Athamay

ATHAMAY formed in 1995 with Jess (vocals and lyrics), Sean (keyboards, programming and Bass) and Jo (keyboards). After a debut performance at Leicester's Hellfire Club in January 1996, the band signed to Nightbreed Recordings and recorded their debut CD The pleasure of sin. "Our influences are taken from a wide range, obviously the fetish/SM scene for the lyrics. Musically we are influenced by the European ElectroDarkwave scene and bands such as PROJECT PITCHFORK, PLACEBO EFFECT, DANCE OR DIE, EVILS TOY, DAS ICH, DIE FORM, also DEPECHE MODE,, SLEEPING DOGS WAKE, CLAN OF XYMOX,FRONT242, IN THE NURSERY etc. We think that most European bands are miles better than most British Gothic Rock acts because they don't feel the need to try and (badly) recreate the SISTERS or the NEPHILIM."



Their music is a subtle mixture between danceable rhythms and dark, melodious strings. I got the impression to be in front of DIE FORM meets TERMENAL CHOICE with female vocals reminding me of ANNE CLARK. The most amazing and surprising fact in their existence, is that their album is the very first production, they ever made! It means that ATHAMAY didn't release any single demo, but just started with a CD!



The meaning of the band name came from a book named The ritual magic workbook and it means a witches sacrificial knife. 'We chose it because it was the only name we could all agree we liked the sound of, and we chose it for this fact rather than for its meaning. The funny thing is that we'd found the name in the book, we needed to check the spelling but could never find the name again. so if it's spelt wrong, that's why!!"



Jess writes all the lyrics. "I got into the fetish scene when we started regularly visiting London clubs in about 1990. Goth,fetish and industrial is very closely linked down there due to the same people, same DJ's doing both fetish and Goth clubs etc. I loved the image and the move away from the SISTERS/ MISSION rut that the Goths in the UK were into. I get ideas for lyrics from fetish books/SM videos etc. The lyrics have a very strong fetish theme, so obviously we try and follow that through with the image. I'm not trying to express my own feelings with the lyrics but it's what I enjoy writing about. We're all very into the fetish/Goth scene anyway, so we just go on stage dressed how we would for a good night out. The whip and mask I use are to help get the message across but I think once you've listened to the lyrics you'll know what we're about. I don't write lyrics deliberately to shock people. I know that some people think they're perverse/disgusting/depraved etc but so are we so who cares what people think!!! Take us as you find us!"



In late 1997, the band split from Nightbreed and had to have a break for contractual reasons.



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