Fiona Snapple Talks About Working with MC Lars & Cowboy Coder, Signing with Audentes Records, and Covering Kate Bush, Harry Styles & Taylor Swift (The Witzard Interview)
Fiona Snapple, the Norwegian Black Metal singer turned Nerdcore & Hyperpop collaborator, emerged from Kristianstad, Norway's dreary depths during The Pandemic. With eight years of music under her belt, Fiona Snapple's clever name is a nod to both the Snapple drink and her black cat, Fiona. She signed with Audentes Records, collaborating with Cowboy Coder & MC Lars to blend spooky and high-tech sounds. Fiona fearlessly covers Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Kate Bush, and more, fusing Black Metal with Pop music. Fiona's chaotic process involves tearing tracks apart and adding screaming guitars, synths, and Black Metal elements. She draws inspiration from Mayhem, SOPHIE, MC Lars, and Cowboy Coder.
We recently got in contact with Fiona Snapple's label representatives and press agents online, who facilitated an interview with Fiona via email. Along with Fiona's interview question responses, her handlers recently sent us this statement: "Hey, Matt! Thanks for your patience! Fiona finally got back to us. She said she'd been busy with finals at Kristianstad University. We have included her answers below. Thank you again for giving her her first-ever press!" Check out our doom-y and gloomy, comprehensive interview down below the break, which has been lightly edited for general clarity. For those interested in keeping tabs on Fiona Snapple's Black Metal/Nightcore/Hyperpop-based exploits, we strongly suggest Following her on SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter, and YouTube.
I. How long have you been recording and releasing music as Fiona Snapple?
Fiona Snapple: Oh, darling, I've been in the music game since I was but a wee lass of 14, belting out Black Metal in my parents' basement. So, that would make it, what... eight years? I've been Fiona Snapple-ing around for about two years now, though. Time flies when you're having fun, or in my case, when you're scaring the Hell out of your neighbors.
II. What made you decide on the incredibly clever artist name of Fiona Snapple?
Snapple: The name? Oh, it's a delightful tale! I was drinking a Snapple, see, and my black cat, Fiona, jumped on my lap. I just thought, "Fiona Snapple, The Black Metal Queen!" It sounded just like an elegant debutante with a dark twist, doesn't it? Plus, it's got that cheeky nod to Fiona Apple, but I'm way more caffeinated.
III. How did you end up ultimately deciding to sign with Cowboy Coder's label, Audentes Records?
Snapple: Signing with Audentes Records, it's like a dream. I mean, who wouldn't want to work with Cowboy Coder & MC Lars? When I reached out to them during The Quarantine, I half expected them to say, "who's this Black Metal weirdo?," but they loved the idea of blending genres and next thing I knew, I was part of the family. It's a bit like moving from a haunted castle to a high-tech lair, but I love it because the spookiness is in Lars & Cowboy Coder's music.
IV. What prompted you to record and release charismatic covers of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero," Harry Styles' "As It Was," Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God,)" Drowning Pool's "Bodies" with MC Lars, and Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400" with Cowboy Coder?
Snapple: Well, why not? I mean, who says Black Metal & Pop can't mix? If a crocodile and a duck can have a baby, why not us? Plus, who could resist turning "Bodies" into a Nerdcore/Metal anthem or "Running Up That Hill [(A Deal with God)]" into a synth-laden, Black Metal tear-jerker? It's all about having fun and breaking the mold. Kate Bush meets Mayhem, anyone?
V. For those who have not yet heard your musical output, how would you attempt to best describe your musical style(s) and approach?
Snapple: My music is like a cocktail of darkness and delight; a bit like a Black Forest gâteau [cake] with a cherry on top. It's Black Metal meeting Hyperpop and all of a sudden, they're dancing the night away. And trust me, it's a party you don't want to miss. The sound is heavy, but the melodies and lyrics of these Pop songs we pick, oh, they're as sweet as candy.
VI. What do your typical recording, production, re-arranging, creation, etc. processes generally entail?
Snapple: My process is as chaotic as it sounds. I start with a track, immerse myself in it until I'm hearing it in my sleep and, then, I start tearing it apart. I add in a few screaming guitars, some Hyperpop synths, sprinkle in a bit of Black Metal, and voila! It's a bit like making a cake with ingredients you found in a haunted house. I, then, reach out to MC Lars & Cowboy Coder to add a bit of EDM energy and work on the drum arrangements and pretty soon, the neighbors are begging our landlords to let them out of their lease.
VII. How do you go about choosing which songs to cover and how similar and/or dissimilar to try and make them from the originals?
Snapple: Choosing covers is like finding a black pearl in an oyster, darling. I listen to a lot of music across genres, always thinking, "could I add some Snapple magic to this?" As for how similar they are, I try to maintain the soul of the original, while giving it a complete Black Metal/Hyperpop make-over. It's like turning Cinderella into a Goth princess.
VIII. What can you tell us about the plot behind and footage used within your music video for "Bodies" with MC Lars?
Snapple: For "Bodies" with MC Lars, we wanted something that was as wild and out-there as our sound. So, we decided to [make] an [Anime music video] (A.M.V.) using footage from the classic Anime, Another. As for the plot, well, let's just say, "bodies" do "hit the floor."
IX. Who or what would you readily cite as some of your greatest sources of personal inspiration and influence while creating your music?
Snapple: In terms of inspiration, it's a mix of the classic Black Metal legends, like Mayhem, the Hyperpop brilliance of artists, like SOPHIE, and the quirky Nerdcore & Punk artists, like MC Lars & Cowboy Coder. Of course, Norway’s endless winters and our 10,000 types of boredom, also, play a big role.
X. About how long does it take you to apply your Scandinavian Death Metal eye make-up on a daily basis?
Snapple: Oh, the Swedish Death Metal make-up? About an hour or so, depending on how many times I poke myself in the eye. It's a ritual, darling. You can't rush art and believe me, getting that perfect "spooky" eye is indeed an art. Plus, it's a great workout for my arms.
XI. So, has anyone from your camp heard just yet: how does Fiona Apple feel about Fiona Snapple?
Snapple: I can't say I've heard from Fiona Apple herself, but I'd love to know what she thinks! Maybe, she'd fancy a duet—a Snapple/Apple collab, if you will. That could be fun, right? Although, I'm not sure how she'd feel about my version of "Criminal" with hardstyle kick drums and guttural screams.
XII. What's planned next for Fiona Snapple?
Snapple: Next for Fiona Snapple? Oh, there are lots of exciting things coming up. I've got a few more collaborations in-the-works, including one with a certain Death Metal icon (I won't name names, but let's just say he's quite the Cannibal). I'm, also, planning a tour—"The Snapple Extravaganza” —where I'll be blending Black Metal, Hyperpop, and Nerdcore all in one night. It's going to be a blast, so watch this space!
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