Veronica Freeman (Benedictum)
January 2008
You were involved in another band together with Pete before forming Benedictum. Can you tell me about that?
The band's name was Malady and it was in San Diego. I've known Pete for about 15 years now and we've been writing together for quite some time. It was all originals and everything, and we did that for quite some time but it just got to a point where Pete and I wanted to go and try something else. We wanted to put together something to actually shop and try to get a deal and the rest of the members were happy with just playing locally. So we parted ways and that's when we hooked up with some other friends of ours and started Benedictum.
Was it easy to complete the band's line-up?
We've gone through a lot of changes. We had a drummer in mind and that was Blackie Sanchez so we called him. And I was in a Dio tribute band at the time as well so I got the keyboard player Chris from that band. We had a different bass player at first but it didn't work out but then we found Jesse. So it wasn't really too difficult to get this together.
Since you and Pete are the core of Benedictum the question is obvious: why didn't you continue as Malady with new members?
Well, we wanted a fresh new start. We've spent a few years with that other band, about 5-6 years, and we had a lot of fun, we played some cool shows locally and that was great but we really wanted to expand ourselves a little bit so it was time to go ahead and when it's time to go it's time to go. (Laughs) So we went ahead made that move and started expressing ourselves a little different musically and had people with us that had the same goal. And it's naturally important to have everybody be on the same page. With that other band it just wasn't like that. There's nothing wrong with that, they just didn't want to move outside locally and we wanted to go farther with it. At least we can say that we gave it a good try with something different.
So what was your musical vision when you formed Benedictum?
Actually, we just do what we do. We didn't have any particular direction other than just continuing to play that kind of stuff that we write. We didn't say, "Okay, we're gonna play this type of music or that type of music." We just wrote what we wrote. We didn't have anything particular in mind... okay, we wanted to create our own sound, some our own collective influences and then see where it will take us.
Can you tell me about your musical influences?
They range. I like a lot of different types of music. Obviously Dio is one of my influences. I also really like Tina Turner. I listen to bib band music a lot too so I like the blues and also Billy Holiday and that sort of stuff too. I try to get a lot out of a lot of different type of music. You can learn a lot from different people's approaches.
It took you some time to find the name of the band...
Yeah, we changed it quite a few times. I think one time we called ourselves Regime and then we thought about the name Bound, so when we did our very first demo it was under the name Bound. The label that ended up picking us us which was Locomotive, they didn't like the name and there was a song on that demo that was called Benedictum and they thought that it was a really cool name for a band. They told us that we had to change our name and at first we weren't really happy about it but now we got used to it. (Laughs)
What is the songwriting method like in Benedictum?
Pete and I, as I said, we've been writing for years so we kinda have our own little formula. He records some of the idea he has and burns it on a CD for me. And I like to listen to music while I'm driving. So I drive around and I just listen to it over and over again and if there's a certain section that inspires me I say, "Okay, that's it, right there, I can do something with that." And then I build it from there and then I come up with the arrangements, lyrics and melodies.
So you even start singing in the car when you have a good melody?
Oh yeah. People look at me crazy when they see me at the stoplight, but yeah I love to sing in the car. It just starts in my head. And I think about it over and over again. Then when I get comfortable with it I start playing with it, actually singing it out loud and then I ask Pete of what he thinks of it. And then we work on the arrangements.
Did you work the same way for both albums?
Yeah, pretty much but we've learned a lot after the process of the first album. We had Jeff Pilson there and he was a big factor because he taught us a lot about arrangements and to tighten the whole thing up to make it a better package. We were able to take what we've learned from him during that process and we made this new album a lot better.
Do you plan keeping on doing like that or you're gonna involve the other guys in the future?
We already do now. I mean if something goes down and someone has a good idea we're always open to it. Usually our process is that we can bring things to the table and it's just depends on who we are working with. With our new drummer Paul, he's very creative and he adds a lot to it as well. We're very open to other input.
How was the debut album received by the media?
Fabulous. (Laughs) We were really happy about that. You always hope for the best of course and we were really pleased with the reviews and the press that it got. The things started taking off really quickly from there. We were really glad that people liked our sound and the great attention we received.
When you have a successful start with anything it can put some pressure on you when it comes to the next one...
Absolutely. That was the hardest thing for me because I'm always stressing so Pete has to call me down a lot. You have that first few moments after the first album comes out and you kinda take a breather and holding your breath to see what the press and people thinks and how it's received. Then all of a sudden you start thinking, "Okay, this is great but now what?" The pressure is on and especially because it did receive such good comments and everything. It's like, "Wow, how we're gonna follow this up?" So we worked really hard to make sure that we expanded ourselves a little bit and hope that people like it.
You already mentioned Jeff Pilson's name. One of the most important part of the label's promotional campaign is your hook up with him. What was the story there?
Craig Goldy from Dio has been a long time friend of mine too and he was the one that originally listened to our practice recording and he's always been a factor in my singing so finally he heard something that he thought he could really get behind and see what he could do to help us out. That's when we met Jeff through him. He contacted Jeff and said that he got a band that he might be interested in. We sent all our stuff up to Jeff and he said, "Yeah, I would be more than happy to take them on." That's how it started.
So what was the recording process like with Jeff?
