Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: All Ends

When Live-Metal.net interviewed In Flames' guitarist Björn Gelotte in the summer of 2006 on the Sounds of the Underground tour (READ INTERVIEW HERE), one of the things discussed was his sister's band, All Ends. All Ends was originally started by Gelotte and his In Flames bandmate Jesper Strömblad as a side project that would be something entirely different from In Flames. With Bjorn's sister Emma Gelotte and Tinna Karlsdotter both handling vocals, they quickly recruited the rest of the band from the ever strong Swedish metal scene. The girls were joined by Fredrik Johansson (Dimension Zero, In Flames' The Jester Race album) and Peter Mårdklint (Embraced, Tenebre) on guitar, along with Josef Skanås on drums and former Evergrey bassist Michael Håkansson (now a former member). With the band's debut EP, Wasting Life (GUN Records), recently released overseas, All Ends is getting widespread exposure through the Internet (All Ends Myspace here) and the In Flames' faithful. Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki recently had a Q&A with the vocalists. The girls talk about the EP, plans for a full-length album and the In Flames guitarists' role with the band. Take it from us: These girls rock, plus it doesn't hurt that they're smokin' hot!

I first heard of All Ends when Bjorn of In Flames talked about you in an interview I did with him in the summer of 2006. In Flames is also my favorite band by the way. So just how did All Ends come to be? How involved were Bjorn and Jesper in putting together the band?

Emma Gelotte: Bjorn and Jesper wrote some music that sounded different from In Flames, with me and Tinna in mind. We started out with Joey on the drums, Bjorn's friend. Fredrik had worked with Bjorn and Jesper before, and Peter was a friend of our former bass player and Tinna.

Tinna Karlsdotter: Björn and Jesper came up with the idea that they wanted to do something different from what they usually do. They asked Emma and me if we were interested in singing in this project and of course we said yes! Joey joined the band as we started working on the first songs. When we realized that this turned out to be pretty great, we started looking for guys to complete the band. The idea was never for Jesper and Björn to be in the band, so obviously it was up to the rest of us to find people who we felt would be perfect for All Ends. And so we did!

Are Björn and Jesper still involved with All Ends to any extent?

Emma: Yes they are. We are working together with all the songs, sending ideas back and forth through email and so on.

Tinna: They are still writing the basics for every song.

What was it like growing up with Bjorn and did he initially get you into metal?

Emma: Nothing different from other families I guess. My mom and dad had listened to rock for as long as I can remember, so I guess its their fault!!

IN FLAMES GUITARIST BJORN GELOTTE

Does it makes things easier for you that you've already had a brother in a successful band for many years?

Emma: The only thing that has gotten easier is to get tickets to their shows!! All Ends had to prove that they could actually play, and I definitely think we have!

For those, not familiar with the band, how would you describe your sound?

Emma: Metal with a touch of rock n' roll.

Tinna: We are a pretty commercial heavy metal-band, with two ladies singing. A lot of heavy elements and strong riffs, still melodic.

Your EP, Wasting Life was just released through Gun Records. What are the plans for an American release?

Emma: The EP is available on the internet, but I don’t think it will be released in America. Though for the upcoming album we hopefully will get to the states.

Tinna: There's not gonna be a worldwide release of the EP. But when the album comes out later this summer there will be a more extensive release plan, hopefully for the states as well.

Are the songs on the EP going to reappear on an upcoming full-length album or is it a stand alone record?

Emma: There maybe will be a song or two from the EP on the album but what song isn’t decided yet..

Tinna: Our plan is to have probably two songs from the EP, 'cause they are too good to miss. The trouble is to choose between them though. We need to choose wisely.

ALL ENDS 'WASTING LIFE' EP

How much material do you have prepared for a future release?

Emma: The drums and the bass is already recorded for a whole album. Peter and Fredrik are in Germany now to record the guitars, and me and Tinna are going to Germany next weekend to start with the vocals.

Tinna: Quite a lot, actually! We're always working on ideas.

What are the touring plans for All Ends in 2007?

Emma: We have some festivals during this summer, and after the album release, hopefully there will be some touring around the world!

Tinna: Tour as much as possible, of course!

Could we possibly see All Ends touring with In Flames?

Emma: I don’t think that will ever happen.

Tinna: Haha! Not in the near future, I think. But maybe some day.

How was it decided that you would have two female vocalists in the band?

Emma: That was decided between Bjorn and Jesper, the songs are written with us two in mind.

Tinna: That was the idea from the beginning.

How do you decide who sings what parts of songs?

Emma: It depends on the feeling we have for the song, sometimes it feels better for me to sing one part and other times better for Tinna to sing one part..

Tinna: That's never a problem, believe it or not. We always do what we feel fits best in every song.

How involved were each of you in the songwriting?

Emma: Very much involved! Together with Bjorn me and Tinna write all the lyrics.

Tinna: As we said earlier, Björn and Jesper writes the basics and most of the melodies. And then we put all our minds together and work as a team. That's what makes All Ends sound like this. Everybody's inputs counts.

Who is you're single biggest vocal influence (male or female)?

Emma: I can't give you one, it depends on what mood I am in. Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston. I love Sammy Hagar, Ronnie James Dio and so on.

Tinna: We have so many we could write a book. It's really important to have different influences when you are a musician, I think. It makes you dare to try to do something new, and not just be caught up in an obsession of trying to be somebody else.

What is the best part about being a female in the metal scene?

Emma: You are the last one being asked if you can help carry the back line…hehehehe

Tinna: All the guys...? Haha!! No, that's a hard question. I don't know, probably the feeling of showing people who really truly believe girls can't do metal, rock, etc., that - WE ROCK!

Emma: There is not enough with dressing rooms for us females. It's not that we are shy or anything but there can be other people who don’t want to see us change clothes.

Tinna: Same as for everybody else who gets to have this as a job. Nothing you can't get over 'cause you love this too much!

Is there anything else you'd like to say here?

Emma: I hope I will see as many people as possible on the upcoming tours and keep your eyes open for the album that will be released by the end of the summer!!