Can you present us the band ?
Candiria is Carley Coma ( vocals) Kenneth Schalk ( drums ) Michael Macivor ( bass ) Steve Fakelman ( guitars ) Eddie Ortiz ( guitars )

I read you had an car accident with the whole band... what can ou tell us about that ?
We were hit by an 18 wheeler truck while on tour in september of 2002. The van flipped over 4 or 5 times ejecting my band members out of the vehicle. The van then proceeded to sked for about 75 feet upside down. It was a horrifying experience. there was blood everywhere. It's a miracle that we all came out alive.

Did it change the way you make music ?
I think so. Instead of just of focusing on the technical aspect of song writing we started experimimenting with the emotional and melodic aspects of writing a song. it was a natural evolution that needed to happen. If this accident didn't happen we wouldn't have this album. It would sound completely different.

Is the car on your album yours after the accident ?
Yes. That's the van we used to tour in.

we thought it was important to put it on the cover in order to give our fans an idea of what we went through and to help put closure to the whole incident.

How did you decide to continue with Candiria after that ?
We just knew that we had to go on. We were given another shot at life and what better way to express that than through music.

Do you think that your album “What doesn't kill you would have been different without this accident ?
The accident made this album. It sinspired every song and lyric. It gave us the freedom to break away from what we were expected to do on every album. I've been wanting to use melody for awhile but was concerned of what our fans might think but after the accident i realized that if i didn't sing i'd be selling my self short and selling my self out.

I found it less jazzy than the other, I am right ? was it intentional ?
we didn't want to put a jazz part on the album just for the sake of putting it on there. We're known for our unpredictability, so to put a jazz part on there woul

d be doing what everyone expected us to do. The next album might have more jazz on it. I don't know. Every song should naturaly eveolve and not be forced.

Why did you choose to incorporate Hip Hop song in this reccord ?
It felt right to do so. Hip hop is a very big part of New York and urban culture so we felt it was necessary to express that side of us on what doesn't kill you.

You have a lot of influences but what is the main one?
Sepultura, Metallica, Miles Davis Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson and parliament funkadelic, just to name a few.

When will you come in France?
We'll be in france in september. We'll be on tour with Devil Driver and All that remains. It should be a great time.

What is for you the spirit of metal ?
The spirit of metal in my opinion is agression and a way to get out all of your frustrations

The last word is yours…….
Keep an open mind to music whether it's metal or opera. A good song is a good song.


Carley Coma