ARCH ENEMY / CODE ORANGE / NORTHLANE
Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz changed the world for the better
ARCH ENEMY SONGS MAKE STRONG STATEMENTS – HOW MUCH HAS DONALD TRUMP FIRED YOU UP THIS YEAR?
“I like to respect everyone’s opinion, but I’m just so disgusted with that man. Every time he opens his mouth, it’s offensive, destructive, it sets the world back a few decades in terms of social issues, political issues, the environment, women’s rights, gay rights… he’s just so anti-progress. I guess we can’t help but write about that a little bit, but there are obviously other issues worthy of writing about in music, and I think that’s why we like to keep our songs somewhat poetic.”
WHAT RESPONSES HAVE YOU HAD THIS YEAR FROM TALKING ABOUT YOUR VEGANISM?
“I know my scale of impact is a lot smaller than Donald Trump or a Hollywood celebrity, but I just finished a tour in russia where veganism is not a very popular thing, and every day fans came up to me saying, ‘I’ve been vegan for two years because of you.’ I get messages from people who say they’ve been bullied and our music gives them confidence, or really amazing fans who say our music saved their lives, so I know our music has an impact directly on people.”
YOU SIGNED A DEAL FOR A SOLO RECORD NEXT YEAR. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT ON THAT FRONT?
“I’m hoping to be able to finish writing and recording it, but I just don’t have any time. Some of the songs are written 100% by me, while others are collaborations with friends or musicians I’d like to work with, so I’m using this album to express myself in a fun way.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF THIS YEAR?
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs. My family was stricken by a national disaster – a family member lost everything in a flood. I think I grew up more this year than in many other years. When various issues happen, especially with family, it really makes you re-evaluate what matters and doesn’t in life.”