DELAIN's MARTIJN WESTERHOLT Speaks Out: Why CHARLOTTE WESSELS Quit

[@evandungen5260]

Great interview that shines a light on the backgrounds of the band's split. It’s explanatory to one or, apparently to the other putting fuel on their predudice. Both Charlotte fans and Delain fans are well served anyway and loving one doesn’t exclude love for the other. To each his/her/their own! 💜

[@martijnwesterholt7351]

Thank you for the interview and keep up the good work 🖤

[@loadedradioofficial]

Thank you Martijn! Wonderful speaking with you!

[@worldz_of_visions]

I like both eras. Charlotte developed her distinct sound starting with April Rain. Hopefully Diana will mature a bit with experience as well. The production and song writing remain solid with that heavy 7 string sound. Kudos to Martihn's creative writing and production.

[@iancawley9777]

im just happy there seems to be no bitterness and both sides are being nice

[@loadedradioofficial]

Agreed

[@Closminding]

No they're not. 😂🤦🏻

[@matteo5484]

They're totally not and that's sad

[@VickenIshkhanian]

Music is a business after all and you have to treat it like that to survive and earn a living, Martijn has all the rights to ask what saw fair to buy him out. I don’t know the details of course but I had multiple businesses and ran into these kinds of dealings. What makes it complicated is that when someone takes over and keeps performing your own older stuff it is very hard to take. I saw them live over 5 times in the US and every time got VIP access and talked to them including Charlotte and Diana, I felt that Charlotte had built a wall around her and wasn’t so friendly to my liking and had some feelings things weren’t right. Anyway, I am happy with progress of everyone and love the new music from Delain, remember, Diana got late to the stage and doesn’t have the professional experience like Charlotte when she started at such a young age.

[@IMMORTALWASP666]

They’ve probably got the best resolution possible. I personally think that the obsession by charlotte Wessels is one of the best album we’ve got this year so far and I liked the new delain album too even though I need more time to get into it.

[@Robert19668]

This is a good interview. The interviews I have heard haven't gone into this topic. It's interesting to hear Martijn's thoughts on the split. It would be interesting to hear from Charlotte and get her thoughts on this. Has she provided her thoughts in an interview? I like the new music. Dark Waters sounds like Delain style music to me.

[@ChidderPL]

Charlotte basically told the same story. Martijn didn't want to tour, the band - quite the opposite. In addition, the other musicians also had more and more to say about the music itself. There were negotiations, there were attempts to find a solution, but in the end Delain fell to pieces. I had the opportunity to speak with Charlotte shortly after the event, and it was clear that the wounds were deep.

[@matteo5484]

Martijn is my favorite composer while Charlotte my favorite singer and songwriter so Delain were my happy place. I'm glad that after the split we had two outstanding album like Dark Waters and The Obsession but the conclusion of this interview is so painful 😢

[@LinkinSLB]

Some of the comments here are crazy to me. Charlotte NEVER spoke ill of Martijn. Martijn NEVER spoke ill of Charlotte. Both seem to be happy with what they are doing right now. Why do people desperately want to stir up further drama, that nobody benefits from? Just follow the project that you like more or both and let it be. Cheers!

[@ivanshepelenko9382]

Thanks for this interview. I am glad buyout didn't went well - it is good Delain remained at hands of its creator. As for burnout - it seems it is pretty common problem in bands - look at Marco, for example. My whole "metalhead life" I thought he is made of granite and metal - nothing could break him. And yet - he burned out. Good thing he acknowledged it and took an action towards this problem. As it went one day with Nightwish - departure of Tarja didn't end the project (although it was a hard hit for the band). In the end both sides (at least musically) won from going different ways. Hope this will be also Delain/Charlotte case as well.

[@christophersims3319]

Been a fan since the first record. I had to buy first 3 albums in Europe because they didn’t have a US distribution deal. I’m try to support both camps have tickets to see the new line up in March. But I’ll. always hope for a reunion with Charlotte Some day.

[@SokolRock]

I hope it doesn't happen: What can she bring to Delain that they don't have now? The current line-up is obviously happy to work together, I can feel these positive vibes, but Charlotte... She kind of said then, "Whatever you decide, between you Martijn, and those three "hired guns," I will always choose them", thereby showing that she no longer belongs to Delain. So good luck to her in her solo career, but I just don't see the point in bringing her back just because of the nostalgic feelings of some fans and despite the good chemistry in the band.

[@christophersims3319]

@ well, I have not seen the new line up Live yet. I have tickets in march. But, I do like Charlottes lyrics better. She just an irreplaceable part of the ethos of the band.

