What is the best thing that I love about my work?

It is freedom ! I’m actually doing two occupations. The one which is feeding me is speaker guide. I’m explaining our heritage and conducting projects in relation with cities, castles and museums…. That’s something I do as a Freelance so I can schedule my week as I want and find time to manage my other occupation which is singer. And this one is more that a job. It’s also a passion and it’s related to freedom to. I write my own lyrics, I talk about what’s important to me and I can be requiered to move for live shows, recording… I also meet a lot a various people in these two jobs so that’s what I like !

What is my idea of happiness?

It is : being alive ! I know that sometimes there is very hard things to go through in life but there is always a moment where you get out of it. And when there is too much trouble, there prevent you from being alive and force you to just survive. So yes, being alive is my definition of happiness. Being able to do things, be spared by deseases, be far from nasty people so you can really take you time to live.  

Picture credits: Nicolas Stempien

What is my greatest fear?

Death of course. It’s the only thing which is irreversible and it’s stealing you what is the most important. Your life, your ability to do things, to feel the world, learn, meet people. It is also stealing your relatives and friends… I’m afraid of that more than anything. 

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I wish I wasn’t so anxious. That is something which can keeps you from living even if it’s not your will. You don’t have many weapons against it and it can strikes you anytime. So that’s a strong enemy I have inside and I’m losing my time to fight against him. It’s a trait I wish I could be free of.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

I must admit that I don’t admire someone in particular as a speaker guide. Maybe I could say that, if they lived abroad, I’ll admire that. If they have a different and personal way to talk about their job or if they visio on life is something uncommon, I will have admiration for them. In music, it’s different ! First, I’m full of admiration for any composer and even more if they compose « good music » of course ! I also admire those who are able to handle all the technical side of music. Sound engineers in particular because I would be nothing without them ! And of course, there is singers like Tarja Turunen or Tatiana Shmayluk I admire for their voices and careers !    

What is my greatest extravagance?

I’m not sure I made a lot of extravagances. For some, the only fact that I’m singing in a metal band is extravagant but if I ask the same question to metalheads they would say it’s perfectly common. When I was younger my look was extravagant. But it is not as if I made a world tour on foot or a show on the moon. 

On what occasion would I lie?

In any occasions ! But there is rules for lying : you cannot lie if it is going to hurt someone or if it’s to hide something which shouldn’t be. Actually, I’m often lying with my words but telling the truth with my body language because I love irony. To me, it’s a way to help people to know you better and it’s a way to make them attentive to other things than words. Anyway, I would be unable to lie to someone which is asking for the truth because I think that some lies can destroy lives. So understand me well when I talk about lies. It’s not this kind of lies which are abusing people.  

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

Stress and overwork ! That’s the price for freedom. It’s sometimes very hard to find the right balance between work, rest and free time. Actually I don’t have a lot a free time and when I want to take a break I still think to all this work I should be doing. And I know it’s not possible to procrastinate. For example, if you want to build a career in music, it’s so hard that you really don’t have time to waste (that’s why the help of people can sometimes be more than necessary). And, when you are a freelancer, time is money… So the more you work, the more you don’t worry about your ability to buy food and pay your bills. So that’s a vicious circle and a mentality I hate but I have to deal with…  

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

On stage ! That’s a super nice place where you live at 100% ! You cannot be focusing on something else than the present. You feel alive, you communicate with people, and you do what you love to do. So I don’t have a particular show to give as an example but just the idea of the stage is great. And it can also be another kind of stage. When I do guided tours, the castle or museum I’m showing can be kind of a stage and there is some castles where I really feel great.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would take away my anxiety ! But maybe if I was doing so I won’t have so many inspirations for music and so much energy in my professional life… So maybe if I change that I won’t be me anymore ! So let’s take fewer risks… I would just change my hate of sport into love. That would be a nice start !

What is my greatest achievement in work?

Actually, I didn’t achieve anything because I’m still at the beginning of things. I would say that my greatest achievement would be that I could live from my band’s music and be successful enough to tour the world and play with bands which are so important to me but too big now to consider my work. So yes, if I could one day share the stage with Nightwish and be as professional as they are… It would the greatest achievement in my work !

Where would I most like to live?

All around the world ! I hate this idea of being settled… But it’s really hard to be able to live in different places in the world… First, it cost more than a lot. Then, it’s hard for family life. And also, it can be hard to make it suit your job. That’s why I wish I could tour the world thanks to music so I can live a little bit everywhere. But there are countries I particularly like as Japan, England, Germany, Italy… But I wish I could discover other cultures anyway. 

What is my most treasured possession?

The wedding photos of my grandmother. And maybe anything related to her. She was my model in life even if I really didn’t agree with her on everything. Anyway, she brought me so much and gave me examples when I was looking for them. And she was also my connection with the past. So this album she gave me is a fragment of her past life, a fragment of example not to follow, a fragment of love… It’s a safe place for me and it’s priceless.

What is my most marked characteristic?

I’ll do anything to get what I want unless I’m proven wrong. So this can be an advantage in certain circumstances but it can also be a big problem when I’m making a mistake ! Anywhere I want to go, I go. But when I’m going into a wall… I really going into a wall ! I have a strong will but maybe I should add more wisdom to it. 

