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Lacuna Coil
 Lacuna Coil may have only been around for a little over a decade and may have only several albums released, but already the band have found the success of such a magnitude that most bands will only ever dream of. In fact, their third album 'Comalies' became Century Media's highest selling album at the time of release, and their latest, 'Karmacode', continues to rise in both critical and commercial success, even a year after its release.
So, exactly how well has 'Karmacode' been doing for the band then?
"It has been amazing", replies a delighted Cristina Scabbia, vocalist for the band. "It's sold a lot more than our previous album ['Comalies']. I have not been checking figures but it has sold about four times more in six months than our last album did in four years."
One would only need to read the opening statement to this interview and then do the maths to realise why this band are quite happy with the results. So I wonder aloud as to why there has been such a jump for the band? Cristina picks up quickly: "I think this is because there has of course been more work from Century Media, as well as more promotion. As you get bigger there are more interviews, and more interviews actually getting published, and of course more people end up approaching the band. Century Media also have distribution with EMI now.
This obviously also makes a big difference.
"Absolutely," she agrees. "We are very happy with the distribution. It's all about the distribution. Before, I would be getting emails from people who could not find our CD in the shops. Now it is a lot easier. Distribution is very important because if you do not have the your CD's in the shops you lose a lot of sales."
A very good point to make. And so it's at this point that I am about to comment on the promotion of the album when I hear a giggle from Cristina. I am wondering if it is something I have said before she pipes in that she notices that I am on her MySpace. Excuse me? Oh, yes, in fact I am, though don't realise it myself until it is pointed out to me. You see, before I receive her phone call I had been trawling the band's website, checking on the band's profile, before it has apparently diverted me to Ms Scabbia's MySpace page. I had wondered what that sound in the background was and obviously the lady has good hearing. So is she a MySpace fan then?
"Not really," she replies with all honesty, "but it is all promotion. Bands must be in touch with their fans. So it is absolutely important. It is all good promotion. Kids are constantly on the computer nowadays. Once it was not like that, it was TV instead of computers."
The Internet may have helped the band in these technological times but, in most cases, kids are still not going to buy an album if it is not good. One of the arguments that sometimes arise when bands 'hit it big' is if they have intentionally tried to commercialise their music to reach a larger target audience.
"We don't care what people say," comes the response. "People started to say that after we did 'Comalies' and it became popular. I think you get that in any form of music, even more extreme music. If we wanted to go commercial we would never have used distorted guitars on the new album. We would never have had the type of production that we do. You can't predict how big you become. It would be hypocritical to say that we wanted to stay smaller. If music is your passion, like ours, then you want to become bigger and bigger."
And of course, along with the band's fame comes that little question of being a sex symbol. C'mon. There is no denying that Ms Scabbia is not only devastatingly beautiful, but also evidenced in her various photo shoots. So is this is a tough role for the female to take on?
"I honestly don't care," remarks the chanteuse. "I am not going around being proud and I am not going around being bitchy. I like it because I can work with my image. I love to play in photo sessions. Of course I do not go around being super dressed or walk around in high heels all the time. But it's good because you are able to give an example of being stronger, of being feminine. Lots of girls end up giving compliments about this. It's about being proud of being a woman."
Wow. Certainly a remark that only a confident Italian woman could give. Of course, being a woman in a band no doubt raises other problems as well, including touring. Okay, so the lady jokes that it is probably worse for the guys (than her) because they have to put up with her numerous shoes being left everywhere. But in all seriousness - Lacuna Coil have indeed been clocking up mileage points, including to these very shores for the upcoming Gigantour. So is there anything Cristina is most looking forward to seeing when she arrives?
"Kangaroos," she chuckles.
And it is from this one word response that you realise Lacuna Coil are definitely not rock stars, but just a bunch of musicians who are indeed grateful to have the opportunity to indulge their passion.
Mark Grimshaw
'Gigantour' comes to town Mon 12 Nov at Thebarton Theatre.
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