A Dirty Dozen with INFERNO DOLL – August 2021
According to the band’s bio: “Laura ‘Inferno’ Vargas, the mastermind behind The Inferno Doll, has been making her mark on the metal scene since her teens. The powerful, Chilean siren fronted the band Sacramento, an alternative metal outfit that in their tenure shared the stage with the likes of Theatre Of Tragedy and Within Temptation. Based on her abilities and standing in the music community, Vargas was asked to join Eve’s Apple, a global community of female singers. She performed with them at Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium. Now relocated to Calgary, Canada, Vargas is bringing her musical vision to the next level. Inspired by horror movies, gothic literature, the legend of Dracula, and bands like Devil Doll and Theatres Des Vampires, Sacrifice will surely solidify The Inferno Doll’s place in the worldwide underground scene as a dramatic, creative, and boundary-pushing act.” We get Laura to discuss new music, influences, and more…
1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?
Sacrifice started to come to life beginning 2019. Gabriel (co-songwriter) and I worked online and we managed to finish the EP. It’s about The Inferno Doll years of silence and it’s being summoned and awakened by a High Priestess that controls the element of fire and gives The Inferno Doll another chance to live in this world.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?
Music’s been part of my life since I was a little girl. That’s what I always wanted to be.
3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?
It all started with the BBC mini-series of The Phantom Of The Opera and later when I was around 11 or 12 years old, I listened to my first metal song and I loved it the second I heard the music. The song was “Biotech Is Godzilla” by Sepultura.
4. Who would be your main five musical influences?
It’s a very long list and it comes in seasons. Right now I’d say Devil Doll, Moonspell, Faith and the Muse.
5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?
Mr. Doctor. Because his music has been a huge inspiration for me since the very beginning.
6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?
Dark Gothic Metal with a hint of Dark Romance. I think that if you like gothic metal with some black and industrial metal elements you will enjoy what I do.
7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?
I’m a solo artist. I cook. I don’t have band members yet. I hope that changes when the world comes back to normal.
8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?
It was Sharon den Adel. Back when I was in Chile, my last show with my former band was opening for Within Temptation (2014 I think it was). I was walking around backstage warming up and she showed up to tell me and the band she was stoked that we were opening for them and wished us luck. I also mentioned to her this was my last show with them because I wanted to pursue my solo career and she told me to go for it and not to give up. She is an adorable woman.
9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?
Creating the music I want with no limits and being able to pass that energy and love to my amazing fans and community. And receiving their feedback. When they tell me how much my music has inspired them it’s something I cherish so much. I cannot think of anything else. Music is my life.
10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?
I cannot get tired of interviewers asking the same question over and over. They probably have no idea who I am so those questions give me the chance to tell people who I am and what I do.
11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?
There’s one thing. In 2016 when I performed as The Inferno Doll, I had huge issues with my in-ear monitor. During soundcheck, they were working just fine but during the show, I have no idea what happened and I couldn’t hear a thing! The show was fantastic anyways and nobody noticed that problem.
12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?
I would say The Girl Who Was… Death by Devil Doll. I would have loved to sing a few lines here and there.
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Category: Interviews