[@SokolRock]

@@christophersims3319 But she was successfully replaced 🤷‍♂

[@christophersims3319]

@ I can’t agree or disagree until I see them live. Dianna is a very gifted singer. Can she pull it off live? Does she have charlotte’s stage presence and charisma. I just don’t know yet.

[@SokolRock]

@@christophersims3319 I don't get it: Either you like the music or you don't. This isn't a competition - you can listen to and attend concerts by both artists, Delain and Charlotte, and enjoy each in their own way. I can tell you right away that Diana doesn't have as strong a stage presence as Charlotte because she doesn't have that much experience - Delain is her first professional band. But she performs old songs very close to the originals. Charlotte, on the other hand, doesn't have much respect for Delain fans, as she never performs Delain songs and she doesn't care if anyone wants to hear her sing those songs.

[@Atlan0815]

He is completely right, Charlottes songs are very good, but very different from what she sounded with Delain. Thanks for posting that interview. i was wondering for years...

[@loadedradioofficial]

You're welcome and thanks for commenting!

[@Robertsmith-dy3sh]

As much as I loved the old version of Delain, I am really loving this new chapter!

[@loadedradioofficial]

Appreciate the comment!

[@evandungen5260]

Of course, to each his own, I'd say. I mean, tastes can differ and that's okay.

[@andrewtucker4265]

Reading a lot of comments Charlotte has moved on Martijn has moved on with a new version of Delain ,at least the iconic tunes are still being aired ,it's not up to us to judge .It's simple you either are a fan or are not anymore

[@FrankHaastra]

Love the new version of Delain!

[@jeroen5838]

In short “Creative differences”

[@loadedradioofficial]

It would appear that way

[@iannumanfanwright1743]

Saw Delain last night..they sounded amazing and Diana is just incredible, she has such a beautiful voice

[@reneelawton1032]

That she does!

[@evandungen5260]

@@iannumanfanwright1743 I totally agree with you. Delain couldn't be happier with her.

[@MajorHattery]

I'm glad to hear it was mostly a business decision with some creative differences thrown in and not a massive blow up (even if some feelings were hurt). I loved Delain with Charlotte, but funny enough Charlotte solo and reformed Delain I'm pretty indifferent to. Don't get me wrong, they're not bad (far from it) but the direction the music took for both projects just isn't my thing.

[@SokolRock]

Looking at the comments, I find it interesting (and very sad) that in the current cultural climate, people tend in similar circumstances to always side with female members and condemn if it's a man. When Floor Jansen had burnout, the fans were like "Oh, poor Floor, hope you get better soon," and with Martijn it's like, "Suffering from burnout? Get out of your own band!"

[@Saje3D]

Yeah. And baby men whine about it constantly.

[@SokolRock]

@@Saje3D It's just that the next time you find yourself in very shitty and unfair circumstances, don't forget to remind yourself that you're a "privileged white man" and don't deserve any sympathy or help. And I hope you don't get any.

[@SokolRock]

@@Saje3D It's just that the next time you find yourself in very shitty and unfair circumstances, don't forget to remind yourself that you're a "privileged white man" and don't deserve any sympathy or help. And I hope you don't get any.

[@SokolRock]

@@Saje3D It's just that the next time you find yourself in very shitty and unfair circumstances, don't forget to remind yourself that you're a "privileged white man" and don't deserve any sympathy or help.

[@SokolRock]

@@Saje3D It's just that the next time you find yourself in very bad and unfair circumstances, don't forget to remind yourself that you're a "privileged white man" and don't deserve any sympathy or help. And I hope you don't get any.

[@GothicLightingQueen]

A lot of people arguing about old vs new Delain and Martijn vs Charlotte. debating guilt and who did wrong. And the end of the day we are only humans and sometimes we grow apart, I don't think either side is guilt free althou you could argue that one side is the bigger wrongdoer, And I do think that in some trhings, Martjin could have handled things better . But with that said. I do really enjoy the music that Martjin writes, Delain and Eye of Melian. His music is right up my alley so I'm hoping that the band dynamic behind the scenes will be productive

[@shadowsiren6527]

@GothicLightingQueen I definitely agree with you that we are all human and that basically things happen. Situations such as these are almost never black and white with one "bad guy" and the rest innocent victims. I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go around. But I still don't think it's fair to say that Martijn could have handled things better as if he still should get a majority of the blame. They all could have handled things better. As I told someone down below in a comment, the day the announcement went out on Delain's social media about the split there were some HORRIBLE nasty comments directed toward Martijn that some people made on that post on Delain's account. Some people were calling him every name in the book and there were even a couple of comments telling him to kill himself. And Joey and Timo's accounts not just "liked" but "loved" several of those comments. I'm sorry, but what kind of people would like or love such incredibly hateful comments? That sent up such a crazy red flag for me and told me that there was a ton more to the situation than we knew. We'll probably never know everything simply because we weren't there to see what went on in private. So I think because of that we should simply reserve our judgement because we'll never have 100% of all the facts. Anyway, all that being said, I'm glad you're still able to enjoy the music! :)

