Sharon den Adel hopes Within Temptation lose 'female fronted band' label
She'd prefer to be called a Symphonic Metal band
Within Temptation singer Sharon den Adel says the band hope to avoid being called a “female fronted band” and they’d prefer to be labelled “symphonic metal” instead.
Sharon den Adel was the very special guest on My Planet Rocks on Planet Rock last night (7th March) and Wyatt asked whether there has been a change in the way Within Temptation have been labelled in recent times, and if they’re now simply being called a “band” rather than a “female fronted band.”
“In the beginning, it was like people were surprised (to see a rock band with a female singer),” den Adel explained.
“It was an advantage and a disadvantage that you're a woman because people in the beginning were a little bit sceptical maybe about our music. On the other hand, we were just one of a few that had a female fronting a band.
“That was also special because not many people were doing that. So, it was like a double kind of feeling towards our music.”
Asked by Wyatt whether the use of the term has lessened, den Adel commented: “Well, I think it's still there because I think this transition has only (just) started - people are watching the labels they're giving people now.
“I think that's only since the last one and a half years, I guess. So, it doesn't go that fast. Things will change gradually, and people will give it another name… (I'd prefer) symphonic metal.”
Reflecting more on the symphonic metal tag, den Adel continued: “You know what also happens that a lot of bands when they start, it's like ‘I don't want to be compared to them, so I'm going to make up my own term, my own label. I am symphonic metal.’
“They made something up about themselves. Before someone else gives you a label maybe we should think of our own. What do we want to be called?!”
Listen to Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel on My Planet Rocks:
My Planet Rocks is also repeated on Planet Rock at 9pm on Wednesday 10th March 2021.
Within Temptation’s Worlds Collide co-headline tour with Evanescence is scheduled to take in the following UK arena shows this coming autumn:
SEPTEMBER 2021
Glasgow The SSE Hydro – Thu 30th
OCTOBER 2021
Leeds First Direct Arena – Fri 1st
Birmingham Utilita Arena – Sun 3rd
London The O2 – Mon 4th