Interview for DEATHTHRASHER MAGAZINE by ARMANDO MUTILATOR : 

DT: Hello Stella, How are you?.
STARQUEEN: HI ARMANDO! I AM FEELING FINE. ACTUALLY VERY HAPPY FOR THE NEW ALBUM AND CUZ I HAVE BEEN FOR A MONTH IN MY HOMELAND - BULGARIA.

DT: When & why the band was formed? (current line - up).
STARQUEEN: WELL, ESPECIALLY STARQUEEN WAS FORMED ON-LINE AS A PROJECT OF LARS ERIC MATTSSON - OWNER AND PRODUCER OF LION MUSIC. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER OF 2001. EACH OF THE MEMBERS WAS REHURSING AND RECORDING IN HIS OWN COUNTRY ( AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE KNOW - OUR FIRST ALBUM FAITHBRINGER IS A KIND OF AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT - SO THE GUITARPLAYER AND THE BASSPLAYER, BOTH OF THE SWEDISH POWER METAL BAND WINTERLONG, WERE IN SWEDEN, THE DRUMMER TONY ERIKSSON IS FROM FINLAND, I WAS IN BULGARIA (south-east of Europe) AND THE KEYBORDPLAYER IS FROM GREECE, A KIND OF A NEGHBOUR TO ME... HA HA!

DT: Are you natural from Sofia?. 
STARQUEEN: YES, I AM BORN THERE AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE MY WHOLE LIFE, EXCEPT THE LAST YEAR, SINCE I MOVED TO SWEDEN. 

DT: How old are you STELLA?.
STARQUEEN: I AM 24 YEARS OLD THIS THURSDAY AT 8TH OF JULY...

DT: When did you start playing? 
STARQUEEN: I STARTED PLAYING GUITAR AND SINGING WHEN I WAS ELEVEN. MY DADDY WAS USED TO PLAY GUITAR WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HE SINGS GOOD. THEN I ALSO FELL IN LOVE WITH GUNS ´N´ ROSES AND BON JOVI, I VISITED A FEW LESSONS AND SINCE THEN I AM STRUGGLING LIKE HELL... HA HA!

DT: Who put the name of the band and why?.
STARQUEEN: I CHOSE THE NAME. AND IT COMES FROM MY PERSONALL NAME WHICH IN LATIN MEANS "STAR". "QUEEN" COMES NATURALLY - AS QUEEN OF STARS WHICH BRINGS UP AN ILLUSION SOMETHING UNEARTHLY, SOMETHING THAT´S HIGHER THAN THE EARTHLY CHAOS AND ALL THE MATERIALS THINGS.

DT: What memories do you have about your band TRIANGLE?... do you remember the RAINBOW's version of "CAN'T LET YOU GO"?.
STARQUEEN: TRIANGLE WAS MY FIRST PROFESSIOANL RECORD. I LOVE IT! IT IS VERY COOL EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MIXURE OR HUNDREDS INCOMPETIBLE STYLES. THE VERSION OF "CAN´T LET YOU GO" IS A DISCO SHIT BUT WE MADE IT CUZ WE WERE SO PISSED OFF - EVERY ONE WAS SAYING THAT WE DID NOT PLAY THE SONG EXACTLY LIKE RAINBOW, SO WE THOUGHT - LET´S SHOCH THOSE LIMITED PUMPKINS THEN! HA HA! I WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF THAT CD, SO YOU CAN HEAR... IT IS UNPUBLISHED.

DT: How do you describe your style?.
STARQUEEN: I CAN MAINLY DESCRIBE IS AS GOTHIC ROCK/METAL OPERA BUT I AM NOT USED TO LIMIT MYSELF WITH STYLES. I THINK MIXING THEM IS MUCH MORE FUN. I AM TIRED OF LISTENING BANDS WITH BIG IMAGE AND NAMES BUT I CAN NOT REMEMBER THEM WITH ANYTHING NEW. HERE IN SWEDEN IS FULL OF THEM - GREAT MUSICIANS, BUT NO IDEAS AND VISIONS OF ART. I THINK PEOPLE SOULD NOT COPY HELLOWEEN AND JUDAS AS IT WAS MODERN RECENTLY IN OUR STYLE - THEY SHOULD BE ONLY INSPIRED BY THEM AND TRY TO GIVE SOMETHING NEW - LIKE RHAPSODY AND NIGHTWISH DID.