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

My city is clearly not inspiring me… I’m having inspiration when I’m in an unknown place. So let me travel and I’ll be inspired ! But if I really have to find an inspirational location in my city I would say : my home ! That’s where I must find the most part of my inspiration so…

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?

It’s…. Home ! I share my life with someone who is really good at cooking so what should I ask more ? And I don’t really like to eat or drink outside. Maybe I should try a starred chef but it’s much too expensive. In other cities I found places where I liked to eat and drink because I was discovering things I didn’t know before.

What books influenced my life and how?

To tell the truth… I don’t read books. When I was young I was reading a lot of philosophy but now it’s only books related to work. Video games influenced my life more ! And if I have to give just one name I would say : the Zelda series. These games gave me delusion of grandeur. As the hero, I can make my life an adventure ! But in real life, I’m too much reasonable to really live like an adventurer. I still need to find my master sword and maybe my destiny also because I unfortunately might not be promised a great future…

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

That’s too hard to say now but I think that My Apocalypse from Arch Enemy would be appropriate ! Maybe that would be a way to make this day bearable… To turn the bad emotions into something powerful… I don’t know.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Link, from The legend of Zelda, because he is perfect. Nice, strong, always happy… He is always winning everything. He can reborn, fly, breath underwater. He has an adventurous life. He is useful for everybody. He travels all time. Well… Too perfect to be real !

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My grandmother ! She saved me when I was a child. I owe her a lot of what I am today. Of course she wasn’t perfect but she was there when I was falling and she guided me in the darkness. She always appeared to me as someone very strong. She went through very hard things in life and anyway she looked like as strong as a rock ! She gave me so much love, so many advices. I can say she is my heroine.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

It could be the Grave of the Fireflies from Isao Takahata. It’s a movie showing how painful and ugly is war and at the same time it is highlighting where poetry is in life. About poetry, I would also recommend any of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies ! But to go back to the Grave of the Fireflies, it’s a movie who taught me a lot. That parents aren’t immortals, that eating enough isn’t so obvious, that you can lose everything, that people aren’t as nice as they seems, that family can be mean, that violence don’t spare children etc. It’s a very important movie I think.   

What role play stories in my life and work?

A huge role ! It’s part of my job in a way. I have to talk about History but I also tell stories to better understand History. And, when I wright lyrics for music, I also tell stories. On the other hand, I also like to be told stories ! That’s why I love video games. There I cannot just hear the story but also be part of it ! Telling or listening to stories is a way to live multiple lives at once so that’s essential to me. It’s also a way to better connect with reality when the story is over. And it’s also a way to find the energy to make the story you want with your life !

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?

I think that’s part true part false. I mean, you are the storyteller for sure but not the only writer and narrator. You live your life and if you are asked, you will give your own storytelling. But other person who was with you in the same moments you describe can have a completely different story to tell. Are they lying ? I don’t think so. They are just other narrators. And sometime they also write your life story with you. Or as allies or as enemy. Someone who harmed you, added an ink stain on your manuscript. Some who help you might change the rest of your story. But you are always free to tell the story you want about yourself.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

My boyfriend of course and I hope it will always be like this. I mean, it’s the person who is with me 100% of the time. He never lets me down, he can bear me despite my faults, he is always here to support me… That’s the best partner I have in life for sure.

Which people or companies would I like to work with ?

I would love to work with Tarja Turunen ! This artist inspires me so much. I’m often referring to her and she is bringing me a lot of dreams. She is also the reason why I sing. I would be blessed if I could not only meet her but create something with her to be able to really share with someone which is more an abstraction than a real person to me (that’s how it is when you are a star !). I wish I could also work with Sharon den Adel to experience her energy. With Tuomas Holopainen who is writing music incredibly well. Really, he is able to create a journey you can be part of just by listening to his music. So being an actor of this journey would be a dream. I’m not even sure I could embody a character from his universe but I wish I could work with him anyway.

What project am I looking forward to work on?

I’m looking forward to work on all the next albums we’ll be doing with my band Oïkoumen ! That’s always so exciting when we are creating new songs and when I have to imagine new concepts. I’m always impatient to have new songs to learn and write lyrics for. It’s a lot of nice work and also a lot of hope. With each new album we are hoping to meet nice people who could help us to move forward and reach our goal.  

Where can you see me or my work?

You can see me on :

–          Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@oikoumenofficial3745

–          Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laura_maz__/

–          Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Oikoumen/

–          Bandcamp : https://oikoumen.bandcamp.com/

–          Big Cartel : https://oikoumenstore.bigcartel.com/

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

It means that reality obligations don’t always feet with your dreams. Even if you cannot afford your dreams, you will still have enough passion to try to reach them. And even if you know you won’t be able to reach them you will still have this burning fire in you. It is impossible to silence a passion that’s why we should not even try to do so ! As far as it’s possible, let our passion be the most important part of our lives.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

Emma Begouin (because the story she told me of her life is already a lesson I learned), Lina Martin’s (because her life is crazy and she is good at telling stories), Tatiana Shmayluk (because she must have lots of things to talk about) and Asia Skret (because she already could write a novel with her life).

How can you contact me?

On instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laura_maz__/

By mail : lauramaz.ch@gmail.com