Интервю с ANNA MURPHY (Eluveitie)

We all know the charming Anna from Eluveitie– we easily recognize her vocals, the hurdy gurdy parts and her nice smile. This time we have focused on her solo career and her coleagues who take part in the project are, let’s say, the only the link to folk metal. „Cellar Darling“ came out on September 27, 2013, perfect occasion for taking this short interview. And if you haven’t heard the album yet- make sure to do it here! 😉

Hello 🙂 Please indroduce yourself first 🙂
Hello! I’m Anna! 😀

So you finally got your solo album. When did you decide to do record an album?
About a year ago, or maybe a bit longer.

How long did you work on it? Writing, recording, mixing,etc.
I’ve been writing the songs for quite a long time, about 3 years. We spent about two months in the studio, recording and mixing.

The album is in pop rock style. Does it mean that this is what you really like or you’re more into folk metal?
I’m into everything that appeals to me, it doesn’t matter to me if that’s suicidal black metal or 80s pop music. I only distinguish between „nice music“ and „crappy music“, very simple. But yes, if I write music for my own project it doesn’t have more than a few metal elements in it, mainly because I don’t play guitar and it’s pretty hard to write riffs without one, hehe.

The “Helvetios” tour is on its end. Eluveitie even had their 3rd concert here in Sofia, Bulgaria; so sorry you could not attend it. How do you feel now?
Much better! I was really sad and angry that I could not join Eluveitie for that tour. But I guess health is just more important sometimes. I’ve already been on tours where I was sick all day and just had to pull myself together to go on stage and that’s NOT fun.

От концерта с Korpiklaani, 2010г.

You’ve actually been here for two shows- with Korpiklaani and Kreator. Do you have any impressions? 🙂
I didn’t really see anything of the country, but I do remember the crowd being really awesome!

Hurdy-gurdy players are a rare thing these days. How did you end up playing it and how did you join Eluveitie?
I saw the hurdy-gurdy with a band named „Faun“ from Germany and kind of immediately „fell in love“ with the thing. I started out with renting one and learning it until I got my own one and three months after I had started playing it a friend of mine told me that Eluveitie are looking for a hurdy-gurdy player. So I thought „well why not?“.

Actually, how many instruments do you play?
I play a shitload of instruments, but not all of them well. The ones where I would say I’m pretty average or good are: Hurdy-gurdy, traverse flute & bass
Then there’s things like piano, whistle, guitar that I don’t play well at all, but I write songs with them and try out things.

You’re fully talanted. You also did the artworks for all songs from”Cellar Darling”, right? Are they thematically related with each other?
Thematically the pictures are related to the songs. Even though the songs aren’t really related to each other, they do form a concept in a way.

I guess creating art is one of your hobbies. What else do you like doing at your free time? 🙂
Hmmm not much 😀
I like to read, go hiking and do spontaneous nonsense. But most of my activities are music-related.

I wish you all the best and luck for your upcoming solo shows, I am sure people will love the album. Just like me!
Thank you very much!

What would you like to your Bulgarian fans and to the readers of Metal Hangar 18? 🙂
Thanks for your interest and I hope to see you at a show in Bulgaria soon!