a whole accept and enjoy a higher diversity of genres. You can have a festival over there that will have death, grind core, traditional all sorts of Metal and the fans will enjoy EACH band with the same enthusiasm. PLUS no violence… that helps ha ha. But there really isn’t anything like playing on home turf too. People are still getting to know us here and that works for me… bring it.. .we love it.
THE METAL PIT: As the "Godmother" of the festival this year (haha), what are some of the things you would like to see in the future and things that in your opinion need to be improved upon?
Veronica: The founders of FOV have worked so hard and tirelessley from my experience with them. The only thing I would like to see are more people in the audience enjoying all the of the talent that will be there for that special evening.!
THE METAL PIT: Veronica, I want to thank you for taking time with us today, It has truly been an honor to speak with you, I hope the Flight of the Valkyries is a huge success this year and you and the band have a lot of fun. I know Benedictum will kick the crowd's asses just like it does every night on stage.
Veronica: Well with all of that being said...will YOU be there?? Put your money where your mouth is, be at the show and head bang with us!!! See you there and Thanks again!
Benedictum Website http://www.benedictum.net
Benedictum Myspace http://www.myspace.com/benedictum
Benedictum is the headliner of this year's Flight of the Valkyrie's festival and I am sure their
vocalist needs no introduction to Metal fans worldwide so without further delay I give you....
Miss Veronica Freeman........
THE METAL PIT: Greetings Veronica,thanks for stopping by the Metal Pit to chat about the festival.
Veronica Freeman: Well the pleasure is indeed all mine!
THE METAL PIT: This is the second year Benedictum has been asked to play the Flight of the Valkyrie's festival,but this year you are headlining the event.Other than the obvious amount of playing time being more,how much different is it to
do a headlining set as opposed to where you played on the bill last time?
Veronica: To be honest this whole thing was quite a surprise for us. We got a call asking if we wanted to do the show again and a few calls later we were told we were headlining. Cool!!! I don’t see it as being too different because last year we added a few songs so we could do a special thing with Dani from Shadowside so we will just make it a return party this year! Cant wait!
THE METAL PIT: How do the guys in the band feel about a festival that celebrates "Female voices"?
Veronica: That is the biggest blessing I have. These guys are so cool about this stuff. They LOVE women ha ha ha! Seriously though, I have always thought it takes that much more of a man to work with a female fronted situation. Sometimes the dynamic is just a bit different but for the most part we are just one big family anyway so that is cool. They will have as much fun or more than I will I assure you!
THE METAL PIT: Do you know how long your set will be and what can fans expect to hear?
Veronica: We will throw in some different tunes from last time, I would really like to do Uncreation in the set. Also have had some requests for Balls to The Wall again since we brought people up on stage so this time I want the whole damn crowd involved. One kick ass sing along! We will probably play for about 90min
THE METAL PIT: You always seem to have some sort of surprise up your sleeve Veronica when it comes to your live set, any hints you can give us for this year?
Veronica: If you bribe me I might tell you but since no bribes have come my way….. I aint talkin’
THE METAL PIT: Benedictum is a band that has had a huge following in Europe and it seems that finally the rest of the planet has caught up with the fact that this band cannot be ignored any longer.Can you explain the band's success overseas and why
it took a while for people to wake the Hell up everywhere else?
Veronica: Aaah yes… well our label was based out of Europe and the bulk of the promotion was there as well. We have been told we have a very European sound so that helped us too. It is so very true that we are just being discovered out here. Now it appears we are getting some cool shows in the States and we are thrilled. The week before FOV we are headlining our first show here in Phoenix at the Clubhouse on June 20th,
then we play the Colorado Springs Music Festival on July 25th and have a show in the works at the House of Blues in Anaheim CA so I am thrilled with the prospects of what is going on over here!
THE METAL PIT: There are some very talented and interesting bands on the bill this year, have you had a chance to chat with any of them or been able to hear their music?
Veronica: The rest of the band has but I have not. I am constantly in overwhelm stage so today is catch up day for me and I plan to do just that! Honestly I plan on planting my happy ass right there in the venue and being a fan of every band that is playing. I want to enjoy the show too!
THE METAL PIT: Do you feel you might be able to give some advice to the newer bands about what to expect at the festival?
Veronica: I think it will be a bit fewer bands this year which may actually be a better thing. Stick and move I always say…. and all I know is that when we were there last year there was an awesome eclectic mix of music as well and the atmosphere was totally cool!
THE METAL PIT: You command so much respect from your fans as a musician and as a person,what is it that you think makes fans identify with you and this band so well?
Veronica: Wow what a cool thing to say! I think it is because we keep it as down to earth as possible. For me personally, getting to do something I love is a GIFT so I hang on to each moment and want to have fun with it. The rest of the band is pretty much that way too, we get down to business but really don’t have time for attitudes and all of that. I mean give me a break, the music business is tough enough as it is, we should stick together not try to compete or cut others down. That’s how we look at it. I cant control what others do but I choose to see it that way.
THE METAL PIT: Is there a difference between the European fans at your live shows as opposed to those in the U.S. and Canada?
Veronica: Havent played in Canada yet.. HINT HINT
As far as the actual fans… not really that much of a difference once they get into it. On a broader spectrum I would say that European fans as a whole accept and enjoy a higher diversity of genres. You can have a festival over there that will have death, grind core, traditional all sorts of Metal and the fans will enjoy EACH band with the same enthusiasm. PLUS no violence… that helps ha ha. But there really isn’t anything like playing on home turf too. People are still getting to know us here and that works for me… bring it.. .we love it.
THE METAL PIT: As the "Godmother" of the festival this year (haha), what are some of the things you would like to see in the future and things that in your opinion need to be improved upon?
Veronica: The founders of FOV have worked so hard and tirelessley from my experience with them. The only thing I would like to see are more people in the audience enjoying all the of the talent that will be there for that special evening.!
THE METAL PIT: Veronica, I want to thank you for taking time with us today, It has truly been an honor to speak with you, I hope the Flight of the Valkyries is a huge success this year and you and the band have a lot of fun. I know Benedictum will kick the crowd's asses just like it does every night on stage.
Veronica: Well with all of that being said...will YOU be there?? Put your money where your mouth is, be at the show and head bang with us!!! See you there and Thanks again!
Benedictum Website http://www.benedictum.net
Benedictum Myspace http://www.myspace.com/benedictum
