Baltimore SoundStage
April 6th 2018

UKRAINIAN METAL TO THE RESCUE

Jinjer the Ukrainian powerhouse, came into Baltimore and had to step up to the plate and become a headliner since Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth had to leave the venue because of Flu like symptoms. Jinjer played an extended hour long set.

Before the mayhem ensued Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to Singer Tatiana Shmailyuk and discuss different aspects of life.

Empire: How’s the tour going so far being able to tour with the legendary Cradle of Filth?

Tatiana: Well as you know this is our first trip to the US, and we are more than excited about this tour. We are grateful to Cradle of Filth and to our Label that they gave us this possibility.

Empire: You had problems getting visas and had to miss the first couple shows?

Tatiana: Yeah it’s very hard to get US visas for Ukrainian citizens, it’s like more than half of the people that apply for them get rejected, I guess from so many people trying to immigrate to the US.

Empire: How’s the crowd been since this is the first trip to the US?

Tatiana: I have been observing the crowd a lot, the people in the pit, they are singing along and wearing shirts and we have never been here. Well they had time to learn the songs(Laughs)

Empire: So do you get tired of interviewers asking you how it’s like to be a girl fronted metal band?

Tatiana: It’s strange only like the last year I’m asked this question, I was never asked it before. There is a huge amount of female fronted bands to ask that question. We didn’t set out to be one, when the band first got started Jinjer had a male singer, and I came into the band because I was the only one in our town that could sing like that. A man and a woman have the same structure of vocal cords and it’s just a muscle that you have to train just like any other. Just like in a gym you have guys and girl lifting you don’t go up to the female and ask how it’s like to be a woman in the gym(Laughs)

Empire: How would you explain to most Americans that don’t know the difference between Ukraine and Russia?

Tatiana: oh man politics (Laughs)

Empire: Politics aside (both laugh)

Tatiana: I think that Ukrainians are somewhere between Polish and Russians, we are all the same it’s a brotherhood. I hate borders

Empire: Do you get mad when someone says your Russian sorta like Irish and Scottish get mad when you mistake them for the other?

Tatiana: No, No. it’s fun for us. I don’t hate Russians apart from the government. Russians are ok, my father is Russian and my mothers mother she’s from Russia too. It’s integration.

Empire: Being from the Ukraine what do you think about the artist Vitas?

Tatiana: Yeah he’s huge. Apparently in China or Japan he’s like an idol. The first time I seen him on TV was years and years ago, I was like 7 years old and I tried to sing like him. He’s like out of this world. We just see him as being funny.

Empire: If you could headline a tour, who would be your 2 supporting acts?

Tatiana: Recently we toured around Britain and Ireland with From Sorrow to Serenity they are really good very progressive. It’s hard to think of this because we always a supporting band.

Empire: This is one of my trademark questions. If you could bring back a dead musician, who would it be?

Tatiana: ohh there are a bunch. I listen to a lot of genres, but for sure Layne Staley from Alice In Chains.(yes) I also love to bring back Amy Winehouse I would like to hang out with her and drink some shots.

Empire: Anything you like to say to the fans before we go?

Tatiana: We always say don’t just music you have to listen to it. If the picture is great the band will get good success having no talent. I really hate that. And please come to our show in the US.

Jinjer ended up playing 13 songs this night ranging from the 3 full length albums they have released, most of which cams from the latest album 2016’s King of Everything. Jinjer is a great mix of hardcore, Djent, with a little of hip hop and reggae. Tatiana not only has a beautiful voice she can also bring the devil to his knees with her amazing growls. Bassist Eugene Abdiukhanov brings the groove while guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov shreds and shreds all night long, and drummer Vlad Ulasevich is like a machine with those insanely fast drum beats.

Jinjer is such an amazing band I’m so glad I got to finally see them. I hope that they make it back to the US more often.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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