RAÚL - Hi Ailyn. I wanna thank you in the name of all the members of your Official Fanclub forum for this interview.
AILYN - Thank you. I’m really happy to share this time with you and answer all your questions.
(R) - Well, let’s start talking about you and your life as a singer. When and how began your feeling about music?
(A) – Well, as strange as it may sound, it was in english lessons when I was about 12. My teacher loved music and she always let us hear songs with their lyrics. One day she put “Hero” by Mariah Carey, I loved it and, when I arrived home, the first thing I made was sing it to my mum. So from that moment I began listening to her music and imitating her. At 15 I told my mum I wanted to sing, she though I had talent, so she enlisted me to a musical school, but for personal reasons I has there just for one year.
(R) - We’ve always hear you singing all kinds of music and styles, but…which are your musical influences?
(A) – At first I just listened to Mariah Carey, but alter some time I opened myself to new styles and singers, such as Sarah Brightman, Enya, Lorenna MacKennit, Josh Groban… I’ve always thought that when you listen to different styles you can learn more, you listen to different ways of singing and, if you just listen to one style, you would have missed it.
(R) - If you were not a singer, what do you think you’d be?
(A) – Sincerely, I don’t see myself doing anything else. But when I was a child all my girlfriends wanted to be hairdressers, and I wanted to be a lawyer (laugh), until I got interested about music and I decided advocacy wasn’t going to be my thing (laugh).
(R) - People who followed you all through these years, they’ve seen a great evolution in your voice. What do you do to keep that wonderful voice?
(A) – I am very careful usually. I try to rehearse but not get tired, and when I feel tired, I stop it until next day. I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t smoke. I try not to eat really freezing food, but in summer it’s hard to resist to lemon ice drink…
(R) - Sometimes we heard you talk about a violin. Do you play it perfectly? Will we see you playing it, maybe on tour with Sirenia?
(A) – No!!! Right now I’m learning it by myself. And it is a hard instrument, I’m really slow. I think I need a lot of time until I can play it in front of any crowd (laugh). But I would love to be able to play it perfectly and play it on tour. I think it would be great.
(R) - This is a curiosity one of your fans has. When did you meet Raúl Ramírez, founder member of your Fanclub and the Ailyn-Team?
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(A) – At the end of 2005 Raúl met Manel, the Official Fanclub webmaster, and they began searching for songs I recorded at home and put online on websites. As a present, Raúl designed a limited edition special 3CD pack with all those tracks and he gave it to me in the Salón Of Manga of that year. Since then, we are in contact almost daily. It was sad that, when I moved to Granada, we couldn’t see each other so much. But since I’m here, he’s come to my home twice during summer break and stays here for happy long days. Since I was chosen to be the new vocalist of Sirenia, he’s always given me all his support and he helps me whenever I have any problem with my English (laugh).
(R) - Now you must be really busy with the release of Sirenia’s new album but what are your hobbies in your free time?
(A) – I love reading. I try to read whenever I can, I don’t care what time is it. When I feel nervous I like to draw, that relaxes me a lot. And I’ve always loved to skate, but it’s been a long time since the last time I did it.
(R) - And now we know you like to read, is there any book or movie you feel indentified with?
(A) – As I said before, I love to read, and there are a lot of books I like, but my totally favourite without any doubts is “The Lord Of The Rings”. I don’t feel indentified with it, but for me is a jewel of literature. My favourite movie is…”The Lord Of The Rings”, too!! And of course I love the trilogy (laugh).
(R) - How does it feel to have a lot of fans around the world? As you may know, some of your fans are supporting you from long ago with your solo career. What do you think about that and what would you say to them?
(A) – It’s flattering, but I really feel overwhelmed. Sometimes I stop and think about it, and I think it’s unbelievable that people I don’t know around the world know who I am, my name and see my pictures. Sincerely I don’t know how to describe it. And to the people who support me from my beginnings, tell them that I thank them from the bottom of my heart from all their support and trust in me. I’m going to give a 200% so I don’t disappoint them. Thank you all!
