Hailing from France ShannoN return with their latest release 'Angel In Disguise' on the Music Buy Mail label, a release that is sure to have melodic hard rock fans frothing at the mouth.  Today we catch up with vocalist Olivier Del Valle to find out more about this band and their music ...   

MM - Hi, would you like to start by introducing the band members to us and telling us a little bit of background on the band and how you all came together?
Olivier - Hi!  

Yes, Sure ! Formed in the beginning of 1998 by Patrice LOUIS (Guitar) and Thierry DAGNICOURT (Keyboards), SHANNON plays hard rock covers (Bon Jovi, Van Halen etc). I joined the band the same year. SHANNON released its debut and eponymous album in November 2003 on the Anvilcorp, label and distributed by Wagram with Claude THILL (Bass, ex-DER KAISER) and Maxence PILO (Drums, ex-HEAVENLY). From the release of the album, the band takes the road and shares the stage with re-knowned artists such as AXXIS, PINK CREAM 69 and Jeff Scott SOTO in Paris.

In the middle of 2005, SHANNON sees its first line-up changes with the departure of Claude THILL and Maxence PILO, immediately replaced by, respectively, Nicolas FIXY (Bass) and Benjamin BERGEROLLE (Drums), both formerly with French Epic-Progressive band TAÏ PHONG.

Strongly encouraged with the success of our self-titled album, not only in France, but largely abroad, the band has taken the path to the studio to record a follow-up, even more motivated than ever. Since that period, the line up is unchanged.

MM - With the release of your new album ‘Angel In Disguise’ earlier this year, how are the band feeling right now?
Olivier - We had a lot of work with the promotion, radio/mag/webzines interviews etc .... We worked also on the new set with the new songs for our forthcoming shows and composed also new songs for the next album. But right now, we’re cool and very happy about the release of “Angel In Disguise” and everything is fine! 

MM - What feedback have you received from the fans and music media been so far to this release? Olivier - As for the reviews, up to now the feedback is quite good from the fans. It has received a really warm welcome. It is quite positive and important for us. But the reviews are not the whole thing even though they are important. Finally, the fans decide. So, we’re very happy and honoured about this feedback!

MM - ‘Angel In Disguise’ is a pure hard rock release.  Was this the road you wanted to go down from the beginning, or it was it more organic that just developed along the way? 
Olivier - The music we play is really what we like and what we always played. We are influenced by the melodic hard rock of the 80/90’s. It is the music with which we grew up and it is therefore very natural to hear these influences in our music. When we compose, we do not try to stick on the fashion of the moment to have the same sound like other bands. We make simply what we feel by taking the maximum of pleasure.

MM - There was quite a gap between your debut album and this new release, why did it take so long to follow up your much acclaimed debut release? 
Olivier - After I joined the band, in 1998, Five years have gone from the launching of our first record. When we issued it, we were only three in the band. At that moment, we had no rhythm section (bass / drums). So we looked for musicians to tour as it appeared clearly to us that ShannoN could be a band that is making albums without playing them live. In addition, the album had received a really warm welcome from the media, French or foreign, we had to hurry up.

We had worked with many musicians without feeling fully satisfied. The line-up changed often during that period.  We had the opportunity to tour with bands like PINK CREAM 69, AXXIS or Jeff SCOTT SOTO. In 2005, Nico (bass) and Benji (Drums) joined us. We became soon close friends, on both human and musical sides. We still work together and the band works fairly well. We started to write the new album “Angel In Disguise” early 2006 while playing live. Then came the recordings, mix and mastering. The record was ready in summer 2007.

Two years to prepare an album may seem long but I have to say that “Angel In Disguise” has been completely produced by the band. The only thing we haven’t done was the mastering. Then we looked for a label and during the autumn 2007 we decided to work with ARTISTSERVICE. Even if 5 years may seem long for an album, you can see that we haven’t been so lazy. 

MM - The album brings a lot of different influences into the mix, do you think this is because of the varied talent within the band?   Olivier - We listened a lot to these bands we love, so, as an evidence, the bands from the N.W.O.B.H.M. it is not surprising to find in our music some influences from them. Since few years, more and more bands from this period are re-uniting and, this style that was low during the last 10 years is back. I do find this quite good , it feels so good to hear again these bands who are combining power and melody. For composition, our wish is to be as simple and efficient

as we can. It is a will. A good track for us is a powerful riff, a melody that one can memorise easily, a catchy chorus and perfect backing vocals. We do not want to promote the technique of the musicians. We do believe that musicians are dedicated to music and that technique, even it is necessary, has not to be used to flaunt each one’s ego. But we are caring highly to the arrangements quality on each and every track. I think that our vision of music reflects well on this album. Tracks are simple, melodic, arrangements are nice and power is constant. I think that the public loves this kind of songs.

MM - When writing a new song do you usually start with a lyric, a riff, what works creatively for you? 
Olivier - For the writing and composition of the tracks we did as always from the beginning. We work Patrice, Thierry and I. We build the tracks: riffs, vocal melodies and rhythm line. Then, we record this with a sample rhythm section and submit it to Nico and Benji for them to bring their own touch. Arrangements are done all together. This method suits everyone and works pretty well.

For the lyrics, generally, I do write them but there is no fixed rule, everyone can bring his own ideas.

MM - Do you collaborate on any songs as a band, or are the songs mostly prewritten and presented to the band to add in their ideas and opinions?
Olivier - As I said, the bulk of composition is made between Pat, Thierry and I. On the other hand, all job of arrangement is made with the all band members because it is essential that each guy can bring his ideas and can give his opinion on the tracks.

MM - Any chance we might see ShannoN out on the road in support of this new album in the not too distant future?
Olivier - For the time being, we are very occupied by the promotion of this new album and it will be finished soon. We spend a lot of time to be answered interviews and to participate in programs of radio. But we are not inactive from a musical point of view because we are working on the installation of a new set including tracks from « Angel in Disguise ».

We hope we shall shortly tour to introduce these new tracks to the audience on stage. Some shows are already programmed in France and we definitely hope to have opportunity to play out of our borders soon. It will depend on the « angel in disguise » success.

MM - Have you had a chance to think about how you will approach your follow up album or is it too early to say?
Olivier - Angel in disguise is available since 4 months only, but we have already begun composition for the next album. We have already 5 or 6 tracks, even if they all are not finalized yet. On the musical style point of view, we stay in the kind of hard rock we play nowadays, the fans will not be “surprised” of these new tracks. We would like to release the next album at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010.

MM - What is the biggest challenge you have faced along your musical way? 
Olivier - For me the biggest challenge it’s to be able to play the music I love and have good time. The biggest challenge is to keep the faith about what you’re doing even though this « road » is not easy .... It’s essential for me but it’s a hard way. If you still have pleasure to do it, if you’re honest with yourself, I think that everything is possible.

MM - Does music dominate your life or do you get time to relax in between?  If so how do you like to chill? 
Olivier - It is sure that music occupies a big place in our life, but it is still not enough to make us live. We must have jobs. As soon as we have a little bit of time, we favour our families because our fellows make a lot of concessions and we see them not as often as we want. In a personal side, to spend some times with my family allow me to recharge batteries. 

MM - What would you say your motto in life would be?
Olivier - « Keep cool and have a good time all the time » :)

MM - Do you have any final words for our readers or is there anything we’ve omitted to ask? 
Olivier - I want to thank you for your interest and to have helped me introducing ShannoN to your readers.

Now, for those who still hesitate, check our MySpace page. There are many extracts from our music and live video footage! http://www.myspace.com/shannonbandrock

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