Best known for her collaborations with various high profile European metal
bands like Avantasia, Epica, KAMELOT, After Forever, and her amazing musical
partnership with Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske under the Kiske/Somerville
banner, Amanda Somerville is easily one of the most sought after and gifted
female vocalists of the current hard rock and metal scene. With a vocal range
from tenor to soprano and a stylistically diverse singing ability, Amanda’s
voice is well suited for multiple styles, but this new TRILLIUM album is firmly
rooted in the metal genre, thanks also to the creative contribution from
Amanda’s husband, former After Forever and HDK guitarist Sander Gommans.
"Where [Trillium debut album] “Alloy” was rather dark and moody and
restless, Tectonic is on the whole more uplifting and full of strength and
character, though it’s just as full of emotion,” explains Amanda. "My life was
shaken up by figurative earthquakes through several elements shifting in recent
years and that’s what this album represents. It’s a challenge to make an album
that’s musically heavy without being dragged down by melancholy, but that’s what
Sander and I set out to do from the beginning and it worked out
beautifully!”
Amanda continues, “The core and essence of Tectonic is very personal and
comes, basically, from the hearts and minds of a singer and a guitar player and
I think that’s very apparent when you listen to the songs. Sander and I didn’t
want to overthink things and over-complicate the songs. There’s definitely some
bombast in there because we both have a love of keyboard arrangements, but they
don’t rule the roost here. Also, the only guest performances are by good friends
from my hometown in Flint, Michigan who also played live with me solo and with
Trillium, and also some great mates and colleagues of Sander’s, so it’s really a
“family” kind of album. We tried to keep things simple, and yet I think it’s
anything but low-key!”
Today, the first song and video, "Time To Shine" from the album has been
premiered - click on the image to enjoy!
