Rena Hellzinger // Siren’s Rain
What role has music played in helping you through the more difficult times in your life?
Music is what grounds me. It is what I put out into the world. We are consuming things all day, every day, and there is an imbalance. If you think of little kids- what do they do? They are outputting all day- art, song, dance, drawing, etc. As we age, we are taught to consume and it’s screens, rules, consumerism, programming, in, in in, all day, and we stop outputting as much. We have to put ourselves out into the world. I get super depressed when I am not performing or creating. I know this about myself, and it doesn’t matter if I am in a band, or if we’re regularly gigging, or writing, or not+ I HAVE to create, or I don’t feel well.
What kinds of things besides music help you through?
YOGA. Yoga is my best friend. We have separated from each other in the past, but we always find each other. There is nothing like yoga. When I am in a lot of physical pain, painting gets me out of the pain, I can hyper focus, and zone out. This is incredibly helpful to me. Writing is so cathartic. Sometimes that turns into lyrics, other times it just helps me to digest the day and get it out of my body.
What do you think is something worth fighting for?
Your honor and integrity. Janis Joplin said, “Don’t compromise yourself; you’re all you’ve got”. The values and constraints of capitalism are also worth fighting against. Don’t let capitalism make you feel like you’re anything less than what you are. Don’t buy shit just because. Be intentional with your thoughts, actions, and purchases.
Do you have any words of encouragement for anyone out there going through a hard time?
Feeling suicidal does not necessarily mean that you want to die. It could mean that you want this current version of your life to end. From there, you can set goals. If you woke up tomorrow and the Fairy Godmother had visited you in your sleep and everything was 100% the way that you wanted it to be, what would that look like? There are your goals. Everything worth doing, is worth doing poorly. Can’t shower? Sponge bath. No energy to wash your hair? Dry shampoo. Cannot do yoga for an hour? Do 10 minutes?
Shehara Jayatilaka Napoleon // Shehara
What helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down?
What role has music played in helping you through the more difficult times in your life?
Do you have any words of encouragement for anyone out there going through a hard time?
Stela Atanasova // Metalwings
What helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down?
Life is a test for each of us. Personally, my inner confidence helps me in difficult moments. It never let me down and did not allow me to give up. There were times when it was very difficult for me, but I always believed in the good and what helped me was my inner feeling that everything would be fine. In such moments I take a deep breath, play my favorite music and let the sadness or difficult moment pass. When I encounter an obstacle, I overcome it. When someone wants to take away something I care about, I fight. But I never do it at any cost. Sometimes you just have to sit down and wait for things to sort themselves out, instead of row against the tide. What is yours always comes back to you.
What is something that you find worth fighting for?
I fight for my freedom, for my music and for me to be better every new day.
What role had the music during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
Music is my savior. She always lifted me up when I was going through hard times. She always gave me wings to fly over dangers. Music is my firefly in the dark. That’s why I thank Music by composing the music of Metalwings to reach more people – to heal and uplift as many people as possible.
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
Always choose life. As hard as it is, as much as you sometimes want to give up and stop fighting, do what it takes, but keep going and don’t look back. Otherwise, the other option is to choose darkness and sadness. Everything is in your own hands!
Susanne Scherer // MoonSun
What role has the music for you during the dark times and the journey to overcome the troubling times?
Since I’ve been doing music as my main job, unfortunately my relationship with music has changed. I used to just listen to music and let myself fall into it. Today, music reminds me of my work and I listen to music less and less. But still, there are some songs that touch me and make me feel understood. I turn them up loud, sing along and just feel better afterwards, because I have the feeling that there is someone who has gone through exactly the same thing as me and that I’m not alone.
What besides music helps and fuels you to go on when you feel down?
There are several things that might help me. One of them is nature. When I climb a high mountain and see the world from a different perspective. Then my problems seem so small and I breathe easier again. The second thing, that helps me is the feeling of having helped someone else. You dive into someone else’s life for a short time and then you’re usually glad to be back in your own life again. And the third thing is to throw myself into a little adventure. The adrenaline and the danger make me feel alive again and you know: “It’s never too late to feel a little more alive”.
What message or words of encouragement would you give to someone who may be suffering or dealing with something?
Even if you feel you are a victim of something, you can always decide which role you want to play. Sometimes you like the victim role better, but if you try to take responsibility for your actions, then you can start changing your life the way you want it to be. Even if you feel you can’t change it, you can still decide to change something. It can be a tiny little thing, but maybe it changes enough to make you smile again.
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Metal Goddesses 