LACUNA COIL's CRISTINA SCABBIA Has Learned To Be More Comfortable Performing In Front Of People

Metal Wani's Jackie Mtz conducted an interview with vocalist Cristina Scabbia of Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL on May 9 in Tempe, Arizona. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked how much she thinks she has grown as an artist since LACUNA COIL's inception in the '90s, Cristina said: "I've grown in different ways — not only because of the experience in a recording studio, on a stage; I know more about how to use my voice, how to interact with a crowd. I am definitely different as a person. I was really, really shy in the beginning, because I always loved to sing, but I never had the dream of becoming a singer of a band or becoming a rock star or anything like that; I never had this type of dream. I just wanted to sing. So, for me, it was always a shock to perform in front of people, 'cause I was really, really shy."

She continued: "I remember the first concerts, I was hiding behind the stand of the microphone, so I'd close my eyes and focus on my singing and enjoying what I was doing. And I changed a lot, because now I'm not afraid anymore. I'm just, like, I know that this is what I wanna do. I just hope that I can connect my feelings to whoever is coming to the show to hear what I do. But I'm not worried anymore, because, I mean, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just, like, this is what I wanna do. You came to see the show. I hope you're gonna enjoy it. I'm trying to talk to you through my singing."

Cristina added: "I like it, because there are a lot of young girls that are asking me, like, 'Oh, how can you do that? You're such a strong woman?' And it's just, like, I wasn't born like that. It's something that you learn during the years; you learn how to be strong and you learn that there are some things you don't really have to worry about — about other people judging you, or [trying to] be the best of everyone, or feel the challenge with everyone. I mean, once you let all those things go, it's just, like, all good."

LACUNA COIL's new album, "Delirium", will be released on May 27 through Century Media. The CD was recorded at BRX Studio in Milan between December 2015 and February 2016. The effort was produced by LACUNA COIL bassist and main songwriter Marco "Maki" Coti-Zelati, with engineering by Marco Barusso and additional assistance from Dario Valentini. Coti-Zelati also created the artwork for "Delirium", which is based on an atmospheric session captured by Italian photographer Alessandro Olgiati.

LACUNA COIL has recruited Diego Cavallotti as a fill-in guitarist for the band following the recent departure of Marco "Maus" Biazzi.

Biazzi left LACUNA COIL in January, explaining in a statement: "I felt I couldn't add more in this project any longer so I decided to leave my second family, LACUNA COIL, to take a different path for a new challenge in my life.