A Dirty Dozen with THE SIREN from ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR – December 2025

According to a recent press release: “When the clock strikes twelve, the world changes — and so does the sound of modern rock. Rising rock force Illusions of Grandeur steps into the shadows with their explosive new single, “Midnight”, a cinematic, pulse-pounding anthem that blurs the line between reality, illusion, and revelation. Fueled by towering guitars, a thunderous rhythm section, and vocals that rise from a whisper to a storm, “Midnight” captures the moment where fear and freedom collide. It is a song about reckoning — with your past, your demons, your dreams — and the dangerous power that comes alive when nothing is left to hide. Released in 2023, “Midnight” is getting new life with an official release.” We get Maggie Carlton – The Siren – 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?

Illusions of Grandeur’s latest releases are a set of singles that pair together, “MIDNIGHT25” and “CURSES,” both exploring the darker side of the band’s sound. While the 1st version of “Midnight” appeared on The Siren album, as Illusions of Grandeur has been evolving over the past few years and changing our sound, we felt “Midnight” needed to come along on this journey. So, we, with our new producers, decided to update the song and release it as a standalone single “MIDNIGHT25.” Updating the sound of “MIDNIGHT25” to meet our new production. Illusions of Grandeur has moved into a little more of a modern metal / metal-core and industrial sound which appears on our new EP The Siren Rises PT1: The Witch. So, taking “Midnight25” and producing “Curses” and bringing the songs into this new world was a challenge and exciting! Lyrically, while the idea for the song stems from and was inspired and written for the Netflix’s show Wednesday, there is a deeper meaning behind it. Humans are the true monsters, and while we have seen many portrayals of “monsters” in our culture, people are the truly scarier than the creatures of our stories.

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

Music has been a part of my life since I was a child. My dad was a musician, and I followed in his footsteps. I’ve always been in music in some capacity; from theatre to chorus and bands. The idea of Illusions of Grandeur is to create a world and tell the story of The Siren and her journeys. IOG’s love of both history and Greek / Norse Mythology felt that this was the best medium way to create a world for The Siren Saga. IOG feels that when listening to music or seeing a live show you should be able to immerse yourself in that moment and take a journey of your own with the band.

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

Illusions of Grandeur’s influences come from many genres, like Korn, In This Moment, Metallica, Avatar, Evanescence. Each member draws off their individual influences as well which are varied from The Siren influences from Jonathon Davis, Maria Brink, Janis Joplin and Johannes Eckerstrom to CM’s love of John Paul John of Led Zepplin to The Smiths, Supertramp and Soundgarden. IOG feels this just adds to the sound and allows the band to explore a lot of themes in their music.

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

That for sure would be Korn or In This Moment, as both are major influences on what Illusions of Grandeur does.

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

Basically, I live in the gym, it is my outlet!

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 disagree with?

Illusions of Grandeur’s music could be described as a mix of metalcore, industrial and power metal as if Korn, In This Moment Avatar and Nine Inch Nails had a child. We never had anyone compare us with anyone that we didn’t agree with, in some sense, maybe the constant comparison to the band Missing Persons.

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?

Well, Siren is always cooking something (love to cook) CM would for sure be getting drinks in and most likely bring out the guitar!

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

When I met Maria Brink, but she put me at such ease so quickly, or when we hung out with Wolfie Van Halen, but again he had such calm energy and really was just down to earth and easy to speak with, really both were amazing experiences.

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, creating music, live shows or videos. The creative process is such an amazing thing. I would certainly be a personal trainer.

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?

Hmm, that’s a tough one, maybe what our band process is like for getting ready for the road each year? Honestly, there are none. We feel privileged to do interviews and speak with journalists and promotional people.

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?

No, not really. Everything we have done, good or not so good, has led us to where we are and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.

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?

Well, I think it would be Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the holding company recording Cheap Trills. That album is so passionate and filled with amazing energy.

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Category: Interviews