DT: What do you think about Skihneads, Skaters, Punks and Straight Edgers?.
STARQUEEN: I THINK THAT SKATERS AND PUNKERS ARE FREE PEOPLE- NOT MY STYLE AND I HAVE NOT SO MUCH TO DISCUSS WITH THEM, BUT THEY HAVE A STYLE AND THIS I RESPECT . THEY DO SOMETHING TO BE DIFFERENT AND OROGINAL, EXCEPT THE DUM IDEAS ABOUT ANARCHY ON EARTH - HA HA! SKINHEADS - THOSE I REALLY HATE - THEY ARE UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WITH LOW INTELIGENCE WHO HAVE NOT GOT ELEMENTARY VALUES AND MAKE CULT OF VIOLENCE.

DT: Who designed the STAR QUEEN's logo?.
STARQUEEN: OUR LOGO IS DESIGNED BY A GREAT PAINTER WHO I ENDLESSLY RESPECT - ERIC PHILIPPE FROM BELGIUM. HE IS ALSO WORKING WITH VERY FAMOUS ARTISTS.

DT: Do you like eat potatoes with anthrax?.
STARQUEEN: HUH: WHAT A CRAZY QUESTION! I DON´T SHIT ABOUT ANTHRAX AS A CHEMICAL SUBSTANS, SO I SUPPOSE THAT IF IT DOES NOT TASE, IT WOULD BE EASY TO SERVE IT MIXED WITH POTATOEN AND RESPONDING - TO KILL ME. BUT I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE THIS MOE THAN I DO... HE HE!

DT: Are you crazy for cocaine?.
STARQUEEN: NO. I DON´T APROOVE DRUGES. I HAVE BEEN SMOKING MARIHUANA A LOT BUT IT HAS NO IMPACT ON ME. DON´T KNOW WHY. ABOUT HEAVY DRUGS IKE HEROING AND COCAINE, I THINK PEOPLE MUST NEVER STOP TO FIGHT AGAINST THEM. OFTEN SENSITIVE PEOPLE WITH BIG OTENTIAL ARE VICTIMS OF DRUGS. I HAD FRIENDS WHO DIED TOO YOUNG OF HERIONE I BULGARIA, AND IT IS HORRIBLE.

DT: What do you think about Religion, Church and Pope?.
STARQUEEN: I HAVE MY OWN RELIGION AND I WILL DESCRIBE IT CITATING A GREAT BULGARIAN POET - OH, MY GOD, MY RIGHT GOD - NOT YOU WHO ARE IN HEAVENS, BUT YOU WHO ARE HERE IN MY HEART AND MY SOUL. SO I THINK THAT RELIGION IS LIMITING PEOPLE - I THINK THAT MORE FREEDOM, BETTER EDUCATION, LOVE, BEAUTY AND ART ARE BETTER THAN ANY RELIGION. I GO IN CHURCHES ONLY TO SEE THEM AS ARCITECTUAL ART, IF THEY ARE INTERESTING. I DON´T MIND THE POPE. HE DOES NOT BOTHER ME. IT´S OK SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE NEED HIM. BUT I OFTEN THINK OF THE INCUSITION AND FANTIC MUSLIMS WHO TREAT WOMEN LIKE PEOPLE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TREAT EVEN ANIMALS, SO THIS TAKES ME VERY FAR AWAY FROM POSITIVE FEELINGS TO RELIGION

DT: Do you think that wearing chains, blood, make-up and all that stuff is important for you image?.
STARQUEEN: THE IMAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR ANY ARTIST. CHAINS FIT TO ROB HALFORD - HE IS A KING, BUT SOME ARTISTS RELY ONLY ON THE IMAGE AND THE MUSIC ITSELF SUCKS. THE MAKE UP IS A WONDERFUL THING BUT I DON´T USE IT AT ALL IN THE DAYS. I AM JUST TO BUSY AND AS A STUDIO MUSICIAN, I DON´T NEED IT SO MUCH. BUT I WOULD NOT GO OUT ON STAGE WITHOUT MAKE UP.

