www.facebook.com/splinteredhalo
From: Glasgow, Scotland
Sounds like: Metal
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? Who thought of the name “Splintered Halo” and is there any meaning behind it?
Evelyn: I started out in a heavy rock band called Griever; I was in high school at the time. It wasn’t metal at all, and I didn’t scream or do harsher vocals back then. I only wrote the vocal melody and lyrics then so the overall sound was very different to Halo. When Griever split up, I realized that I wanted to be self-sufficient and to be able to write my own songs. I wanted to be less reliant on other people (something which had proven to be an issue in the past). Prior to Splintered Halo, I had never written for guitar but I started writing dark, heavy riffs and after a couple of weeks I had two songs written and recorded in my bedroom. Once I had something tangible to show the world, I started to advertise for other musicians to join me. When the guys came on board, they took my core songs and changed them up a little, added technical solos etc. The line-up has changed since then, but the core formula and writing process remains the same.
As for the band name, I really liked the idea that we are all a little bit fallen in our own way; we all start out innocent and the more we live, and the more we see of the world we become less so. I was struggling to come up with something that conveyed that but wasn’t too obvious or stupid or (more importantly) taken. I was listening to an Otep song called Sweet Tooth, and the line "splintered halo" was part of the lyrics.
2. What do you want listeners to take away from your "We're All A Little Mad In Here" EP?
Evelyn: I don’t mind what they take away, as long as they take away something. People listen to music for different things depending on what they need at the time. Sometimes I listen to instrumental metal like Jeff Loomis because I’m impressed with the technicality, there are no lyrics or vocals, it’s purely for the guitar riffage. It’s something to aspire to if you play. Other times I might listen to something like Iron Maiden because the riffs are catchy and you think, "I want to know how to play that!" Sometimes it’s not about the guitars at all. Like if I listen to something like Evanescence, the guitars are simple but her voice is incredible and the lyrics really mean something. Same with SOAD; his vocals are so twisty, rhythmic and all over the place. With Splintered Halo, I try to create songs which have something for everyone, no matter whether you want catchy riffs, or technical solos, dark lyrics or vocals that are a little bit different. I try to make sure that it’s all in there.
3. What can people expect from your live show?
Evelyn: They can expect exactly that; a show! It’s not good enough to get up there and stand still at a microphone or with your instrument and just play well. You could listen to a CD for that. We like to really get into it; that goes for performance and our stage costumes. We’re trying to create a whole show; we want to make it worth paying hard earned cash for a ticket. Even if you don’t like the music, we promise not to bore you.
4. What's your favorite track to play live?
Evelyn: The boys would probably say "Evolution" but for me it’s got to be "Bloodshed In Wonderland". The vocals are so schizophrenic and all the changes in vocal style make it a lot of fun to sing live.
5. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Evelyn: It’s tough to pick just three! I guess I’d def go with Halestorm; Lizzy Hale has an amazing voice and I have a lot of respect for the fact that she can sing and play guitar at the same time. Arch Enemy; I love the guitars and I’m a big fan of Alissa White Gluz. If we’re really talking about living the dream, then it wouldn’t get much better than touring with Iron Maiden.
6. Any crazy show stories?
Evelyn: Crazy? No…No we’re angels.
7. What’s your take on the current state of metal?
Evelyn: I think metal is in the best shape it’s ever been, providing you aren’t a snob about it. People get so caught up in what is and isn’t metal, they can be so elitist. The fact is that the genre is more popular than ever and there is so much variety out there now; that can only be a good thing as far as I’m concerned. These days you can get all kinds of metal from pirate metal to classical metal dubsteb! It’s a good time to be alive! I don’t think it’s quite so underground as it once was.
8. What’s the current music scene like there in the UK both locally and country wide?
Evelyn: We’re based in Glasgow, Scotland. There are a lot of metal bands here, and I mean a lot, so I guess the scene is thriving in that respect, though maybe saturated is a better word. It makes it really easy to get shows as there is always a metal gig on, usually several in one night at different venues, but it can make it harder to get the right shows and to pull in a decent crowd.
9. What’s your take on legal/illegal music downloading?
Evelyn: To be honest, cds and downloads aren’t how a band makes money these days so I think the legal vs illegal download thing is kind of a moot point. A lot of people use streaming services like Spotify now, or they watch Youtube. The important thing is actually that people come to the live shows, that’s how you support a band you like.
10. What’s next for Splintered Halo?
Evelyn: We have plans in the works for a video and I’m writing constantly at the moment before we head back into the studio to record. Next year we want to tour, we want to get out there.
