Prophecy is the latest album from L.A. hard rockers Edge Of Paradise. We caught up with vocalist Margarita Monet, who fills us in on the new record, signing with a new label, touring and other topics.
Chad Bowar: Was there anything unique about the songwriting process for Prophecy compared to your previous albums?
Margarita Monet: The process was pretty similar, but with each album there is always something new and unexpected. With Prophecy we had a new band member, Doug Weiland on guitar, and when he heard some of my ideas he brought in an 8-string to expand on what I was doing on the keyboard, and that added a whole new dimension to our music. It gave our guitarist Dave a new space for his guitar, and it was cool to see how that gave the songs a new layer of depth and intensity. The expanded range of the 8-string guitar allowed us to experiment with heavier, more complex riffs while still maintaining the cinematic and melodic elements that define our sound. Every album is its own journey, and with Prophecy, the synergy between all of us evolved in an exciting way, shaping the overall atmosphere of the record.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
I think we were layering parts for the final song on the record, “Falling Light.” I really love that song, and I felt so fulfilled that the album was almost finished. I just had to edit a few remaining files to send to Jacob Hansen for mixing. As we were going over everything with our co-producer, Mike Plotnikoff, we started counting the songs, and we could only count nine! We were all absolutely certain there were ten. Maybe it was a glitch in reality, but somehow, we were missing a song. And to make things even crazier, we were leaving for our European tour with Symphony X in just three days.
Panic started to set in — there was no way to write, record, and produce an entirely new song in that timeframe. But then, Mike looked at me and said to go home and make a song with just you and the piano. That was really the only option. And as overwhelming as it felt in the moment, I’m so grateful it happened that way. Piano is where it all started for me musically — and while I’ve done piano covers of our songs, I had never put a raw, piano-and-voice track on an album before. So I went home and wrote “Hear Me,” then recorded the vocals the next day. It’s probably the most vulnerable, personal song I’ve ever written – just my soul completely exposed. But I think it gives the album space to breathe, adding a dynamic contrast to the other full, layered songs. So it was a happy accident!
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
I think the biggest challenge for us was the time and budget constraints. I always think, wouldn’t it be nice to at least take a few months and go to some really remote place, to a studio in the middle of nowhere and just focus on creating? Maybe one day that will be our reality, but for this album, we have to balance everything at once. But at the same time, those limitations pushed us — it gave us more fire, more urgency, and forced us to be incredibly focused and resourceful. When you’re under pressure, you tap into a different kind of creativity, and sometimes that brings out the best in you. It wasn’t easy, but I think as a band, we learned how to thrive on that intensity, we always find a way! And in the end, it made the album even more powerful.
How has your sound evolved from Hologram?
Our sound has definitely evolved since Hologram. One of the biggest shifts was incorporating the 8-string guitar. It created more depth and heaviness, opening the door for more intricate and cinematic layers between the guitars and keyboards. Vocally, I always try to evolve with each album. I think also the songs I was making really pushed me to explore more dynamics in my voice; bringing in softer, more intimate moments while also expanding the power of delivery. On this album, some songs required me to tap into different characters, which pushed me to explore new sides of my voice. I had to embody different emotions to bring the stories to life. Our drummer Jamie was more creative and powerful, playing with a new sense of conviction, same thing with our bassist Kenny. Overall all the band members really stepped up!
What lyrical topics do you cover on this one?
Lyrically, this album is the ultimate standoff between the human spirit, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. The stakes are higher than ever—every album we’ve created has been leading up to this moment. The themes explore the battle for autonomy in a world where technology threatens to consume identity. Some songs depict AI as a force trying to overwrite human will, while others dive into the resilience of the mind, the fight for free thought, will to create, keep expanding our minds intellectually and creatively, and the search for truth in a fractured reality. There are also deeply personal moments, where I reflect on inner struggles, transformation, and the raw emotions that come with stepping into the unknown. This album is both a warning and an awakening—it questions what it truly means to be alive and what we’re willing to fight for to keep our humanity intact.
How were the video shoots for “Death Note” and “Prophecy Unbound”?
It’s always an adventure making videos! “Death Note” and “Prophecy Unbound” were fun, intense, and definitely a challenge, but that’s what makes it exciting! When I think of videos, I usually have these cinematic scenes playing in my head, and then it’s all about figuring out how to actually bring them to life. Luckily, I have an amazing team that helps turn these visions into reality. For “Death Note,” we teamed up with No Face Studios for the fourth time. We used an LED screen to create these environments, and our set designer, Alan from Sci-Fi Studios, really brought the world to life. It’s always a mix of high-tech and hands-on creativity, which I love.