(R) - And now, thanks to all that support and success with the band, you are in a privileged place in which a lot of people would like to be. Would you change it for anything?
(A) – No way!! (laugh). I’ve been a lot of years fighting really hard to arrive where I am now, be able to sing and feel fulfilled with the music and style I’m doing now… Sincerely I’m living the happiest moment of my life, so…I don’t change it for anything!
(R) - Sometime ago, the official Youtube channel from your record label Nuclear Blast published an Album Sampler where you spoke in english about the new album. How is your English level doing?
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(A) – When I saw the video the first thing I made was writing to the boys and ask them if it was a joke. I couldn’t believe they were going to publish it… I felt ashamed!! When Morten told me that the label wanted me to record a video talking about me, the album and the recording process, I thought: “I’m in trouble!” (laugh). When I go to Norway I always speak in english with them, but it was the first time they made me talk in front of a camera and I felt really inhibited… But Morten and I had a laugh while recording it. I knew what I was going to say but when he pressed ‘rec’, I got so nervous that I forgot about everything. But I have a lot to learn, I hope I can talk in English in the future and not get nervous.
(R) - So, you have to learn some english, but what else in your life has changed your incorporation to Sirenia?
(A) – At the moment the only change is that now I travel a lot, something I didn’t do before and I really love it. But when I get to Granada, everything’s the same. Sometimes people recognize me, but nothing else.
(R) - You were born and raised in Barcelona. When and why did you decide to move to Granada, where you live now?
(A) – At the end of 2006. My mum is from Granada and she’s always wanted to move there and convince my dad to do it. Finally, after some time, he did convince him, so we took our luggage and went to Granada.
(R) - In some interviews you say you want to move to Norway soon. Do you really want to do it, or do you feel you must do it for the band’s sake?
(A) – I think it is good for the band, rehearsals and everything else, but I really want a change and I really love Norway. When I tell the boys about it they ask me “Really? Are you going to change sunny Spain for cold Norway?”. I like the idea to have them near and although it surprises them, they would love it, too.
(R) - Talking about Norway…how are boys from that country?
(A) – (Laugh). The truth is that I go to Norway just to record or rehearse. People I know from Sirenia’s circle are really lovely and everyone makes me feel really comfortable. At the moment I don’t have time to look at boys, but I’ve seen some really cute guys… (laugh).
(R) - And how is their lifestyle? About food, drink, socializing…
(A) – I love the way they see things. And what can I say about food…it’s really great. But very spicy, or at least my boys love spicy food, and as I’m always with them, I get it too. And drink…they love beer. I don’t drink too much, but as I like it, there’s no problem with it.
(R) - A lot of people are really happy with your addition to Sirenia, but some other still prefer Ailyn as a solo singer. Do you have any solo plans in the future?
(A) – No. I’ve been singing as a solo artist for quite some time, and I’ve wanted to be in a band like Sirenia. So I don’t want to be a solo artist again. As I said before, I’m in my best moment and that’s thanks to Sirenia. Also it is funnier to be in a band and share experiences with them.
(R) - And when you were singing more pop songs, did you ever performed internationally?
(A) – I’ve never done any International gig. Before, I wasn’t popular enough to perform internationally. I’ve made some gigs in Spain, but the only performance out from Spain was when I sung in a contest in Italy.
(R) - As a solo singer, you were in the first edition of Spanish X Factor in 2007. Do you keep in touch with any other contestant? Do you miss something from it?
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(A) – I keep in touch with some people. In fact, at the end of the show, everyone went to do their own things, but when there’s some free time we like to chat some minutes or send e-mails. Sometimes you miss things, it is normal. It was another experience in my life, and I don’t regret it because I’ve learnt a lot of things, but I wouldn’t repeat it, once is enough.
(R) - And now that you’re on top, do you regret your time on it? (A) – I don’t regret it. As I said, you learn lots of things. It’s beautiful, but hard at the same time. In a show like this you end up feeling very lonely.
(R) - Don’t you see it as kind of ironic that, being one of the first booted off, you are the most successful?
(A) – The truth is that I’m really happy. If I wasn’t booted off when I was, right now I would’t be in Sirenia. I have been very lucky.
