Aina Blackthorn
"You know, the subconscious part of us creates more interesting things than the conscious part can ever dream of! "
DMD: Hello Aina, an honor and a great pleasure to talk with you, welcome to Dark Metal Divas. Thank you for attending our request and hope you enjoy the interview. Let's start!
​
​
1- DMD: First of all I would like to talk a little about yourself, who is Aina Blackthorn?
Aina: Hello, it's a pleasure doing this interview. Well, I'm a vocalist for an all-female symphonic hextreme metal band Blackthorn. Music is my priority, but I love to be creative in many – usually dark – ways... Some time ago I started making jewelry and home decoration and launched my online store.
Spare time is something I dream about, but whenever I get the chance, I enjoy reading, painting, cooking and taking long walks in the nearby woods with my camera.
​
2. DMD: You have a beautiful voice, how was your vocal coaching? Beyond your beautiful soprano voice you use screams that bristle the skin, what can you tell me about this?
Aina: Thank you very much. When I was 9 I started singing in a choir. A few years later my family moved to Moscow, I was about 13 years old back then and I already realized I want to be a singer. I decided to start with pop singing lessons, but in fact I never really liked it and did it only for one year. My teacher told me that I should try classical singing, so I followed her advice. I took private classical singing lessons and then studied at Moscow State Classical Academy. I still practice a lot cause there is always room for improvement, you know.
In the very beginning of our career I was singing more classical, but through the years I decided to sound more versatile with Blackthorn. Not all our songs require clean voice, sometimes you need it to be brutal, cause it's all about witches, right? That's why we started to use extreme vocals. No one really taught me how to scream or growl, I mostly did it by myself.
3. DMD: Tell me a little about Blackthorn, how was the band formed?
Aina: I started the band in 2004 when I was still at school. I was already a big metal fan back then and felt I should start my own band. The whole lifestyle of being in a band attracted me, besides, I always wanted to do something special in my life.
Some members of the original line-up and I came into contact via online metal forum, some of them were friends of my friends and so on...
We began to compose and rehearse our very first songs, then we entered the studio to record demo «The Prologue of Eschaton». That's how it all started.
​
4. DMD: For you, what is your favorite song of the band or with which you have more feelings? And why?
Aina: It's hard to pick just one... If I need to choose from our current setlist, it's probably Hexshadow Turned to Flesh (Codex Archaos, 2011). It's one of my favorite tracks to perform live, since it usually has good response from the crowd.
I really like Witch Cult Ternion (Witch Cult Ternion, 2015), it's a title track. I somehow have a special connection with this song, it gives me goose bumps. I also love Necromance (Gossamer Witchcraft, 2009) and Strix Nebulosa (Witch Cult Ternion, 2015), in my opinion they both represent «classical» Blackthorn at its best.
​
​
​
5. DMD: Blackthorn is characterized because is an exclusive band of women, how was decided this? How is the relationship between you?
Aina: It just happened and then I decided to keep our line-up all-female. It's part of our concept now, since our songs are inspired by witchcraft and I do believe no one can perform such kind of stuff better than women.
We are like family, I personally think this is how things should be in a band. Sometimes we have different ideas and argue about them, but that is perfectly normal to me because truth is born of arguments. After all, we chose being in Blackthorn because we love this kind of music, so we're glad we have each other to share our passion with.
6. DMD: Something that attracts to me a lot of the band is the theme of witchcraft and occultism. Why did you choose this particular topic?
Aina: I really can't say. I think it chose us. I always felt a strong connection with the art of witches, it always was, is and hopefully will be in my life. Combining this conception with our dark and symphonic music just seemed to me a very good idea and I find the result really beautiful..
​
7.DMD: About letters, what inspires you at time of writing? Is there any particular legend, myth, movie or author?
Aina: When writing I mostly listen to my inner voice. You know, the subconscious part of us creates more interesting things than the conscious part can ever dream of! Of course, besides that I draw inspiration from nature or books and movies I like. The source is different every time, so there are no particular things.
