Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Alissa White-Gluz was asked how hard it was to announce her exit from Arch Enemy in November, after 11 years with the extreme metal giants, in a recent interview with Germany’s Metal Hammer magazine, as per Blabbermouth.
It was definitely difficult but change is always a wild mix of fear and excitement. When you spend that many years with something, it becomes a huge part of your life and identity. So making that announcement wasn’t something I took lightly. I had devoted an enormous amount of my creative energy to the project for more than half of my career.
I really love music and art, I can’t bear to treat it like just another day at the office. That’s why I put so much extra care and intention into every lyric, performance, recording, and visual that I do. I felt a real responsibility to handle the announcement with respect for the fans, for the music, and for myself. Just getting straight to the point felt like the only way to honor my past while also stepping confidently into what comes next.
Alissa stated this in reference to the response to her departure from Arch Enemy.
The fans’ and industry peers’ responses honestly blew me away. There was so much love, encouragement, and genuine support, more than ever before, and it felt incredibly energizing. What really stood out to me was how strongly people connected to the idea of my growth and evolution. It made me feel deeply grateful and also very motivated. It reinforced that the connection we’ve built is strong, and that it naturally carries forward. That is something I have always been focused on in my career: stepping outside of my comfort zone and outside of the box so that I can have artistic freedom without being typecast. That support gave me a lot of confidence and excitement about the future, because I really do believe that art and artists are meant to evolve.
Alissa also discussed the newly released first tune from her impending debut solo album, “The Room Where She Died.” The song “The Room Where She Died” was composed by Oliver Palotai, the keyboardist for Kamelot, while Alissa wrote, recorded, and performed all of the vocals. The accompanying music video for “The Room Where She Died” was written by White-Gluz and produced by the Serbian video production company iCODE Team.
After initially signing with Napalm Records in 2016 as a solo artist, Alissa was asked why this is the ideal moment for her to release her first solo album.
The intention was always there, but I never wanted to rush something that personal or force it into the wrong moment. I knew this project needed the right headspace, focus, and creative freedom to really come alive. Now feels right because there’s real momentum. I have clarity, excitement, and the space to fully commit to it, and everything is aligning creatively. I know what I want to express, I know how I want it to sound and feel, and I’m genuinely energized by the process. This album feels like a natural evolution, something I’ve been building toward for a long time, and that makes this moment feel both exciting and right.
Additionally, White-Gluz disclosed that “two amazingly talented guitarists, Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia” are collaborating with her on new songs.
So far the music we are making together is exactly what I have always wanted. I feel like they both have such unique playing styles that complement each other to make our collaborative work super heavy, energetic, catchy and evocative at the same time. I really couldn’t be happier and more honored to be working alongside such talented and inspiring musicians. Fans will not have to wait long at all to hear and see what we have been up to.
