Christabel is the solo project of Matteo Belli (who also plays keyboards in Evenshade). He makes an interesting and eclectic kind of music with influences of metal and classical music. He has also a passion for literature that is demonstrated in his interest in blending literature and music. We talked to Matteo and he answer all our questions.

You have released two demos "So she sang in vain" and "Songs of Experience". Are there any plans for recording your full length debut?

Unfortunately, there are no plan at all! Even if my demos have been well reviewed on many magazines and 'zines, no label seemed to be interested in my music and, actually, I've no resources to self-produce my debut album. I hope that I'll manage to record a new demo-cd during the 2001, but, at the moment, I'm just writing new songs. I'm also really busy with my main band, Edenshade.

I really love italian literature. I worship the works of Ungaretti, Montale, Quasimodo, Corazzini... and many others, but I think that English language is better for my songs, so I try to get inspiration from poets like Coleridge, Wordsworth and Blake. I don't think that Italian language sounds good... in music, I mean!

Well, I never cared about this... When I write my songs, I just take care to create a particular atmosphere. So, I use two kind of vocals only because they fit to my music. If, one day, I'll change that atmosphere, maybe I'll use only clean vocals... Anyway, consider that I just sing the clean parts, so they will never disappear because I can't help singing... I like it too much!

The main difference is the sound quality, in fact my last opus (Songs Of Experience) is recorded with professional stuff, while the first demo sounds not so well. I also changed the growling vocalist because I didn't like his work in So She Sang In Vain.

Anyway, I think that Songs Of Experience is more mature than my first recording. The arrangements are more elaborated and the songs are more melodic and atmospheric. I'm really proud of this one.

I compose both with keyboards and guitars, but I'm not a good guitarist, so I delegate the recording of guitars to another musician, Paolo Petrini. I mainly compose at home, with the help of sequencers and computer. I first write music and arrangements, then lyrics. Of course, while writing the lyrics I also make changes to music, but they are not so remarkable.

I still work with Paolo Ojetti, but he just appears on my cd as a guest vocalist. This because I'm not good in growls... so I just sing clean parts. Paolo is one of the best screamers I've ever heard, but he is very busy with his band, Infernal Poetry. Moreover, remember that Christabel is a one-man band, and I like to make all by myself, without being influenced by anyone.

I ended up working with Davide because he wasn't a good vocalist and I needed someone better... Besides, he had not much time to dedicate to Christabel.

As I've already said, Christabel is a one-man band. I like to work on my own... I also play in a band in which I have to blend my influences with other members' ones.

And you also have to consider that it's cheeper to record with the help of a drum machine than with a drummer!

Of course, I really like computers, and programming a drum machine is a great beautiful game!

My music is my own way of conceiving gothic metal. I think that lyrics are really important and they must fit to music, so I thought that romantic poetry was the best way to complete gothic music. I also think that if I manage to blend music and literature I'll create a higher form of Art.

I love heavy metal... I mean bands like Opeth, Theatre Of Tragedy, Haggard, In Flames, Dark Tranquillty and many others. I also listen to classical music. I love the works of Mussorgsky, Grieg, Chopin and Debussy.

For the first demo, I did it by myself, but it's not a good work, I think! So, for Songs Of Experience, I was helped by the guitarist of my band, Stefano Wosz. He's really good in making artworks and he also drew the cover for Edenshade last recording. As he listened to my demo, he was able to describe with images my musical intent.

Hail people! Always support heavy metal scene all over the world! I think we can't live without music...

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

So She Sang In Vain - Demo (1998)

Songs of Experience - Demo (2000)

Matteo Belli - Keyboards, vocals

Paolo Ojetti (guest vocals in "Songs of Experience")

Davide Pezzoli (guest vocals in "So She Sang In Vain")