Official Band Bio: Hailing from Melbourne, Australia’s music capital, SHADOWQUEEN is the original brainchild of Robbi Zana and Si Hopman who formed a solid musical connection from a history of performing live together. With the addition of drummer, Alex Deegan in 2009, the rock trio powerhouse, ‘SHADOWQUEEN’, was born.
‘SHADOWQUEEN’ is a rock band that captures an irresistible blend of melodic pop sensibility and thunderous riff rock’n’roll! SHADOWQUEEN live, is a stomping display of true rock’n’roll to be experienced!
SHADOWQUEEN’ are Robbi Zana (lead vocals & bass guitar), Si Hopman (Guitar and backing vocals) and Alex Deegan (drums).
Let’s start with the basics first, when did the band first get together and what was the inspiration behind the band name SHADOWQUEEN?
SHADOWQUEEN started in January 2010. The inspiration behind the band name came from wanting a name to suit our sound.
Can you introduce each member of the band and give us a rock ‘n’ roll fact or myth about each? Alex (Drummer) Fact: Alex manages to break some part of his kit at every single gig! He has his own drum tech just to fix stuff while he plays! Ok that part is a myth.
Simon (Guitar/Vox)?Fact: At every gig he plays, his amp is always on 11! Louder the better, otherwise it’s just not worth it, oh and Robbi is his hairdresser.
Robbi {Lead Vox/Bass Guitar} Fact: To the detriment of the band, Robbi DOES NOT SLEEP!!! She comes with a little rulebook! No coffee or sugar after midnight for her.
You have twenty seconds in an elevator to try and convince someone to listen to your new album, without resorting to threats or violence, what do you tell them?
If you like great rock n roll, a chic singer with balls {vocally that is!} and great songs that you can rock out to and sing along with, then check out SHADOWQUEEN’s debut album!
You have just released your new single and video for ‘Don’t Tell’, so this is a perfect chance to give us some insight into what that song and video is all about!
The song ‘Don’t Tell’ is about deceitfulness. Trusting a friend not to tell a secret and ultimately karma.
This video clip is our first and the intention was to introduce the band visually to our audience.
On the horizon is also your album release, so in the context of the single ‘Don’t Tell’ how indicative do you consider the sounds and style of that song to what you will be delivering across your album?
As far as an overall fat rock sound Don’t Tell is indicative of that but the album as a whole has many different sides to it, there are up-tempo thumping tracks as well as slower dynamic and even slightly progressive tracks, I’d say Don’t Tell falls somewhere in between, what is cohesive is the distinct female vocal & identifiable rock style sound that is SHADOWQUEEN.
Now that you have that shiny CD album in your hot little hands, looking back on the whole process of creating it, what did you find to be the most enjoyable aspects of the journey?
Being creative, writing, recording, performing bonding with each other and in the process becoming a family.
In terms of songwriting, what do you consider to be the most important ingredients that need to feature in a SHADOWQUEEN song…aside from a healthy dose of riffage of course!
We try not to think about it that way, what is important to us is that the three of us need to feel something, be it enjoyment, intensity or whatever, if we’re not feeling it we’ll move on.
Also and lyrics that are never about ‘love’ says Robbi Lol!
Over the course of the bands evolution, what or who have you found inspires and influences your music the most, in both a lyrical and musical sense?
There isn’t really one thing or person, inspiration comes in many different forms, from everything you’ve experienced I think it’s a human desire to want to create and to be a part of something greater.
Hypothetically speaking of course, if you could travel back in time (or into the future even, say tomorrow….) and play your music to any one of your musical heroes, who would it be and why?
Rather than play our music to the vast array of musical heroes we each have I think we would probably prefer to just hang out with them, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Muse etc…how long have you got?
So if you were asked to have your music featured in the soundtrack of a movie, what kind of movie do you think it would likely to be for?
Action, adventure, drama…comedy even.
If you were a person in the crowd at one of your gigs, what five words would you walk away using to describe the performance you just witnessed?
Awesome, Rockin, Cool, Exhilarating, Mind-blowing!
Gigs, gigs, gigs…do SHADOWQUEEN have any coming up that you wanted to tell the people about, if so here’s your chance!
‘Rock n Load’ The Espy, St. Kilda, Saturday May 26th. (check out the poster below!)
With 2012 already a couple of months down, here’s a chance to gaze into your crystal ball. By the end of 2012, SHADOWQUEEN will have:
Released another single and video, launched their self-titled debut album and if the Gods are generous, commenced a world tour?
Essential Information
From: Melbourne, Australia
Sounds like: Rock with balls!
Band members: Robbi Zana – Vocals, Bass & keyboards, Si Hopman – Guitar & Backing Vocals, Alex Deegan – Drums
Website: www.shadowqueen.com.au
Latest release: Shadowqueen (2012)