[@GothicLightingQueen]

@@shadowsiren6527 I agree, leaving comments like those is bad and not something to accept. To clarify, people have said that from Martijns view, Delain was not a band but his project (I know it started like that but to me it grew into a band). So they wern't a band, just him and hired guns. If this view is correct then I do think that he should have been more clear about the state of things because from the members and the fans view, they were a band so ofcause they wern't happy he treated them like contract workers and not band members (even if he did write most of the songs) Again I don't know if a version of this is true but if it is, that's my point of him in that aspect "could handle things better". But as you said. We don't have 100% of the facts so we should give the benefit of the doubt. The only thing we can do is looking at the things we do know and ask ourself if it's a dealbreaker to be a fan and not judge other people for having at a different opinion

[@JohnThornburgh]

So happy Martijn was able to turn it around and save the band. Love the new music.

[@chadridge4947]

I was a huge Delain fan back when they had Charlotte I still like the band but the two new albums with the new singer are probably the worst albums that the band released on the other side of the three albums that Charlotte released are all great epic albums but with that said I will be seeing Delain in Baltimore next year

[@martijnwesterholt7351]

See you in Baltimore, Hope we can re awaken your enthusiasm for the band when you see us live. Thank you for giving us a chance! 🖤

[@shayxtreme]

That's your opinion. I disagree. Dark Waters is a fantastic album A +

[@VickenIshkhanian]

@@martijnwesterholt7351see you in Joliet Illinois in spring, how come no show in Florida? Love your music

[@martijnwesterholt7351]

@@VickenIshkhanianlooking forward to it! We would love to play Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa or Fort Lauderdale, but we didn’t get offers this time. Hope we can include it on a next tour. 💙🤘

[@andrewneehall5664]

Dark Waters is great! Apocalypse and Chill was really off-putting to me. Every song sounded the same, just generic metal, heavy but with very little uniqueness or appeal. I hated every song on it, and it is the only Delain album that I don't own. I think you could literally hear Delain becoming stagnant on that album. I think the shakeup was necessary, and now both Charlotte and Delain are making interesting music again. Win/win! I am totally re-energized for this new era of Delain and hope they come back to Edmonton someday!

[@ironj100]

Don’t listen to Delian anymore since Charlottes left

[@Dan.B.Artist]

It was interesting. Everyone can see that both Charlotte and Martijn are being professional and fairly neutral towards each other. It's a shame that the guys seem to have split the band in the end. I like what Charlotte is doing and how she is evolving. So far I feel Delain are 50/50. There were some amazing songs on Dark Waters and there were really bad ones that are super forgettable. I'm not seeing the whole togetherness that he spoke of about the band yet. If anything it feels more like the band are hired musicians than before. I hope that a second album will push them forwards.

[@thelinthing3395]

Martijn treated Charlotte - and all the other members - like replacable trash. Martijn forgot that Delain became a band that was carried mostly by Charlotte's prescence, and not just his little private project. Charlotte is doing a LOT beter without his toxic crap.

[@loadedradioofficial]

Appreciate the comment!

[@martijnjanssen4419]

Your comment is trash. Judging like this without knowing the ins and outs. You weren't there and all you can do is speculating and judging regardless. If he would treated her like trash he wouldn't talk about her like he does in this interview.

[@FrankHaastra]

What a crappy comment. Actually, it looked like it was the other way around. The three guys wanted to kick him out, while he was down, and he always was (and still is) the engine of the band behind the scenes. If he was such a jerk he wouldn't be able to work together with others for 17 years. Also, original band members returned after the split. If he was such a jerk they wouldn't have returned. Let's be honest. Martijn was already preforming on a professional level in Within Temptation when Charlotte was nowhere. He introduced her to the scene on this level. And quite frankly he proves he can do just as well without Charlotte right now. Even after such a big split That truly is a an huge accomplishment. You can't argue musical taste, but the numbers speak for themselves. Personally I am not a big fan of Charlotte's music, but I wish her the best of succes in her career.

[@PainInTheS]

Dumb comment of the month award...ffs.

[@evandungen5260]

Unbelievable, what an awful distortion of the actual situation. Either you didn't listen well or else you're pretty biased. It's perfectly okay to love Charlotte even more. She went a totally different direction with the guys and she will gain an solid fanbase, I'm sure. But your point of view apparently is rather disrespectful. Get your facts straight please.

