SW10: Colette Lovelace of The Clockwork Dolls, on Inspiration and the Human Experience

If you attended Steampunk World's Fair this past weekend, you heard the vocals of the lovely Colette Lovelace of The Clockwork Dolls on the Midway Stage. Last week we featured Colette's bandmate, Allison Curval. This week, Colette, who also hails from Baltimore, tells us how she got into Steampunk and describes the labor-intensive process of writing lyrics. To listen to more of Colette's work, check out The Clockwork Dolls on Bandcamp.

How would you define/describe yourself?

That is a mighty broad question and one that is genuinely hard for me to answer. I think one of the best descriptions of me is that I am someone who is exceedingly reluctant to describe herself. If pushed, I’d say I am a pretty calm, practical, flexible person; I’d like to think I have all but mastered the art of “rolling with the punches.” I like to stay positive, supportive, and optimistic when I can; I think it’s healthy for not just the individual, but for the world on the whole.

I’m also someone who loves production as much as consumption. In addition to making music, I love to cook, knit, brew, garden, do needlework; anything that produces tangible results. There is something so fulfilling about creation and being able to share the results with those around me.

How did you find steampunk?

The way I find everything meaningful in my life - the internet. I think my first real exposure to the subculture was through Datamancer’s work. I remember being blown away by his computer modifications and thinking, “So, how can I see more of this?”

Colette (left) and Alison (right) performing Saturday
at the Steampunk World's Fair in Piscataway, N.J.

After being clued in about Steampunk, I was really excited to look into it. I was already very much interested in historical costuming, and just history in general, and I loved the idea of modifying and romancing Victoriana in a sci-fi setting. I really loved the aesthetics of it all, as well.

Describe one of your creative processes.

Well, the biggest part of my work with The Clockwork Dolls is writing lyrics. I’d like to tell you it is some sort of spiritual process filled with candle-lit rituals, but it really is more mundane than that. There’s this old joke that goes, “How do you carve a marble elephant? You get a block of marble and carve off anything that doesn’t look like an elephant.” The joke is dumb, but it’s weirdly analogous to my process. Allison’s music overwhelmingly follows a narrative, so the first step really is just trying to get a feel for the content of the song. Then I take a few deep breaths and try to imagine the narrative in my mind. Then, I’ll just brain vomit onto paper and write down every little scene and dialogue and feeling that I have on the matter. After that, I’ll sift, sort, cut, and edit all of those snippets into a workable piece; essentially carving away anything that doesn’t “look like an elephant.” Then I go through and polish it again and again, adjusting wording and phrasing, until I’m satisfied; or, more often, until I’ve run out of time and convinced myself that I’m satisfied anyway.

Who or what inspires you?

Lots of things inspire me, I suppose. There are definitely musicians that inspire me, like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, June Tabor, and Sophie Tucker; and I take a lot of inspiration from things like history, folklore, and mythology. But I think I take most of my inspiration from the human experience. The way people react, their emotions, their connectedness, their stories, their triumphs, their failures; it’s an endless vein to mine. There are people who have affected the world in enormous ways, whether through justice or tragedy or progress, and the way those people have affected the world is so inspiring to me. The idea of a single person affecting the lives of those around them through greatness or through mundanity; it’s a fascinating area to explore.

What projects are you working on right now?

We have easily half a dozen projects in the pipeline at the moment, but front in the queue is our new album. The working title is "The Sleepwalker Chronicles" and it’s going to be AMAZING. Allison has written some incredible music for it so far and has really been pounding out this amazing, detailed, intriguing plot line for it as well. We have some ambitious plans for this album and I know it’s going to be incredible.

What advice do you have for young Steampunks?

Don’t let anyone define you. There’s always going to be pressure to conform to preconceived standards, but don’t feel like you have to abide by them. Don’t let others judge you for your choices and question any self-proclaimed authorities. I think sometimes there is a fear among younger and/or newer Steampunks to “get it right.” That mindset makes them too cautious. Deviate, take leaps, and make choices. Take risks and don’t let anyone hold their judgments over you. Creativity requires deviation; that’s what makes it so exciting and beautiful.

