Altgirl

Ciscandra Nostalghia finds beauty in discomfort When rebelling against her ultraconservative upbringing, Ciscandra Nostalghia discovered catharsis in art and music by Mike Usinger on September 11th, 2013 at 11:26 AM Ciscandra Nostalghia is California-born and -based, but she has a background that’s considerably more exotic than most North Americans toiling away in the trenches of popular music. During her formative years, the singer for Los Angeles’s self-described “postapocalyptic Gypsy-punk” trio Nostalghia bounced between various worlds, raised by a Persian mother, a Jamaican stepfather, an Irish-Russian father, and a Persian-German grandmother. From September to June she was like any other kid, attending school and soaking up pop culture in the Land of the Free, where the only restrictions artists have to worry about are the ones they place on themselves. Summer months, however, were largely spent in Tehran, where she had relatives. During that early time of her life she was heavily into dance, and it wasn’t lost on her that Iran and America have radically different ideas about what is and isn’t acceptable if you happen to be born female. “I danced in both places, but it [Iran] is not necessarily a culture for an artist—a female artist,” the thoughtful, refreshingly unguarded singer says, on the line from L.A. “But when you have restrictions, it kind of creates a bit of rebellion inside of you. There are things that maybe want to come out even more so than in people that are able to release it a bit easier.” This made her decision to start playing music four years ago both easier and more difficult. Nostalghia’s parents—her father is a lawyer, her mom an accountant—had a traditional career in mind for their daughter. Namely, they would have been thrilled to see her become a lawyer or an accountant. Enamoured with musicians famous for using art as a form of catharsis—Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and Elliott Smith—Nostalghia had other ideas. “I had an uncle who was very musical—he lived in Iran but came out here as well,” she notes. “He could pick up any instrument and play it—he was just phenomenal. I was heavily influenced by him. He was the person I was closest to in my family, to where he really raised me. He passed away, and when he passed away, I became even more fascinated with music. “I found out that I could sing—I’d sing in front of a mirror in my room, and use the reverb in my shower,” Nostalghia continues. “I’ve always written poetry, so I started putting my words to music. I didn’t have instruments at the time, which made things a bit difficult. But then I luckily got kicked out of my house. I started basically living in the piano room that was on campus of a place that I was going to school at the time. No one knew that I was living there, obviously, but I taught myself how to play piano, and then bought myself a really cheap guitar.” It was then that her rebellious streak truly surfaced. “My family is very conservative,” the singer notes. “You can imagine—I have a Persian mother. They were understandably confused by me, and we never quite could see eye to eye on things when I started dancing, and when I decided I was going to focus on music and was truly coming into myself. It scared and frightened them to where there were more arguments than there should have been, I suppose. But it was something that I had to do, so there was no leverage for them to say otherwise.” Based on both Nostalghia’s 2010 debut, I Am Robot Hear Me Glitch, and an as-yet-untitled full-length that’s been recorded but not released, it’s understandable that Nostalghia’s parents had concerns. Working primarily with group cofounder and multi-instrumentalist Roy Gnan, the singer has positioned herself as an art-pop adventurist with a flair for the dark and dramatic, the songs transcending the postapocalyptic Gypsy-punk tag. Loaded with fried-circuit synths, metal-clatter percussion, and funereal cellos, new tracks such as “Homeostasis” and “Stockholm Syndrome” draw heavily from nightmarish-side-of-the-’80s new wave and ’90s-issue industrial, with Nostalghia’s theatrical vocals never less than captivating. She might cite Nirvana and Hole as big inspirations, but musically the band that takes her last name fits better on a mix tape with the groundbreaking likes of Björk, Rasputina, Mirah, Kate Bush, and PJ Harvey. Not that Nostalghia takes direct inspiration from any of those artists. “I can’t say that I’m really studied on art—I’m probably the worst person to talk to when it comes to other artists,” she says. “I get inspired by music and paintings and movies, but they have to be put right in front of me. I think I’m more inspired by nature and by being outside and observing people. People are super-fascinating to me because I’ve always sort of felt like an alien, which I am sure that many people can relate to.” Nostalghia is on to something out-there enough that her group has already found some high-profile left-field boosters, among them celebrities such as System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Marilyn Manson, Skrillex, and Evanescence’s Amy Lee. A large part of the appeal, suggests the singer, is a live show that on a good night is as much of a cathartic experience as it is a concert. “I always try to put myself in uncomfortable situations—that ignites something inside of me that makes me feel kind of hellacious,” says Nostalghia, who makes all of the art-star-issue clothes that she wears on-stage. “That’s a good thing—it triggers something inside of me. When I’m performing I’m totally gone, not really aware of my emotions or my voice. I’m an amoeba, slurping up energy from the audience and then spitting it back out.” That, it almost goes without saying, doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that plays well in conservative households. Never mind the folk in Tehran—Nostalghia admits that her parents are still trying to wrap their heads around what she does, that serving as proof she’s done a fine job of tapping her inner rebel. “I don’t think all this would be scary for them if I was doing something more mainstream,” she says. “To see their daughter under a spotlight with her guts pouring out is probably very uncomfortable for them, because it says something about my history and my past, my family, and anyone who’s ever come into contact with me. It’s all just weird for them because, when you see us live, it’s definitely not understated.” https://www.straight.com/music/421881/ciscandra-nostalghia-finds-beauty-discomfort .

