Interview with Vocalist Jane Odintsova of Imperial Age

March 27, 2023

Interview with Vocalist Jane Odintsova of Imperial Age

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Jane! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Jane Odintsova: Hi Mick! Nice to meet you!

CV: The pleasure is always mine.

CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
Jane: I’ve never been to America, so I can’t say anything about it, but for other parts of the world - I saw that Metal unites people. Fans may view it differently in their minds, feel it differently - but it is still one big Metal family and when you meet a stranger who appears to be a metalhead, interaction immediately becomes friendlier, as if you are from the same club.

CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
Jane: I believe it is different for each person. If I try to generalize it somehow, it would probably be the feeling of freedom which Metal music gives to its listeners. I’ve noticed two different types of music listeners - most people use music as a background while they do something else; others (myself included) take it as a book. You can’t read a book while working on a different text or doing something else - reading a book is your main occupation at the moment. Also the visual part is very important. People may not realize it, but they also get hooked by these visuals.

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
Jane: For me as an artist it is uncomfortable. For me as a fan it is absolute hell. The situation is similar to the shades of colors. Everyone knows a number of basic colors, and we all use them every day without bothering ourselves to specify the exact shade of green we want the grass in our yard to be. It is confusing, because, for example, I see a band in recommendations, but this band is listed as some sub-genre unknown to me, so I would think that, probably, I won’t like it and, thus, won’t listen. But maybe there was something good.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
Jane: Well, people get scared easily. And this is sad. COVID now is a part of our lives, just as Flu. Get used to it. A lot of musicians (now and former musicians) switched to other ways of earning money, because the whole music industry suddenly stopped working. We thought that we lived in a digital world, in the world of internet, but for the music industry it appeared that it is much more offline than we used to think…. Offline shows were the main source of income for most musicians. Not only money-wise, but also the energy which we get from the crowd during the show, the attention of the fans. For Imperial Age, however, the last couple of years turned out to be very profitable, including two big on-line shows with huge success.

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
Jane: It is the combination of different things. It is the message that stands behind the music and the lyrics, it is our own energy which we put into our music…notes, melodies, words, pictures = information = energy, it is our openness and direct communication with our dear fans - so many people have written to us that our music changes their state of mind, encourages them to go on, to start new endeavors, helped them to overcome depression and so on. This is our investment into this Universe.

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
Jane: I think, all things mentioned above, in the previous section, will do here as well) We don’t copy other bands, we don’t follow trends blindly…there is nothing bad in following trends - it is a way to stay young…one of the ways. So we don’t do anything ‘artificial’…like some producer-based, 100% commercial projects. We convey a certain message, we share our own life principles, we share parts of the Knowledge that we possess. And it affects those, who are ready.

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
Jane:” there is no such thing as being unique”… in this case there should be the very first copy then, which was unique…. But okay, people have the right to think whatever they want. And others have their right to disagree. As I have already said, music/lyrics are information. Information does not follow the ‘conservation law’, which means that it can be created out of nothing and also it can be deleted. That’s why I believe that the music/artist can be truly unique.

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
Jane: There are definitely some life lessons to learn, but I don’t think they are somehow connected particularly to being in a Heavy Metal band. My favorite lesson, which I regard also as the main lesson for everyone, is called “Don’t be an asshole”. It works everywhere and it opens almost all doors.

CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
Jane: It is more a perception of the fans than the musicians.. at least that’s how it should be. A ‘Rock Star’ is a recognizable person whom a lot of people want to follow in terms of lifestyle, philosophy. You can’t name yourself a ‘rock star’ - this title must be earned.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming in 2023?
Jane: We will continue doing what we’ve been doing before…regardless of all the restrictions and madness. Humanity evolves and we shall help as long as we can.

CV: Thank you again Jane for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Jane: Thank you for your questions and for your interest in us! Stay Metal!

Check out Imperial Age at:
Official: https://www.imperial-age.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/imperialageofficial

Instagram: https://instagram.com/imperialage

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.