DT: Your musical influences?.
STARQUEEN: CLASSICAL MUSIC, MUSICALS AND ROCK OPERAS, HEAVY METAL, ORIENTAL FOLKLORE, FLAMENKO.

DT: Your musical productions? (include rehearsals, demos, etc…) If you have more recording than those appearing above.
STARQUEEN: MY FIRST RECORDED ALBUM - TRIANGLE, THEN TWO OFFICAL DEMOS WITH MYSTICAL - WITCH AND ORACLE, STARQUEEN-FAITHBRINGER, STARQUEEN - YOUR TRUE SELF, NOCTURNAL PROJECT FROM BULGARIA - UNTIL THE EVIL SLEEPS, ( IT IS A GOTHIC SONG), TRIBUTE TO GARY MOORE - EMPTY ROOMS, WINTERLONG -(THE ONE THEY ARE RECORDING NOW) A SONG CALLED OBLIVION. IT IS A VERY COOL VOCAL TRIO, CONDITION RED II - EXILE. RIGHT NOW I AM REHURCING A BALLAD CALLED REQUIEM, IT IS AGAINST THE WAR FOR A PROJECT OF LARS ERIC MATTSSON. AND I USED TO SING SOME BACK VOCALS FOR THE LAST WINTERLONG ALBUM - THE SECOND COMING.

DT: Are you into computers? If you are, what kind of computers do you use PC, Mac or Sinclair ZX-81, Atari 800 XL, Commodore Vic 20?.
STARQUEEN: I AM USING PC AND I AM SPENDING QUITE A LONG TIME IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER TO WORK WITH GRAPHICS AND KEEP MY DAILY COMMUNICATIONS.

DT: How did the idea of "FAITHBRINGER" album?.
STARQUEEN: FAITHBRINGER IS A VERY SOCIAL AND OCULTISTIC ALBUM. THE NAME CAME OUT WHEN I ALL MY DREAMS FELL APART AND I WAS ALL ALONE WITHOUT A BAND AND MONEY AND NOTHING AT ALL, BUT THEN I GOT IN TOUCH WITH LION MUSIC AND MADE A CONTRACT WHICH WAS LIKE A MIRACLE. IT BORUGHT ME SO MUCH FAITH, SO I FOUGHT DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES AND HERE I AM NOW - STRONGER THAN EVER.... HA HA!

DT: What topics do you consider in your lyrics?.
STARQUEEN: SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER ME AS SATANSIT - CUZ THEY ARE LIMITED I THINK... HA HA! I AM A VERY GOOD PERSON, BUT JUST A HUMAN BEING THAT GIVE ALL FROM ITS SOUL TO BRING FIATH. MY MUSIC IS MADE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS - TO HELP PEOPLE TO FAITH FOR THEIR DREAMS, TO STAND BY THEIR VISIONS AND IDEAS. MY LYRICAS ARE ABOUT LIFE, MAGIC, EXISTANCE, LOVE AND LUST, LIES AND ILUSIONS... THEY ARE QUITE IMPORTANT FOR STARQUEEN CUZ ALL THE MUSIC IS BUILT AROUND THEM.

DT: Are you into Black Magic?.
STARQUEEN: I HAVE TRIED. BUT IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO DEFINE BLCK AND WHITE MAGIC. I THINK THE MAGIC IS IN EACH OF US. MY MAGIC IS TO CREAT AESTETHIC AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS AROUND ME. STARQUEENS MUSIC - THIS IS MY MIGHTIEST SPELL. I DON'T BELIEVE INTO PEOPLE GATHERING AND CASTING A BLACK SPELL AND DRINKING BLOOD. THISIS RIDICULOUS, IF THEY TAKE IS SERIOUS. YOU KNOW MAGIC COMES FROM INDIA AND THEIR RELIGION. IT UNIFIES ALL THE ANCIENT SCIENCES, SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VAMPIRES AND SHIT... HA HA!

DT: How is a gig with STAR QUEEN?.
STARQUEEN: I FEEL BETTER ON STAGE THAN IN A STUDIO. BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE LUCK TO BE A MEGA EXPENSIVE PRODUCTION LIKE EVANECANCE FOR EXAMPLE, BUT AS DIFFERENCE OF THEM, WE CAN PLAY LIVE. IT´S JUST THAT DON'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT I AM HAPPY WITH WHAT I HAVE.

