WRIF Virtual Rock Room with Thunderwoman's Guernica Mancini
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00:00Thank you so much for watching Riff TV. Now, this interview is obviously with video, but I don't interview everybody on Zoom.
00:07That's why I put it on my Talkin' Rock with Meltdown podcast. We talk to rock artists from all over the genre.
00:13So check out Talkin' Rock with Meltdown wherever you get your podcasts. And now to today's video interview.
00:20Well, thanks so much for joining us. How are you?
00:23I'm great. We have a day off and we're in some parking lot in Amarillo.
00:30Oh, is that right? Yeah. You were just here in Detroit not that long ago. Are you still on the Scorpions tour?
00:37Yeah, it's well, it ends the 21st of October, I think. Yeah. So we have a few more weeks left.
00:45Yeah, that is that is badass. I saw the I saw the video of you guys on this tour is unbelievable.
00:51I saw like, you know, when you first met the band and stuff. How exciting was that?
00:56It was it was incredibly excited. I mean, as you can see in all those videos, I'm always like such an awkward nerd.
01:02But a tall nerd. I mean, everyone commented on that being that, you know, a little taller than Klaus.
01:10But no, it's been amazing. They've been so great and just awesome people to meet.
01:16And it's very inspiring. They're just so talented and legends. And they're also so nice, like really nice people.
01:24They've really taken care of us so well on this tour, like them and their crew, like everyone is amazing.
01:29So I'm hoping that we get to do more things with Scorpions.
01:34Yeah, I mean, I mean, how cool is that? That is awesome.
01:36I think the Scorpions might have been one of the first like major bands I got a picture with, like way back in the day.
01:42You weren't even thought of then when I met those guys for the first time.
01:45But you say you say you're taller than Klaus, but who isn't taller than Klaus?
01:48I think I'm five foot six. I'm taller than he is. All right.
01:51Yeah, I'm five eight. But yeah.
01:56So how does first of all, tell us a little bit about the history of your band, because you're relatively new over here in the States, right?
02:03Have you been over here before?
02:05Well, we did the Kiss Cruise 2018.
02:09OK.
02:11And then we did the Kiss.
02:13We got invited back by Kiss Army to do a show at their pre-party for the cruise in Miami.
02:20So it's been kind of like nothing like that we put out too much because it's been, yeah, like kind of under the radar, but part of the Kiss family.
02:31Yeah, no, this is our first North American tour.
02:34And it's really exciting to get to do it at this level.
02:37Like, I feel like we jumped some steps and we're fully aware and we're just really trying to be grateful.
02:43I mean, we are grateful and so happy about getting this opportunity and fully aware of how amazing it is and really taking advantage of every second of it and trying to deliver, you know, the best we can every show.
02:58So people understand that we are just serving on this opportunity.
03:01Yeah, no doubt.
03:03So now, were you guys on the tour when Whitesnake, did Whitesnake play?
03:08They played a few shows on this tour, didn't they?
03:11Or no?
03:11No, they didn't do it.
03:13When they announced the tour, sorry, I just found something.
03:17When they announced the tour, we were all on the bill.
03:21It was, you know, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and then we were the, I don't know what they call it, but like first supporting band or whatever.
03:30But we've been on the tour since they, you know, announced it.
03:33And then we actually never really, we haven't gotten any like, you know, inside information about what happened with, I guess, David Coverdale's health.
03:45But I'm hoping that he's doing better, whatever it might have been.
03:51But yeah, they were supposed to be part of it and then they canceled for obvious reasons.
03:56And yeah, they've been, I don't know how to say this without sounding weird, but it's been kind of like a blessing in disguise for us as a small band.
04:09Because we got a little longer set and the Scorpions crew has really made an effort to take care of us and, you know, help us as much as they can with everything they can.
04:20Like even having a camera guy film our show and having a, like a proper lighting show and all these things that I don't necessarily know is the norm for an opening band to get.
04:32And so we're very happy and just like really, yeah, so grateful that they are so nice and, you know, really care about us having a good time and a good experience.
04:44Yeah.
04:44It means so much.
04:46Yeah, no question.
04:47And yeah, I was thinking about that earlier, you know, when Whitesnake gets off this tour.
04:52Yeah, it's cool.
04:52The Scorpions said, they give you a little bit more time.
04:55And then it's like, you know, just kind of does it put more pressure on you guys or no?
04:59Hmm, I haven't felt any necessarily, no, I haven't felt any pressure.
05:06I don't think any of us, I mean, yes, it is our first arena tour, but we're pretty, if there's something that we're really good at and really used to doing is performing.
