Inhepsie a French symphonic band
Interview conducted on April 22, 2019
by Dan Locke
Inhepsie, atmospheric metal band with female singing, formed in 2001 in Paris. Inhepsie’s particularity is in the original creation of albums written in french in poetry form, inhepsie made 4 albums.
Band Members
Cathy Bontant: Chant / Synthé
Jean Suire: Guitare rythmique
Adrien Rougé : Guitare mélodique/solos
Daniella Coulon: Basse
Dany Ladrat: Batterie
Dan Locke: You have been around since 2001. How does a band last for almost 20 years?
Cathy Bontant: It’s about passion. We don’t see time running out.
We remained determined, in spite of the hazards of life. Music will always carry us and we’ll always be musicians, however.
How did you start the band?
Back in 2001. I used to play the keyboards and Jean used to play the guitar in a symphonic doom metal band, called “Ad Vitam Aeternam”. We couldn’t get a sustainable line-up and had lots of songs and lyrics waiting. So why not start a duet-band and do everything by ourselves, the two of us, in a studio project? INHEPSIE was born. At that moment, I wished to try singing as well. But this was just a hobby, we did not think we could get a contract. The band gradually became more important. Until it went natural to share our music on stage, with our own and whole band, which we achieved in 2010.
You are a symphonic metal band which sings in French. By doing this, do you feel that you are missing some of the metal fans from other parts of the world?
Some other bands made the same choice (for example Rammstein, Theatre of Tragedy….): a bet on music only, on its power to touch and move with no words – or with uncomprehended words. Well, it’s a fact that our French fans regard our lyrics as a real asset which leads to some sort of wholeness. But music is universal. Our non-francophile listeners may not receive the complete message in our songs but be sensitive to the melodies and rhythms. That’s why anyone can find English explanations of our songs by looking at our Facebook and web pages.
Why did you decide to the creation of albums written in French in poetry form?
Cause I wouldn’t be able to write in English with shades and subtleties. French vocabulary is very rich and offers lots of metaphors. Writing in my mother tongue expresses best what I deeply feel. As for poetry, it’s an aesthetic choice and also aimed to fill what some people considered as a gap, at our very beginnings. This was obviously a good choice, for now, it’s like a kind of “trademark” for us, our print and identity.
I was looking for past information on your touring. Did not see much. Have you toured in the past and where did you play?
We never had the necessary capital outlay to a huge tour. However, we had opportunities to share the bill with beautiful bands as Mass Hysteria, The Crüxshadows, Anneke van Giesbergen (singer of The Gathering). We also performed with a violins and cellos orchestra.
What have been some of the bands which influenced your band style?
Each of the musicians has his own musical tastes but as a band, we all especially like Bathory, Betray my secrets, Paradise lost, Sepultura, Green Day, Van Conto, Iron Maiden and so many more. But I would not call it “influence”. We never chose one specific style. In fact, our music comes from what we deeply feel, this is spontaneous and easy-going.
How did you get the titles of your LP’s?
According to a main theme, specific to each album. Most of the time, it’s the track which illustrates the global atmosphere. “Onirique” personifies the choices and outlet of the main character.
How has your sound changed over the years?
The very first album, “Oracle”, was very “home-made”, with few technical means, voices recorded with no headphones and constant noise around. Lucky we had a very capable sound engineer!
The second album, “Orbe”, was recorded with better means. We had become more competent in digital recording, had learned from our mistakes and got professional equipment.
Since then, the way we use to record is still the same, same equipment, same software. What mainly progressed are the plug-ins, in order to obtain larger scale and reality, particularly for the synthesizers.
In the end, the sound depends much on the quality of the sound mixing and of the expertise of the sound engineers. We use to superimpose a lot of musical instruments and the challenge is to let hear each of them without flooding the overall.
Tell me about your new LP “Onirique”.
Comparing to the previous albums, what’s new is the arrival of a solo guitarist. His parts give more texture to the whole and amplify the “metal” sound, accenting the chiaroscuro which is the Inhepsie-print.
This album tells a story about someone burdened with his earthly shell and the way he can find shelter and peace in dreams. The glimmer on the album sleeve is a glimmer of hope and healing.
This album is both more dynamic and more intimist. It wants to show the line between real and unreal and the very moment it all becomes one.
Any plans to tour in the coming year?
Already some dates for our French fans, and more coming….. and, next year, outside of our borders, we hope. You can of course progressively find any piece of information about the tour, looking at our web site www.inhepsie.com
How was it to work with The Crüxshadows?
It happened at the mythical concert hall in Paris: “the Gibus”. I remember that the reception conditions were not compliant with the contract and also that one of the dancers was ill… They wondered for a long time if they would play or not… After all, they performed, just as normal. The audience was really warm. This remains a nice experience and memory.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Performing beside Iron Maiden in the greatest concert halls all around the world!
I’m joking :-))
Actually, I don’t know. At any rate, still playing music and keeping writing this nice story of Inhepsie and keeping sharing music with lots of people.
Anything you want to close with?
Thank you for your support! Let’s hope your readers will enjoy our music.
Maybe we’ll have the opportunity to come and meet you in your beautiful country!
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