For years you have played bass or sang or danced
in bands and now you are finally all on your own, are you a bit nervous?
You know, I have been
developing a 'solo' project for a while now... it just seemed like the logical
progression from where I was. To say right now that Im nervous I haven't been
thinking about it really, just working on the music and of course, I feel like
Ive got to do something that comes next, always moving ahead and trying to make
sure of that... so in that way, I guess nerves come in with pressuring myself
... a little... but its really
more like excitement and anticipation!
As someone who has played in a variety of
groups, what lead to the decision to ultimately do your music by yourself?
Its so strange. Talking about doing music by myself...
because I'm really never working alone.
I love collaborating with producers and writers, I actually thrive that
way. So even though this new music
is technically going under my name and going to sound less band-y, a lot of the
music that I am working on is co-written with more than 1 person. The difference is, that I guess I am
leading the way this time. The
decision was very natural. It just
seemed like the right thing to do, the one that made most sense for me and
continues to feel that way.
What can you tell fans about your new material
that they might not expect?
Hmmm.... My Beyonce style
singing?! .... JUUUUST
kidding. Its really hard to know
what the fans may be expecting from me after everything else. I would hope that I can deliver some
music that is thought provoking, inspiring, and undeniably danceable!.. you
know, a real package.
How would you describe your sound and style to
someone who is foreign to your work.
Dance-y, 90s Rave throwback, Trip - Pop (I just made that
up), Good?, Great?, Awesome?! you have to check it out!? Fresh, New!?
You deiced to give your first song, “That You
Like,” away as a free download. Do you feel that doing so just helps promo your
work better or is that the path music is headed, just giving it all away?
Well, in my personal case...
I'm starting from scratch... As
far as this new music goes, it could be great it could be horrible... people may
be interested to hear what its going to sound like because its new. Giving away a taste of what is to come,
or some music for people to get excited about what is coming next is just like
a trailer for a movie. Im looking
at the big picture here, this is my life, this is my career and when you're
building any business the people gotta know about your product first. Giving away a song here and there...
the benefits outweigh any negatives...
I could go on forever, but no, I don't feel like I'm giving it ALL away,
I look at it as a way to have a conversation with your audience, allowing them
into the creative process. Heck, I
hope that you don't think "That You Like" is giving it all away. From where I stand, its just the tip of
the iceberg.
In 2008 you became a member of Shiny Toy Guns
and became their new vocalist, what was that experience like?
Tough questions! Haha. How long do you want this interview to last!?
Well, you can probably imagine
the kind of gravity involved with replacing an already existing lead singer in
a band. When I joined Shiny Toy
Guns, my life just seemed to be this unbelievable chain of events. I was living in London prior, working
on solo material with Frankmusik, and we were just insane writing
together. I have never experienced
anything like the time that Frankmusik and I wrote 11 tracks together at his
nan's (grandmother's) house.
I got the call from Jeremy to "come out and join my band"
Shiny Toy Guns when I was deep into this solo project with Frankmusik and it
was a giant shock. After much
deliberation I decided to go ahead and join Shiny Toy Guns even though it meant
putting this project with Frankmusik, at the time as I thought, on hold. I already had a relationship with the
band, from 2003. That meant a lot
in the whole decision making process... I saw there was a need, I was very
excited with the prospect, so I jumped in head first. We made some really great music together. Though Season of Poison, may not have
been what the fans were hoping or expecting... regardless, I am very proud of
that record and think that the album as a whole is completely awesome. It seems like its going to be something
that people check out in retrospect and go... "wow!" If I listen to it now, it's just a
whirlwind of memories that I can't begin to put into words because I have
already said enough as it is.
Every night was a new night to prove myself to each and every fan out
there that was just waiting to see what "this new girl" was all
about. Behind the scenes a lot of the time it was the deja vu of every Rock N
Roll story ever told. About three
years of it, so you can only imagine the experiences...
You stayed with the band a short while then
left, what caused your exit?
Well, I believe the cause of my
exit was the same as my joining the band in the first place. I replaced someone. No matter what anyone thinks out
there... no band just goes out and decides to go get a new singer today for the
heck of it. There were many
reasons for the decision the band made to have me in the band. It was not the easiest situation for
any of us. As you all know, though it may have seemed like a short while, three
years is plenty of time for a lot of life to happen. In three years, you go from Freshman to Senior. In three years, one can go from being
single, to having a two year old child
My point is, a lot can happen in three years... and it did. In the end I feel a little bit like Mary
Poppin's NOT in the practically perfect way BY ANY MEANS I am not making any
self proclamation lets please make this clear!... but in the way that she just
showed up when she was needed and just flew away when the wind changed. .. yeah
a little Rock n Roll Mary Poppin's.
Prior to Shiny Toy Guns you were appeared on the
Pussycat Dolls reality show to become a member of the girl group, a major shift
in style in terms of what you would do next in sound and context of music, what
was the transition like and what was it like being on the show?
Yes. I did appear on the show
as a contestant of an audition process to be the next Pussycat Doll. The entire time involved from start to
finish, very first auditions (off camera) to my exit of the show was... I
believe, about 6 weeks total. The
actual filming of the show portion that I was on was... less than 2 weeks.
Believe me, through that whole process from beginning to end, it is so rushed
that you hardly have time to think about what you're doing. I knew in the beginning that I would
have a good chance of being a part of the show. Did I really want to be a Pussycat Doll? No... not really. Did I really want to experience the
whole thing? Reality TV? I thought
I did at the time... sometimes I think I want to experience EVERYTHING!.. However as you may all know already,
its so far from reality. From the
time where it seems like its an okay idea to audition for this show to the time
that you're on it, its about a month long process that got really difficult to
see through or back out of after the first step into the very first
audition. It was totally a bizarre
like Clockwork Orange. They strip
you down, take away all of your belongings and communication with the outside
world, give you a number, they keep you awake for ridiculous hours, cut you up
like Frankenstein and put it out there for everyone to see, then they release
you into the world with this newfound scary fame you make no money, and have no
way to defend yourself. Yeah...
that's the best way to describe it.
It really showed me a lot about life, people, friends, fame, I learned a
lot. It was such a small fraction
of the rest of my career in music that its kind of a bummer the way it can just
overshadow everything else, I guess I really didn't think about that... that I
am still 5 years later (from filming) explaining. Hopefully it doesn't last much longer... I mean, anyone
remember Eden's Crush or the Mickey Mouse club? Yeah.
You have dabbled in a little bit of all forms of
entertainment; from music, to acting, to dancing. Do you feel music is the best
way you can express yourself?
I love creating music and
everything about the process because it is so multifaceted! If you're an actor you go role by role
usually as a medium that the writer, directors express themselves through. Same as a dancer, you are a medium that
the choreographer is sculpting with.
With music, the entire creative process is much more involved if you
want it to be. I get to think about what it is that my heart is feeling to
convey, write the lyrics, music, produce it, perform it live, perform it staged,
act in videos, dance live and in videos, decide what the visual elements are
going to be... I get to be involved in the whole creative process from
beginning to end I get to do it all!
Music is what inspires me... on so many levels, the true artists are
inspirational in everything they do.
I can only hope and try to live up to that same standard.
What has been the most memorable thing about your career?
Well, I can't say winning my
first Grammy or singing a duet with David Bowie just yet... Im not sure I should tell
you! Do you really want to know? How about this one... changing
very quickly before a show in this tiny 5ft by 6ft dressing room with about 5
other men 4 of them gay go-go dancers fluffing themselves with penis pumps...
(details censored).
