Women of Rock: STELLVRIS Vocalist Nicol Hofman Unveils Her Must-Know Female Music Icons

As a musical unit, STELLVRIS is demonstrating a high degree of self-awareness with their latest release, Shatter and Bloom. Their latest EP, released this past November, features five new tracks and is the follow-up to their 2023 album Persistence. With Shatter and Bloom, the band set out to push most musical and emotional boundaries. The songs explore issues such as destruction, rebirth, and the emotional chaos triggered by modern life. The single “Silence After Violence” goes a step further, meant as a wake-up call to the alarming level of violence and frustration that has crept into the psyche of younger generations. There is a willful blindness to these issues being displayed by governments, elites, and those in positions of power. Each song on the EP is rooted in real stories meant to empower listeners and encourage them to prioritize their self-awareness of what is going on around them.

Since forming in 2019, STELLVRIS has become well-regarded for their ability to turn pain into power. The band’s music is particularly targeted at those who are battling anxiety, finding their way through toxic relationships, or just bearing the weight of daily struggles. Musically, they form together metalcore, nu-metal, and electronic music into something decisive and brutal. Even with all of the seriousness of their music, STELLVRIS still find opportunities for lightheartedness. Included with all of the serious commentary on Shatter and Bloom is a fun heavy metal reimagining of pop star Nicki Minaj’s enormous mainstream hit “Starships.”

STELLVRIS ‘Shatter & Bloom’ album artwork

Lead singer Nicol Hofman joins us today for a Women Of Rock feature, sharing with us five female artists who have been hugely influential on her as a musician and an individual.

“Some artists don’t just inspire you from a distance — they quietly shape who you become as a musician and as a person. These women played a huge role in my journey, not only through their music but through moments, encounters, and the feeling of standing on the same stage as someone who once felt untouchable.”

1. Tatiana Shmayluk

“I first saw Tatiana when Jinjer was touring as a support act for Arch Enemy. It was also the first time I ever heard Jinjer — and from that moment on, I was completely hooked. Tatiana’s vocals are incredibly unique; her growls are on another level, and even getting close to that kind of control and power is extremely challenging. She quickly became one of my biggest vocal inspirations.

“Years later, life brought an unreal full-circle moment: STELLVRIS had the opportunity to support Jinjer on two dates of their tour in Austria. In Vienna, we ended up sitting together backstage, talking like normal people, and it was such a genuine, friendly experience. Sharing a stage with a band that influenced you so deeply is something you never forget — it’s one of those moments that quietly reminds you why you started.”

2. Alissa White-Gluz

“Alissa is the reason I started screaming. A friend once sent me an Arch Enemy song, and it was love at first listen. I literally learned to scream by practicing to their tracks. Alissa herself is absolutely incredible — always professional, powerful, intelligent, talented, and unapologetically herself. Her departure from Arch Enemy honestly shocked me, and I still feel a bit sad knowing I’ll probably never see that lineup together again.

“I had the chance to meet her and the whole band at Topfest in Slovakia, and she was incredibly kind. Funny enough, my dog Scarlett might have helped break the ice — she ran straight to Alissa, and that’s how we started talking. Sometimes the universe works in small, unexpected ways.”

3. Amy Lee

“Amy Lee was one of the very first female vocalists I listened to when I was discovering metal — and I still listen to her today. She’s an endlessly inspiring woman with a beautiful, emotional voice. I love singing her songs, and they still resonate with me deeply after all these years. Meeting her in person one day would honestly be a dream come true.”

4. Tarja Turunen

“Tarja was my gateway into metal through Nightwish. I must have watched a million live videos back then. I loved how fearless she was on stage — not trying to be perfect, just fully present, powerful, and free. Years later, I saw her live again as a solo artist, and it was just as impressive.

“Last year at Summer Breeze, I had the chance to briefly talk to her backstage and take a photo together. Moments like that make me incredibly grateful — being able to meet women who once existed only on my screen is one of the unexpected gifts of doing what I do.”