Metric's Emily Haines Tried To 'Embody' Bella For 'Eclipse' Song

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It's not exactly breaking news when the folks behind the wildly successful "Twilight" soundtracks tap indie acts to appear on their albums — at least not after last year's "New Moon" 'track featured contributions from the likes of Bon Iver, Lykke Li and Grizzly Bear.

But on Wednesday, as MySpace Music unveiled the list of bands that would appear on the upcoming "Eclipse" album, a few names stood out from the fold; chief among them was Metric.

Over the years, the Canadian quartet — led by frontwoman Emily Haines — have forged a reputation for being fiercely independent, making their own path and, as much as possible, shying away from the limelight, to the point that, to be honest, appearing on a major motion-picture soundtrack didn't seem to be anywhere on their list of priorities.

Haines didn't debate that point when she sat down with MTV News to discuss her band's involvement with "Eclipse." The idea seemed impossible to her until, she said, a famed composer gave her a call.

"I have to say it was unlike any experience I've ever had. ... I got a phone call from Howard Shore, who is, in my opinion, the best, heavyweight film composer out there. He did the scores for the 'Lord of the Rings' and, more importantly to me, he did all the David Cronenberg films: 'The Fly,' 'Naked Lunch.' He's an amazing, brilliant musician," Haines said. "[He] calls me and says, 'I want to write with you ... I want you to write with me, for the song at the end of the movie, the penultimate moment, where the whole score culminates in this incredible scene.' And I was like, 'OK.' "

From there, Haines — working off a copy of the "Eclipse" script — got to work writing a song based on the experiences of Bella Swan. And much like her involvement in the project, writing a song through someone else's eyes was something she never dreamed she'd be doing.

"I had to ... really try to embody the voice of Bella, which I've never done. I've always been interested in that — writing for film — and it was really cool to feel the emotions of someone else, and then try to express it in a way that's consistent with Stephenie [Meyer]'s books," she said. "It was so interesting for me. And [Shore] had also written the [chord] progressions, and we had to work within his melodic ideas, but still make it us. ... He really wanted it to be Metric. So it's, like, Metric and Howard Shore, writing this moment. And when you see the movie, you'll hear that the melodies from the song we wrote are part of the score. ... I can't believe my luck, and it was really cool to work with him."

While writing Metric's contribution to the "Eclipse" soundtrack — a song titled, appropriately enough, "Eclipse (All Yours)" — Haines connected not just with the character of Bella, but the actress who plays her, Kristen Stewart. In doing so, she discovered a newfound depth and respect for both the actress and the series' author.

"Well, it was definitely unusual. ... With this, it was really feeling this character, and I really like Kristen Stewart. I think she's got such a great energy around her, and the character is such a good representation of a real girl," Haines said. "I think a lot of times young women get characterized as shallow or silly, and we all have to deal with, in popular culture, these terrifying Barbies. And I think Kristen Stewart as an actress, and the character that Stephenie created in these books is a really interesting, real character."

So while hearing all about the song's creation is nice, we're sure the "Twilight" fans of the world are really dying to know whether Haines got to see "Eclipse" (hitting theaters June 30). Well, if she did, she's not saying. And it's probably for the best.

"I feel like if I comment on that, it's kind of the equivalent of when you say something about Scientology: Someone's going to come and get me," she laughed. "I'm not revealing anything, to anyone, about anything, ever."


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