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Mr. Castlestone, Your Favorite Wampire

INTERVIEW
with

How long have you been in the music industry?

I've started the band 4 years ago.

What inspired you to create your type of music?

Mainly Classical music as I believe this kind of music to be one of the richest source of inspiration ever.

Who are your musical influences?

Chopin, Queen and The Doors

What type of practice schedule do you have?

I'm trying to play the piano everyday and with the band, we're rehearsing 2-3 times a week.

What is your favourite gift ever given to you by a fan?

Two months ago, I received a painting and a dark gothic shirt, it was amazing!

Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards, any special significance to the name choice of the band?

Yes indeed. I'm a fan of Anne Rice's novels and in these books, Vampires use to take their victims into ecstasy before killing them. It's this kind of sensuality which is present into our music.

It also makes sense considering Bram Stoker's Dracula ; an impossible love story beyond death.

What are your plans tours and festivals wise this year?

We just signed with a very good manager here in Belgium so we're working at it now.

Are you planning on expanding your tours to the US this year?

No unfortunately, we first need to make a name here in Europe and in Belgium.

How valuable do you feel internet radio will be to the future of new artists?

Being broadcasted on a radio (whatever its kind) is always a good thing for a new artist. I like the fact that people are trying to break free from regular radios which are always broadcasting the same mainstream uninteresting singers.

What is the craziest thing some one has done to meet you?

A fan has done 500 km to see us live !

Do you feel a Street Team is vital to the expansion of new artist fan base?

Yes it is, I guess it's a modern kind of word-of-mouth.

What would you consider your fan base to be?

Whoever wants more than music from a band.

When are you releasing your next album?

We first need to find a good label to work with and it's not that easy. I'll do my best to release it in 2008 but I definitely think that it will be released in 2009.

I know a lot of people are waiting for it as we're receiving emails everyday to ask for it. It's also very long for me but we really prefer being sure to do the things in the right way.

I don't want to fall into the commercial trap which would simplify and modify our music. To fulfil the concept, I need to work with a label which wants to follow my vision without trying to change anything.

Do you notice a difference in the audiences based on the countries?

Honestly, we haven't toured enough abroad to have an opinion on this.

What's your favourite country to tour in?

It would be Japan. I like their culture so much.

Have you listened to Castlestone Radio? What do you think about its variety?

Yes I did. I think it's very nice to listen to different things. It's also a good place to discover new bands ! ;)

Could you imagine yourself doing anything other than what your doing now career wise?
If so, what would that be?

Not really.

What inspired themes of your music?

A mix between my own life and the life I wish I would have lived.

What process do you use to create a new song?

Letting the ideas flowing through my mind.

Basically it's just like hypnosis. If you want to enter an hypnotic state, you'll never do it. The key is to let go and not wanting anything.

Inspiration is close to a sacred gift but to hear/receive this gift, you need to be in a certain state of mind.

Do you feel added pressure as the singer and songwriter for the band?

Of course. Creating things in details like the "Dark romantism" concept can drive you mad. The most difficult thing is to keep a certain distance to see it as a whole. Focusing on small details keeps you away from the essential.

Who would you like to tour with?

Too many to mention but let's dream and say Nine Inch Nails.

What would be your dream tour?

Importing the mythological places depicted in the concept for real on stage and in the venue.