UNSIGNED SPOTLIGHT Winter in Eden
Proudly flying the flag for symphonic rock, Winter in Eden are one of the UK’s most exciting unsigned rock bands. Keyboard maestro Steve Johnson chats to Playmusic about the band’s avowed mission to keep progressive rock alive and well…
Words: Tim Slater P
rogressive rock is definitely back in vogue, although to its loyal hardcore following it never really died out. Rush are currently in the middle stage of a sold out world tour whilst their youthful
contemporaries Opeth and Dream Theatre continue to sell albums by the truckload. Even Radiohead and Muse could be said to occasionally don Prog’s pointy wizard hat; echoing as they do the eerie atmospherics and dense improvisation of ‘Meddle’ era Pink Floyd or Can. County Durham based quintet Winter in Eden are developing their own form of symphonic rock, combining elements of heavy metal, folk and progressive rock, topping the mix with the operatic vocal range and layered harmonies of sultry lead vocalist Vicky Johnson. Fielding inevitable comparisons with US band Evanescence, Winter in Eden nevertheless have their own sound; infusing their music with a uniquely European feel. The band recently announced a distribution deal via German label Progressive Promotions and their 2011 UK tour sees the band gigging steadily all year before the tour concludes in Bishop Auckland on October 28. Keyboard player and arranger Steve Johnson explains Winter inn Eden definitely didn’t opt for the easy route when they set out to plough their own
musical furrow. g SJ: “There are a hell of a lot of good covers bands out there but when you write you own stuff and you are trying to make a mark with your own song writing you’ve got to be a little bit different. You’ve either got to do a gig for nothing to prove yourself but it’s a little bit harder to convince people to give you a chance, whereas if you’re a Coldplay tribute it’s easy! Once we’ve
been on, most venues do get us back!” g PM: What type of following do you tend to attract? g SJ: “We’ve had quite a few write ups on the Classic Rock Society
magazine. We seem to attract the slightly older gentleman who was into Yes during the 70s but we also got a lot of younger fans that are into metal music. We also get compared to Evanescence or Within Temptation – band that do that symphonic style – but I always think that we do a little bit more. Vicky and
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myself are both from a totally different musical background altogether, with me being a keyboard player we’re into the more electronic stuff. Our drummer Wayne (McAloon) is into Iron Maiden, our guitarist Sam Cull is into Dream Theatre, Ian (Heddle, bass) is a classically trained pianist and he’s into all sorts of music! I think that I can speak for Vicky when I say that we are music lovers,
if we like it we’ll see the band and buy the CD.” g PM: Europe is well known as a loyal bastion of progressive rock, prior to
your distribution deal have you had any label interest from overseas? g SJ: “We’ve recently got some distribution in America though a site called Sonic Cathedral (
www.soniccathedral.com) that works with female-fronted rock and metal bands. It’s difficult when you’re not signed because obviously some people are only going to find about you via magazines, that’s how the
big festival organizers will book you and things like that.” g PM: Your UK tour seems to cover a lot of gound? g SJ: ‘We play all over the country, really. The Midlands seems to be our busiest area, Manchester, Birmingham and we played down at Paignton Biker
Festival last year and as soon as we came off stage they wanted to book us again!” g PM: What bands are you currently listening to and would recommend
that we check out? g VJ: “I am currently listening to the Kamelot album Poetry for the Poisoned. If an album makes me want to turn up the volume and put my foot down in the
car (legally of course), it will constantly be on repeat and this album is! g SJ: Isabliss by Amethystium is a great chilled instrumental album that g PM: If you get signed to a major label, what’s the first extravagant thing
that you’d treat yourselves to? g VJ: “It might not be rock n roll but you don’t know how long you’ll be
successful and signing to a major label doesn’t really mean anything these days. So apart from splashing out on a great holiday I’d pay off debts and put the rest aside in savings. That’s the honest answer. Although, a recording studio would be nice!” PM
www.winterineden.com
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