Hugo Lefebvre: Basically, it was not envisioned. But now that the album is out and that I see that it will be released in a lot of countries I'll do it for sure. I'm working hard for it with my manager, and I hope to be ready with the band very soon. I can't wait to see the fans' reaction about the album and this tour.
What are your expectations for the album?
First I'm proud and happy to be signed with Magna Carta and to have the
opportunity to be released in the USA, It's a great chance and very unusual for a
new French band. Also it appears that Anthropia is the only French band to
have an worldwide agreement with a foreign label. So it would be great to have
a good impact in North America and of course in Europe too. I think that this is a really strong album and that you don't get bored when you are listening to it from the beginning to the end. Like I often say, I don't like "filler songs", and there will never be one on an Anthropia album. So my expectations are of course to have good reviews on the album, and to sell enough
so that we can tour.
Will your next album be Part 2 of the trilogy, or something different?
I already began the next album. It won't be the Ereyn Chronicles Part 2,
but a new story/concept, in only one album this time. I decided not to do the 3
parts directly so that I can surprise the fans a bit with new environments,
different stories. It is a bit early to talk about the next album, but I can
say that I already wrote 6 songs, the story will have nothing in common with
the Ereyn chronicles and that I am already very happy with the work done.
How did you get started in music?
I began classical guitar and music theory when I was 6 in the Antibes Music
Academy. After 10 years studying this classical stuff, I decided only to focus
on the electric guitar. It was in high school that I discovered this instrument and also heavy metal with Iron Maiden and Helloween. I think that sometimes in my songs you can notice a little element of my classical background, because that's part of me too.
Who were your musical inspirations?
As a teenager I was a huge fan of Sting, especially the old albums. But for this album I guess that
you can clearly see my inspirations: Iron Maiden, Angra, Megadeth, Symphony X,
Dream Theater, and also the old prog rock bands like Yes and Genesis. These
bands wrote the best melodies ever for me.
Who are some current artists you admire?
Well I'll say for sure Arjen Lucassen from Ayreon and Daniel Gildenlow from
Pain of Salvation. Those guys are 2 geniuses of music and their last albums
are for me two of the best albums ever. At the vocals, I'll say Bruce Dickinson. This guy is so amazing and a legend that he's for me really an idol. I also love Russell Allen's voice.
For the guitar, I'll say Kiko Loureiro. The last Angra album is really great and
Kiko's solos are just amazing.
It sees like a lot of French metal bands are finding success. Is the metal
scene there really strong?
Well unfortunately, France is really not good for metal. It is true that some
bands are finding success nowadays (Adagio, Manigance, Gojira). But most of
the people here are more interested in R&B and techno. But we are all working to
change that, and maybe some day.