SW9: Allison Curval of the Clockwork Dolls, Living a Life of Full Immersion

This week's blog features Allison Curval of Baltimore, Md., composer, instrumentalist, and founding member of The Clockwork Dolls. You'll be able to catch Allison and The Clockwork Dolls this weekend at the Steampunk World's Fair, and click here and here to get premieres of new songs.


How would you define/describe yourself?

How would I describe myself? Well, imagine this: You got this kid, right? Well, this kid really wants to learn to fix the TV, but instead of watching an expert or taking classes, this kid decides it’s a great idea to steal a screw driver from the garage and fix the TV all by themselves.

 

Aforementioned kid, of course, totally forgot to unplug the TV and, one trip to the emergency room later, comes right back to square one to start all over again.

After a bunch of tries, and just as many trips to the ER, the kid finally gets the TV to turn on. Sure, the picture doesn’t look quite right and the hospital bill was enough to fund several hundred TV’s, but the kid did it.

That’s me; I’m that kid. I’m not the brightest, I’m not the best, I’m not patient, and I sure as hell lack the common sense to do things right, but I finished the job.

I’m just a kid with a keyboard, no common sense, and a hefty hospital bill. Yeah that sums me up alright!

I also write the music for the band… I guess I should have mentioned that earlier!

How did you find steampunk?

As a kid, my dad was obsessed with two things: history and talking about history. I remember late nights sitting by the dinner table long after it’s been cleared with my father giving me long elaborate lectures on the imperial age of Korea through WWII and the Korean War. I remembered being fascinated with those stories; hearing about people, what they’ve done to survive, what they wore, what my grandfather ate, what he smoked, and what he drank.

And boy did my family love to drink. Our reunions were incredible.

From those table side chats with my dad kindled a love for history, for the past, I remembered staring at these old black and white photographs of Seoul in the early 20’s and making up stories about them. They were wrong of course but who cares? My imagination went wild.

Fast forward to my teen years: I loved sci fi, I lived and died by the old Star Wars vs. Star Trek debates that went on in school, and watched the original Star Wars Trilogy as many times as I possibly could. Hell, I even dressed up  as a Jawa for halloween; I was short enough! I was a nerd and, dammit, I was proud of it.

Then my 20’s hit. The perfect storm of a love for history and a love for science fiction came together when I saw  the Time Machine in the theaters.  I remembered reading HG Wells as a kid and getting a kick out of some of the image,s but I never really saw it play out quite like what I saw on the big screen. It blew my mind. Now, keep in mind, this is 2002; Steampunk conventions weren’t a thing, and I didn’t discover the Brass Goggles forum until 5 years later, so I took what I could get from the aesthetics I saw and delved into Victoriana and Edwardian era music, style, fashion, politics, and history.

Fast forward a few years later:

A co-worker handed me a DVD and said, “You gotta watch this.” The movie was Steamboy. I had no idea what happened to me, but by the time the DVD was done I was googling “Steampunk” and BOOM. I found Steampunk.

Describe one of your creative processes.

ONE!? JUST ONE!? You’re killing me. KILLING ME. Alright, let’s go with our last album, “When Banners Fall.” It’s not really a Steampunk album, but the creative process pretty much similar across all of my works. So, here we go ...

I’m not content just writing music – I have to write a soundtrack; I have to write a score; I have to have visuals and a story to go with my work. I have to be John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Jerry Goldsmith all rolled into a 5’3" song writing machine. But I can’t just sit down and write, that’s too easy right?

So, I have to live the music. I have to feel the emotions of the song and bring it to life. I have to feel the story on a personal, visceral level, otherwise, how am I going to make others feel what I have felt?  A lot of this involves putting myself in situations where I can empathize with the emotions and feelings of a particular song or story; I have to get inside their heads.

So, how does this relate to writing an album about WWII like "When Banners Fall"? Simple. I had to live WWII. I had to get inside WWII.

So, I listened to nothing but radio broadcasts from the era, watched nothing but movies from the era, and (tried) to experiment with sleeping outside in the dirt. My neighbors did not appreciate me digging a fox hole, but if they didn’t want me peeking into their house they should have bought blinds!

I even had a brief (and terrible) experience where I tried to live a few weeks off nothing but stuff that would be found in ration kits: corned beef, sugar pills, coffee, cigarettes, crackers, etc.