[@RammmFan]

charlotte going Tarjas path and martjin went Holopainens path... tragedy...

[@loadedradioofficial]

Appreciate the comment!

[@SokolRock]

I don't see any similarities or any tragedy: Tarja was fired, Charlotte decided to leave on her own. And there was one band, now there are two.

[@FrankHaastra]

Can't listen to Charlotte's music. It has nothing to do with Delain's style, and that's what I like. I also don't agree with the Martijn Bashing.

[@loadedradioofficial]

Appreciate the comment!

[@Cynthia-vm3ee]

I don't like Charlotte's music too. Not my thing. I love the new Delain.

[@kalkman.]

Slim ventje, die Martijn. Als een bassist door een blessure niet mee kan op tour, zoekt Martijn geen vervanger. Welnee, hij laat gewoon een tapeje met baslijntjes meedraaien. Veel efficiënter.

[@FrankHaastra]

Or they cancel the whole tour and disappoint a lot of people. Ever thought about the possibility they couldn't find a suitable replacement because of visa limitations?

[@kalkman.]

Het is dat ie een podiumuitstraling van een accountant heeft, anders stond ie daar in z'n eentje met alle vocalen, koortjes, beats, effectjes en muziek op z'n tapeje. Nog veel efficiënter.

[@seleneiris160]

@@FrankHaastra Don't bother with this guy (kalkman). I've seen his comments on other videos before. The more logic you try and share/discuss the more childish and antagonistic he becomes. Don't scratch his itchy belly by saying a damn word to him. And by the way... I refuse to say another word in response to this either. Over and out.

[@FrankHaastra]

​@@seleneiris160 Ah one of those. Thank you for letting me know. Cheers

[@borisboumann]

​@@kalkman.Was dat bij aanvang van het dienstverband van dat blonde grietje om meer incels naar de optredens te lokken? Toen rezen de personeelskosten de pan uit. Om budgettaire redenen is toen die bassist voor de bus gegooid.

[@Closminding]

What an Almighty and acrimonious bust up. No wonder Charlotte doesn't want to talk about it and chopped all her hair off. 😱🤡😰

[@matteo5484]

What does the hair have to do with it? She said multiple times that she did it because they were basically dead because all the colors and treatments during the years

[@LinkinSLB]

@@matteo5484 Don't mind discussing with this person. They appear in hundreds of different videos' comment sections and leave at least 4 or 5 unhinged, disrespectful comments regarding pretty much any topic.

[@Closminding]

@matteo5484 no she didn't. She was on anti depressants. She was a broken woman. She's said the hair was a symbol of what she'd been through and the sexualisation of female Front vocalists in Metal - like her. You don't have a 2 feet of cascading hair shorn off to be a skin headand an ENTIRE IMAGE CHANGE for nothing. It's Got EVERYTHING to do with it. She's said she thought that cutting it off would make her feel better but that this didn't work, Plus the fact she keeps wearing wigs and hair extensions tells you she REGRETS the decision and wishes she had the long hair back. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@matteo5484]

@Closminding LOL where did you read this? Please share link or interviews. I'm on her patreon and she NEVER said that other than chopped because of the damages.

[@LinkinSLB]

@matteo5484 Please Matteo, I know it's hard, but don't engage with this person. Trust me, I have tried many times, it's completely pointless. Every answer they give you will be even more outrageous than the first comment. Lost case, unfortunately

[@OLDM4N-DE]

Personally, I am glad Charlotte is doing her own thing. Delain only held her back as an artist. I am not a big fan of Martijn to be honest, lets leave it at that. The new Delain is a lot of steps back from where it was (for me for sure) before they split. Now it sounds like way softer again, and more commercial than the last albums with Charlotte. And I am sorry, and I know that this is a matter of opinion since music is somewhat personal taste, but the new singer cant at all compare to the voice that Charlotte has. I remember when I first heard of her joining the band, and I heard what she did before with more electronic & trance kinda music, for that her voice is really good and works well. But lets be honest, there is no such grace in her voice like Charlotte has. Anyways, this is the old Nightwish / Tarja situation. And to be honest, while I thought different initially, it was the best thing Tarja could have done, to really get into her own very special kinda music. That was not being met with Nightwish. Some people cant develop all the way they maybe need to, when they are too limited with the bands they're in. Sometimes its best to leave and start over, and leave all the bad things behind. Like CHarlotte did, and what a restart she did. I have not bothered with any newer Delain stuff since, its just not my kinda thing anymore. For me, Delain were on their musical peak before Charlotte left.