05:16I mean, we, we, we toured extensively throughout Europe, you know, small club shows, big festivals and everything.
05:25So I, I know that we were ready for this opportunity.
05:29We were just give us opportunity and we're going to make sure to make the best out of it.
05:34And that's kind of how it felt like, so no, I haven't felt any more pressure, just excited to get 10 more minutes.
05:42Yeah, there you go.
05:43Yeah, that's cool.
05:4410 more minutes on stage.
05:45So what is your experience been so far, since you said this is kind of like your first proper North American tour of the American crowds, the, you know, American music, just the whole American experience.
05:59And Canadian, by the way, and Canadian, you guys have played some Canadian shows too, so.
06:03Yeah, exactly.
06:05I mean, I actually, I've gone to school here.
06:08I went to school to Adam I in Los Angeles.
06:12So I, I've actually lived in Los Angeles before and a half years.
06:15It was, um, a while back.
06:18So I kind of had an experience already, like, I already love the country, the people, everything, the culture, you know.
06:24Uh, and I think all of the girls, we all feel the same way.
06:28We've been really welcomed.
06:30Like, every, like, I, I'd say, like, we're getting, like, a standing ovation on almost every show, which is crazy and mind-blowing.
06:39So people here are clearly enjoying what we're doing.
06:43And, uh, yeah, and we love them so much more for it.
06:48But, yeah, no, we love America and Canada was awesome as well.
06:51And, yeah, we're just having a really, really good time.
06:54I really love how people are very warm and welcoming.
06:57That's something that is not as common in, like, Sweden and in the North.
07:02You know, you need to know people for them to be like that.
07:05And here it's very, like, everyone just invites you in.
07:08And, like, yeah, we just make friends along the way, which is really fun.
07:13And I really appreciate that about people here.
07:17And I must say that in Texas, it seems like everyone seems to like rock everywhere we go.
07:23But in Texas, it seems, like, even more intense.
07:25Like, they really live for rock.
07:28Like, at least the audience here have been crazy.
07:31And that's really fun.
07:32Yeah, no, that's cool.
07:34So, growing up in Sweden and stuff, where do you get your musical influences from?
07:38Because what you guys seem to do, in my mind, is, like, kind of a throwback.
07:42Do you get that stuff from your parents, from older relatives, or what?
07:46Um, I would say it's a combo.
07:49We all have really different musical backgrounds.
07:53But I think most of us have been, like, we've grown up with parents that listen to a lot of different music.
07:58My parents always listened to a lot of, they were, like, the Beatles camp.
08:01So, we had Beatles music at home.
08:04And a lot of Latin music.
08:07And, yeah, my family's from Uruguay.
08:08So, it's a very, like, mixed pot of music there.
08:13But, um, I'd say that I actually, like, rock was something I found on my own.
08:19And the person that I am, I always try to look into history and, like, like, with whatever genre that I'm into at the moment.
08:27Or, because I listen to all kinds of music.
08:29I, as a younger person, I always try to see, like, for example, in, like, hip-hop and stuff, where they're, like, what sample did they use here, for example?
08:39And then you find some soul.
08:41And you find some Motown song.
08:44You know, all these things.
08:45So, that's kind of how it's been for me.
08:47And, yeah, so I found rock on my own.
08:50And it's just funny.
08:53When I started writing my own music, it was all blues rock.
08:57So, I don't know.
08:57It kind of just came from my heart.
08:59I think from the mixture of music in my background, rock was just where my heart was at.
09:06And then I started trying to sing more, like, 80s songs, 80s rock songs.
09:14Like, I, specifically, Sebastian Bach, you know, Skid Row.
09:19Yeah.
09:20I felt I could really relate to him as a singer.
09:23Um, and I started trying to sing Skid Row songs and really found my own voice doing that.
09:31So, yeah, it's a long story.
09:33But, yeah, a lot of different styles have been in passing.
09:39So, for somebody that might be listening to this or watching this for the first time that's never, you know, heard you guys before, like, how do you describe a Thunder Mother?
09:49I'd say we have a very, our DNA is ACDC.
09:53Absolutely.
09:54That's, when Filippa started the band, that's what she, um, she wanted to do, like, an, you know, an ACDC type of band.
10:03So, that's something that we're always carrying with us.
10:06But, um, we now, I mean, I didn't really tell you the story of the band, but me and the drummer, Emily, joined the band in 2017.
10:16And once we had joined the band, we then all started writing music together.
10:20And we all have different backgrounds.