I will tell you right now: I would not recommend ANY of what you’ve read above. These are terrible ideas and I’m a terrible person. But through my experience abusing myself, I felt confident enough to write my music and score an era of time in which I did not live. Did I succeed? I’m not sure to be honest, but it makes a wonderful story!

Who or what inspires you?

What inspires me? Stories.  I can’t write a song without a story. I tried; it’s awful. For "Dramatis Personae," I had a narrative in my head for each song written that played out like a movie in my mind. As I was writing "When Banners Fall," I was reading letters from soldiers sent home and listening to speeches because I wanted to capture the stories of the time. I was obsessed with stories.

As far as people who inspire me? Franklin Delano Roosevelt; the man kept this country together through the worst times and he did it with polio. Plus, I love his speeches and fireside chats. Whenever I think of calm tenacity and leadership, I think of FDR, and that gets me through a lot.

I’m also inspired by Charlie Chaplin; I still get tears when watching Limelight.

What projects are you working on right now?

The next Clockwork Dolls album! It is tentatively called "The Sleepwalk Chronicles." Soundwise, I’m trying to mix fantasy film scores from my childhood (Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, Legend, and Labryinth) with contemporary electronica and our signature classical sound.

Like our previous works the album will feature a story which we’re currently in the process of setting up.  The story will take place in 1918 and will feature a heavy mix of fantasy with just a hint of tragedy

What advice do you have for young steampunks?

Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t be afraid of judgment. Fear never having tried. And spiders. Since you’re also Steampunk, you should fear Steampunk spiders. Very nasty and so many cogs glued on them.

Take it from the crazy lady who built a band using an electronic orchestra when her friends told her that it would never sound right or it would never catch on.

Yeah, they might be right; sure, I could still fail; but the music speaks for itself.

Oh, another bit of advice? If you’re going to dig foxholes in your backyard, contact your local utility company first.

SW8: This Way To Sarah - Lady Egress!

This week we hear from Sarah Shown aka "Saddle" Sarah or Lady Egress - from This Way to the EGRESS!  Sarah comes to us by way of Bethlehem, PA - so East Coast Steampunks should be very familiar with her work - West Coast folks, watch out! 

How would you define/describe yourself?

I am the partner, leading lady, piano/violin player and songstress of This Way to the EGRESS. I am a multi-tasker, turd polisher, DIY warrior. I was raised in a musical family and have been playing since I was 7. I met Taylor and teamed up with him in EGRESS in 2008. We were so diluted by the current musical temperature that we decided to create a band where we didn't adhere to any boundaries and created music that we would like to hear. I think the most steampunk thing about me is I am rather anachronistic. 

How did you find steampunk?
I was actually lucky and steampunk found me. In 2009 EGRESS was approached to play a handful of steampunk events. It was through those shows that we learned about the subculture. It was really awesome to find that a lot of what we already loved and had interest in was all coming together in a scene. That there weren't boundaries about what you could be like there are in a lot of other scenes. The steampunk community has greatly supported and adopted EGRESS and myself as it's own even though at times we seem to march to our own beat. That is a part of what makes it so great, we can create our own reality.

Describe one of your creative processes.
I suppose it depends on what I am working on. It rather bi polar actually. My creative process' change according to my moods. Mostly when it comes to song writing however, songs come one of a couple ways. The lyrics first and then I put them to music, the music firs and then I write lyrics to it or sometimes I sit down with a concept or a purpose, like "I am going to write about what's happening in the world and how it effects me" or I am going to sit down and use this new scale I have been working on and create a song from that. One thing that is consistently the same is that I like to create things my friends and I would like to wear or listen too or look at. A lot of times its just an organic process I give it over to a higher place and it creates it's self through me.

Who or what inspires you?

Some of my biggest musical inspirations are my experiences and travels. My emotions and humanity. I have experienced a decent amount of death that seems to weigh heavily on my every day life. I draw quite a bit of inspiration from our fans and their stories. My friends and family, especially my mom. My muse, Taylor. He has an incredibly refreshing approach to live and it inspires me daily. I am incredibly inspired by stories about change and self awareness. I think that is the most difficult thing for lots of folks to do and I love it and watching the transformation and sometimes I am lucky enough to be a part of that transformation. I am heavily influenced by film and the films I like, mostly dating back to my teen years. Lastly, Tom Waits. 

