Lena Scissorhands
Scissorhands in 2019
Background information
Birth nameElena Cataraga
Born (1986-11-22) 22 November 1986
Chișinău, Moldavian SSR, USSR
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2008–present
Member ofInfected Rain, Death Dealer Union

Elena Cataraga (born 22 November 1986), known professionally as Lena Scissorhands, is a Moldovan heavy metal singer and songwriter. She is the lead singer and one of the founding members of the Moldovan metal band Infected Rain. She is also the vocalist of the American alternative metal band Death Dealer Union.

Early life

Cataraga was born on 22 November 1986 in Chișinău. As the eldest of three siblings, she grew up in poor circumstances, forcing her to find work at a very young age.[3] Her mother worked as medical assistant. Her father is of Armenian nationality, and Lena grew up in a Russian-speaking family in Telecentru sector of Chișinău. Cataraga attended a Romanian-language school in Chișinău,[4] and at the age of 13, she became interested in alternative music. Fascinated by hard riffs and aggressive vocals, she discovered her love for metal music at the age of 14. She later worked as a makeup artist and trained as a hairstylist, giving her the nickname "Scissorhands".[5]

Musical career

Infected Rain

Scissorhands singing with Infected Rain in 2019

In 2008, Scissorhands formed the band Infected Rain with guitarist Vadim "Vidick" Ozhog and Ivan "DJ Kapa" Kristioglo. The band had their first appearance on 3 August 2008 as part of a Slayer tribute concert; the first EP Judgmental Trap followed in 2009. Since she had never had singing lessons before, Scissorhands began taking lessons from singing teacher Tatiana Robertovna. From then on, she also devoted herself to songwriting by writing the lyrics for the songs of Infected Rain. Her lyrics are about personal experiences, fears and disappointments that happened to her in life.[6]

In the years that followed, the band had numerous live appearances at festivals, tours and supporting Eluveitie and Lacuna Coil. In order to meet the growing demands as a singer, Scissorhands took lessons in 2013 from the renowned singing teacher Melissa Cross in New York City, who had already worked with other well-known musicians.[7][8] On 18 October 2019, the band's fourth studio album Endorphin was released. Once again, Scissorhands wrote the lyrics to all of the songs. The album received mostly positive reviews.[9][10]

Death Dealer Union

On April 8, 2022, Death Dealer Union released their first single, Borderlines, featuring Scissorhands.[11] On August 12, the band announced that Scissorhands has officially joined the band.[12] On November 1, they announced that they signed a contract with Napalm Records.[13][14]

Guest appearances and vocal style

In addition to singing with Infected Rain, Scissorhands has also guest-sung on other musical projects (including Seas on the Moon, Nu-Nation, Anotherkind, Chase the Comet, Nervosa). A special feature is her guttural singing (growling, screaming); however, she also practices clean singing. The change in vocal technique - very often within the same song - is characteristic of the music of Infected Rain. Due to her style, Scissorhands was named by local media "the most eccentric vocalist of Moldova".[15][16]

Personal life

Cataraga is a vegan and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. She runs her own channel on YouTube.[17]

Discography

With Infected Rain

With Seas on the Moon

Singles

  • 2016: Hovering
  • 2017: Promise
  • 2020: Opium
  • 2020: Another
  • 2020: Sanctuary
  • 2021: The Regress
  • 2022: The Rule of 21

EPs

  • 2020: Sanctuary

With Nu-Nation

Singles

  • 2016: Let Me Go

With Anotherkind

Singles

With Chase the Comet

Singles

With Awake Again

Singles

  • 2021: Busy Doing Nothing

With Oceans

Singles

  • 2021: Voices

With Astray Valley

Singles

  • 2021: Erased

With Vervain St. Project

Singles

  • 2021: Believe
  • 2022: Free

With Trembling Sky

Singles

  • 2021: Pretend to Fly

With Death Dealer Union

Singles

  • 2022: Borderlines
  • 2022: Beneath the Surface

With Metopia

Singles

  • 2022: Kriegerin
  • 2023: New Dawn

With Staple R

Singles

  • 2022: Bumblebee Cemetery

Bibliography

  • 2020: Lena Scissorhands’s Lyric Book, created by Vidick

References

  1. 1 2 "INFECTED RAIN - Ecdysis". Blabbermouth.net. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  2. ↑ Cordova, Daniel (2022-01-07). "THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases from WILDERUN, INFECTED RAIN, and More Out Today - 1/7". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  3. ↑ Scuderi, Gustavo (July 2, 2020). "Metal Chick of the Month – Lena Scissorhands". The Headbanging Moose. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ https://noi.md/md/istoria-rock-ului-moldovenesc/elena-cataraga-nu-te-minti-pe-tine-insuti-si-crede-in-ceea-ce-faci-foto-video-audio
  5. ↑ ""Infected Rain – Wir wollen Euch infizieren!"]". crossfire-metal.de (in German).
  6. ↑ "About Us". Infected Rain.
  7. ↑ "Official Website". Melissa Cross.
  8. ↑ ""Heavy-Metal-Gesangslehrer – Brüllen für Fortgeschrittene"". spiegel.de. 1 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Ruiz, Tatianny (14 October 2019). "INFECTED RAIN – "Endorphin" (2019)". femmemetalwebzine.net.
  10. ↑ "Infected Rain – Endorphin". bleeding4metal.de. 2 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "INFECTED RAIN Front-woman LENA SCISSORHANDS Releases "Borderlines" video featuring Death Dealer Union". Sonic Perspectives. April 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ "INFECTED RAIN VOCALIST LENA SCISSORHANDS JOINS DEATH DEALER UNION". BraveWords. August 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Death Dealer Union signs worldwide contract with Napalm Records". November 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Death Dealer Union Featuring Lena Scissorhands Sign Contract With Napalm Records". mxdwn.com. November 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Este cea mai excentrica solista de la noi! Cum si-a sarbatorit ziua de nastere, Elena din Infected Rain". acasatv.perfecte.md (in Romanian).
  16. ↑ "Infected Rain Lyrics, Song Meanings & Music Videos". SonicHits. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  17. ↑ Sacco, Simone. "Lena Scissorhands (Infected Rain), and the mantra of her skin". Tatoo Life. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
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