10:22Like, Emily is a huge Iron Maiden fan.
10:25And I'm a, I'm a big Prince fan.
10:28And, like, we all have really different, you know, favorites.
10:30Uh, and that is now coming out in the songwriting.
10:34So, it's a lot of, like, different, like, I've always wanted to have, like, those kind of rap-y, like, you know, Guns N' Roses, like, uh, vibe songs, whatever.
10:44And we have a few of those now.
10:47Uh, but, yeah, it's, it's a mix.
10:51Um, yeah, my brain is, I'm super scattered brain.
10:55I don't remember the question.
10:56I just went off.
10:57No, I was just curious, like, like, how you would describe your band as someone that's never heard it.
11:01That's all.
11:01It's like, you know, I, I kind of feel like, like, what you're saying.
11:03It's like, kind of a throwback to just straight-ahead rock bands of, of particularly the 80s.
11:08That's why, that's why I feel when I, when I hear it.
11:10Yeah, the thing is, I think the 80s thing is coming more and more, but initially we were more, like, oh, 70s.
11:17I mean, we all, like, you know, the, the Scorpions crew, they say that, they think that we are a mix between Kiss and ABBA, which I've never heard before.
11:26And I thought that was really interesting.
11:28I don't know if it's our melodies and our, uh, you know, the harmonies that we do or whatever it is, but I, I think that's a huge compliment.
11:37Um, but yeah, some people to keep it simple usually, and you, you won't hear it as much on the Scorpius because we try to do like, um, a more mid-tempo vibe set because we don't want to, we don't want to go full-on crazy.
11:55You know, I need to match the opening band.
11:57Uh, but I'd say it's a combo between ACDC and Motorhead initially, and then that has evolved and it's more like you can hear a little Van Halen, little Maiden, little Sepulid.
12:08Like, it's such a mix of everything.
12:11Now, all the bands you're mentioning are all, uh, male bands.
12:14What, what kind of female bands?
12:15I mean, the exception of ABBA, I suppose.
12:17But, uh, I mean, are you into like, um, you know, Pretty Reckless, uh, Hailstorm, that kind of thing?
12:21To be completely honest, I had never heard of the Hailstorm before I joined the band when people started comparing my voice to Lizzie Hale's voice, um, which is a super nice compliment.
12:33But I hadn't really heard of them.
12:35Pretty Reckless, I think they're really awesome.
12:38Um, uh, but yeah, no, I, I guess inspiration-wise, unfortunately, there hasn't been a lot of female artists that inspired this particular project.
12:51I mean, yes, Janis Joplin is always in the back of my mind, but, um, in the way I perform and like try to always bring, you know, real feelings to whatever I'm singing and all these things.
13:04Um, but yeah, maybe the girls, I think both the guitar player, I mean, uh, Filippa and Mona are guitar players, are, uh, bass player.
13:13I'm guessing they've probably been inspired by Joan Jadd as well.
13:16I mean, she is a legend, but, uh, I'm hoping that it's going to be that we're part of like, you know, changing that for future, you know, girls and stuff like that.
13:28Because I, I didn't find, I personally didn't find that many musicians that I could relate to, you know, vocally females.
13:36That's why I said like Sebastian Bach was one of the first singers that I was just like, okay, I, I, I feel like I sing more like he does.
13:43Uh, and I couldn't really find myself in other females, you know, rock singer, female rock singers vibes at that time.
13:54Um, and that has changed with time, but, um, yeah, no, um, unfortunately a lot of male inspiration, but I think we're mixing it up and making it alone.
14:06And yeah, I don't know what to say about that.
14:08Yeah.
14:08I mean, that's okay.
14:09You know, I mean, you know, to each their own, I wasn't sure if, you know, if you had grown up on a lot of female singers like Stevie Nicks or, you know, that, that kind of thing or heart or whatever the case is.
14:18But, uh, I love Stevie Nicks and when I was a kid, I love the Spice Girls.
14:24So yeah, there was a girl power right there, but it's not rock.
14:27Yeah.
14:28Right.
14:28Well, Hey, you know what, if, if you're singing, I talked to, I'm trying to remember who it was.
14:31Uh, somebody says that they hear a lot of pop music because their kids are around.
14:35It was a Michael star actually from a steel Panther.
14:38And, you know, so he, he says he hears a lot of pop music and, and, and his, in his day-to-day life, but of course, you know, he's a metal guy.
14:44So it's some of, some of that stuff kind of influences him a little bit in singing as well.
14:48Yeah.
