ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 28

After graduation from High School and once settled in the college life, she started her first
actual band--and it was “lather, rinse, repeat” with a succession of bands to follow. Switching
gears, Whalen decided to study Italian Opera (perhaps to sing some Bohemian Rhapsody by
QUEEN?) for eight years under the tutelage of Opera diva BRONYA DVORAK and also explored
other genres of music—including Irish Folk, Country and Blues. But it was Metal that was always
“front and present” in her mind, occupying the largest chunk of her musical heart!
Regarding the name of her band, Whalen explains that “Maid” stands for “in service of” and
“Mettle” equals “Spirit, Honor and Courage”. MAID OF METTLE honors anyone who has
experienced horrific, negative events, and is suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress-yet has somehow, someway, survived.
Says Whalen on her songwriting and its inspirations, “My goal is to try and help others through
the songs that I write and the shows that I perform with my amazing band. I write songs from
my own personal experiences--though a lot of them have been less than ideal. But I have also
been given extreme amounts of love and support from my wonderful family--love can save a
life! My songs are about the darkness and the light-- which we all possess—and the masks that
we all wear sometimes because we are afraid nobody will understand us or accept us as we
really are.”
MAID OF METTLE currently has one CD out called “Amulet” (a protective charm) and will be
releasing two new singles and two new videos within the next month or two. The band is also
talking about touring in the U.S. in 2014. Right now they are booked around the Chicagoland
area, as well as making radio appearances.
Thank you, Deanna Whalen, songstress of substance. I am quite confident the readers of ION
Indie Magazine will feel the passion behind the inspirational words you’ve shared here--just as
intensely as they radiate with each note of your music! My “horns” are raised HIGH to you, iron
lady! \m/(><)\m/