Livestream with Jo Gamel

Livestream Tuesday September 17th, 8pmEST.

Host of the Rock Goddess interviews
Multidisciplinary Artist + Singer + Bassist @metalofjupiter

Watch on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/GDrcRtj4Jdr385pU/

Jo Gamel bio

I perform as the Oracle of Jupiter. Metal of Jupiter is a “power metal-prog rock” band consisting of myself on vocals and bass, Tomas Ericson (Helvetets Port) vocals and rhythm guitar, David Olofson (Helvetets Port) lead guitar, Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Dream Evil) on drums, and Kyle McNeill (Seven Sisters, Phantom Spell) on Keys. I’m influenced by rock singers like Jenny Darren and Tina Turner, as well as the album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son by Iron Maiden, and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Rick Wakeman. The band formed in 2022 in Gothenburg, Sweden and has released two singles with two music videos, with a forthcoming album. In February I began to host a video interview series called “Jo Gamel’s Rock Goddesses” in which I interview women who make music in rock, metal, and punk bands.

Transcript

Hilary: What’s up, everybody! Happy Tuesday. It’s Tuesday, right? We’re just taking a few seconds to settle in and sort out some technical stuff, but I’m so excited for this conversation. Let’s get started in a second, but first, I’m thrilled to welcome today’s amazing guest, Jo Gaml, from Metal of Jupiter. How’s it going, Jo?

Jo: Thanks for having me! I’m so excited to be here.

Hilary: Before we dive into things, have you fully gotten into the book yet?

Jo: Oh yeah, I finished it! It was so good. I’m curious—have you started reading it?

Hilary: Not yet, but the way you just said that makes me want to drop everything and start right now! We’ll get into it soon, but let me just quickly introduce everyone. Welcome to the Bellwether Ritual live stream! I’m Hilary, bassist and backup vocalist for Bellwether Ritual, and today we’re diving deep into music, social media, and beyond in the Lehigh Valley and far beyond. Our guest today is Jo Gaml, who performs as the Oracle of Jupiter in the power metal/prog rock band Metal of Jupiter. Jo, you’ve got such a fascinating background, blending influences from Jenny Darren to Tina Turner. And, of course, you also host the interview series Rock Goddesses, where you spotlight incredible women in rock, metal, and punk. How do you manage to do all of that?

Jo: Laughs Honestly, I’m not sure, but it’s been a wild ride. I love diving into the music scene and especially getting to talk to such inspiring women through Rock Goddesses. It all kind of feeds into each other, and I feel like the energy of one project helps push the next one forward.

Hilary: I’m always so inspired by the women you feature on Rock Goddesses. It’s such a powerful way to spotlight the voices that don’t always get the recognition they deserve. How did the series come about?

Jo: It started as a personal project, really. I was doing this painting series of iconic women in rock—people like Brody Dalle, Grace Slick, and Doro Pesch—and I realized that, while I knew a lot about them, there were many others who had almost no information out there. I wanted to fill that gap and also capture our current generation of rock and metal women before their stories disappeared. So, I started reaching out to friends and artists I admired, and Rock Goddesses was born!

Hilary: I love that! It’s amazing how personal and grassroots it feels, but at the same time, it’s documenting something really important. What have you learned throughout the process?

Jo: Oh, a lot! One of the first things that struck me is how many of these incredible women have this sense of impostor syndrome, even though they’ve achieved so much. They don’t see themselves as “rock goddesses,” even though I and so many others clearly do! It’s been a reminder that no matter how far you’ve come, self-doubt can creep in. But it also made me want to create a space where they feel celebrated and validated.

Hilary: That’s so powerful. There’s definitely a need for that platform, and you’ve really filled it beautifully. Speaking of platforms, you’ve been involved in so many exciting projects, like Metal of Jupiter. Tell us about the band—how did that come to life?

Jo: Metal of Jupiter came together in a really serendipitous way. I was working with the band Enforcer on their album, writing lyrics for their song “Ode to Death,” and I met Tomas and David, who are both in Helvetets Port. Tomas had also written lyrics for Enforcer’s hit song “Katana,” and we hit it off. We all shared this deep love for prog rock, power metal, and classic rock influences, and one thing led to another. We brought in Kyle from Seven Sisters, and suddenly, we had this fusion of different backgrounds and talents. It just felt right.

Hilary: You can really hear those influences in the music. It’s such a cool blend of power metal, prog, and a bit of classical—it’s got this theatrical vibe that feels both epic and intimate. I’ve been obsessed with your single, “Shamaran.” Can you tell us the story behind it?

Jo: Definitely! The song “Shamaran” is inspired by the legend of Shamaran, a mythological figure from the Middle East. She’s half woman, half snake, and she lives in underground gardens where she grows plants, raises bees, and makes medicine. She’s this wise, powerful figure, almost like a chemist and healer. I learned about her while living in Turkey, and her story really resonated with me. She’s also a symbol of the divine feminine, which is something I’m fascinated by—how serpent imagery ties into feminine power across different cultures.

Hilary: That’s so interesting—the symbolism of the serpent showing up in all these different cultures, like with Medusa or even Eve in the Bible. It’s amazing how universal that imagery is.

Jo: Exactly! That’s what drew me in, and I wanted to explore that through the music. The song weaves in these elements of mysticism and mythology, but it’s also got this heavy, almost operatic feel. It’s both personal and cosmic.

Hilary: I can definitely feel that cosmic energy in the track—it’s got that spacey, almost fever-dream vibe that really takes you on a journey. How about “Tale of Ur”? That one feels like it’s pulling from a different mythos.

Jo: “Tale of Ur” taps into ancient Sumerian history, drawing from one of the earliest known civilizations. The song touches on themes of lost empires, forgotten knowledge, and how history tends to repeat itself. It’s a bit darker than “Shamaran,” but they complement each other. Both songs explore the idea of wisdom and power, but from different cultural and historical perspectives.

Hilary: You’ve really got this incredible way of pulling ancient mythology into modern music, making it feel fresh and relevant. I love that your influences span so many eras and styles. Speaking of influences, you’ve curated some killer playlists—what are your top five rock goddesses we should be listening to right now?

Jo: That’s such a tough question, but I’d say for classics, definitely Jenny Darren and Jinx Dawson from Coven. For newer artists, I’m a huge fan of Marta Gabriel from Crystal Viper—she’s just incredible. Gabriella Gun, who’s released an album in Czech, is another standout. And, of course, I’m always revisiting Doro Pesch. She’s a legend!

Hilary: Those are some seriously powerful recommendations. I think we’re all going to be adding these to our playlists ASAP! Before we wrap up, anything else you’d like to plug? Any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for?

Jo: Well, we’ve got more music on the way! We’re heading back into the studio in February to work on the Metal of Jupiter album, so stay tuned for that. And, of course, more episodes of Rock Goddesses are coming. I’m really excited about what’s next!

Hilary: Amazing! We can’t wait to see what’s next for Metal of Jupiter and Rock Goddesses. Thanks so much for joining us today, Jo—it’s been such a blast!

Jo: Thank you for having me! It’s always fun chatting with you.

Hilary: And thank you, everyone, for tuning in! Be sure to follow Metal of Jupiter, Rock Goddesses, and of course, Bellwether Ritual. See you next time!