ARCH ENEMY Frontwoman Talks About DAVID HASSELHOFF, Touring With Guys And Screaming

ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Angela Gossow has answered a few new fan questions via her MySpace page. Read on:

Q: What is Germany's obsession with David Hasselhoff?

Angela: He is a professional alcoholic in swimwear, overly tanned, wasted but still chasing young chicks and so very macho. It seems to be attractive to middle-aged German housewives. Why? I don't know. But it was a good reason for me to leave the country and move to Sweden! Although, I believe after the public release of his daughter's home movie, his popularity has suffered badly. WHAT AN ASSHOLE!

Q: Were you ever arrested as a youth?

Angela: No. I nicked quite a few chocolate bars though, smoked dried leaves and took a dump in front of a neighbors door whom all kids hated. Wasn't all too bad compared to today's youth. My mum always defended us, being convinced her children were nothing but ANGELS. We were called "The Gossow clan" — the four of us were rather infamous in the local community, haha.

Q: What is it REALLY like touring with four guys?

Angela: You mean eight guys — the band plus crew! I don't know. I am either sleeping, stoned or off the bus. Seriously, it is great with THESE four guys. 'Cuz they are wonderful, funny, intelligent, loving, caring and very easy-going. Not many people have the ability to be virtually invisible in such a small space. We have all acquired this ability. Nobody in ARCH ENEMY has a difficult attitude. That's the secret to live happily ever after on a tourbus!

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Angela: I have pleasures, but do not feel any guilt.

Q: What issues (political/social, etc.) make your blood boil?

Angela: Violence, war, rape and child abuse, environmental pollution, racism, the meat industry, the isolation and loneliness of many individuals in this society. Basicallly, I am constantly a little angry.

Q: What is one aspect about yourself that no one would ever think is stereotypical or representative of you?

Angela: I can't watch movies with extreme violence against children. I get severely depressed from it.

Q: First off, I love you death, and I learned how to scream and growl off of your advice alone. I was muted screaming before hand, and it records well, but sucks anyway else. I know I'm doing the faux chord technique correctly, because I don't lose my high register with regular singing... I've been singing for 22 years, and I'm 26 now. Shit I can jump back and forth....And yes I have an alto voice. Green tea is a huge help....and SHHHH!!! So is ephedrine (opens up my lungs...I have slight asthma as well). The PROBLEM I have is long phrasing, while screaming...I feel light headed and like passing out....I was chest breathing, now I've tried deep diaphragm/belly breathing but somehow it still ends up under my ribs. SOOOOO am I letting out too much air at once and being too forceful.. or do I just need do more breathing exercises and strengthen those muscles...and no I don't smoke....anything...ha ha. I don't really want to throw myself into a band until I have this figured out, no passing out on stage ya know.

Angela: Basically you try to scream longer than your breath lasts. I guess you havent really figured the right abdominal breathing technique out. You don't have enough control over the air release, you are blowing out too much and thus depriving your body of oxygen. You gotta be a bit careful with this as you are asthmatic (I am too, by the way). If you have done upper breathing for all these years, it will take you quite some time and a good teacher you re-asses your techniques.