This interview originally appeared in issue#3 of Firefly Zine in 2002
Interview by Vicki Butler, contact:draculamountain@yahoo.co.uk
#1- explain yr line up..
Verity Susman - Keyboards
Emma Gaze - Drums
Rachel Dalley - Bass
Mia Clarke - Guitar
#2- describe yr sound...
that's a tough one - sometimes we go for 'instrumental electronic rock' which is probably the best we can do. I prefer hearing other people’s descriptions.
#3- what made you want to form a band?
Emma and I had always wanted to be in one, and when we met it was a love of music that brought us together as friends. So then it was a natural progression for us to start our own.
#4- who and what r your influences?
At the moment we are all really into Broadcast, Godspeedyoublackemperor, ...trail of dead, Cat Power. Apart from music we are influenced by art, politics, philosophy, film, critical thought, things that prompt you to think, question and feel.
#5- what was it like supporting le tigre and trail of
dead??
It was really enjoyable. they are all very nice people.
#6- have u come across much sexism at yr gigs?
We've had 'get yer tits out' shouted quite a few times, which makes us laugh. We used to get quite a lot of hassle when we turned up to gigs from patronising sound engineers and promoters but that changed a bit on our last tour, partly I think because we took our own sound engineer with us, but also perhaps because people had heard of us so they weren't quite so quick to dismiss us as 'girls who probably cant play their instruments' which was quite often the attitude before when we walked into venues. There are a lot of people who assume that women are second rate
musicians in comparison to men, and that they are only good for looking sexy on stage, and that attitude runs right through the music industry at the moment. Women have to work hard if they want to break out of stereotyped roles. But things can be changed - it’s important to try to tackle the sexism that exists in the music industry. Music technology in particular is very male dominated, and women can feel excluded particularly by the jargon that is used to cloud everything and make it seem like it is impossible to understand - but of course it’s not, and more
women should start getting into things like sound engineering and producing.
#7- what r yr views on selling out? whats more important to u, the money or the music??
I think 'selling out' is a problematic term. A lot of people use it without thinking what it means right now - and what does it mean exactly? If selling out means compromising your music to fit business demands, then we are not about that at all. We signed a deal to start our own record label so we could always retain complete creative control over what we are doing - this is very important to us. But it is also important to us that people hear our music, and so we need financial backing to be
able to record and release records and to go on tour. I think we are realistic about our situation. Of course the music is what matters most to us - that’s why we’re in this band, but we are aware that money is necessary for us to achieve what we want with our music and our label. Getting money from companies doesn't have to entail 'selling out', but you've got to make sure that you are not signing a deal where you could be under pressure to do things you don't want to do, and restricted in
what you can do.
#8 at what age did u get interested in music? what
was the first album u bought??
I’ve been interested in music and loved it for as long as I can
remember. My parents always listened to a lot of music at home, so I was brought up with it, and they got me piano lessons when I was young. I think the first album I bought was a kylie minogue one - (I was 10).
#9- whats the best band you've ever seen live??
mmm tough one... maybe trail of dead
Brighton based musicians