Chad Bowar of About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with WITHIN TEMPTATION vocalist Sharon den Adel. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

About Heavy Metal: What has the response been in the United States to “The Heart of Everything”?

Sharon den Adel: “We toured in the U.S. a few months ago and we didn't know what to expect when we went over there. We were a support act for LACUNA COIL. A lot of people came to see us even though we only played for 45 minutes. People came from Atlanta to Louisville, which is a really long drive. I was really amazed that so many people came to see us and already knew the music. It was really cool. A lot of them got to know us through MySpace. I think in Europe we underestimate MySpace. It's a lot bigger in the U.S. than here. That's how a lot of people got in contact with us. We were very surprised.”

About Heavy Metal: Every WITHIN TEMPTATION album has a different vibe and theme. How would you describe “The Heart of Everything”?

Sharon den Adel: “We have been inspired by movies and books and, of course, our personal lives. It's about what an individual finds important in life. You have to make choices. It's about the journey toward those choices. If you were to ask me what's important in my life, I would say family, my health, that type of thing. But this is not to tell people what is good in my life, but to ask questions and search for what is good in life. That's why Lady Justice is on the album cover, weighing choices and hopefully making the right choices.”

About Heavy Metal: You signed with Roadrunner Records. Was the fact that your albums will now be released in the United States part of that decision?

Sharon den Adel: “We have been around for some time and have been doing quite well in Europe. That is why America started noticing us, and that's why we got the deal with Roadrunner. They noticed us and thought we might be a good band for them to release in America. That's the way it happened. It was nice coming to America. It's such a different culture. It's another exciting journey.”

About Heavy Metal: You're coming back to the U.S. for a tour later this fall.

Sharon den Adel: “We wanted to come back to America to play a headline show. We had so many good reactions after we played there and were approached by the promoter to come back.”

About Heavy Metal: Have you had any formal vocal training?

Sharon den Adel: “No. But I think I did it the way people do when they are trained. I practiced every day. I was singing three or four hours every day. I grew up with parents who loved music and there was always music in our house. When I heard a song I liked I would rehearse until I could sing it the same way it was supposed to be. It was a challenge for me to be able to sing the songs I really liked. I trained myself that way.”

Read the entire interview at this location.