--- Seraphim Interview ---
Added 03/May/07

The popular band from Taiwan 'Seraphim' join us for an interview.

Hey guys, welcome to Shred Academy, I would first of all like to thank you for participating in this interview for the site, when did you guys first get together and how did you meet?

Quinn - SERAPHIM invited me to work together in Mar, 2004. A friend introduced me to them.

Kessier - SERAPHIM formed in 2001, Van join Seraphim in 2005, Minco and Howe join Seraphim in 2007. Most members are introduce from friends, they also famous in their music style!

You have released 3 previous albums and now working on a forth, it is a good success to achieve this and still be going strong, what do you think made you guys do so well?

Quinn – We come from Asia which has a small market of metal music. When we hear anything from somewhere or someone that have been influenced by our songs, we know that we do the right thing. So we always do our best and keep it up.

Listening to the music, I can hear many influences, who were your heroes growing up and who are your heroes now?

Quinn - Renne Fleming(opera soprano), Angela Gheorghiu(opera soprano), Jimi Jamison(Survivor), Harry Hess(Harem Scarem) and so on, their interpretation has always let me feel moved - we will move others only if we also move ourselves.

Kessier - Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen was my heroes, Vinnie Moore, Marty Friedman, John Petrucci, Tony MacAlpine, Kiko Loureiro, Andy Timmons and Pete Lesperance are my all time favourite!

Van - Many kind of the music that all influence me, and now my heroes have too many.....

Minco - There are many musicians that influence me~~Not only the metal and rock bass player like Steve Harris and John myung but also some jazz bass player like Jaco Pastorious and Marcus Miler or some classic musicians like Bach.

Howe - When I was a teenager, Yngwie was my hero. And now, my heroes come from different musical fields, such as Al di meola, Greg Howe, Chick Corea, Stevie Wonder, Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan, Yngwie.....


Power Metal is becoming huge again with bands like Dragonforce and Sonata Artica leading the front line, you guys have found your own niche and rather than clone artists that are successful, you have adapted many styles and cultures into your music to appeal to more than just the power metal fans. Were you always so free to create what you all like best or was it a learning process?

Quinn – For me, I enjoyed being free to create what I like best and cherished it was also a learning process, as I try to mention some chorus and weave songs for innovation at this new work. It’s an important process for an artist.


The quality of the music is of very high standard which is very important to not only keep on the record label's good books but the fans also, is it a painstaking phase in the studio or are you all quite comfortable and just do the job? Are there days where things just not going as planned?

Quinn – Hehehe…it was both painstaking and joyful.

Kessier - Is there a painstaking phase? Haha... I never thought about that, we just doing what we want to do!


Quinn, female singers in metal bands are becoming ever popular with bands like Arch Enemy, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil etc., all of these are of different genres, how does it feel being a face of power metal and is it tough being in a male dominated industry?

Quinn - If a new addition, for instance, female singer whom owns different genre can bring more variety thinking to innovation and balance, I think it's worth looking forward! So far we can see it’s a successful tendency.


Let’s talk about the backbone of the band, drums and bass are the core of the music especially this genre, tell us a bit about yourselves and how long you have been playing your instruments?

Van - I have played drums 16 years, before I joined Seraphim, I played a hard rock band for many years, and I never played the drum so fast, so melodically.....So I try very hard to keep it on

Minco - I have been playing bass for 12 years~~Actually, I play all kind of music, and I also play double bass. I like to feel the different between all kind of music and find the nuclear spirit in it~~I just want to get in music~~   and feel high!!!


Guitar is always exciting and an instrument many people play, the band features a rhythm and lead guitarist, how long have you both been playing and what advice can you give to up and coming guitar players?

Kessier - I've been played for 25 years. It seems a long hard road for me, but I just play guitar as a hobby, never feel practicing guitar is a hard job...just like playing your Nintendo! :)

Howe - I have played guitar for 8 years. Actually, I am not so good at shredding, but I love that!!! And I can learn much from incredible shredder Kessier in the band. My advice is practice, play hard, listen to music, imitate, and the most important, enjoy music!!!!


I saw a video on your MySpace page in Taipei, the band is really solid and the fans are really hyped, how do you get the crowd going, is it with big backdrops and fireworks or just a simple 'in your face' metal?

Kessier - I don't know the reason why, maybe most of crowd really love our music, and they always enjoy our show! And maybe it's not easy to catch a good metal band in Taiwan.


I have met many bands and artists who can discuss their strengths as musicians but they get stumped when I ask about weaknesses, what are your weaknesses as a band and how do you deal with them?

Kessier - Our weaknesses is coming from Taiwan, the place far away from EU. And every band members are Asian... it is so difficult for us to promote and perform. Another one is language problem.


Seraphim's music is becoming more and more available across the world and you are becoming ever popular, is it hard to build a fanbase without a large record label and promotional companies?

Kessier - Yes, it is hard to get fans without major record labels and promotions. We still try our best to find one! And I think all we can do is continue making good music, God will help us with the rest!


One of the most commonly asked questions with bands is the name, the band name Seraphim is most probably associated with an angel or seraph (highest rank of angelic order next to archangel) but with not so much an explanation of the name, why pick the name for the band?

Quinn – SERAPHIM of the Bible is an highest rank angel as you said, they sing for God but we sing for everyone of the world, that’s what we want to do as they did. Because Kessier plan to find a female vocal for the band, so this name is softer and suit the definition.


Do any of you have solo projects, if so; could you tell us a little about them?

Quinn – If for a complete album, I don’t. But I was to be a guest vocal for Beto Vazquez Infinity’s new album in 2007. The song I sang is “She is my guide”.

Kessier - I only have some songs for some compilations. I've written a solo album, but it didn't release... a long time ago!

Howe - I hope I can have one in the near future. Ha ha ha ha!!!! But I have some original instrumental compositions.


Another guitar question, there are lots of ways to learn guitar techniques such as videos, books or teaching, have you thought about doing lessons yourselves, perhaps releasing a book or DVD to get into your style of playing?

Kessier - Pretty good idea for me! I wish I could have time to do that!

Howe - Publishing an instructional video or book is my plan in the future. But now, I am not ready for that.


What about the rest of the band, any teaching or projects to get into your style of playing?

Van - Yes I did! Teaching drums tech or played can help me to get some new thought of my playing.

Howe - I am a guitar tutor.


I thank you all once again for participating in this interview under your busy schedule, a lot of people are excited about seeing this interview, I wish you all the best of luck in your career and hopefully catch up with you all again when the album "Rising" is released.
Any closing statement?

Quinn – Prepare to swing, hope to see you soon!! ;)

Kessier - Hope to see ya guys soon on the road! Beware the earthshaking monster is coming!

Van - God bless u all

Interview arranged and conducted by Alistair Campbell (Blackorchidx)

Thanks to Quinn and Kessier for making this interview possible