EMQs With Anthea
EMQs With Anthea
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Symphonic Metal band, Anthea. Huge thanks to their Vocalist/ Keyboard player, Diego Valadez, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Diego Valadez, and I handle vocals and keyboards for Anthea.
The history of the band is actually a bit of a funny story. Anthea was never originally intended to be a full band. Back in 2015, I just wanted to record a few Symphonic Metal songs I’d written for fun. I brought in some long time friends, like our drummer Peter Vasquez, to help me track them, and I came up with the name ‘Anthea’ (a play on the name Athena) just so I didn’t have to release it under my own name.
Once we heard the final product, Peter was the one who said, ‘We have to actually do this live.’ We played our first show at the Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood that October, and we’ve been running with it ever since. Since then, we’ve released two albums through Rockshots Records, and we’ve evolved from a studio project into a full theatrical production, complete with cinematic visuals and our backup vocalists, The Sirens.
How did you come up with your band name?
It started as a play on the name Athena. I wanted something that felt mythological and grand to match the symphonic scale of the music, but ‘Athena’ was already being used by a few other projects.
I started playing with the letters and landed on Anthea. It kept that same Greek, classical vibe but felt more unique to us. It sounded elegant and cinematic, which fit perfectly once we started leaning into the darker, gothic side of our storytelling.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
I’m based in Los Angeles. It’s an incredible place to be a musician right now because the local scene is so diverse. On any given night, you can walk into a club and see some amazing local bands playing everything from old school Thrash, classic Hard rock and Power Metal to Modern Nu-metal, Pop-punk, and Emo.
The energy is definitely back, but what’s interesting is that I haven’t really seen any other local bands doing symphonic metal. It makes us a bit of an outlier in the LA circuit, which I actually love. It allows us to bring that big, theatrical ‘metal theater’ vibe to shows where people might be seeing something totally different the rest of the night. We get to stand out while still being part of this massive, eclectic community.
What is your latest release?
Our latest project is our third full length album, Beyond the Dawn, which officially drops on April 17th through Rockshots Records. We’ve really pushed our sound on this one, leaning much harder into the symphonic and cinematic side of things than we ever have before.
We just released a new single and lyric video for a track called ‘Awakening (Song for Spring),’ which is a bit of a spiritual sequel to a song from our last record. It’s got a more hopeful, luminous vibe compared to our first single from this album, ‘Phantom in the Masquerade’. That one is probably the most ‘theatrical’ thing we’ve ever done. We actually put out a full narrative music video for it that feels like a gothic horror short film. It’s all part of this new chapter where we’re trying to treat every song as its own immersive world.
Who have been your greatest influences?
It’s a mix of two different worlds for me. On the Metal side, Nightwish, Wintersun, Children of Bodom, Kamelot, and Sonata Arctica have been heavy influences since day one.
On the other side, I’m deeply inspired by film composers like Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer. I’ve always wanted our music to feel like a movie score that happens to have a Metal band playing over it. That gothic, ‘Phantom of the Opera’ level of drama is really the goal for everything I write. It’s about creating an atmosphere that feels immersive and cinematic, rather than just writing a collection of songs.
What first got you into music?
For me, it actually started with film scores. I loved movies growing up and I was obsessed with the way composers like Danny Elfman could create an entire gothic world just through melody. That cinematic, dark atmosphere is what really pulled me in initially.
Growing up, I started as a keyboard player, and once I discovered bands like Nightwish and Children of Bodom, it was a game changer. Seeing how they integrated keyboards into heavy music, not just as background noise, but as a lead instrument that could be just as aggressive and ‘epic’ as the guitars really sparked something in me. It showed me that I could combine my love for movie soundtracks with the energy of Metal, and I’ve been chasing that ‘symphonic’ sound ever since.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Without a doubt, it would be Danny Elfman. His work is essentially the DNA of my songwriting style. Long before I was even into metal, I was obsessed with his scores. That dark, whimsical, and grand gothic atmosphere he created for films like Edward Scissorhands or The Nightmare Before Christmas. Also, let’s not forget his vocals in the Oingo Boingo days!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I mean, if we’re being honest, it’s obviously Wacken. I’ve actually never been there in person, but it’s a total tradition for me to geek out and watch the pro shot sets on YouTube every single year.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
The strangest and honestly most delicious gift happened when we were playing in Denver. I was hanging out behind the merch table and a fan came up and asked if I’d ever had a Voodoo Doughnut. I’d heard of them but told her I hadn’t had the chance to try it yet. She just nodded and said, ‘You really should before you leave town.’
