PHOTOMISTRESS: In ONE word, describe each band member, including yourself.

VERONICA FREEMAN:  Pete Wells – clown, Chris Morgan- metalhead, Jesse Wright- firecracker, Paul Courtois- driven, Me (Veronica) – hyper.

PM:  How long have the band members been working with each other?

VF:  We have been working together now for a couple of years. Pete and I have been working and writing together for many, many years and hopefully many more to come.

PM:  What are some groups that shape and inspire you musically, both as a band and also personally?

VF:  We all come from different musical [backgrounds]. But I would have to say the biggest influence would be Dio from the Rainbow days through the early Dio days. Other influences musically would be Pantera, Randy-era Ozzy, Dream Theater, King Diamond… Overall I think we have a unique interpretation of all our influences.

PM:  How do you go about writing your material? Do you get together to brainstorm or do you write individually and bring it to the table later?

VF:  We do it a few different ways. Mostly Pete and I will collaborate and get the bare bones of it together and then we work as a group to fill in the blanks and make it come alive. Oftentimes the guys will jam and I will listen to what is unfolding and start working on it listening to it over and over and then get inspired by certain sections and build lyrics and melody lines from there.

PM:  What made you decide to do some of your lyrics in Latin? Have any of you done that in the past?

VF:  Actually at the time I wrote that I had a writer’s block.  [I] couldn’t come up with anything I was thrilled with so I just started making sounds that I thought would fit. I think got a Latin/English Dictionary and started to transform them to words that were Latin for that is what it sounded most like and then fine tuned it from there.

PM:  Considering the intensity and talent you’ve displayed on your debut album, Uncreation, what is in the works for the next album?

VF:  Hopefully it will be more of the same with a few surprises thrown in. We are really having a good time writing this one and are excited about working with Jeff Pilson again.

PM:  What is your favourite song off Uncreation and why?

VF:  My favorite would be Two Steps to the Sun. When I wrote the lyrics I was so down and that song was so cathartic for me. It was like lyrical therapy, ha ha!

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PM:  In a hundred years, when you’re dead, would you rather be hatefully remembered or totally forgotten?

VF:  Hatefully remembered - even the most notorious villain is remembered in a positive light by someone!

PM:  Do you find it more challenging to secure a spot on an American tour package, even though you have already done a headlining tour as well as direct support for Doro in Europe?

VF:  That does seem to pose a challenge. We would love to have some tour dates here in the states and are actually working to that end as I write this. Keep your fingers crossed!

VF:  Not hard at all. Paul fit right in as if he had been there all along and we couldn’t be happier. There were your typical musical and directional differences as far as Blackie Sanchez goes, but we love him and wish him well in all he does, he is a great talent! We found Paul through a friend of Pete. We heard a demo of his band and loved his playing and when we saw him live we knew we had found our new drummer!!!!

PM:  What do you feel are the most challenging and the most enjoyable aspects of performing live?

VF:  Most challenging- keeping my voice and body in condition and finding the right thing to wear, ha ha. Most enjoyable- watching people enjoy the music and being able to do something I only dreamed of and am very passionate about!

Official band website:  www.benedictum.net

Official Myspace Page:  www.myspace.com/benedictum