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Interview: Top Synth Pop
2004.03.07
Interview with JAG of TopSynthPop.com
"We're always looking
for something new, a sound that is different, from a music standpoint Saint
Eve brings incredible potential to the electronic scene."
Received the new CD Elixir and
listening to the first couple of tracks I was definitely pulled in. The sound
is geniune. By the third song I'm at the website checking out details of this
band .. I have to know more about what's behind the music. Surprised and definately
impressed to find that the album is the work of 1 woman. The sound is present,
the image is there.; but I still needed to know more ....
1.) I see Saint Eve born in 1999,
but can't help but wonder what the labors have been working up to this release
of "Elixir"?
If you go to the archive site, sainteve.net, you'll see a few galleries of pictures,
video, a list of almost every gig, people who have given their time, lyrics,
etc... It needs to be updated, but there is some history there for sure. The
"thesainteve.com" site was meant to be a more immediate intro to Saint
Eve.
2.) Playing live shows and in
a scene that is relatively dominated by men, what have you found the reception
and perception to be for Saint Eve?
Really strong and welcoming. I get a wonderful response from internet radio,
club promoters all over the world, and have had good luck with unsuspecting
live audiences. The only time it's ever an issue is with major labels because
it doesn't fit on commercial radio. Being female may be part of the problem
but I have never been openly rejected because of it. I heard Fiona Apple had
trouble getting added to a station that was playing Tori Amos, like they had
a chick quota. We'll see if Evanescence opens doors.
3.) While I'm listening to the
"elixir" CD it seems to break out of the norm for all those electronic
sub genres: How do you catagorize your music?
I know. It's the guitars. I love them but they muck up all the categories, even
though I use them sparingly. And the whole point of naming a genre is to help
people sort through a zillion bands and figure out what they feel like hearing.
I feel for you.
I'm not sure how many non-musicians realize this, but whenever you upload your
music to an mp3 website, they always want your genre. It's understandable, but
there I sit in my underwear, with the multiple choices: A. Rock B. Pop C. Alternative
(to what?) D. Techno - and their kind sub-genres are not so helpful either:
a. drum-n-bass b. trance... you get the idea.
I decided that since I have synthesizers and guitars and it is song oriented
and it is sung (unlike much "electro" that I love, but there I am
in my underwear again) that I should find other people who do this kind of mix
and go from there in my categorization. I looked as far back as the 70's and
decided that David Bowie, Roxy Music and Elton John in their glam years, where
the guitars were harder, was a good start. And the analog synth sounds of that
era are just so gorgeous and respected. My influences are too far reaching,
so to just name influences wasn't going to do it. And frankly, new wave has
been a super strong theme in this record but that music also harks back to glam
+ even the 60's. And lastly, industrial rock flavors are some of my favorite
sounds ever. So, I figured "glam" makes room for the synths, my primary
instrument, and for the rock qualities.
So, I call it Modern Glam , whenever I am pressed for an answer. Sometimes I
throw in "rock" to "modern glam rock" in the case of an
ad where you might be confused with a clothing ad, or something. In the epk
that's on the cd enhancement, I say "Saint Eve wears electric boots",
which, of course, is a nod to the "Bennie and the Jets" lyric as well
as my silly wardrobe. But really, the differences in genre are minor to me.
I do have drum-n-bass littered about my tracks and there are trance elements.
So, the heck with it, Modern Glam Rock will have to do until someone comes up
with something better.
4.) What's the drive behind the music? (who are influence, where is the inspiration,
that sort ..)
The drive is simply to create. I love that music gives me the first impetus
to make something, but after that I get to write lyrics, figure out stage shows,
video, etc... My biggest vocal influence is Annie Lennox. I don't use that style
very much in Elixir, but I just love her. There's more of that on the Demonstration
EP. Blondie was also one of my favorite bands, too. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
are a huge influence. They were really weird and did just fine for themselves.
5.) How do you perceive the NYC
Electronic Music scene today?
There's a lot going on and it's very exciting. It's very "wild west"
and anything goes. The fact that people will go see a powerbooker is amazing
and to respect that this person is creating music live is really special. It
used to be very different years ago. Audiences are very conscious of process.
They're fine with track acts. The result is a sense of freedom and music always
needs that.
Often, I'm asked to sing in a club with just my tracks and that's ok for even
large shows. Lately, I've been using a turntablist (Geo Greene) instead of a
synth player. The fact is, I'm the synth player but I can't do all that and
sing and jump around in stupidly high shoes. And audiences seem to understand
this. Before, my live electronic drummer/synthesist (and collaborator AJ Tissian)
used to handle that stuff. The line-up always changes.
6.) What do you see in the future
for the overall electronic scene?
The overall electronic scene is just going to grow. The festivals in Europe
are huge - even the goth ones in Germany. I'd like to think that the open-mindedness
that occurs there will filter here and I think internet radio is a huge part
of that success.
7.) And what can we expect from
Saint Eve in the future?
I'm open to the possibilities. I'd like to explore the theatrical aspects more
- either in video or live.
Additional Details
To hear the music and find more information follow the links below:
- Saint Eve Intro
Website
- Saint Eve Music, Audios
& Videos (previous works)
Buy Saint Eve's Newest Release "Elixir" online - at CDBaby
, Middle
Pillar and Amazon.com