Interview with an Artist - Ronny Thorsen & Ailyn
Trail of Tears, a revered name in the Gothic metal scene, has captivated audiences with their dark, melodic sound since their inception in the late 1990s. Known for their intricate blend of symphonic and Gothic elements, the band has left an indelible mark on the genre with their evocative lyrics and haunting melodies. After a notable hiatus, Trail of Tears made a return in 2020, reigniting their legacy with renewed energy and creativity. I have had the pleasure of speaking with vocalist Ronny Thorsen and Ailyn, who will shed light on the band's reformation, their artistic evolution, and what fans can expect from this renewed chapter in Trail of Tears' storied journey.
Joshua: “Hello and welcome, Ronny and Ailyn. I hope you two are doing well and let me say to welcome back to Trail of Tears. How are you two doing?”
Ailyn: “We are doing great, thank you. Very happy with the new release.”
Joshua: “As we know the history of Trail of Tears, the band had a 19-year run before disbanding in 2013. As of 2020, the band had announced their return with a reformed lineup, what is the full detail that inspired the revival?”
Ronny: “It was basically the urge to create again under the moniker, of course we have been active in other projects and bands over the years, but there will always be something special about your original band.”
Joshua: “With both of you being seasoned musicians, what new elements or influences can fans expect in Trail of Tears' music this time around?”
Ronny: “We don’t, and never have, deliberately picked specific elements or influences. This is very much a natural, organic thing, where your surroundings help shape you as a musician and as a human being. I have never been able to pinpoint something, and say ‘well, that is what influenced me this time around.
Joshua: “Ailyn, stepping into the role of lead vocalist, how do you approach interpreting the band's existing catalog while bringing your own style to the table?”
Ailyn: “When I have to sing the songs someone else sang before me, I try to be as fair as possible to respect their previous work. Of course, we are all different people and have different voices and vocal registers so in the end doesn’t matter how much you try, it’s going to sound somehow different. I also think the fans like how the songs sounded with the former singer, so for me it’s also important to give and have the respect for the song and not change the material too much. I just adapt the things that doesn’t fit to my voice, but as I said, I try to adapt to what it was before me.”
Joshua: “Ronny, as one of the founding members, how do you perceive the evolution of Trail of Tears' sound and identity over the years?”
Ronny: “I think it is very difficult to answer these kinds of questions, it is like squeezing 30 years of history, or 2/3 of my entire life into a few sentences. What I can say, is that we have always done what felt natural at any given point in time, and in that way, the music has been a snapshot of how we were as musicians and human beings at any of those specific points in time. Also, there have been several member changes over the years, which of course will have an impact.”
Joshua: “Trail of Tears' music often explores dark and emotive themes. How do you personally connect with the lyrical content and convey those emotions to your audience?”
Ailyn: “I don’t know how other singers do it, but I just try to make the story the lyric is telling my own and let the feelings flow together with the music. I don’t let myself think too much, it’s all about expressing your feelings. If you feel the story and the music while you sing it, the audience will feel it too.”
Joshua: “Trail of Tears has always blended various musical styles. How do you balance experimentation with maintaining the signature sound that fans love?”
Ronny: “I think simply by not over-thinking it. As I said, we have always done what feel natural, often to the frustration of record labels or others, but perhaps that is why we are still here. There are certain elements that need to be there in order for it to sound like Trail of Tears, those are the dual vocals, a certain melodic aspect, the atmospherics, and a production that doesn’t sound like a glossy pop act.”
Joshua: “Now, I would like to congratulate you two and the rest of the band on your new EP ‘Winds of Disdain’. How excited are you two to have new material out that fans waited for since your reformation?”
Ailyn: “We’re very excited about being able to bring new music to the fans. We knew people had been waiting for it for a long time, so we had some pressure there because we wanted to make good music that reach everyone’s expectations, it was also very important for us to make music that made ourselves happy too, so we are very grateful we could finally do it and release something the audience is happy with.”
Joshua: “Can you describe the inspiration and creative process behind ‘Winds of Disdain’? What themes or messages does the EP explore?”
Ailyn: “Personally, I don’t like to discuss the messages behind every lyric I write. When I write something, for me it has a meaning, but I don’t like to tell others how they should understand or feel when the listen to the song. I like people listening to the music and feeling identified with the song, because when they pay attention to the lyrics it says something to them. It doesn’t matter they visualize the song in a different way than I do, the important thing is what and how the song make them feel.”
Joshua: “How was the collaborative process between the band members during the production of this EP?”