(R) - This is not the first contest where you’re in. Some time after X Factor, you send the song “Un Camino Sin Ti” as a candidate to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Festival. Tell us about it.
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(A) – A friend got in touch with me, because a producer had a song and needed quickly somebody to sing it. So I accepted it and presented the song. It was a pop track with Swedish feels…it was really different to my style, but it was fun.
(R) - The voting system was very controversial. What do you think about it? Do you relate it to the system used in X Factor?
(A) – Next question? (laugh).
(R) - And about the winner…do you think it was fair he won?
(A) – Hahaha…No comments…But I can say I did see Eurovision in Norway with the boys and we had a laugh. They still sing to me “El Chiki Chiki” (laugh).
(R) - And going again to your debut as a singer in the world of manga and anime…which are your favourite series? Would you like to sing again in any Salón?
(A) – My favourite series is “Touch”, but I like Clamp… In fact, since my last show in the Salón Del Manga I decided it should take a back seat, but I really had good times doing it. But I think it is a phase in my life that is left behind.
(R) - So then, let’s leave it all behind. You’re not a solo singer anymore, you don’t sing pop anymore… Right now you’re the new vocalist of Sirenia, successful band from Norway with 3 albums and 1 EP. A good career where we have to add your new album “The 13th Floor”. But let’s talk about the band.
What are your current plans?
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(A) – We have just released our new album, so right now we want to start touring. We can’t wait and are rehearsing for it. As future plans we want to keep on doing music. But at the moment I prefer living each day and enjoy the prize I got.
(R) - Sirenia is notorious for having a new singer in every album. Will this “tradition” end with you?
(A) – I hope so! (laugh). It’s true that in each album they’ve had a different vocalist; I suppose each one of them had their reasons. I just want to keep on being a member of Sirenia.
(R) - So we deduce you want to be a lot of years in the band.
(A) – Yes, I do. If it was for me, “The 13th Floor” is the first album from lots with Sirenia. As I said, my intention is to stay and be here for a loooong time.
(R) - And from the former vocalist, which one do you prefer?
(A) – Sincerely, I like them all. I think each one bring their style into the band.
(R) – Sirenia has published 3 albums: “At Sixes And Sevens” (2002), “An Elixir For Existence” (2004), “Nine Destinies And A Downfall” (2007) and the EP “Sirenian Shores” (2004). There’s any song you prefer from those albums?
(A) – Wow, it’s hard to choose just one song from each album… I’d say them all. From “At Sixes And Sevens” I’d say “On The Wane” or “Sister Nightfall”. From “An Elixir For Existence” with “Star Crossed”, but I really like “In My Darkest Hours” and “Save Me From Myself”, or “Seven Sirens And A Silver Tear”… From “Nine Destinies And A Downfall” I like them all, but my favourite is “Downfall”. And from the EP I love them all, because some are versions for the band songs, others of new composition, and there is a cover.
(R) - Everyone knows that Morten Veland, founder member, is the one who composes all the lyrics. Would you like to write a song to include it in any future Sirenia album?
(A) – At the moment I don’t think I’m going to write anything for Sirenia. Morten is the heart of the band, the soul, and I really love to sing what he composes. I don’t say no to collaborate in some album, but at the moment it’s not in my plans.
(R) - Some collector fans want a DVD from Sirenia. Do you have any plans to release one? Would it include “The Path To Decay” video?
(A) – I’d love to release a DVD of a gig from the your, and put extras and videos. But that doesn’t depend on me. We’ll just wait and see.
(R) - As Michael S. Krumins, you’re the new guy in the band. How do you feel in the band and what’s your relationship with the rest of the band members?
(A) – As I always say, I get really well with them all. I don’t have words to describe what I really feel when we’re together. They are all lovely and treat me like a sister, and I like that. Whenever we get together we have lots of fun, laughs are never missing.
(R) - Now you’re going to tour, is there any gothic metal band or singer you’d like to perform with? (A) – I’d love to perform with Kamelot or 30 Seconds To Mars.