[@loadedradioofficial]

Appreciate the comment!

[@FrankHaastra]

Im also glad she is doing her own thing. I like Diana's voice better, and Martijn's sonwriting better.

[@jaspergroen5376]

Ah always the Tarja Nightwish comparison. That shows how you think about it. Let's make one thing clear. It was Tuomas who made Nightwish. Rather listen to Floor Janssen en Sharon den Adel who are the next level to me.

[@heatherrose3543]

@OLDM4N-DE Honestly, the whole Charlotte vs. Diana thing simply boils down to personal taste. While I've always been a fan of Delain since Lucidity, I never particularly found Charlotte's voice to be pleasant. It has a very nasal quality that is simply not my thing. Diana's voice on other hand I find to be much nicer to listen to. But again, that's simply my personal taste. But I am glad that Martijn stayed the songwriter of Delain so that their new music still sounds like Delain.

[@evandungen5260]

​​@@heatherrose3543hear hear, finally I see someone who writes exactly my opinion. I mean, I instantly fell for the band that played the April Rain sound in 2009. Visiting them live early 2010 I noticed the nasal sound of her voice but... I still loved the sound and this band ever since. So hearing Diana the first time was a relief in terms of appealing to my personal taste.

[@ILLEAGLExxx]

Diana is a much better fit for Delain. The new music speaks for itself.

[@martijnjanssen4419]

Completely agree with you ✨

[@ManuelluisPereira]

She's just a copy of Charlotte.

[@jaspergroen5376]

@@ManuelluisPereira I think you need new ears.

[@alexfuego707]

Emmm nop. Charlotte´s voice is more versatile and strong.

[@BreinGames]

All I heard was me, me, me.

[@jaspergroen5376]

That's because the questions that were asked were about him. Jeez 🤣

[@Herrierecordsinc]

I can advise to purchase a hearing aid.

[@dansfinnigan]

The new version of Delain is MUCH better

[@loadedradioofficial]

They’re definitely solid. Thanks for the comment!

[@mattspeer01]

Disagree. They went from good to mediocre

[@jaspergroen5376]

@@mattspeer01 Disagree with you. Went from solid to epic now!

[@FrankHaastra]

@@mattspeer01 Disagree. They are not mediocre at all, and their successful comeback and response to it proofs it. Your loss

[@OneSecondOne]

Actually Charlotte is better of alone now and can actually do good music and not the mid things she had to sing for Delain!

[@duncanmcdane388]

/care. Just another My Little Ponymetalband that thinks they are something special. Got 1 cd of it at the thriftstore for 2,50 and it was about 2,45 too much.

[@jaspergroen5376]

and yet you are here commenting about it....

[@FrankHaastra]

And indeed, yet you are here talking about it disproving your own point. Great job 😂

[@jameshubbard7842]

They should have gone the Evanescence route, where the face/voice of the band retains the band name, and the random musicians go their own way. Martijn is just a random musician. When every. single. band. member. besides. Him. quits, it’s not hard to figure out who’s the asshole.

[@jaspergroen5376]

hmm is that why original band members returned and he is working with people for almost two decades. Looks like you have the facts against you.

[@evandungen5260]

Really, James? If you had listened properly, you would have had your facts straight. I'm pretty disappointed by the way you respond to this interview, given the fact that your passed friend Élan would 100% have backed Martijn's new project as creator of what is now the official fanclub group. Preserving the genuine Delain sound was the main goal. That couldn't have happened in case the debanded members would have proceeded the company.

[@shadowsiren6527]

@jameshubbard7842 Okay... four people left and two people who had worked with him for many years previously enthusiastically came back. Should the captain have abandoned his own ship? If he left, the sound would have taken a left turn and no longer sounded like Delain aside from Charlotte's voice. Honestly, it seems to me that the best that could have happened as a result of the split, actually happened - Charlotte got to explore a solo career and the guys eventually joined her (as session musicians, by the way, of the Charlotte Wessels band) and Delain got rejoined by original band members, kept the songwriter, and simply got a new singer. So the ex-members are doing their thing and this version of Delain is doing their thing and thankfully we still have music coming out that maintains that "Delain sound".

[@jameshubbard7842]

@@evandungen5260 You’re a sick freak trying to use my dead friend against me. Nasty cunt.

[@SokolRock]

I don't think Amy Lee is setting an example of a good band leader, given the constant break-up scandals with her bandmates starting from Ben Moody and to the sudden dismissal of Jen Majura.

[@Closminding]

NO - its NOT a compliment towards her! 😂😂😂

[@Closminding]

Neither do I! 🤣🤣🤣