Mistress has a confident and throwback sound that is of the old school, traditional heavy metal era. With strong, memorable riffs and soaring, dynamic vocals, Mistress is reminiscent of the early 80s metal scene. Frontwomen vocalist Deanna Gardas discusses the band's historic past, how they got their name, how they create music and more.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Deanna: This is Deanna, lead vocalist. My time with Mistress did not actually start from the beginning, so I will give you our "official history" straight from the website!
The throwback sound of Mistress is that of old school heavy metal with strong, memorable, dirty riffs and soaring, dynamic vocals. The origin of the band began in 2002 when Mita Khrichenko, guitarist, and Jesse Rucco, drummer, started the group over a bond in women and metal. After going through countless lineup changes over the next few years, Mistress finally found their perfect "frontman" in September of 2009 when Deanna Gardas joined the band. After several local shows throughout the following six months, Mistress began recording their first album. The lineup also included Ralph Beam on bass and Andrey Bogdanov on drums, who was featured on "Brains and Bruises", the end resulting full length. It was released in October of 2011.
Shortly following this, Jesse assumed his prior position at the (drum) throne and Mistress eagerly welcomed a new member: Tom Gilbert. The recording of the second album "Heavy Mental" began during the summer of 2012. It features Deanna on vocals, Mita on guitars and bass, and Grom, a session drummer from LA on drums. The album was released in April of 2013 with streaming tracks available online as well as a free digital download.
2. Why did you pick the name that you did for your band?
Deanna: Mita and Jesse were the ones who decided on a name several years before my initiation. The idea for a proper title was based off of its memorability; as I have been told, the guys came up with a story about their first singer being a Russian mail-order prostitute, escort, something silly like that.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Deanna: We are a Philly band (Center City), although two of us reside in Delaware, land of tax-free shopping. Philadelphia is a cultural mecca of sorts as far as music is concerned. There are shows every weekend at many different bars. It's a very large city rich in American history, so the crowd is catered to quite diversely. Most of the great metal shows I've attended over the years were house shows with bands from all over the country. If you want a recommendation for a local band... us!
4. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Deanna: Heavy metal is our niche, but the ultimate focus is melody. We don't follow some kind of guidelines for what a genre "should be". That's just short-changing your abilities in my opinion. There is a method to music. It is truly a language; the more well-versed you are in its context and vocabulary, the better you will perceive it. As a vocalist I don't say that I am a "metal singer" because that's ridiculous. Give me an opera aria, something from Chaka Khan, David Bowie, even 90's pop. I'll sing it with gusto. We are asked to categorize ourselves quite often but what's the point? We are a metal band that pulls from all kinds of influences without purposefully trying to sound like anyone. It's all about dynamic, not just sounding like one particular thing. Take vocals: the human voice is capable of mimicking virtually anything. You can manipulate yourself physically and emotionally to capture any vowel, any note, any tone that you want if you allow yourself to try. Therefore, our style is melodically sound. Mita's songwriting has some influence from Ozzy and early Metallica and my voice has been likened to singers such as Ann Wilson and Bruce Dickinson. All of these things are very flattering, but in the end, we just really love melody and phrasing!
5. What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
Deanna: Our first album (which as most "firsts" displays our figurative toes dipping into the pool water to see its temperature) was released in 2011. It's called "Brains and Bruises" which is derived from something silly Mita read on a stranger's online dating profile a long time ago. The second one, "Heavy Mental", came out last year. You can see the difference in our abilities and general musical maturity between them. I think I am much angrier on the second album, which makes me giggle. After poring over the various reviews, including a great one from Decibel in 2012, I'd say that overall we were welcomed by new listeners. You cannot please everyone, but that is not the goal in the first place. If we love what we write and perform, it is easier for the world to also feel the same way. I tell my students this on a regular basis (I'm a music instructor): if you aren't excited about your own work, why would anyone else be?
6. Do you play live as well? What do you have planned in terms of shows and touring, if any?
Deanna: Playing live is exactly what we are doing right now! It's the highlight of my life every time we are onstage. I did take a year off from this band in 2013, so there was a big dry spell for Mistress as far as stage shows. However, after reuniting earlier this year and hiring on an EXCELLENT session drummer named Nick Bunczk, we did a comeback show in Atlantic City this past June with the great Leather Leone of Chastain. That was INCREDIBLE... being face to face with one of my favorite singers on this planet. Since we are still auditioning for someone permanent on the drums, we are spacing out our shows. There will be a few this autumn that I am really looking forward to playing. A tour would be fabulous, but that isn't in the cards yet... unless someone wants to manage it for us!
7. What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
Deanna: Anything that these folks want to know can be discovered through our music, videos, and these interviews. We are not the type to sit around. The art of entertainment is becoming a bit lost in the throes of smoke & mirrors and bad behavior, but not from us. We put real emotion, time and effort into what we compose and perform. I have never had a lackluster show, even if the attendance was low. I'd say that our band has a collective lust for life. We are all very different people, but we mesh incredibly well as a group. I've never left a show feeling that I ever disappointed the crowd. The audience is the most important part of a performance. Without them, you have nobody to uplift. I can't wait to show this to the right label. The more people interested in what we have to offer, the better. We want to see the world.8. What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
Deanna: There is a third album in the works. As I previously stated, we are still searching for a solid drummer, so live shows are seldom for now. I'd drop everything for a well-planned tour in a heartbeat, but it's not in our path just yet.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Deanna: Through the various social networks we're on of course.
Our official website is: www.mistressband.com
We are also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mistressrocks
Every outlet possible with our music on it can be found through either of those pages. We are on iTunes, Amazon, etc. But the links are handily available on our sites!
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Deanna: I'd hope that they would be left with a lingering feeling of total overwhelming emotion. Nothing specific... just that universal vibration. It's the greatest sensation ever.
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