Venue: KUD France Prešeren, Trnovo
Interview date: 26.12.2009
After their great gig at Ort a good month ago, Rockline finally tracked down and caught (as far as we know) the only all-female heavy metal band in our neck of the woods, at KUD France Prešeren. We caught the girls right before their soundcheck for Heavy new year, the Trnovo festival that takes place every year on the premises of the society, right next to Plečnik’s House and his museum. The band is made up of Saša Zagorc (bass), Sonja Zagorc (drums), Katja Mavec (guitar) and Valentina Plaskan (vocals). The girls were in a good mood before the show, and the questions were mostly answered by the Zagorc sisters, who are also the founding members. Since they were in a hurry to get on stage, we only had time for a short chat.
Rockline: Who are Hellcats and how long have you been around?
Saša: Hellcats is an all-female Heavy Metal band that my sister Sonja and I founded in 2003. We’ve been performing together since childhood, back when we were still in music school. Because Slovenia’s music scene is so small, we spent quite a while looking for female musicians who wanted to play and create in the heavy metal genre. In the end we made it happen, and today Hellcats are proof that high heels and Heavy Metal are a great combination, which the crowd’s reaction confirms too.
Rockline: You already have quite a few standout gigs behind you.
Saša: That’s right. A while back we appeared on RTV Slovenia on the show TLP, where we played live, we performed at one of the Festivals of Creative Guitarists, and we’ve also played at numerous metal festivals and at lots of biker gatherings, both in Slovenia and abroad. A good month ago we played at Ort again, where they always give us a warm welcome (Rockline report HERE).
Rockline: Where are you recording the new album, and when can we expect it in stores?
Sonja: We decided to record our first album at Studio Conti, where we’ve recorded the first three songs so far. The recorded material is currently in post-production and mastering. The album should be ready by the end of this year.
Rockline: Who writes the music and lyrics?
Saša: The songwriters, for both lyrics and music, are me and my sister Sonja.
Rockline: How do your songs come together (the process from start to finished product)?
Sonja: Every one of our songs starts with a concept. Some come about when we write the lyrics first and then set them to music, and sometimes the lyrics get written to the music. So there’s no special formula.
Rockline: Once the album is done, will you look for a label?
Saša: We always go with the flow. Once the album is finished, we’ll think about what comes next.
Rockline: Who are your role models?
Saša: We have lots of role models among both male and female musicians. Each member has her own. We recently went to see Doro in Zagreb, who’s one of our favorite artists, as you can tell from the repertoire of covers we play. And there’s plenty of eighties music in there, though we don’t limit ourselves to just one era or one style of metal.
Rockline: The lineup has changed a bit lately. Was it hard to find new members?
Saša: As we mentioned at the start, it was pretty hard to find musicians who wanted to play this kind of genre. Mostly because there aren’t many girls with enough guts and skills. There’s a shortage of female guitarists, especially ones who can actually play something. First we posted ads online and plastered Ljubljana with flyers, and then – mostly through individual auditions – picked the members. That’s how we found Katja, who wowed us with her skill, and Valentina, who, despite her young age, already has quite a bit of singing experience.
Rockline: You’re from different parts of Slovenia. Is it hard to coordinate things like rehearsals and recording?
Sonja: Even though we’re from different parts of Slovenia, studies and work have tied us all to Ljubljana. That’s where our rehearsal space is, and we get together there several times a week. Valentina, who’s still in high school for now, is moving to Ljubljana in the fall too, so it’ll be even easier for us to sync up. Anyway, we’re dedicated to what we do, so distance has never been a problem.
Rockline: What are your plans for the future?
Saša: As many original songs as possible, as many gigs as possible so people get to know us better, a video clip… Wishes and plans just come together as we go, we don’t stress about anything else.
Rockline: Any message for Rockline readers?
Saša: Don’t just read the interview, come to a gig! Heh heh 🙂
Photo: Hellcats archive
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