14:49I think it's good as a musician to be open.
14:52A good song is a good song, regardless of the genre.
14:55Uh, so for me, I'm very like mood based, you know?
14:59Um, so yeah, I listened to a lot of different things.
15:03So you said that you've been here in America before for several years and stuff.
15:06I have the other girls and if not, what, what do they think about, you know, this, the, just the, the general aspect of touring through this country?
15:13Um, I mean, long distances.
15:16Is it's, uh, I mean, that's crazy.
15:19We're really happy that we're on a nightliner so we can sleep and, you know, we can travel the night and that, you know, enjoy the days.
15:28That's really major.
15:29But, uh, the girls are loving it.
15:31They're, we're all really enjoying it.
15:33We get to see so many different places, walk around, just explore.
15:37And, and, uh, and on top of that, obviously play arenas, which is huge.
15:41So it's, it's all good on our side.
15:44We're just very happy.
15:46Now, do you guys, do you guys, do you guys watch this?
15:48Do you guys watch the Scorpion show nightly or have you seen it?
15:51You're kind of, you kind of move along.
15:53No, I've seen it.
15:55It depends.
15:55Uh, because now we've been starting to do our own signing sessions straight after the show.
16:00So the first weeks I did see them, um, a lot and I love their show and it's so freaking good and inspiring.
16:09Um, yeah, they're really impressive guys.
16:12Like you can't believe that they're in the seventies and jumping around and having that amount of energy.
16:17It's like, I wish I can be like that when I'm in my seventies.
16:20Uh, so I've seen a lot of it and I'm hoping to catch even more and, you know, but we have been doing our own signing sessions.
16:27So while they're playing, we have to like shower, get ready and then go.
16:32So it's like still work kind for us.
16:35You know, we still have to get stuff done to maximize this whole thing.
16:41Right.
16:41Yeah.
16:42You guys got to take advantage of this.
16:43This is a great opportunity for you guys.
16:45I, you know, I, I, I kind of know the story a little bit and I was like, wow, this is cool.
16:49So, so what kind of upbringing did you have?
16:51Uh, I have a daughter who's 21 and I always tell her, I go, you do what you want to do.
16:55You do your thing.
16:55You know, don't let no one stop you.
16:57Did your parents always, uh, uh, give you some advice like that and always try to push you forward?
17:03Absolutely.
17:04My, um, let's see here.
17:06Well, my mom was always kind of like, you guys have to get an education.
17:09That was really important, but she didn't really care.
17:12You know, as long as it was like, I got educated.
17:15Like I did, uh, um, I got the associate's degree in vocal performance and then I did
17:22music business and all these things.
17:23She's just happy that I have some degrees and like, I'm good, you know?
17:28Um, but I, yeah, she's always just pushed me, but I've always been very stubborn and
17:35known what I want.
17:36And that's something that she tells me now that she's very proud of the fact that I've
17:40like known that I wanted to do this since I was very, very young and I've just always
17:45gone ahead and I guess been very stubborn with my dreams.
17:49And then like, I guess in high school, whereas was when I personally just like, kind of had
17:55to be honest with myself and be like, you need to, you need to really try to do the music
18:00thing because that's where my heart has always been.
18:03And I know it's tough, but I think it's, it's really important to not like live with
18:09regret.
18:09And at that age, I mean, it's better to really just try and, you know, you might fail, but
18:15at least you tried and you don't have to look back on your life and be like, Oh damn, I
18:19didn't do that.
18:19I should have done that.
18:20Like, that's been such a big fear for me.
18:23Uh, so yeah, I guess it's like my own drive, but also having people around me that supports
18:30the dream and, you know, yeah, not, I'm the only one doing music in my family.
18:35So I'm like, I'm the black sheep and I think they've been questioning my choices quite a
18:40lot, but, um, it's starting to pay off.
18:43So it's good.
18:44Yeah, there you go.
18:45I mean, Hey, you're touring with the Scorpions.
18:47There's worse places to be in the world.
18:49Yeah, definitely.
18:52Oh, that's so cool.
18:53Well, just a couple of things here for you, uh, left.
18:55Um, first of all, uh, what do you guys have coming up in the future after this tour?
18:58Are you guys, uh, going to be, uh, finished for the year or what do you guys have going
19:02on as far as the band, uh, uh, any new music, anything, uh, going, coming down the pike?
19:07Well, we, uh, we just released the new album album on the 19th of August.
19:11So we're going to try to work.
19:13I thought it was earlier in the year.
19:14Okay.
19:14Gotcha.