What projects are you working on right now? 
Right now every inch of my focus is going into This Way to the EGRESS. We about to release our third full length album. It's entitled Great Balancing Act and it is being unleashed digitally onMay 19th however we are having some record release parties one of which is at this years Steampunk World's Fair!! There is so much that goes into being in a DIY band that I am completely encompassed with the sphere of it all. We have finished booking a tour and now we are working on promotions places to sleep and all of the work that goes into being on the road like over hauling the van, packing, over hauling our gear, practicing and preparing our stage show. In between all of that I am running the social media campaigns trying to find time to be

human and plant my garden : )

What advice do you have for young steampunks? 
Be true to yourself. No matter what and at all costs. You are in a great scene for that!! If you don't know how to do something or make something, Learn how. The best thing about steampunk is it is largely a DIY community. If you don't have the interest in learning how to make a pair of goggles or a mini top hat than support  the arts!  In fact support the arts anyway. Music and Art and Words are suffering in our culture at large, don't let it become a thing of the past. Give that gift to the future by becoming a part of the movement. We don't have to just eat what society force feeds us, we can be in charge by supporting the things we think are important.

Website: www.thiswaytotheegress.com

SW7: Jocelynne Simone, AKA Madame Askew, and the Art of Tea Dueling!

This Monday's blog features the irrepressible Madame Askew, time traveler, tea enthusiast, and proponent of the fine art of tea dueling, where one settles differences with tea and biscuits rather than bullets and guns. She is also known for her clothing construction and corsetry, as Lady in Waiting Fashions. Making her home in Tuscon, Arizona, Madame Askew has wielded her teapots at Wild West Con, AetherFest, and other steampunk conventions.

How would you define/describe yourself?
I think I start from a place of optimism. I always endeavor to find the very best in the people around  me, the experiences of my life and the places I visit. I adore people as individuals in the vast myriad of unique ways each person exists. Interacting with people, creating spaces of laughter or inspiration really feeds my soul. My, an extrovert, and it certainly shows! Nothing picks me up after a bad day quite like spending quality times with a friend or group of friends. It’s rare that I want to hide away and hibernate though it does happen.

For all of my love of spending time with people and my excitement for life, I am fundamentally an artist which does mean a great deal of time spent working in a solitary environment. Long ago I had a vocal coach tell me that for some of us to be happy in the world, we would always need to do some type of art, in some manner. I have found this to be very true, and I have been fortunate to have my life filled with both the performing and creative arts, especially in recent years. Not only do I have the opportunity to build costumes and see them grace the bodies of many wonderful people, but I also get to stand before small bands to large crowds of people and entertain them with my merry band of tea drinking fiends.

Given that I pursue art as well as volunteer in my local community extensively, I am grateful that a final facet of my character is that I am what some might charitably call driven and others might describe as a workaholic. I love doing and filling my life with acts of creativity, giving and performing. I firmly attribute this to a drama teacher I had in middle school, Tyrone Wilkerson, who chastised those of us in class for squandering our time. He gave a compelling and inspiring speech about filling every moment with something that feeds our brains, our souls or both. I have tried to live my life with that speech propelling me forward.

How did you find Steampunk?

 Like many people in our wonderful community, I believe I found Steampunk long before I found the term. I remember watching the classic Disney adaptations of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth with great glee. I loved the aesthetic and the costumes. I wanted to be in those places. As I was older, I began to seek out books that captured that same feeling. For quite sometime I had quite the challenge tracking them down. I didn’t quite know how to describe them to librarians, and of course, I’m old enough to have lived before searching by internet was a possibility. It was The Difference Engine by Sterling and Gibson and then Death of a Necromancer by Martha Wells that finally introduced me to the term. From there, it was a few years before I discovered that there was an entire subculture that had sprung to life. The internet was certainly a boon in that exploration, often making a community that would have been too far away very accessible. 

Describe one of your creative processes.

For my costumes, I like to start with a scenario, activity, or destination that drives the function and then look of the costume. For instance, I might have a client who wants to be a lady airship captain. Rather than doing a visual search of modern costumes by other designers – whose work I love but I never like to emulate too closely – I go to the historical record of the nineteenth century. I start by doing a visual search of photographic plates or drawings. In this case, I would start by searching for female adventurers of the era or female military costumes. An airship captain, after all, would need to be able to move practically and efficiently on her ship. The visual search might send me down the trail of particular historical figures and how they managed to live and work in their field. Often there will be more pictures and some historical notes about why they wore this or chose that equipment. I take all of those details and throw them into the blender of my imagination, and then add in what I know about the particular character of my client. From there I often do some sketching to try to capture what I’m envisioning.