DT: What do you know about Peruvian Scene?.
STARQUEEN: PLEASE FORGIVE ME, ARMANDO, BUT I DON´T KNOW THAT MUCH. I HAVE GOTTEN BIG INTEREST FROM SOUTH MERICA ABOUT STARQUEEN AND THIS BRINGS WARMTH IN MY HEART. I KNOW THAT THERE PEOPLE ARE VERY INTO HEAVY METAL AND STUFF, I HOPE SOMEDAY WE CAN GO TO PLY THERE...

DT: Your fave European bands?.
STARQUEEN: RHAPSODY, NIGHTWISH, RAINBOW, HELLOWEEN, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, FATES WARNING, ACCEPT, SCORPIONS, URIAH HEEP, LED ZEPPELIN, KING DAIMOND...

DT: What do you think about Voo - Doo, Black Magic, Satanism and UFOS?.
STARQUEEN: VOO-DOO SEEMS TO ME A KIND OF SERIOUS AND SCARY, MAY BE CUZ IT COMES FROM WILD AFRICA. I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE OTHERS - IF OYU ARE A STRONG PERSON YOU CAN LOOK THOSE STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND AOVID THEM WITH UNBELIEVING. I FIND IT ONLY A MNIPULATION OF MIND. UFOs - THIS IS VERY INTERSTING. WHEN I FIND TIME I ALWAYS RED OR WATCH DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THAT. I THINK IT IS SLEFISH AND STUPID THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN THINK THAT WE ON EARTH COULD BE THE ONE IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH AMERICA ARE FOUND LOTS OF PROOFS ABOUT THIS.

DT: Do you beleive in God?.
STARQUEEN: THERE IS A POSSIBLITY WE ALL TO BE JUST NA EXPERIMENT LIKE IN THE MOVIE MATRIX. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SUPREME POWER THAT HAS CREATED ALL THE ORDER IN THE UNIVERSE, BUT THIS IS NOT THAT NAIVE FANATIC BELIEF IN GODS, SO TYPICAL FOR ISLIAM AND CHRISTIANITY.

DT: What topics do you trade in your songs?.
STARQUEEN: MOSTLY THAT THE HUMAN INDIVIDUALITY NEEDS RESPECT...

DT: Do you know "PELU" CARCAGNO?.
STARQUEEN: NO, SORRY!

DT: Where and how you knew to THORBJORN ENGLUND?. Do you know his old band?.
STARQUEEN: WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER VIA MAI AT THE END OF 2001 WHEN WE STARTED TO BUILD UP FAITHBRINGER FROM MY ACOUSTIC DEMOS. WEL,, ABOUT HIS OTHER BAND WINTERLONG. EVEN THIS EVENING WE WERE BABECUING WITH THE GUYS FROM THE BAND... HA HA! THEY ARE COOL, SOME ARE BIT CRAZY... HE HE HE!

DT: Tell me about the original STAR QUEEN's line - up.
STARQUEEN: AS WE ARE NOT SO COMMERCIAL BAND WE DON´T HAVE A CONSTANT TEAM. WE DO GTHER STUDIO MUSICIANS FOR EVERY ALBUM AS WELL AS FOR WINTERLONG, BUT I THINK THE MEMBERS AS THEY ARE NOW CAN LAST VERY LONG IN THE TEAAMS. IT DEENDS ON THEIR PERSONAL PLANS ALSO. RIGHT NOW WE ARE - ME - STELLA TORMANOFF(VOCALS, LYRICS, SONGWRITING), THORBJORN ENGLUND(GUITARS AND KEYBOARDS), PETER UVÉN(BASS), MATS HOLMA (DRUMS).

DT: Do you like NIGHTWISH?.
STARQUEEN: YES, I REALLY DO. I THINK THEY ARE VERY STYLISH AND COOL. I AM TIRED OF UNECCESSARY VIRUOSITY, SO THEIR ELEGANT AND MELODICAL KEYBOARDS, GOOD LYRICAS, CATCHY AND MINDBLOWING GUITAR RIFFS AND MIGHTY VOCALS ARE WONDERFUL. I DON'T REALY LIKE THAT TARIA USEAS LESS AND LESS OPERA SINGING WHICH IS HER POWER. THAY SOUND GREAT LIVE ALSO.