She is an American singer and songwriter In 2014, she released her first full length album Chrysalis, written with collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Roy Gnan.

Justine Daaé singer of the metal band ELYOSE

Bend Photoshot

LSM: Speaking of touring, what music do you listen to when on the road? Margarita: One time we were going to TX, the only CD we had was Volbeat and we ended up listening it to it like a hundred times, TX is big! That’s actually how we found out about Jacob Hansen! The sound of the Volbeat record just blew our minds, and we wanted to know who did that LSM: Margarita, you are a classical trained pianist. What are some go-to pieces to help develop skills and what do you admire most in specific composers that shaped your musical vision? Margarita: Being a pianist is like being an athlete but with your hands So it’s important to play a lot of etudes, those are pieces to develop your technical skills, and the best ones are by a composer Czerny. My favorites are Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Bach and Chopin. They are the true founders of metal music haha! I love how dynamic, emotional, epic their music is, especially when you hear an orchestra perform some of their works, it’s just incredibly moving! Probably my favorite piece I’ve ever played was Centro #2 by Rachmaninov, that piece, just transports me somewhere else every time I hear it or play, it’s truly otherworldly! LSM: Do you have any other projects outside Edge of Paradise? Margarita: No, building one world is enough for me LSM: What would you have been if you weren’t involved in music? Margarita: Space explorer LSM: And now for the final question of this interview, do you have any kind of life advice for our readers & us? Margarita: Find your passion, follow your dreams, work hard, be kind and supportive to the people around you! We only have one life on this planet, might as well make it bright, for yourself and the people around you! Thank you so much to everyone for being in our world, and we can’t wait to see you on the road! A big ‘thank you’ from my part to Margarita for taking time out of her schedule to do this interview with LSM. Be sure to check out Edge of Paradise while on tour with Sonata Arctica through Europa later this year and with HammerFall and Beast in Black though North America next year, and follow the band online: https://www.lyricalspellmagazine.com/2019/11/11/interview-with-margarita-monet/