Who or what inspires you?

 I have been incredibly fortunate to meet many amazing humans. These individuals have inspired me in countless ways, and the list is extremely long. However, there are several particularly inspirational figures in my life. My grandfather was an inventor, engineer, independent thinker, and one of the most genuinely gracious humans I have known. He taught me how to build things in the workshop, how to dream about design, and to believe that everything was possible. He also told me when I was very young to remember that every human was born the same and that it was our actions that set us apart. My dear mentor, Carlos Tuttle, in high school provided me with a great deal of life coaching which I believe saved me from treading down a path of bitterness and self-serving. When I was distressed that I could never repay him for his support, he agreed that I should in fact not even attempt to repay *him* but to pay back my debt by helping others in the future. My dear Aunt Kristi has forged a life of art and happiness. I have watched her dedicate herself and find a balance that is true to her vision even while it may not always be a secure or easy road. She taught me what it meant to pursue work as an artist. Finally, for this very short list, my dear teacher, Mrs. Grongberg, showed me the power of intellectual integrity and words, especially poetry, and opened my mind to a new way of seeing the world. When life has been difficult, I have been able to return to those lessons and find some poem that lifts my soul. 

 What has been your greatest adventure?

Honestly, life as a performer. In my early 20s, I gave up pursuing a career as a performer for a host of reasons that seemed very sensible, wise, and practical at the time. That decision left a hole in my heart. In this later phase of my life, I have had the great gift of performing again, regularly. I am humbled and frequently in awe of that gift.  That, of course, has been mostly a metaphysical  adventure.

I think in a more real world sense one of my greatest adventures was driving to the Grand Canyon by myself when I was 21. It was August, terribly hot and dry, and I had absolutely no idea how to prepare myself. I was terribly poor, packed too little food, did not take sufficient water, and I was driving the most terrifying old car. (I bought it for $600 which at the time was a princely sum for me.) I strapped my trusty Godzilla figure into the passenger seat and drove. It was incredibly beautiful country. I had hours to myself and I remember very fondly singing at the top of my lungs with all of the windows rolled down because there was no air conditioning in my car. The Grand Canyon itself is beautiful beyond my ability to describe it, but it was the sheer act of surviving the ride and knowing I could so entirely depend upon myself, even ill prepared as I was, to make my adventure happen that was the sweetest part.

What projects are you working on right now?

 Currently, I am very fortunate to have an extremely full queue of projects for clients and backers. I’m making a variety of tea duelling sashes for people I truly adore, several waistcoats for gentlemen who deserve to be dressed to the absolute nines, and a couple of corsets. I am especially thrilled about the corsets as one is for a client who has never owned one before and another is for a friend who has weathered a rough few months. I may also get to work on a Japanese Steampunk ensemble, including a corset obi, and I hope a summer weight ensemble for Madame Askew will soon be in the works. 

What advice do you have for young Steampunks?

 Being a Steampunk can go far beyond the simple costumes and accoutrements that we all love. Find who inspires you and encourages you rather than those who would tell you how to do things only their way or that tell you only what you are doing wrong. Learn the difference between constructive criticism and unkindness. Read. Read about your passions and those who have gone before in your field, read the technical materials of your particular vocation, read the fiction of Steampunk or whatever inspires your imagination. Fill your mind, build up your spirit, and do not be afraid of being smart or authentic. Beyond that, ask questions and learn to listen. Listening does not mean agreement with all that you hear, but it does provide time to actually judge the merit of information. If you meet those who refuse to answer your questions, there will be others who will step up to the challenge.

SW6: Ay-leen the Peacemaker (Diana M. Pho) and Multiculturalism in Steampunk

This week we're looking at one of the champions of multiculturalism in Steampunk, Ay-leen the Peacemaker (Diana M. Pho). Ay-leen discusses some of her most recent projects. In her life as an editor for Tor Books, she's starting off this week at JordanCon and ending it at the International Steampunk Symposium. She's also the author of the Beyond Victoriana blog, which is one of the foremost resources on Steampunk and retrofuturism from outside a Western-dominant, Eurocentric perspective. Thankfully she was able to take some time to answer questions for us!

