Ghost frontman Tobias Forge shared his insights on musical influences in a recent interview with Chaoszine.
“There are so many aspiring artists out there who never really become artists because they’re too focused on mimicking one single influence,” Forge said. “I never had that problem, simply because I’ve always been almost equally influenced by female singers as I have been by male singers.”
“I knew early on that I’m not Rob Halford, and I can’t sing like him. I’m not King Diamond either,” he continued. “But I can sing a Blondie song or sing along to Tori Amos just as easily as I can with someone like Jeff Becerra.”
“I think staying open and drawing inspiration from more than just your favorite band is the key — because sticking to just one influence probably won’t get you anywhere,” he concluded.
Forge’s statement addressed Chaoszine’s question about advice for newcomers in metal music. He emphasized the importance of diverse musical influences in artistic development.
His perspective on musical diversity stems from a deep-rooted musical journey. Loudwire revealed that punk rock significantly shaped Forge’s musical foundation. The Dickies and Bad Religion particularly influenced Ghost’s melodic elements.
His vocal style draws from an impressive range of artists. Far Out Magazine documented Forge’s diverse influences. These span from powerful female vocalists like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kim Wilde, and Tina Turner to traditional metal acts such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath.
Ultimate Metal highlighted Forge’s genre-spanning career. Before Ghost, he explored various musical styles. His experience ranged from death metal with Repugnant to glam metal with Crashdïet.
This diverse musical background shaped Ghost’s unique sound. The band blends elements from multiple genres seamlessly. Forge’s early exposure to various music styles through his brother laid the foundation for his eclectic approach to creating music.
