Emerson: I wrote the words for a song about impossible love and being at South of Heaven: meaning beneath Heaven, which is Earth; where we get to be effected by the goings on in Heaven above us and Hell below us, and that Earth is a mixture of sweet and mirth. The song without music was well liked by the band and the name was adopted. We are not hardcore metal fans (we actually dislike it), and we had no idea that Slayer had an album called "South of Heaven" so we are thinking of another name. Until then, it's South of Heaven!

Abygail: Well, I had read the lyrics to the song, Emz's lyrics, and new it "existed" in some form or other... I liked the phrase, it sounded somewhat catchty... and funnily enough when I went to talk to the others about using it as a name, they came over to me and said... "We had an idea... why don't we call the band 'South of Heaven'...?" lol

Robert: Well at first I thought, "Well, South of Heaven refers to Hell doesn't it...?" and didn't like it at all. However after a bit of thinking I realized that we REALLY are living in South of Heaven. Earth is after all South of Heaven and reading Emerson's lyrics made me certain this name would be fitting. Then a week later I was chatting with a hardcore-metal-lover friend and as he heard the name he remarked, "Heh... Slayer...". I was like WTF? I don't even like Slayer. And then he started talking about this album bla bla... Well anyways I still think we'll stick to the name...

South of Heaven is a new band, and we've just started out. We do not play live, however the members have had their small share of live playing in the past.

Emerson: I have played guitar with a Christian rock band as a service for a Christian Teen Community. It was not about a show, but offering a suitable ambient to the worshippers. I also played during their talent show in their Summer Camp as a bassist with Robert who played acoustic guitar. Also, I am a classically trained pianist and I've played at various Pianist Talent Shows, St Aloysius' Talent Shows and Price Giving Ceremonies; and at the Manoel Theatre, Malta's oldest theatre. I've also played lead guitar and bass in the 2006 Junior College Soiree.

Abygail: Well I've had quite some opportunities at singing live. Erm lets see... various school Xmas concerts, church choir, school choir... battle of the bands (standing in for some friend), anywhere I can get myself into really. I also spent around 4 to 5 years at the M.B. Drama School, so I know what it's like to be on a stage. I also used to play violin, so Xmas concerts and and-of-year concerts were expected. I also sang solo in both the 2005 and 2006 J.C. Soiree (as well as choir).

Robert: Well I've only been playing guitar for little more than a year so I've only played live on a handful of occasions. One of them was in a 'talent' show in a summer camp and the other was in the same camp when the leading band decided they where too tired to play and made us (the band playing in the talent show) play!! It was really cool, especially since Emerson was playing bass beside me!!

Emerson: Mp3s on the internet is equivalent to tapes back in the 80s. It's the best way to get promoted around.

Abygail: Anyone nowadays has access to the internet, and mp3 are a great way to share or sample someone’s music, without spending unnecessarily. And anyone can have their own space on the web and promote themselves without cost (e.g. MySpace).

Robert: Well first of all I can't imagine today's audio without mp3. I mean it's so perfect, compact, good quality and easy to download. Secondly, the internet makes exposure actually possible compared to the past. HOWEVER, no matter what encryption methods, security measures bla bla companies take piracy will never be eliminated and CD sales will continue to drop.

Emerson: Duh.

Abygail: Well just as long as it doesn't inhibit the creative control, yes, love to! I can't have something that should help me get through to people restrict my art though.

Robert: Yeah sure, a record label makes publishing of albums, singles and advertising a hell of a lot easier, especially since financially the toll would be too much.

Emerson: Well, the 'band' (we’re still a three piece always on the look out for a drummer and bassist) started with me and Robert jamming in his Rob’s garage immediately after he bought his first electric guitar (he'd been playing for about a year on his classical). We were great friends, and musically we immediately clicked together. We jammed frequently in the garage, both creating all sorts of riffs with me sliding into frequent lead breaks and Robert supplying a solid rhythm with an excellent groove.

Then I had to judge the Junior College Battle of the Bands and I met Abygail after a lot of time. I knew her from Christian Community years back but we never talked. I'm always wanting to make friends (especially female friends) and I went up to her and she had this surprised look on her face like "Look who’s here!" and I told her "Good luck!" and she went with her band cos it was their turn. She amazed with her singing, I never heard anything like it. I met another old acquaintance, a drummer guy, who incidentally was her ex and went to support her. He was looking for a band. I asked him to join me and Robert and he accepted. A few days after I contacted Aby and I asked her to join.

We started rehearsing and this drummer was a total failure. He talked continuously in terms of "bars" which to me sounds stupid... like “Was that 3 and 3/4 bars wasn't it?”. WTF? Just play man! I mean, drummers are drummers, but this one...! We never rehearsed a song without him f*cking up and we were really getting pissed off. Incidentally me and Aby grew over each other, and he was becoming jealous. It was difficult criticising his way of playing and keeping me and Aby’s affair out of it. In the end Robert came and told me he thought this drummer was the worst thing that ever happened in terms of his playing and the 3 of us decided we had to fire him. There was a quarrel, a lot of bullshit and desperate measures but in the end he left peacefully.

Now all that's needed to complete the band are a drummer and a good bassist. Though we're in no hurry really since we've already made the mistake of rushing into selecting our members, we don't want to make the same mistake again.

Emerson: Signals but it was closed. Also Ghadira bay at night, Spencer Hill (in the green periods) and sharking the streets with Robert feeling like a king.

Abygail: Anywhere where there's a good vibe. Inspiration can be found anywhere :)

Robert: Any green area really... and anywhere near the sea. Both are main sources for inspiration. Also the Marina where we usually hang out...

Emerson: My first instrument was a 100-something year old piano of some Maltese maestro. Well, actually my brother used it before me. Then I was given a KAWAI X130 synthesiser a few years ago that I still use. My first experience on guitar was my dad’s excellent Yamaha Spanish nylon guitar with still inspires me every time I play it. My first electric guitar was a black Stagg Flying V (this certain body shape is now discontinued) that I hot-rodded with a DiMarzio PAFpro in bridge position. The Fender 15R that I got with the Flying V was stolen from our garage, thank God! It was horrible anyway (even though dead useful) and I got a Marshall Valvestate S80 (now discontinued I believe). The pedals I use are a ZOOM GFX-5 multi-effects that sounds great when used well, and sometimes a Digitech MetalMaster but I lend that to Robert, along with a metal slide. Lately I bought a Swing strat guitar kit that's turned out to be real good. I'm a DIY fan, and I'm saving up for another kit to tape it like Eddie Van Halen's Charvels. Also, I'm saving up for a good PA since we can't amplify Abygail since we ended the Greensleeves project since Mark had his 2 PAs.

Abygail: Vocal chords, lungs, respiratory system.

Robert: Stagg 'Les Paul Goldtop', Stagg 80W amp, medium-light picks... Occasionally metal slide and Digitech Metal Master Distortion + Old Battered Classical bought round 2000... Still main source of inspiration...

We are currently on hiatus, with tentative plans to reform.