Dilana Ismailova fronts the hard rock band the Snifters, a regular at Sunset Strip’s Whiskey A Go Go, and has been seen many times opening for the legendary hair metal group. Maybe. But her own path to singing began shortly before that.
“Singing has been part of my life since I was born, but I turned professional in 2016,” says Ismailova. “I started writing songs in 2019 and started performing right away. I felt my local metal scene was too small, so I decided to move to Los Angeles and study vocal performance at Musicians Institute. The Snifters It was formed on October 11, 2022 as the first attempt to start a band from scratch.”
Ismailova describes the Snifters’ sound as neo-classical metal with a twist. “Our sound is a blend of powerful vocals and killer guitar riffs,” she says. “I love singing high notes, so there’s room for extreme vocals to keep things spicy.”
According to the singer, the band is working on an EP featuring four medieval tales. “I can’t give away all the secrets, but check out our release ‘Creatures of the Night,'” she says. “This is the perfect gateway to what’s to come.”
This indie metal band knows exactly what it means for their hits to be DIY, musically speaking.
“DIY means being responsible for every aspect of our music and career,” Ismailova says. “It’s been a wild journey juggling responsibilities and connecting with so many amazing people, but that’s where the magic happens. Thanks to the band’s support, I’ve found the courage to face any challenge. .”
Looking ahead, Ismailova has many plans for the Snifters and beyond in the coming months.
“I have some collaborations planned with friends in the guitar shredding world, so stay tuned on Instagram @swiss.knife_,” she says. “Additionally, we are planning a band reunion with our second original guitarist, where we will be working on new songs and presenting some great shows.”
For more information, visit snifters.info.
Photo credit: Katie Llewellyn
