Photo by Vishnusagar Vijayan •
Natalia IG@nattee.h
Interview
- How did you first get into metal music, and what was the first band or album that hooked you?
- It was all thanks to my older sister – I wasn’t allowed to listen to a lot of newer music growing up in a strict Eastern European household, but my sister would take me on weekends (she didn’t live at home anymore) and showed me all the rock genres including metal. I was about 12 and we were on our way to a Green Day concert, so my sister put on Billy Talent in the car and I fell in love. It was the first self-titled album by Billy Talent.
- What was the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended, and why did it stand out?
- I think it was last year in 2023 seeing Counterparts, The Used, and Alexisonfire. The Used and Alexisonfire were bands I listened to in my teens that had such a large influence on my life, and seeing them live in the pit for the first time was such a surreal experience. Counterparts was pretty wicked too.
- What’s your favorite metal-related memory, whether it’s a concert, meeting a band member, or something else entirely?
- I remember going to Toronto’s Wakestock music festival in the summer of 2008 – I got to see From First to Last and Protest the Hero. I was able to get my shirt, CD cover, and Converse shoes signed by From First to Last band members (this was after Sonny Moore a.k.a. Skrillex left the band). I remember being so star-struck that my hands were shaking while I asked the lead singer Matt Good to sign my CD – he and the bassist Travis laughed, but all in good spirits.
- Do you have a favorite metal subgenre? If so, what draws you to it?
- I’ve never labeled metal in subgenres – if it’s heavy, I like it! If I had to dive into it, I think it would be nu-metal and metalcore.
- What’s your go-to metal anthem when you need a boost of energy?
- It changes all the time – if I want “overthrow-the-government energy” I’d go with System of a Down. If I want a boost at the gym, it’s probably a mix of Cancer Bats, Slipknot, and Thousand Below (a new band I’m just diving into).
- You’re not a tattoo artist, but you have your own shop. Tell me all about that.
- I am not a tattoo artist; however, I’ve been injected into the tattoo industry for quite a few years as a tattoo model and a tattoo collector for many more. My husband is an award-winning black-and-grey realism artist (Hopman Tattoos). When we met he was just an apprentice, and we built this wonderful life together with two kids and now a tattoo studio. We worked for people for 10 years while being together and never had time together, never had time for our kids, and we weren’t using our talents to our best abilities. When we were fed up working for others, I left my management job and he left the studio he worked for as an artist, and that’s when we created Polarity Tattoo Studio in Hamilton, Ontario in 2022. Polarity stands for two opposites that create a whole – like yin and yang, like our skill sets. I do the business/management side; he does the art side. I still love creating art, but I leave tattooing to him.
- Have you ever met any of your metal idols? If so, what was that experience like?
- I’ve briefly said hello and had bands sign my merch, but I’ve never had the pleasure to sit down with a metal idol. I hope to make that dream come true one day.
- What’s a metal album you think every fan should listen to at least once in their life?
- That’s a hard question! Every metal fan is so different in what they enjoy and what they listen to in certain moments of their life, so I couldn’t recommend one album for all.
- There are so many amazing modelling pictures on your IG page. What got you into modeling and what did/do you most enjoy about it?
- I appreciate that, thank you! I got into modelling after I had my son in 2017. I was on mat leave and bounced back pretty quick. When I was younger (in my early 20s), I had a lot of photographers ask me to model, but I always felt better behind the lens. I finally decided to take the plunge for fun and as a boost to my self-esteem. I gained traction quickly and realized “there might be something here”. My favourite thing about modelling was meeting new and eccentric/creative people – from photographers to models to MUAs – travelling to new destinations for shoots and being creative in a different way.
- Outside of metal, what are some of your other hobbies/interests?
- I love plants/gardening, lifting heavy weights, getting tattooed, and painting.
- Thank you for being our Metal Maiden of the Month! (Add anything you like.)
- If you’re ever in Hamilton, stop by my tattoo studio, Polarity Tattoo Studio, and say hello!
Credits
Photos used by permission of Natalia• Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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