Ronny: “Well, as always it was a band effort. We start with the instrumentals and build song skeletons that are then refined instrumentally in our home studios. When we are happy with the instrumental part, we start positioning the vocal parts, write the lyrics and build the vocal arrangements and melodies.”
Joshua: “How do you two approach the interplay between your vocal styles? What was the dynamic like in the studio while recording the EP?”
Ailyn: “We work very good together. Each of us have a role inside the band and I think we make a good team. I really love how Ronny´s powerful growls fit with my voice.”
Joshua: “How has the fan reception been to ‘Winds of Disdain’ so far? Have there been any surprising reactions or feedback that stood out to you?”
Ailyn: “The reception has been very good so far. Of course, we were a bit worried while working on the EP. It has been many years since the band released something new, plus some of us are also new members, so we were all a bit nervous. To be the new female vocalist on a band that already had some lead singers before you it´s never easy, and I already know that by experience, but I have to say I’m very happy with how people received the new material.”
Joshua: “Could you delve into the lyrical themes present in the EP? What inspired the specific topics you chose to explore?”
Ronny: “Like Ailyn, I don`t really like to discuss the lyrics. For me, the lyrics are extremely personal, and this time more than ever, it was an excruciating task to get this done. I’ve been through hell these last couple of years, and in many ways, it is somewhat of a miracle that I`m still here to do this. So, every time the topic of the lyrics come up, or every time I have to sing one of the songs, I`m kind of transported back to a place that I don`t really want to revisit. I really think that if people look at the lyrics, they will understand.”
Joshua: “Ailyn, how has your experience been joining Trail of Tears and contributing to ‘Winds of Disdain’? What unique elements do you feel you've brought to the EP?”
Ailyn: “It’s been a great experience so far, the guys were great to me from day one so I felt very welcomed from the beginning which did things flow very smoothly. I’m not sure I can explain what unique elements I brought into Trail of Tears, I know that when I sing, I’m a bit different than other singers or to what people think a metal singer should sound, not going to say is a good or a bad thing, it’s just different and who I am. I like all kind of music genres and I think when I sing it’s something you can notice as I like to try different things on the songs I sing.”
Joshua: “How did you approach interpreting the songs on ‘Winds of Disdain’? Did you have a particular method for connecting with and delivering the emotional content of the lyrics?”
Ailyn: “I don’t have any special method. Normally when the guys send me the music I just get in front of my microphone, I press record, I close my eyes and start singing what it comes to mind. Sometimes I get a good idea at the first try, some other times when I think it’s not good enough, I keep trying until I get something that convince me. But what I had very clear from the beginning was that I wanted to make tons of harmonies and choir. I think that’s the part I enjoy the most while I’m recording, it’s kind of addictive to create the choirs, just when I think I have all I need I come up with a new voice, and of course I have to try…
In the end I felt really sorry for the producer having to mix so many tracks.”
Joshua: “In what ways do you plan to engage with your audience and promote the EP? Are there any special performances, live streams, or events we should look forward to?”
Ailyn: “Right now, we are currently working on it. When the EP came out, it was already too late for the summer festivals this year, but we hope we´ll have some shows soon.”
Joshua: “In an industry increasingly focused on singles and streaming, how do you approach crafting a cohesive album experience for your listeners?”
Ronny: “Well, that was partly why we wanted to drop an EP first, to kind of test the waters a bit. Remember that we have been away from the circus over 10 years, and it's a totally different world and industry today, compared to only a few years ago. I think we will continue to write songs in the same manner as we always do, in that point in time, it is all about the specific song, and making it the best we can. Formats are less important.”
Joshua: “Did you face any particular challenges during the production of the EP? How did you overcome them?”
Ronny: “There are always challenges when producing an album, or in this case, an EP. Usually it is about differences of opinion or personal preferences, this is the classic struggle for most bands. Communication is the absolute key in order to overcome any obstacles.”
Joshua: “How does this EP set the stage for future projects? Are there any hints you can give about what’s coming next for Trail of Tears?”
Ronny: “More music! We are continuing to write, there will probably be a full length in 2025, possibly also a second EP. Our label The Circle Music will also release our first seven albums on vinyl for the first time, starting with the debut, ‘Disclosure in Red’, from 1998.”
Joshua: “As we are reaching the end, do you have anything to say to your fans and readers?”
Ailyn: “Thank you very much to all the people out there having faith in us, to old fans and the new, we hope we can start having some shows soon and that we’ll meet you all out there.”
Joshua: “Thank you very much Ronny and Ailyn for taking the time for this interview, I hope you two have a future of musical and creative success!”
Ailyn: “Thank you for reaching out and give us the opportunity to talk about our new EP.”
Follow Trail of Tears online:
Comments