Jarboe, artist, poet, story teller, singer and musician, this
multi talented New Yorker is probably one of the more well known and influencial
artists around today and has a history that spans much time and distance. From
her early start as keyboard player and vocalist in 1985 for dark legendary band
The Swans to todays multifaceted incanation of Jarboe, the collaborator, the
visionary, but still, the artist. Her music can be beautiful yet verge on the
twisted. Warmth can suddenly be turned to coldness. This is the unique stylings
of Jarboe. The Living Jarboe.....
What have you been up to lately....
can we expect a new release soon and in what direction are you taking your music
in terms of content, themes and style?
My current music projects include : the 'Men' album which is my next C.D, Raptor-
which is a project featuring classical instrumentation to modern beats, Dissection
- a CD of remixes of my work, and an as yet untitled project with the San Francisco
band, Neurosis where I am singer and lyricist.
Additionally, I have been working on three new interviews which will be posted
on my website very soon. One is with Diamanda Galas, one with Paz Lenchantin
(bass player and violinist for A Perfect Circle and former Smashing Pumpkins
'Billy Corgin' s new band.) and one with Scott Martin (associate producer of
the movie, Vanilla Sky).
I was in a group party scene in Vanilla Sky so that is one reason it makes sense
for me to feature him on my site.
Did you find the transition from
life with The Swans into a solo career difficult to get used to, or was it a
natural progression?
Do you feel your sound and style has developed further or adapted itself much
since your new direction choice?
I have always done solo projects while I was in Swans so it was not a transition
with regard to making recordings and releasing cds. The big change was that
I became an internet only artist and self manufactured my last two cds and they
were only available on my websites. http://www.thelivingjarboe.com http://www.swans.pair.com
My sound has always been adventurous and eclectic.
You've worked with a great many
artists in the past few years. Are there any musicians or producers you'd really
like to work with?
Iva Davies, (formerly of the Australian band, Icehouse), is one of the artists
on my next C.D. What he did is so incredibly beautiful and speaks to me in such
a musical language that I fully understand that I would love to do an entire
C.D. with him.
He is genius.
Could you tell us about your
current works and collaborations with other musicians?
I heard a while back you were keen to work with one of my favorite artists,
Merzbow, did that ever eventuate ?
The MEN album is entirely collaborative. Just a few of the artists so far are:
Edward Kaspel (Legendary Pink Dots), David J (Bauhaus), Alan Sparhawk (Low),
Chris Connelly (Damage Manual, Ministry), David Torn (David Bowie), Paz Lenchantin
( A Perfect Circle).
The liaison years ago with Merzbow was via another artist. I sent raw recordings
of my vocals. I have no idea if the recordings I sent were ever used.
Any gigs lately? Any live performances
in the planning?
As a recipient of the corporate arts grant 'Works in Progress' I was able to
actualize my idea of rock theatre and we did shows in New York, Chicago, and
Atlanta. The NYC show at the Knitting Factory was professionally filmed and
multi-track recorded. My goal is to get it out in dvd format.
As for immediate future shows, I hope to perform at this years 'Beyond the Pale'
festival in San Francisco. There is talk of a festival in South Africa at the
moment. No word on details as yet.
Can you describe a typical Jarboe
live performance?
I'm a modern southern blues singer so my performances are, I suppose, somewhat
theatrical and intensely emotional.
Youre a practicing Buddhist now
and have been for a few years now. Do you allow spirituality to influence your
music much? What inspires you lyrically?
Do you have an album that stands out from all your other efforts?
Zen is a way of life. I don't adhere to rules. The main thing for me is letting
life pass through me with all its emotions and chaos and not let those things
attach to or define me.
Anhedoniac is my guts exposed. The collaborative nude photos taken of me by
New York's Richard Kern (book: New York Girls) with gore horror makeup by Kembra
are the perfect companion to the music on that C.D.
The C.D. is my commentary of my life in Swans and Michael Gira's personal life.
All of that came to an end in 1998 and Anhedoniac tells the story.
On the following C.D, Disburden Disciple, the track 'Pure War ' stands out as
it has sounds I recorded in the Middle East on a six month visit I had there.
Have you come up against any
barriers so far?
Barriers are part of life. It is the clinging to the barriers that I see a dangerous
and am aware of avoiding.
From the text in the "Anhedoniac"
sleeve notes, it was almost like reading a farewell note to The Swans. Is your
partnership with Michael Gira now completely terminated or are there future
plans to maybe collaborate on a project or two?
We saw each other for the first time in years last month when I was in NYC.
As or any future projects together, I have no idea. I am not opposed to the
idea.
Do you believe in Extraterrestrial
life?
I'd like to !
How do you think your countries
music scene could be improved? ( that is if it needs improving)
Is there really a specific country's music scene any more ?
I think there is a global scene these days more than a specific country's scene.
The internet and satellite television have seen to that.
What are your views on the old
Mp3/Napster/free music situation?
I see it like this: you work long and hard . Then you are told you will not
be getting paid anything for your work.
Have I made my point ?
Do you utilize the Internet much?
I have been an 'Internet - Only ' artist since 1998 . I am actively involved
with my websites. Even my personal journal is online and begins on my home page.
It is called 'Artery.'
Has the Internet affected your
music or views on music in any way?
The main impact from the Internet has been the interactivity with the fans and
with other recording artists. Those are both important to me.
Are there any bands or artists
out there who have been a major or vague influence on your musical style?
A few influential vocalists to me : Julie london. Sarah Vaughan. Janis Joplin.
Where do you see yourself in
say five years?
Writing and recording music in the most sincere way I can. Collaborating and
developing my "handwriting."
Any crazy dreams of breaking
out into the mainstream world or are you happy with life in the underground?
I don't ever think of my work in those terms. I make the music and let others
put it into classifications if they so desire. There are so many gray areas
these days between commercial mainstream and experimental. Sigur Ros, Radiohead,
Tricky.
Who would you most like to support
or perform with live?
It would honestly have more to do with the personalities of the other band and
the audience they would bring than it would their music.
It would be nice to perform on the same bill with a flamboyant drag queen show
.
Most remembered incident?
In terms of live shows ? There are too many.
What about interviews ? For the first 'Skin' album, I sang ' Blood on your Hands'
in radio stations and into telephones from hotel hallway pay phones all over
Europe !
We'd really like to have a visit
from you down this way sometime....can I possibly persuade to to think about
it?
Perhaps after I get the right record label to distribute the MEN album, it can
happen. I WANT it to very much.
