DELIRIUM ZINE - Interview with Sophie Diamantis-Fry by Dave Wolff - Music

For how long has Delirium been in existence?
Delirium started back in 1992 and I got the idea because I talked to tons of fanzines editors when I first started with Roadrunner Records in 1989 and I developed strong friendships and was encouraged to do my own. I always loved writing music, goth and paganism so I combined it all into Delirium. The first issue came out in 1992 and it was like three years later that I did issue 2. That issue sold incredibly well so I increased the circulation of issue 3 to 5,000 copies when I put that one out in 1997. All issues but a few copies of issue 2 are left and now I only do DELIRIUM online because I save more money and can do so much more on the web for the cost of my domain and price of the hosting company I use.

What is the complete staff of Delirium?
The complete staff of Delirium is me as of this issue. For issues 1 -4 I had an incredible designer but he was too wrapped up in his career and personal life to give Delirium the time it needed. I am the publisher, editor, web designer, web master. I have anywhere from 15 - 25 contributors in each issue which all write for me for free since the site is a personal page, non-commercial and I refuse to sell advertising on it. I do it because I love it.

In what way do you think the zine is different from all the others in the underground?
I just think that I am not afraid to mix genres of music together. Most magazines online and print tend to either cover one specific genre like only Black Metal or Goth/Industrial and I cover everything from Black Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal, Goth, Industrial, New Age, Darkwave, Ambient... (except country, swing) because I love all these types of music while combining other aspects of my personality like Graveyards, New Orleans, all aspects of Paganism, the Paranormal, Vampyres, Literary articles, interviews with authors, film reviews, book reviews and with each issue I broaden the scope of Delirium. Issue 6 will have a section on Archaeology which is something I have been interested in and studying on my own since I was a teenager.

Speak of the bands you have covered in the zine. Which interviews stand out the most to you? The rest of the staff?
Wow, I have interviewed so many bands for the magazine from Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance, Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth, Mortiis, Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis, Danzig, Love Like Blood, Eyehategod, Solitude Aeturnus, Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Atheist, Quorthon of Bathory, Tom Araya of Slayer, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Godflesh. These are just some bands off the tope of my head. Some of these interviews appeared in other magazines that I used to freelance for and most of which are no longer publishing. This issue has some really great interviews done by contributors that I am very happy with: Emperor, Mike Patton, Type O Negative, Samael, Lacrimosa, Ancient Ceremony, Abyssos, Mercyful Fate and contributions on past DELIRIUM issues have been amazing as well. Some of my personally most outstanding interviews were with Dani from Cradle, Brendan from Dead Can Dance and Danzig. He was so charming and extremely intelligent. I alos cherish non-music interviews with authors Raymond McNally and Katherine Ramsland.

In what ways is the scene different than a few years back? What changes do you think there will be in the days to come?
Well, I come from the Death Metal scene which is where I spent many years dwelling in the underground tape and video trading, going to shows and interviewing lots of bands in this particular genre. I got into Black Metal years ago but was more into Goth Metal bands like Moonspell, Type O Negative, Cemetery, Sundown, Tiamat, The Gathering, Theatre of Tragedy and I noticed how now everything seems to be focused on Black Metal and which band can out do the other. I have also noticed that a lot of bands like Samael and Satyricon are advancing in their music incorporating fresh elements and trying new things and this is where I think the music will hopefully go if the bands really have the balls to try it. I think alot of bands are blending different genres into their style and that to me makes it interesting. I love bands like Marduk and Darkthrone, but sometimes I want to hear a band like Ancient Ceremony, Arcturus, Borknagar... There's no telling where music will go but I can't imagine Black Metal exploding much more than it already has with the successes of Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth. I guess we have to leave that up to the bands and hopefully they will deliver and make us all proud.

What similarities are there, in your opinion, between the Pagan Path and the metal, etc. underground?
I noticed that a lot of bands blend pagan elements into their music especially the Black Metal bands that incorporate Nordic paganism. The similarity of the two is the passion they both exhume and that is such an important element. Spirituality and music have always been intertwined and music is the voice of the soul for many, especially musicians.

Do you read a lot of other fanzines? Which of these would you recommend?
I love Terrorizer, Ill Literature, Outburn, Metal Maniacs, Pit, Sounds Of Death, Nordic Visions, Bloodstone, Carpe Noctem, Ghastly, and recommend these...

What is your general view of the world?
Now that I am much older, 31, I see that things are still the same since I was a child with ongoing wars for religious reasons and political, corrupt governments, worldwide racism, our eco system is shot and our planet is dying. You see it every day and it is so sad. Pollution, oil spills... It's maddening. This world sucks and unfortunately I have to try my best to make the most of it while I am here.

What would you most like to achieve with Delirium? Is there a good chance of this happening?
I would love for Delirium to be a huge internet publication that becomes a Global phenomenon someday where I could turn it into the biggest online magazine and wish it would provide my income so I don't have to work a 9-5 job ever again. Realistically, I would eventually like to put all the back issues of the print version online but that is something that I will do in the long run. Do I think this will ever happen? Maybe. I will hope for this but not hold my breath at the same time.

Anything you wish to close with?
Thanks so much for the interview and for putting me on your killer website. Please check out Delirium at www.deliriummag.com and check the site often for updates. Best of luck with your site...

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