DT: Do you have the recordings from your old bands availables?.
STARQUEEN: NOT RELEASED, BUT I WILL SEND SOME TO YOU AND AT OUR WEBSITES www.starquee.net AND www.faithbringer.com THERE ARE AVAILABLE OSME OF THEM.

DT: Is "CHORRI" PALACIOS a friend of yours?.
STARQUEEN: NOW... HUH.. EMBARASSING! HOW IS HE?

DT: Is it true that in your teenage years besides palying in Metal bands, you worked as a nurse in a Mental Hospital?.
STARQUEEN: HA HA HA! WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT? NO, I HAVE PHOBIA OF HOSPITALS ACTUALLY... HE HE! I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A DISTRIBUTOR OF COSMETICS AND THIS IS WHAT I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK. I´VE NEVER REALLY LIKED IT.

DT: Were you into Punk Rock? What do you think of the Punk Rock Scene of the Late 70's?.
STARQUEEN: NO. I DON'T REALLY LIKE PUNK, BUT I LIKE A FEW SONGS OF BILLY IDOL (NOW I'M QUITE TIRED OF THEM), I LIKE TOY DOLLS, AND A LITTLE OFFSPRING...

DT: Which one do you consider your best recording in all your career?.
STARQUEEN: ALL MY RECORDINGS FEEL LIKE MY OWN CHILDREN AND I LOVE THEM, BUT FROM A PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW, THIS ALBUM YOUR TRUE SELF IS THE BEST AS A PRODUCTION AND THE MUSIC EXPRESSES THE LYRICS AND THE CONCEPT PERFECTLY. OF COURSE, NOTHING CAN BE COMPLETELY PERFECT, BUT THIS IS THE BST I HAVE DONE.

DT: What can you tell me about "DEVIL'S DANCE" video?
STARQUEEN: ....HA HA! THIS VIDEO IS A REHURSAL WE MADE THIS WINTER. AND A FRIEND OF OURS SHOT IT WITH HIS PERSONAL CAMERA AND THEN HE MADE THE VIDEO. ALL THE GUYS FROM THE BAND WERE PATHING THE PREVIUS NIGHT, SO THEY HAD A BIT HANGOVER. WE ADDED IT TO THE SITE JUST FOR FUN. PLEASE, DON´T TAKE IT SERIOUS! ;-p

DT: Of all your productions, which one has given you the most satisfaction?.
STARQUEEN: I THINK FAITHBRINGER - I HAD SO MUCH ENERGY AND FAITH THERE. I FELT LIKE ALL MY DREAMS WIL COME TRUE, LIKE I COULD OVERCOME ANYHTING. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT THE PRODUCTION IT COULD HAVE BEEN, I WA VERY EXCITED LIKE ALL THE MUSICIANS IN THE TEAM. IT IS A VERY POSITIVE WORK.

DT: Your future plans?.
STARQUEEN: I AM PLANNING TO STUDY IN A UNIVERSITY HERE IN SWEDEN, BUT NOT MUSIC. I THINK IT IS TOO MANY JUNK PEOPLE IN THIS AREA. WE ARE GONG TO PLAY AS IT COMES- I HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS AND LYRICS BUT RIGHT NOW I WILL TAKE A REST OF MY OWN PROJECTS., BUT THERE COME OTHERS FROM TIME TO TIME.

DT: Your last growl for
STARQUEEN: BE YOUR TRUE SELF! Stars bless you and your dreams!

DT: Readers….. where can they find your stuff?.
STARQUEEN: IN OUR SITES WHICH I ALREADY MENTIONED ABOVE, THERE ARE LOTS OF LINKS TO ON-LINE SHOPS ALSO IN www.lionmusic.com I DONT THINK THE LABEL HAS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR PERU, BUT THEY HAVE FOR CHILIE, IF IT WORKS, I DON'T KNOW. THEIR SITE IS www.cdk.cl

Thanks for the interview! Very interesting questoins! keep in touch!

Stars bless you! 
Stella Tormanoff
www.starqueen.net

www.faithbringer.com

www.thorbjornenglund.com