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WMG Abby:' How's it like forming Anyma for the first time?

It's a long story... In 1991 we formed Amalgame a french techno-pop band until 1994. We started to write music together for the biggest and the most famous contest in Quebec (l'Empire des Futures Stars BUD CKOI FM )with three months to put together a show, composing the songs and learning them, we succeeded. We did a lot of shows and events in the French community, just to name a few :

L'Empire des Futures Stars BUD CKOI FM contest, 1992 edition.Energy BLACK LABEL CKMF FM contest, 1992 edition. Le Pouvoir de la chanson CJDM FM, radio contest, 1992 edition. The Muscular Dystrophy Canada Telethon, Montreal, September 6th, 1993 (on public television). La Releve Francophone contest, at Club Soda in Montreal. Assistance & help center from LUPA, at Ladauversiere parc in Montreal, 1993 edition. Le Festival d'Expression Libre de Laval, 1993 edition. Demo Maniac with Pascale Guilbault CISM FM, 1994 edition.

In 1993, we've been involved in a recording of a promotional CD compilation DEMO DE LUXE #3 which was distributed in 500 community radio stations throught Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. This CD gave us the opportunity to receive an invitation to represent Switzerland in the famous contest 'Eurovision', an invitation that we received from Alain Morrisod of the band Sweet People.

After Amalgame, we went into a more resourcing phase, exploring and studying different styles. It end it up with an addition of various instruments such as african and latin percussions, to add a tribal feel in our compositions.

In 1999 our band name was Mysteriah. We composed "Postmaster" for the opening scene of an Irish short film for childrens, and the song "Unique", in the style of "Edward Scissorhands" soundtrack. The result, an album quite different from track to track, more experimental.

During the year 2002, we came up with the first official Anyma album, a downtempo and atmospheric ambience combined with voices from the "old world cultures". This album was created for a project called "De l'autre cote", a suspence from "Nouvel-Age Films", an independant production team from Montreal. In 2003, we decided to put together all our best songs in a new album called "Volume 1". Since the release in 2004, we have been promoting the album via radio stations, labels, publications, websites, contests and different organisations through the world.

WMG: What does your music sound like?

People usually compare us to Enigma, Delerium, Conjure One and Dead can Dance.

WMG: Who are your musical influences?

Mainly from Brian Eno, Enya and Depeche Mode.

WMG: Any gigs going on?

Not at this moment, we are working on our next album Sensualis - Volume 2.

WMG: Where do you get your inspiration in writing your songs?

Each song has is own story, sometimes it's a feeling, a state of mind, sometimes it start from one sound we like and compose around it.

WMG: Would you say that Anyma is concentrating more of a French-Canadian feel in your music or you would like to venture out of that?

No, I don't think we have that French-Canadian feel in our music, actually it's more traditionnal then us, we are just creating the music as we feel it.

WMG: What's it like having your music in a movie soundtrack? Specifically "Speedbag"?

Great ! We are looking forward to repeat the experience.

WMG: How did you come up with the great music of your single, "I Am"?

We we're about to delete this song... We chose to modify it and put some light in it, and now you know the result.

WMG: I see a lot of upcoming musicians going the same path as yours, what can you offer that will differ you from those other artists?

Sensual ambient. Close your eyes and let yourself travel along with us and you will understand. Our music is our passion, it's our breath of life, we always re-invent ourselves when composing a new song. Everyday we push the frontier a little bit further.

WMG: How do you feel everytime you are compared all the time with "Enigma"?

Flattered, Michael Cretu is a great compositor which influenced a lot of people, it's always a pleasure to be compared to big names.

WMG: Any particular favorite from all the songs you wrote?

That's a hard one to answer, it's like asking which of your child do you prefer...

WMG: Why the name Anyma?

At the beginning it was just a song name, and I found it so beautiful that I proposed to Chrystian to be our bandname. It means the breath of life in latin.

WMG: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

We have found our style, our identity, our direction and nothing will stop us from success. I invite you to ask us the same question in 10 years!

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