Magali Luyten
Quick Facts
Biography
Maggy Luyten is one of Belgium’s leading female rock singers. She is also a vocal coach and voice teacher. She was raised in Leuven and then moved to the South of Belgium, where she still lives today.
She played in several bands before joining forces with the power prog metal band OVER US EDEN in 2003 (Aachen, Germany), produced by Uli Kusch, (ex-drummer of Helloween, Masterplan). Three years later, she was asked by Uli Kusch with whom she already collaborated in the past, to be the vocalist on his solo album "Beautiful Sin". She recorded the vocals in Belgium and then flew to Norway to finish the work at Uli’s studio. Together with guitarist Jorn Viggo (Pagan’s Mind, Jorn), their debut “The Unexpected” has been highly acclaimed by heavy metal fans and in the worldwide press.In 2006, AFM Records released a digipack The Unexpected, Ltd European edition with French bonus track “Le rêve Originel”, translated from “The Original Dream” and special Japan edition with bonus track “Closer to my heart”.Tracks “Lost” and “Closer to my heart” have been featured on Nuclear Blast Compilations - Beautiful Voices Vol. 2 and 3, AFM Records Compilations – “All for Metal” and “Heartbreakers” or Gothic Melancholy Vol. XIX
She is a contributing author of Raise Your Voice 2nd Edition, by World Renowned Glass Shattering Vocal Coach Jaime Vendera. The book includes useful tips by over 20 of the world's top vocal coaches (Melissa Cross, Brett Manning, Jeannie Deva, Mark Baxter etc...) and professional rock singers (James Labrie, Myles Kennedy, Tony Harnell, Jim Gillette, Russell Allen...)
In 2008, she performed guest vocals for different projects, including AYREON “01011001”.“I kept bumping into Magali’s name in different bands, and I was so impressed with her voice every time I heard her. I knew I’d like to work with her one day… she is just amazing" – Arjen A. Lucassen. She performed "Ride the Comet" live in acoustic at the "Stairway to Heaven" in Utrecht (Netherlands) for AYREON's release party in January 2008 with Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, Revamp) and Robert Soeterboek.
That same year, rising from the female bands of Belgium, VIRUS IV ruptured onto the rock & metal scene with their debut album « Dark Sun » (THUNDERING RECORDS) with Renaut Van Oeyen, François Brisk (DYSLESIA) and Christophe Babin (HEADLINE, ERADICATE). Maggy Luyten proves a true team player adding her talents to the immaculate classic metal of her band companions. With standout tracks like « Frightening Lanes », or their Talk Talk cover “Such a Shame”, the music of VIRUS IV appeals to metal fans and non-metal fans alike. These songs were selected by EMI Records to appear on a 3-CD album (France) “I Love New Wave” in 2009 and by Femme Metal Records compilation (United Kingdom) “Beauty and Brutality” in 2010.Virus IV performed at many festivals including PPM Fest. ALCATRAZ, RAISMES FESTIVAL, NAMROCK, LOAF, ROCKSOUND, DURBUY,...) and opened for a.o. SCORPIONS, SAXON, EVERGREY...
She proved her talents as a melodist, vocal coach and singer on the concept album EPYSODE "Obsessions". Recorded by Gerald Jans at the Noise Factory Studio (Belgium), mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen at the Jailhouse Studios (Denmark).Epysode boasted an outstanding cast of musicians and vocalists, including Kristoffer Gildenlöw, Léo Margarit (PAIN OF SALVATION), Christophe Godin (GNÔ, METAL KARTOON), Julien Spreutels (ETHERNITY), Kelly Sundown (BEYOND TWILIGHT, DARKOLOGY, ADAGIO), Oddleif Stensland (COMMUNIC), Liselotte Hegt (AYREON, DIAL) and Rick Altzi (AT VANCE, THUNDERSTONE).The official videoclip for the song "Obsessions" was directed by Damien Brunet where she plays the character "Esh - The Soul".
Discography
- Spirittales - The Dreambookseller (2001)
- Over Us Eden - The Silent Tree (2003)
- Beautiful Sin - The Unexpected (2006)
- Beautiful Sin - The Unexpected, Ltd European edition (2006)
- Beautiful Sin - The Spark of Ignition, Japanese release (2006)
- Nuclear Blast Compilation - Beautiful Voices Vol. 2 (2006)
- Jaime Vendera - Voices of Rock, Compilation (2007)
- Rooky - Extended (2007)
- AFM Records Compilation - All for Metal (2007)
- Nuclear Blast Compilation - Beautiful Voices Vol. 3 (2008)
- Ayreon - 01011001 (2008)
- Virus IV - Dark Sun (2008)
- Ayreon vs. Avantasia - Elected (EP) (2008)
- Ayreon - Timeline (2008)
- Epysode - Obsessions (2011)
- Nightmare - The Burden of God, The Dominion Gate (Part II)(2012)
- Flaming Row - "Mirage - A portrayal of figures" (2014)