A Dirty Dozen with NETTA LAURRENNE from BLACK SUN – AUGUST 2024

Photo credit: Jose Xavier Cuesta

According to a recent press release: “Today, Finnish-Ecuadorean melodic heavy metal band BLACK SUN shares “Rise” the third single from their forthcoming self-titled album out September 6th. Fronted by the formidable Netta Laurenne, BLACK SUN is completed by founding members Nicolas Estrada (drums), Christopher Grünberg (guitar), and Santiago Salem (bass) as well as the band’s producer, Thunderstone guitarist Nino Laurenne. As a result, Ecuador and Finland are now bonded and represented by a band that is one of a kind. With this new lineup, BLACK SUN entered the studio to record a full-length album, which was recorded at Hi Noiz Studio and Sonic Pump Studios, produced and mixed by Nino Laurenne, and mastered by Svante Forsback (Rammstein, Apocalyptica, Volbeat, Amaranthe).” We get Netta 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?

The Vocals should grab your attention from the first sentence on. This album is strongly driven by vocals and versatile melodies. Listening to it more, you open up to the lyrical world, the themes and feels of it all. Tiny production stuff that make things cooler and ones you realize them you appreciate them so much.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was four when I knew I wanted to be singer-songwriter. My first whole book of songs is from when I was 8 and was able to actually write down the songs I was hearing in my head. Lyrics are to die for…quite political actually. Glad I’ve taken a step away from politics and have concentrated on the topics of humanity.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, Dio. All the big voices. The soul the voices carry. For me it has always been about the voice and in metal I first fell in love with Dio’s and Russel Allen’s voice (Symphony X).

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Pain of Salvation, I love their music. They have a great talent to move emotions within a song. And I love Daniel Gildenlow’s voice.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I love being at home. Read, watch movies, go outdoors, drink wine.

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?

Black Sun is about simple, raw, punch-in-the-face metal music with catchy melodies and strong vocals. Talking about a “female-fronted” band is a bit cringe. It feels like the woman is not a true-bred musician, just a figurehead. A mannequin for something. But I’m looking forward to see what people think about the album in general no matter how they describe it.

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?

Funny one. I bring the wine, Cristopher brings the beer. Nicolas and Nino are always the ones to find a guitar somewhere but Nicolas is the one forcing the singalongs happen, hahah.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Honestly, I don’t really get starstruck. But when someone is great at something, I do, always, admire the talent.

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?

The way the music heals and helps you. I always feel better after singing or writing songs. I would be a writer. A novelist. Maybe a very bad one, but I would try to be as good as Hemingway.

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 only know my dream question when the question is asked as it needs to surprise me. I hate answering for the same basic questions year after year like ”what is the band name about” or ” how did it all start with the band?” That all can be googled.

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?

All in all, I wish I would have been more brave and not so insecure when I was younger. I was terrified to sing in front of people. Hated it back then. Lost a lot of time in a way.

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?

Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker. I think You Want it Darker is the greatest album ever made. Strong songwriting, minimalistic but point on production, great vocals and the most genius and disclosing lyrics. It holds such an energy and raw honesty.

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Category: Interviews