It was absolutely wonderful. There's just not enough words to describe what it's like to work with him. He's very very intense and focused and that's another thing that helped us a lot because we're always joking around and all that kinda stuff... he's really great guy but when it comes to the music he gets very serious. He can be in a room full of people talking and yelling him, he's focused on one thing. I mean if the house burned down around him he wouldn't move. (Laughs) We've learned a lot just from his focus, the ideas he has, just watching his creative process as well. The process with the actual recording went pretty much the same. We didn't have a chance, like a lot of people do, to block a certain amount of time in the studio and then you go for it. When we were about to record he was on tour with Foreigner so we had to work around his touring schedule as well.
Do you see yourself working with him again the next time?
Absolutely. I really can't see it any other way. I mean we've really bounded in that area and I can't even imagine working with anybody else.
What was the most challenging during the recordings?
I'd say it was just to keep me calm down. (Laughs) He makes the atmosphere so relaxed that it's actually flows really well. So, I think that actually the most challenging thing was just scheduling the time because when he's been in town we needed to pack it up and go up there and do the recording then just make sure that we've done enough and we're prepared. But on the other hand it worked out really well that way because Jeff gave us a chance to work a little more on certain things. We go up and do a few songs and then we could sit with it for a while so if we want to change anything the next time we came in we had new ideas after listening to it for a while, so actually I think that was an advantage for us.
Are you hundred percent satisfied with the new record?
I'd say 99 percent. There's always gonna be something, at least for me, that I could have done different. But I'd say that I had more satisfaction with this one than the first one. As for the one percent, it's not a big deal, I would have liked to add some background vocals here and there and these sort of little things that probably no one else would notice. But for the most part I'm really happy with it.
What song would you pick as your favourite one?
Boy, that's a good question. I think I have two favourites. One of them is the title track Seasons of Tragedy, which is such an epic long song and it has so many different parts to it and we've always wanted to do something like that. And the other one is Bare Bones because it's just kinda got a different groove to it and I really like that. It's just really heavy.
Balls To The Walls was a nice pick for a cover...
Yeah, that's a fun one. (Laughs) When I approached Jeff about it I thought it would just be a fun thing to do. I thought it would funny to have a woman singing that song and he liked the idea too. We ended up making it work and I think it's really cool. We were lucky to have George Lynch to come in and he played a solo on one of the songs and he also plays on Balls To The Wall along with Jeff.
And how about the European bonus track?
In the last minute, literally 24 hours before we had an appointment with the mastering, we were given the decision that the label wanted to have a bonus track. They were gonna either take one of the songs we already had, which at that point we'd already gotten used to flow of things and we didn't want to sacrifice one of the songs and make it a bonus track, so we had 24 hours to come up with a bonus track. And that was Catch the Rainbow and thank god, Craig Goldy was available for that, so we gave him a call and Jeff worked all night to get that all done and mixed it and it was ready the next day. I love that song. Actually they suggested that but I was like, "Wow, I know that one. That'll work."
Besides the guests you already mentioned you also had Manni Schmidt. How come?
He's a friend of my husband and we met him while we were on tour with Doro. He invited us over and we were having a good time and we were kinda joking around about him playing on the album. And when we were doing it I thought we could ask him again if he wanted to do that and he said yes and I'm really glad the way it came out. He's such a great guy.
You just mentioned the tour with Doro. For a newcomer band it's very impressive to get on a tour package like that.
Tell me about it. We were blown away. Like I said, when that first album came out things happened very fast. The second show that we ever did as a band was at the Gods of Metal in Italy and that was a mindblower. Then we went back and did some more festivals and then we got the tour with Doro, which was a very good experience for us because we learned so much as a band. We became tighter, our live performance improved. We really enjoyed being on the road with them. I always tell people about how well we were treated because their whole crew and band are still friends, we're keeping in touch. We were treated like gold and we couldn't have asked for a better situation. It was just wonderful.
Can we expect a similar tour in 2008?
I certainly hope so. Right now our booking agent is working on putting something together for us and we're just still waiting to hear exactly of what's that gonna be.
Which band you'd go out and support if it was up to you?
There's quite a few people I'd pick. Of course I'd love to tour with Dio because I'm such a big fan. And there's a few other bands out there like Nightwish, After Forever, Within Temptation... we just want to get out there to play, we don't care who with. (Laughs)
Taking a look at the promotional pictures on your website some of them could easily fit in some men's magazines. Is that how you are or it's more like part of the image of the band?
(Laughs) It's part of the image of the band. I have fun with it but I don't take that stuff very seriously.
Do you think being an attractive frontwoman helps a band to promote themselves?
I'm sure it has some affect. I mean there's so many beautiful women out there and people want to look and all that kinda stuff, but when it comes to being a singer you have to deliver. It doesn't matter to me what a person looks like, you gotta have the chops to back it up. You can be the most beautiful looking person but if you can't deliver then what's the point?
How do you feel being a single woman on stage and maybe in the entire venue?
(Laughs) Me personally, I don't know how it is for anyone else, I don't feel like I'm treated any differently. I think that I get treated with a lot of respect and I realised that if it wouldn't have been for all the men around me doing what they're doing and working with me and believing in me and supporting me I wouldn't be doing this. I'm just one of the band.