8. DMD: Blackthorn has a very particular and atmospheric sound, how was the development of this sound? Do you have any inspiration or musical influence?
Aina: I guess it developed naturally. We never wanted to copy anyone, just tried to learn from other musicians and follow our intuition, that's how things fell into place.
Musically, we are inspired by classical composers and metal bands we like. Sometimes imagination comes from our own lives and personal experiences.
Joy, sorrow, anger, exaltation, disappointment – we us it all to unleash our imagination.
​
​
​
9. DMD: My first approach to the band was with the video Hexshadow Turned to Flesh of 2013, something that certainly had an impact on me and I love it, now also have released The Spectral Evildence and more recently Moonbreed Sigil; All share a similarity in which are marked many elements of witchcraft, What can you tell me about the excellent videos of the band?
​
Aina: We always write video scripts by ourselves. The girls and I choose a song to cover and we begin brainstorming video ideas. When all the details are discussed, it's time to contact a video production company.
It's obviously that people engage with visual releases much more than with anything else, so we try our best in making videos. They showcase our music and the occult idea behind it. The entire process is so exciting, I do love it.
It would be great to shoot another video clip, there's still something on Witch Cult Ternion that should be covered visually.
10. DMD: Few months ago they announced that Denis Lobotorov would release an album with some songs of Blackthorn in piano version, how was that album produced?
Aina: Denis is a very talented musician known for his piano arrangements of songs by
various artists. Besides, he's our friend, so when he asked us about piano album,
we immediately said yes. He picked his favorite nine tracks of Blackthorn and
gave them completely new life.
As usual, all the tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by
Magna Opera Studio. The finished product was released as an Internet album
on May 2017.
I absolutely love this album, buy the way it's now available on our bandcamp page - blackthornmetal.bandcamp.com
​
11. DMD: Two years ago Blackthorn launch 'Witch Cult Ternion', an album full of surprises and with close relationship with the myth of the moon, can you tell me a little about this?
​
Aina: Yeah, this album is inspired by cult of the moon. It's one of the oldest world cults, some tracks of lunar worship still can be found in modern life. Historically, the moon has always been connected with the hidden, mystical and feminine. In ancient times people believed that the moon itself is embodied on earth in the female form.
Three lunar phases stand for three female incarnations – girl-woman-crone- and represent the concept of triple power.
All these inspired me to write a story about three evil witch-sisters. Ancient as the moon itself, they rule the world secretly, feeding on pain and sufferings, leading their blood-thirsty cult. The entire album is dedicated to this ternion.
12. DMD: Last year Blackthorn had a show at Metal Female Voices Fest XIII, how was this experience?
Aina: This was a great experience for us all and the audience welcomed us very kindly. We met a lot of new people and had a great time together. It was too exciting to believe, and something we will always remember.
13. DMD: Tell me a little about the future of the band, what's new for Blackthorn, a new album maybe?
Aina:We're currently working on a new release, but it's not gonna be an album. In fact we have a lot of plans for our future, all the details are going to be revealed soon!
​
14. DMD: For years, fans of Latin America are waiting to have a Blackthorn tour here. Have you thought about doing a Latin American tour?
Aina: We would love to visit Latin America, meet our fans and bring some Symphonic Hextreme metal to your audience!
Of course we have thought about it, but the thing is that we can't organize such a tour by ourselves. It's great we're supported by our fans there, but that's just not enough, since no concert promoters show interest in bringing us to Latin America. If some concert agency books us, we will come gladly.
​
15. DMD: We are approaching the end of the interview, something that you would like to add?
Aina: Thank you so much for the great interview and your interest in Blackthorn, it's much appreciated. Stay tuned for more news from the band!
​
Photography credits:
© Igor Annenkov 2016
Marianna Insomnia 2012
​