19:15No, no, but we might, we want to do, uh, I think, uh, as a video for the ballad, uh,
19:21borrowed time, which I think we're able to release the end of October.
19:26But as far as shows goes, we have like, you know, one-offs here and there.
19:33And then when you were going to take a break and then we have a more extensive European
19:38tour, I think from the end of February to May.
19:42So yeah, we're going to just tour.
19:44Can I swear?
19:45Yeah.
19:46Yeah.
19:47You're fine.
19:47We're going to tour the album, which we were not allowed to do on with heat waves.
19:52So now we're going to really do play as much as we can live with this new album.
19:58Yeah.
19:59The last record came on 2020, if I'm not mistaken.
20:02Correct.
20:03Yeah.
20:04Yeah.
20:04And then of course, yeah, the pandemic, you know, hits and it's like, it just sits there.
20:08Right.
20:08And so the new records out now this summer.
20:10And so you guys at least get to go out and play some of that stuff.
20:13Are you, you talk about a European tour, are you guys going to be going out by yourself
20:16or are you hopping on a tour like you're doing now?
20:20We'll see.
20:21Oh, okay.
20:22I mean, we, no, no, no, but we, we definitely, we have our own thing.
20:28Our own headlining tour in Europe.
20:31That's a for sure thing.
20:33And then let's see whatever happens, happens.
20:35All right.
20:35Final thing here for you.
20:36Who's the greatest Swedish hockey player to ever play in the NHL?
20:42Hockey.
20:43I don't watch hockey.
20:45My knowledge of hockey is like mighty ducks.
20:47What?
20:49It's Nick Lindstrom.
20:50Nick Lindstrom.
20:51That's it.
20:52End of discussion.
20:53Nick Lindstrom.
20:54What's his name that does the commercial for head and shoulders in Sweden?
21:00Oh, I think he's like a, yeah.
21:03Lundqvist.
21:04I think is that what it's called in hockey.
21:07Yeah.
21:08Lundqvist from New York Rangers.
21:10Yeah.
21:10Henrik Lundqvist.
21:12Henrik Lundqvist.
21:13Is that his name?
21:14Yeah.
21:15But yeah, but I guess, yeah, I don't know that much about hockey.
21:18I really like those movies though.
21:20They're very like the big part of my childhood.
21:23Which one?
21:25The Mighty Ducks.
21:26Oh, Mighty Ducks.
21:27Okay.
21:27I got you.
21:28Yeah.
21:28Well, here in Detroit, of course, we had, we had Johan Franzen and Nick Lindstrom and
21:35Thomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg.
21:37We've had all sorts of Swedes here.
21:39So.
21:40So many Swedish hockey players.
21:42That's so cool.
21:43Yeah.
21:44Well, listen, good luck to you guys.
21:45And I'm sorry I missed you a couple of weeks ago.
21:47I was going to, I had tickets to the show.
21:49And then I don't know if you knew when you, when you played here in Detroit, but there
21:53was a big storm that blew through the day beforehand and it was day number two of not
21:58having any power in my house.
22:00So I opted to go home and try to get that role.
22:02And we, so, but I missed the show, but I'm sure in Detroit Rock City was, it was just fine.
22:09Yeah.
22:09I mean, that was the one in Pine Up, wasn't it?
22:12Yeah.
22:13Yeah.
22:14I mean, that show went, we didn't notice anything.
22:16I, oh, wow.
22:17I'm so shocked that you guys went through that.
22:21I hope it's, I mean, it's better now.
22:24Oh yeah.
22:24Everything's fine.
22:25But I just had to kind of get, you know, I had to take care of my family and my house.
22:28And I, you know, the Scorpions people were so nice.
22:31They got me hooked up with tickets and then I emailed them.
22:33I'm like, I can't go.
22:34I got to get this, you know, taken care of.
22:36But I wish I would have seen you guys.
22:37Cause I, cause there is a big buzz about you guys playing and a lot of people have been impressed.
22:43Yeah.
22:43Well, thank you.
22:44I mean, I'm glad to hear that, but I do, I am.
22:48I feel very proud of how hard we're working and, and, you know, the response from the audience that are pretty clear and it's really fun.
22:58I feel like people really enjoy the kind of rock that we do and, and there's not many bands doing it anymore.
23:05So let's hope we're part of some sort of rock and roll revival with just like fun and good time rock and roll.
23:13That's right.
23:13Hey, it's all about having a good time.
23:15So, well, Miss Mancini, thanks so much for your time.
23:18I appreciate it.
23:20Thank you for having me.