THE KEY INTERVIEW : SCARLETT DARK / LIPSHOK

1.I just have to ask why keyboards?

 I have been a piano player and song writer since childhood, so keyboards are just a natural progression for me. Although of course I like all the sounds as well as piano so it opened up a fantastic song writing experience!

2.When you started playing keys was it your intent to join a metal / rock band? 
 

I don’t know if I had any intent. I was like 6 years old when I started playing piano. I just did what I had to do. You know, I was compelled to do music, and as a singer I needed something to accompany me lol.

3.Who are your influences? 

Oh that’s easy. Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish, Elton John, Amy Lee of Evanescence, Billie Joel, and Pink Floyd and Genesis and Within Temptation.

4.Do you know who Jon Lord is without using Google?

 No. And not using google, who’s that? Okay, I cheated. I looked it up. Man, he worked with some awesome people!

5.What do you do visually to enhance your presence ? 

I have lights on my keyboards, I switched to a headset mic so I could move around more when I sing and play, I play from the center of the stage and out front for obvious reasons. And I let me ego soar when I’m on stage lol!

6.Why do you think keyboard players in metal get so little recognition? 

Because we live in a guitar oriented world. And as a female lead singer songwriter keyboardist I am always having to prove myself as a singer and an instrumentalist. But that’s okay. I guess. Well, not really. But challenges are always motivating.

7.Did you start on a piano? And what age did you start?

 Yes. Very young. I started messing around at like 6 or 7, and then started writing songs and singing pretty close to that, and I have not had a lot of formal training but a lot of time and love for what I’m doing can certainly help with that.

8.Its one thing to serenade with  a guitar  , do you have a serenade story youd like to share?

 Well, I’ve sung and played at weddings and parties and contests and such. And there are times in my music where it’s just me and a piano or something. Everyone is always surprised when you play quietly like that. I told a whole audience to be quiet before I started with a loud “shhh” on the mic and then I was surprised when it actually happened and I was totally startled!

9.In line with the last question keyboards are often looked at as romantic are you romantic when you play or are there visions of the Phantom of The Opera ( the scary 30’s one) in your head?

I am definitely not romantic when I play. I am constantly switching from piano to strings to organs to all kinds of weird sounds and it’s actually a lot of work when you are singing lead as well. I feel super energized though and lost in the music.

10.Convince me keyboards are cool because your facing a large audience who begs to differ. Change our minds

Symphonic metal being my favorite genre, I like the sounds of the combined full keyboards with 7 string guitars (or whatever for that matter). It combines all kinds of music into a fantastic rainbow. I mean, I love guitar and all and can’t live without it, and I especially like the lower tunings with opera singing. I mean, come on. There are no limits with this kind of mixing. The drama, the dynamics, the richness, the mix of all types of music into one flowing magical tune. It’s captivating for me. And if the audience begs to differ, that’s okay. I respect other opinions. But I think they’re missing out if they don’t want to hear it.