With “Prophecy Unbound,” we worked with Julian Santiesteban, and this time, we were literally chasing the sun! Shooting on location is always unpredictable, and you never really know what you’re going to get until you start editing. But that’s what makes it exciting! Every music video is an adventure, and I love the whole process of creating these little cinematic universes for our songs.
How did you come to sign with Napalm Records?
Well, we finished our contract with the previous label, and it was a natural progression. It’s an honor to be a part of such an amazing roster, and we love the people at Napalm, so we’re very happy now to be a part of such a great label, and look forward to the future!
Does that change your goals and expectations for this album?
We always want to keep moving forward, we’ve always had the mentality that it’s up to us, I have a big vision for the band, and it’s great to have a label partner that supports and believes in the vision!
What inspired the original art you created that’s available for fans to order?
The music and the songs always inspire the art! Each piece is like an extension of the world, visual echoes of the emotions, stories, and energy within the songs. I’ve always been a visual person and a lot of the songs when I write them, I see the imagery, and I try to tap into that when making the art. Also, it’s a way to bring fans even deeper into the universe of the album, letting them experience it in a whole new dimension. And I love the idea of people having a piece of that world with them.
You have a tour coming up supporting Delain. What else is on your calendar for 2025?
Yes, we are so excited for it! We are looking to bring the band to Mexico and South America this summer and also back to Europe this summer and fall. So please stay tuned for more tour dates!
With several albums now under your belt, how challenging is it to come up with a setlist?
We were just talking about this the other day. We want to play the new music because it’s so much fun playing the songs live for the first time, but it also sucks to have to leave out the songs we loved playing, we definitely need a longer set time.
What’s the most unusual venue you’ve played?
One of the most unusual venues we played was in Germany, it was a WWII bomb bunker! The place had this intense, almost eerie atmosphere, with crazy tunnels running through it, all glowing red. It felt like stepping into some kind of dystopian, industrial underworld. It was definitely one of those shows where the environment became part of the experience!
What’s the coolest site/attraction you’ve been able to visit while touring?
There were so many! We all absolutely love to see the world, sometimes just to run out for half an hour and see something. We love going to all the beautiful cathedrals in Europe. I love history and architecture, especially gothic architecture. Also, Japan definitely stands out, because it is like another planet! You go from a very ancient temple in a bamboo forest, to the most futuristic part of the city, with the fastest elevator in the tallest building, with robots everywhere and highways that stack on top of each other like in video games, back to a traditional tea ceremony in kimonos, then to insane flashing billboards in the business streets of the world!
You and the band are active on social media. What’s your favorite platform, and is it difficult to keep up with the new ones that keep springing up?
I would say between Instagram and Facebook, that’s where we really grew our fanbase and we love interacting and creating a community within the world of Edge of Paradise. We built this band from nothing, and it’s all because of the support that people have shown us so we are so grateful! I would say Tik Tok is a hard one for me to get into, I’m not the kind to share a lot, there is a certain mystery maybe to everything behind the scenes, but sometimes I think if someone was filming all the cray things we go through to make this all happen, it would be a very popular TV show. (laughs) And it’s not easy making content, because I like to just sit and create stuff, without turning on a camera and documenting everything.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
I love making art, I also used to do ballet for a very long time, so I love dancing. I’m also really into science, so I love to read a lot about all the latest in the science and astronomy world. I love looking at stuff under the microscope and just keep learning! Also, coffee shops!
What’s the best thing you’ve binge watched lately?
It was not too recent, but I really was so into the show Dark, it’s a German show, I absolutely loved everything about it, the mind bending plot that you kind of had to have a notebook to follow. To me, that was one of the best shows ever made!
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
I want to thank you for having me, and thank you to everyone who supports us, we are very grateful. We hope to see you at the shows and say hello! Also, just want to mention, we’re doing a giveaway. The biggest canvas artwork I’ve ever made – the Prophecy painting – everyone who pre ordered the album is entered in the giveaway, and will be drawing the winner March 6th! So thank you again and best wishes to all!
(interview published March 6, 2025)
Watch Edge Of Paradise – “Death Note” Video