Interview with Margarita Monet Edge Of Paradise With the release of Edge of Paradise’s new album “Universe”, Lyrical Spell Magazine writer Andrea caught up with Margarita Monet to discuss the themes and ideas that led to the creation of this record, the band’s upcoming tour with Sonata Arctica, stage clothes and other interesting details. LSM: How are you doing? Margarita: Hello, I’m doing good, thank you so much for having me! LSM: Let’s start with a little presentation. Who is Edge of Paradise and how was the band formed? LSM: Funny how the universe works sometimes. How would you describe the last couple of years for the band? Margarita: Roller coaster of excitement, stress, inspiration, discouragement, hope, frustration, determination and epicness We had some big changes in the last few years. We started working with a new produced Mike Plotnikoff, we had some lineup changes, we also got to take the band to Japan, which was an unforgettable, and amazing experience. And of course, making the third album that we put everything into! LSM: If you were to describe your music to someone who doesn’t know the band, what keywords would you use? Margarita: Massive, cosmic, dynamic, otherworldly, exciting and enticing! LSM: Now that the release of the new album “Universe” is approaching, how are you feeling? Are you relieved, excited, exhausted ...? Margarita: All of those! We are definitely very excited, we are incredibly proud of this record, everything has been leading up to this point for us, and things really lined up on the touring end as well! It’s like all the puzzle pieces came together! We are definitely exhausted haha, especially from all the business end of things, but we are very grateful to everyone on our team, to Frontiers Records, to our management our amazing fans, and can’t wait to start our tour with Sonata Arctica, followed by Hammerfall and Beast In Black! LSM: Yes, that tour through North America was just announced and sounds like fun. Getting back to the album, the singles released so far sound very fresh and new, with a certain industrial vibe to them. What can you tell me about the album in terms of musical styles / influences? Margarita: Thank you so much! Our sound definitely evolved into having that industrial edge. Also, you will hear some electro rock/dance groove vibe to it. We want to make music for the masses, and show that music can have substance, have meaningful lyrics, interesting melodies, musicianship, and be appealing to the broad younger generation at the same time! And I think we really achieved it with this album! I can’t say that we had influences on this record, we just wanted to do our own thing, but we love the sound of Rammstein, Volbeat, In Flames, Amaranthe, and that’s why on the production side of things, we wanted to match these massive records. LSM: I agree, the album does have interesting melodies, great grooves, and substance. We will discuss this aspect a bit later. Production-wise, you have worked with Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Cyhra, Anubis Gate), was there a certain sound you wanted to have on this album? Margarita: Our songs have a lot of layers and we wanted to get a polished clear sound, but still have a raw edge to it, and with our production team, they helped us achieve our vision perfectly! Working with our producer Mike Plotnikoff, he was very helpful with the recording process. Dave and I do a lot at our home studio, but drums and vocals we recorded at Mike’s studio, and he does a phenomenal job getting the sound and always knows the right thing for the song! And also, sometimes when you’re so close to the music, you really need an outside ear to tell you what parts don’t need to be in the song And Jacob Hansen brought the songs to life, he really gets our music and whatever he did to the mixes, just elevated the songs to a new dimension LSM: What I found interesting on this album are the vocals, which are soft, and almost whispery at times (like on “Universe”), but also quite melodic and powerful at other times (like on “Electrify”). How did you approach the vocal melodies on this album? Margarita: I grew up doing theater, it’s all about expressing the emotions through words. For me, since these are my songs and I put my heart and soul into every word, it’s an extension of myself. And I’ve always been very sensitive to music, I can burst into tears if I hear a melody that sounds sad to me, or I can get a burst of energy just by hearing something. When I make a song, I write the melodies first and the words are inspired by the music, so the way I sing a certain part, is just what matches the music and how it makes me feel! LSM: What are some of the main lyrical themes of “Universe”? Margarita: ‘Universe’ ultimately is a cosmic love song haha! I think we all want to find love that transcends this reality and makes you forget that time exists. Maybe this is all an illusion, I love to push the boundaries of our reality, and music can make you feel limitless! LSM: Earlier we spoke about having substance and meaningful lyrics on the album, and the storylines of both “Alone” and “Stars” seem personal but also quite universal. What inspired these songs? Margarita: That’s very true! Both songs are about finding power within yourself, finding your passions, following your dreams and not waiting for anyone else to do that for you. I had lots of ups and downs in my life, and I felt myself just existing at some point, actually this band is what shocked me back to life, in a way. And we have to fight for our own happiness. I’m a big believer that everyone has a passion for something inside of them, and if we let ourselves follow that, it will radiate and bring light not only to your life, but everyone around you. It’s when we suppress desire to do something we love, that’s when we can dig ourselves a dark hole. LSM: So far you have released three singles, “Universe”, “Alone”, and “Face of Fear”. Are you pleased with the audience’s response to them? Margarita: We also just release our music video for FIRE! First track, it really ignites the whole album! We are so excited by the response, definitely the best we’ve gotten since starting the band, so we are just very grateful to all our supporters and really proud of this album. LSM: You will be touring with Sonata Arctica later this year, so I am curious to know, what was the first song you heard from Sonata Arctica, and what did you think of them at that point in time? Margarita: Yes, we are really excited that our first European tour will be supporting Sonata Arctica! First song we’ve heard from them was probably ‘I Have A Right’, they have a cool video for it too. We listened a lot to their earlier music, and they sound like Iron Maiden a bit. Their music evolved now, just like with any band who’s been putting out record after record, we have a lot of respect and admiration for the m and can’t wait to share the stage! LSM: How important do you think stage clothes are for a performer? And how do you choose your stage clothes? Margarita: To me, I think it's very important! Maybe it’s my theater background coming through, but I’ve always put a lot of emphasis on the visual aspect of the band as well. Our online presence, artwork, photos, videos, stage show, I want it all to reflect and enhance the music, so it’s one whole experience for the audience! If I go to a concert, I want to see someone larger than life, and an outfit can help that! Plus it’s super fun LSM: Do you create them yourself or do you commission them? Margarita: I made and customized a lot of my clothes early on, and now we found some really amazing, one of a kind designers that we wear on stage and we are so grateful for their support! Shrine Of Hollywood, who makes really cool gothic style clothes, but with a futuristic twist. Zolnar who makes very futuristic clothing, if you are going on a space mission, that’s what you wear! And Al Bane for Leather, anything leather, he makes phenomenally, he creates Dave’s guitar straps and made a jacket I wore in the music video for ‘Face of Fear’! I love how creative people can be, and these designers are true artists! LSM: Speaking of touring, what music do you listen to when on the road? Margarita: One time we were going to TX, the only CD we had was Volbeat and we ended up listening it to it like a hundred times, TX is big! That’s actually how we found out about Jacob Hansen! The sound of the Volbeat record just blew our minds, and we wanted to know who did that

her height is 5.8

Margarita Monet (born Margarita Martirosyan; February 15, 1990) is an American singer, pianist, composer and an actress. She is the founder/ lead vocalist for the hard rock/symphonic metal band Edge of Paradise