THE GATHERING Singer Says Motherhood Is A 'Wonderful, Surprising And Grounding Experience'

Metal Maniacs magazine recently conducted an interview with THE GATHERING frontwoman Anneke van Giersbergen. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Metal Maniacs: You've been through a lot of changes personally lately, with the birth of your son Finn. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life, music and THE GATHERING?

Anneke: "Of course, having a baby for the first time turns your world upside down. It's a wonderful, surprising and grounding experience. But my views on life didn't change that much, they just intensified and got stronger. As we as a band think about and try to make the world a better place through the humble means we have, which is music and using our voice, I want that so much more now that I put somebody in the world who will be here for a while longer. This next generation needs a push in the right direction. But for now it's just wonderful to change his poopy diapers and watch him smile and try to crawl. It's just fantastic!"

Metal Maniacs: How was it touring while pregnant?

Anneke: "That was great. Of course I wasn't the fittest of all, but it was so funny on stage, when we would play a slower song, he would start to move and it was just cozy to already share the onstage experience with him. Obviously I took naps at noon and I went straight to bed after the show so it wasn't a very rock 'n' roll tour for me."

Metal Maniacs: How do you find time to be a mom and be Anneke from THE GATHERING?

Anneke: "The secret is planning. Just to think ahead and plan all that we want to do in the time that we have. I make now 15 working hours a day doing the band work and Finn, but it's very much worth it. I am lucky also that [former KONG/CELESTIAL SEASON drummer and Anneke's husband] Rob [Snijders] is also taking care of Finn with me and that the guys in the band give me all the room I need. That is such a big help for me!"

THE GATHERING are currently finishing up work on their ninth studio album, entitled "Home", with Attie Bauw (producer of the band's 1998 effort, "How to Measure a Planet?"). The band is now at Bauwhaus studio mixing and mastering the music. For the recording the band had set up a professional studio in a quaint old church in the small town of Maurik, located in the south of Holland.

"Home" will be released sometime in the spring on the band's own label, Psychonaut Records (available on The End Records in North America).