(R) - Apart from them, which are the bands or solo singers you prefer from the genre?
(A) – There are lots of bands I like and of course their vocalist…if I say all the names I’d never end (laugh).
(R) - And have you ever thought about being in any Original Soundtrack from a film?
(A) – I’d love Sirenia to be on a film’s Original Soundtrack. It would be really great, but it’s hard to achieve.
(R) - You’ve just come back from Norway where you’ve been rehearsing. Do you know when the tour starts?
(A) – I can’t tell the exact date, because not everything is decided yet. We are now trying to make the tour as big as it can be. Any dates will be announced on our official website.
(R) - Some of your fans want you to visit their countries. Obvious question: will you come to Spain?
(A) – Yes! We have a mini Spanish tour on September with 4 shows. All dates and places are announced on our official website and myspace. See you there!
(R) - As an International band, they also want you to visit Brasil, Portugal, South America…can you tell us any date on those countries?
(A) – I can’t say any exact date at the moment. But I’d love to visit all those countries.
(R) - In the rehearsals you have played some particular songs. Which are the songs you will play on your? Will they always be the same songs, or you will change once the tour keeps on moving?
(A) – At the moment I can’t tell the set list. When we get on rehearsals we play as many songs as we can.
(R) - This tour is used for promotion of your latest album “The 13th Floor”, released January 23rd on three formats: CD, Digipack and Boxset. The first single “The Path To Decay”, was released as a digital download on December 26th, and we have an exclusive single artwork on our Official Fanclub.
Do you have any favourite song on the album?
(A) – It’s really hard to pick just one, because I love them all. Now I’d say one name, and in some minutes I’d change my mind. But I can say that from the moment I heard “The Seventh Summer” I knew it would be my all time favourite or one of them.
(R) - And which one do you feel identified with or feel better singing it?
(A) – All of them! (laugh). But “The Seventh Summer” really fits my voice.
(R) - Now you’ve performed a couple of times with the band, what do you prefer: singing live or in studio?
(A) – Singing in the studio I have some fun, but I prefer singing live, you can’t compare. The feeling you have in front of the crowd waiting to hear you and enjoy what we do, it’s really wonderful.
(R) - The first single “The Path To Decay” had a great video, filmed in Sweden and directed by Patric Ullaeus from Revolver Film Company. Will there be a second single with its video? If there’s a third, which one would you like it to be?
(A) – It’s too soon to know. But I’d love to have a second single, a third one, a fourth one… (laugh).
(R) - What did you feel when you saw the finished video? How was the filming experience?
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(A) – I remember when Morten sent me the video I was shaking while waiting for the file to download (laugh). But when it started I felt calmer. The filming was really great! But I was very nervous. But Patric and all the crew were really kind to me and I got calm soon. Before going to Sweden, I asked Morten what kind of clothes I should take. I had no idea what the video was about, so I didn’t know what was better, trousers or skirt, and when we did the photoshoot for the album booklet I had a dress. Morten told me to take the same clothes and something else in case Patric wanted to change clothes. At first I was going to be just in my black dress, but when I told Patric I had another white dress, he liked it. The make up for the white dress was totally different; I really looked like a bride (laugh). And when Patric saw me he said “Uhmmm…do you mind if we try something different? Would you mind to look ugly?”. I told him ‘no problem’ and when I saw myself on the mirror I scared me (laugh). But, I loved it and I think it really suits the video. There were long hours of filming and at the end you get tired, but while filming you don’t realize… it’s at the end when you get how much tired you are, but it doesn’t matter because it’s worth it. We heard the song so many times that after filming we didn’t want to hear it again for some days (laugh). I can say it was a unique experience and I want to repeat it again soon.
(R) - And as our final question, do you want to send a message to your loyal fans from the Official Fanclub?
(A) – I wanted to thank you all in my name and the name of the boys from the band. We thank you for all your support and trust. And also thank you for your questions. I hope to see you soon on tour!
(R) - Thank you very much for the interview, we wish you lots of luck and we’ll keep on supporting you in the future.
(A) – Thank you! Big kisses.