About an hour later, she randomly reappears at the table and hands me a box. Inside was a donut shaped like a literal voodoo doll, complete with a pretzel stick ‘stabbed’ through its heart. It was actually delicious, but the sight of a bleeding donut doll sitting next to our CDs was definitely a first for the merch booth.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
My main message would be never stop creating. Even if it’s just for yourself and nobody else ever hears it, art is incredibly therapeutic. For me, music has always been the best way to process everything and find a sense of balance. Whether you’re writing a symphonic epic or just messing around with sounds in your bedroom, that creative outlet is so important. Don’t worry about the ‘industry’ or the noise, just keep making things that move you.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
This is a tough one because there are so many legends, but for me, it has to be Michael Jackson.
I know some people debate the “rock star” label, but in terms of pure stage presence, global impact, and that larger than life theatricality, he was the ultimate performer. I’ve always been captivated by his ability to turn a concert into a massive event. Watching those old performances, and especially the short films, the way he commanded a stadium is a huge masterclass in showmanship.
Being able to see that level of perfectionism and vision in person today would be incredible. His influence on how we view “the spectacle” of a live show is something that definitely resonates with the more theatrical side of what I try to do with music. Plus, seeing what he could have done with modern stage tech would have been mind blowing.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
What I enjoy the most is definitely that ‘lightbulb’ moment. When I’m sitting in Logic and a melody finally clicks. Taking an idea from nothing and turning it into this massive, cinematic wall of sound is the best part of the job.
What I hate is the ‘content’ side of it. I honestly can’t stand the pressure to constantly post on social media just to stay relevant. It feels like you’re expected to be a full time content creator chasing memes or posting just for the sake of it. I’d much rather spend that time actually writing music or building the theatrical side of the band than worrying about an algorithm.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, it’s that music seems to have become an afterthought to ‘content.‘ It’s honestly exhausting that you can spend months writing a massive, cinematic track, but the industry cares more about whether you’re posting a 15-second clip of it on TikTok every day. I’d change the fact that artists are basically forced to be full time social media influencers just to get their songs heard. It’d be great if the focus went back to the actual songwriting and the live show, instead of how well you can play the algorithm game. We’re musicians, not professional posters.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
I honestly can’t pick one, so I’m choosing both ‘Dark Passion Play’ and ‘Imaginaerum’ by Nightwish.
To me, they’re basically the gold standard for what I do. Both albums are just massive, gothic film scores that happen to have a Metal band playing over them. ‘Dark Passion Play’ has that raw, epic energy, but then ‘Imaginaerum’ is like this dark, twisted carnival for your ears. They’re both heavy, theatrical, and completely over the top, which is exactly the vibe I’m chasing with Anthea. I still go back to those records all the time for inspiration.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Honestly, I’m a Spotify guy for the day-to-day. I know people love to hate on streaming, but the reality is I’ve discovered so much music on there that I never would have heard otherwise.
But when I find an album that actually sticks, something that’s particularly special, I’m going to buy Vinyl. You can’t really experience the artwork or the vibe of a record the same way on a phone screen. If it’s a masterpiece, it belongs on a turntable.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I’ve been lucky enough to have a ton of great gigs with Anthea. We’ve opened for bands I was already a huge fan of, like Rhapsody of Fire, Delain, Xandria, and Visions of Atlantis, which is always a trip. Getting to share a stage with the artists who influenced your own sound never really gets old.
But if I’m looking at my whole career, the absolute best was back in 2017. I was playing in a band called Cellador, and we did a tour in Japan. That was a literal dream come true. The fans there are on another level, and just being in that environment, touring a completely different part of the world with your music for the first time, it’s something I’ll never forget. It was one of those moments where you stop and realize, ‘Okay, this is actually happening.’
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
If I wasn’t doing the band thing, I’d probably be in musical theater. I’ve always been a massive fan of the genre, and honestly, my dream has always been to be in a production of Sweeney Todd.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I’d invite one of the bunnies from the garden at my house, a couple of ducks from the park (specifically one of the pairs I see hanging out when I’m out for a jog), and one of the squirrels from the park. I usually try to call them over with the ‘wavy arm’ thing when I’m passing by. And of course, my girlfriend Soph who I’m sure wouldn’t mind our special dinner guests.
What’s next for the band?
The main focus is the new album, “Beyond the Dawn”, which officially drops on April 17th. We’ve been living in this world for a while now, so finally getting it out there on CD, vinyl, and digital is a huge milestone. After the release, it’s all about hitting the stage and bringing this new theatrical experience to a live audience. We’re ready to get back out there and show everyone what this new chapter of Anthea is all about.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.instagram.com/antheametal
https://www.facebook.com/antheametal
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
To be honest, I had to look that one up! Coming from LA, we just call everything a bun or a roll. I’ll call it whatever is least likely to get me a slap on the face in that particular town haha.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who takes the time to actually listen to the music and support artists of all kinds. Keep an eye out for our live shows, and if you see me at the park trying to talk to the squirrels, come say hi! Check out the new album, Beyond the Dawn, on April 17th, and remember never stop creating, even if it’s just for yourself. Cheers!
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