Last year, Crystal Viper split up after nine albums and over twenty years of uninterrupted activity. Undeterred, frontwoman and main composer Marta Gabriel started a new project under the name Leatherwitch, which with a different spelling was once her stage name. She shares her insights into the genesis of the project, her plans for playing live, and learning to play yet another instrument.

“Honestly, there wasn’t really a clear line between Leatherwitch and Crystal Viper”, Gabriel says. “The idea for Leatherwitch started to appear naturally while Crystal Viper was coming to an end. It wasn’t something I planned years in advance. It was more like a feeling that slowly became stronger and stronger. I had a lot of new musical ideas, and I realized they simply belonged somewhere else. At some point, I understood that instead of forcing them into an existing framework, I needed to give them their own identity. That’s how Leatherwitch was born.

Writing for Leatherwitch was quite different than writing for Crystal Viper. Especially when it comes to the creative process and the direct connection between the music in my head and the final recording. With Crystal Viper, even though I was always the main songwriter, the process was naturally much more complicated, because it involved a full band.

I was composing the songs, recording demos, preparing arrangements, writing down the parts, sending tracks to the musicians, and then I had to wait until everyone learned the material, and then spend days in the studio supervising recordings, knowing that every song already existed once, before the real recording even started.

I still compose songs on piano first. That never changed. Piano is the instrument on which I hear the music most clearly. Actually, translating piano parts to other instruments is something that really only happened during the first Crystal Viper album, because I didn’t play guitar back then. From the ‘Metal Nation’ album onward, the songs were already fully composed and arranged by me before entering the rehearsal room or studio.”

A Direct Line Between Inspiration and the Recording

“The interesting thing is that even when musicians record exactly the same notes, the feeling and expression of the song can change completely, depending who plays them. That’s not a bad thing at all, because Crystal Viper always had very talented musicians. But sometimes, the final result had a different energy than what I originally heard in my head while composing the songs.

With Leatherwitch, for the first time, I experienced this incredible feeling where the album sounds exactly like me. The dynamics, the articulation, the phrasing, the little details, the emotional feeling behind the riffs: everything stayed exactly the way I imagined while writing the music.

It also changed the speed of the creative process completely. Now, when I compose a song, I can immediately record it in its final form. The moment the composition is finished, the album version already exists. There is no need to organize sessions, exchange files for weeks, or to translate ideas to other people. It becomes a very direct line between inspiration and the final recording. This was incredibly liberating for me creatively, and honestly, it opened a completely new chapter in my life as a musician.”

‘First Spell’ was mixed by Enforcer frontman Olof Wikstrand. “I really love Olof’s approach to heavy metal sound”, Gabriel explains. “His mixes feel organic, powerful, and very alive. I wanted ‘First Spell’ to sound classic in spirit, but still modern and energetic at the same time, and I knew he would understand that balance perfectly. He immediately understood the atmosphere of the album and what I wanted to achieve.”

Taking Drums Much More Seriously

Gabriel already recorded many of the instruments on Crystal Viper’s albums. She plays rhythm guitar, bass and keyboards on many of her former band’s albums, but perhaps surprisingly, drums were added to the arsenal for ‘First Spell’. “I have actually been around drums for many years”, she says. “But I always treated them a bit ‘in the background’.

I started with classical piano as a child, and later, I learned to play guitar and bass on my own. And drums were always something I experimented with whenever I had the time. But for many years, I focused mostly on songwriting and stringed instruments. Over the last few years, I started taking drums much more seriously, and practicing more regularly.

At some point, I realized that for studio work and composing, I was already at a level where I could record my own ideas properly. Of course, I still don’t consider myself a real drummer in the traditional sense, and I definitely won’t be playing drums live. I’m not ready for that, and I don’t think I will ever be. But for studio work and composing music, it feels okay to me now.

For practicing and composing, I have been using Roland electronic drums. And when it is needed, I am using the Pearl acoustic drum kit my husband (manager Bart Gabriel) has.”

Instinct and Personality

“Surprisingly, the equipment used to record ‘First Spell’ wasn’t that different from what I used in Crystal Viper. I still use ESP and LTD guitars and basses, because I simply feel comfortable with them, and they have been part of my sound for many years. But for Leatherwitch, I also started using G&L guitars, mostly for the clean parts you can hear on the album. They have a very specific character and warmth that I really like.

Also, recently, I started playing an Edwards bass guitar, which is a Japanese brand of ESP. It actually is my dream bass! It was a gift from my hustband, and honestly, when I opened the case, I couldn’t believe that I finally own one, haha! But live, it will all be very different: on stage with Leatherwitch, I will focus on singing only.

These songs were written with live energy in mind from the very beginning. The live line-up already exists, and we are preparing for concerts right now. I’m really excited to finally bring these songs onto the stage.”

The guitar solos on ‘First Spell’ were recorded by former Crystal Viper guitarist Giuseppe Taormina, and Sabbat and Metalucifer guitarist Tomohiro ‘Ginoir’ Hagi. “Mostly, the lead guitarist was chosen based on instinct and personality”, Gabriel explains. “Each of them has a very different style and feeling. Some songs needed something more melodic, others needed something more wild and aggressive. Tomohiro recorded one guitar solo, Giuseppe worked on the solos for the whole album.

I’m involved with the guitar solos when it comes to atmosphere and emotion. I usually explain the feeling behind the song, but I don’t like controlling every single note. Otherwise, there is no point in inviting another musician. The beauty of guest solos is hearing somebody else’s personality enter your musical world.”

Developing Naturally Through Experience

Despite having sang in bands for over two decades, Gabriel’s voice is still in great shape. “Honestly, I think a big part of it comes from experience and simply understanding my own voice better over the years”, she says. “But beyond that, I also try to take care of myself physically and mentally. I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, I try to sleep well, I do sports, and I eat healthy.

I really believe that the way you treat your body has a direct influence not only on your health and your quality of life, but also on your voice. For me, keeping a good condition, both physically and psychologically, is extremely important. Your body is basically your instrument, so I try to treat it with respect.

In the traditional sense, I never really had any vocal training. My formal musical education was focused mainly on piano and classical music theory. Everything connected to rock and metal singing, I developed naturally through experience, by recording and performing live over the years.

My biggest developments as an artist through the years have been confidence in what I do and an ability to play more instruments. Back when the first album was recorded, I had the passion and the ideas, but I often lacked the technical tools to fully realize them.

Over the years, I have learned to play guitar, bass, and drums, learned recording techniques, production, arrangement… And all of that changed the way I create music. Today, I feel much more free creatively, because I finally have the ability to fully express what I hear in my head.”