A few months back, I had the pleasure of reviewing Infy's debut album, "A Mortal's Tear". Time has passed since then, and Infy has gained quite a following. Playing as part of a festival and launch gig, it would not shock me if Infy soon enough emerges onto the scene with a dedicated following that will boast her and her bandmates to metal infamy. With all that said, I got a chance to speak with her about herself, her history, and her debut album and a little more. Read on below to learn more about Infy:
Hi there! Let's start off with history. You are a very talented individual, and I know you began singing and playing instruments from a young age. About what age did you start playing an instrument and what was it that you first played?
Infy - "Thank you! While I've been singing and composing for as long as I can remember, I to your disappointment as well as my own, don't in fact play any instruments.
I loved playing the piano as a kid, but as soon as I started taking 'serious' lessons, my passion for it died. I must have been traumatized by my teacher, as ever since this horrible experience I never dared touch a piano nor any other instrument. Thankfully the singing lessons were a different matter altogether, I've always loved these, even when they became so challenging I ended up crying.
Incidentally, in recent years I've considered learning to play a guitar, only to discover that I simply don't have enough passion to dedicate myself to it, and I rather focus on things I really love doing so I can more easily master them. I stick to improving my singing, writing and composing, and my most recent passion- the art of performing.
So, If I ever learn to play an instrument, I bet it's going to be a harp. I absolutely love those.
Finally, I'd like to note that I compose all of my songs in my mind and immediately hum the tunes to a recording app in my phone so I don't forget them."
I understand that you were a bit shy when you were younger, but still composed songs and the like for quite a while. What was the even that helped you get over your shyness? Did you have family and friends help you along with it, as well?
I occasionally work as a bartender in the most prominent bar of the alternative scene in Israel, 'The Rebel', where I feel at home and can always tend to work duties when I feel uncomfortable chatting, so people who meet me there might as well be unaware of my shyness. But I always awed criticism, always tried to please everyone around me, which explains why as a teen I simply preferred to avoid being around other people and spent most of my free time alone, playing computer games or interacting over the internet. Only recently, as I've become more popular, am I learning to cope with criticism, and even better - to draw strength from it. It has become a necessity, because while I do have more friends and people who strengthen and support me in my life, I happen to have haters too, something I never had to deal with before. First it was shocking and somewhat spirit-crushing, but the more I think of it today, the more I enjoy this notion- that people actively spend their precious energies on expressing hatred towards me."
Your long time friend and multi-instrumentalist Omri Lahav has been on board since day one, I believe, with Infy. How did he and you meet and how long have you known him?
Omri offered his studio and talent to help me record a song or two, and I happily embraced the opportunity. It didn't take long before I decided to kick it up a notch and start working on a full length album."
In what ways has Lahav helped you in creating music? I'm sure there are a multitude of things that you can list, but what was the most important thing he helped you learn?
Your band's name is Infy. Where did the name come from and when did you first think of it?
Infy is a an abbreviation of Infernity, an ICQ name given to me at the age of thirteen by my best friend at the time (who later became my spouse). Infernity stands for infernal eternity. I do however absolutely love the connotation of it to infinity.
After my 'A Mortal's Tear' launch gig (which happened to be my first full length stand-alone performance), I figured it would be a good time to find a solid group for Infy. And yet I did not expect the gig to be such a major success; and as things turned out, it seems like I am going to bring about a second gig in January with the current temporary lineup, before I consolidate a permanent band. I love working with each and every one of them, but sadly some might not be able to stay. And so after the upcoming gig I will begin my search, after I know who's staying for sure."
Right now, your band line-up consists of yourself and Lahav, as well as Lev Kerzhner, Auria Sapir, Dror Goldstein, and Sapir Wolloch. Has this always been the crew for Infy? Or has the line-up changed?
I have also had guest artists in my album, that include the cellists Hamutal Tzur Marom and More Engel, the growler Yotam 'Defiler' Avni, the singer Yochai Davidoff and the flutist Marta Mc'cave Dayan. The last three also featured in my recent gig."
And, where did you meet all these people? Did you have connections with them already or did you find them as Infy gained popularity?
I first met Lev a couple of years ago on an open stage night at The Rebel bar. I soon learned that he is a talented singer and a true natural-born performer. This guy knows how to rock the stage. Other than playing the bass for me, he sang the backing vocals. Lev is also the main star in my latest music video 'Greed'.
Sapir, to be honest was a last minute life saving keyboardist. We had to replace the keyboardist about 3 weeks before the gig, and Omri happened to know him and recommended him. Thankfully he too is a pro and did a great job."
"A Mortal's Tear" is your debut album. While the music was swell in the album, your vocals really, really took the spotlight on the album. Where do your influences lie? Does any one singer or another really inspire you when you get in the recording studio or on stage?
I am often told that sometimes I sound a little like Shakira, which I believe has a lot to do with the fact that as a girl I used to adore her, and I may have subconsciously embraced some of her unique singing features that people identify with her.
However, I feel as if I recorded the album today all of the vocals would have sounded much better, as it took 3 years to make, during which I managed to take more singing lessons and greatly focus on self improvement. On the bright side, I find it easier today to beat the expectation of people from the album while performing live, so I absolutely don't regret it."
The album plays out as if there is a story interconnected within each of the songs. Did you write out a story when writing the lyrics? Or are each of the songs independent?
And lastly, the name of the album came easily to me, because while there is no concrete story, it all comes down to the same grim point. 'A Mortal's Tear' pretty much describes the whole concept of the album."
And, on the musical side, what were your intentions? Were you trying to go for a harder metal sound, something spiritual and eclectic, a mix of both, or something entirely different?
When you finally finished "A Mortal's Tear" and had the mastered copy in your hands, what did you think of it? Were you proud of what you accomplished?
And what is next for Infy? Are you guys attempting to record another album or is that on hold?
Do you have any tours planned for the album? Or shall you be playing live shows spontaneously?
And now I would like to thank you for your time and I wish you luck with everything!
When you stand for a choice when an act could be the last, you think again.
Severe Illusion, Jan 01 2003
Steven Gullotta
info@brutalresonance.comI've been writing for Brutal Resonance since November of 2012 and now serve as the editor-in-chief. I love the dark electronic underground and usually have too much to listen to at once but I love it. I am also an editor at Aggressive Deprivation, a digital/physical magazine since March of 2016. I support the scene as much as I can from my humble laptop.
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