How would you describe yourself?
I am an urban adventurer with a penchant for all things retrofuturistic and timey-wimey.

How did you find Steampunk? 
I was introduced to Steampunk by my fiancee, Lucretia Dearfour, who basically described it as her and her friends, dressing up in sci-fi anachronistic Victorian clothing, going to conventions, and having people take pictures of them. XD But I also know that steampunk had become much more – I would now define it as an art movement inspired by retrofuturism and 19th century science fiction and fantasy.

Please describe one of your creative processes.
I work as an editor by day, crafter/costumer by night, and I run a blog. So there are a lot of different processes I think about in terms of “creativity.” I like being absorbed by art – my art or other people’s – and then breaking it down into all sorts of bits and pieces and putting it back together again, only stronger. That’s basically how an editor works, that’s how a cosplayer thinks, and that’s what many steampunks do.

Who or what inspires you?
Stories, especially folklore and mythologies. New ideas and processes. Scientific discoveries that impact society. A good shot of fine vodka.

Tell us about one of the projects you're working on...
I wrote the introduction to the Best of Spanish Steampunk recently (here’s an interview I also conducted with co-editor Marian Womack), where I talk about the impact of local histories when conceptualizing steampunk stories, and Monturiol, who invented the first steam-powered submarine.

What advice do you have for young Steampunks?
Read and be curious. Don’t be afraid to fail with a project and have to start over from scratch. Don’t get caught up with some idea that to be “successful” you have to be some sort of community icon. Always be open to new ideas and to share your own.

Ay-leen the Peacemaker (photo by Phillip Ng)

SW5: Samantha ‘Frenchy’ Stephenson: Living A Creative Life

SteamWomen is pleased to present the incredibly multitalented Samantha ‘Frenchy’ Stephenson  - one half of the fantastic musical duet Frenchy & The Punk. We're thrilled she was able to take time from her very busy schedule to share her thoughts with us - thank you Samantha! 

How would you define or describe yourself?

I am an artist, performer, healing arts practitioner and traveler. The need to lead a creative life has always been paramount to me. Though my journey has had many twists and turns, I now travel my true path and it is amazing! As an artist; I draw, paint and sculpt. As a performer; I started in the performing arts at 4 years old when living in the UK with classes and performances in ballet and modern dance as well as piano. Later, after moving to the U.S., ballet changed to jazz and hiphop dance and since 2005 I have been the singer and percussionist for the Folk Punk Cabaret duo Frenchy and the Punk. As a healing arts practitioner; in 1999 I began my studies in Polarity Therapy at the Open Center in NYC which encompassed Craniosacral therapy and energy healing. I believe in the power of movement literally and figuratively. Through my experiences in dance and as an aerobics instructor, I find that physical activity is a great catalyst for transformation and empowerment on all levels. The spark to move forward in life can be inspired through the performing, visual and healing arts. Through our music, we endeavor to inspire people to move, to want to do something, to get up and get going. As a traveler; it started early on for me as I traveled quite a bit growing up (I was born in France and lived in the UK and Brazil before coming to America) and the band travels year-round touring all across the U.S. and in Europe.

How did you find Steampunk -OR- how do you define it?

I was performing, along with guitarist Scott Helland, at events organized by Jeff Mach and he said; “You’d be good for Steampunk events” and we said, “What’s Steampunk?!” We had already been performing at Faerie Festivals, another very creative and spirited community, and Alternative Music Festivals and Conventions since 2006 and it seemed that Steampunk was somehow an extension of a similar world. I was immediately attracted to the creativity and European feel and aesthetic of the community as was Scott and he, coming from a Punk Rock background, immediately heard the ‘Punk’ part of the name! That was back in 2009 and since then we have performed at almost all of the major Steampunk events in the U.S. and Europe and have become one of the ‘go-to’ bands for the genre. Steampunk is a beautiful explosion of creativity. It attracts and fosters a maker’s mindset which I love and has a transformative feel to it. It has a very tactile aspect to it too and brings a sense of warmth to a world that can at times feel cold. It brings together a community of people who are at once creative, adventurous, fun-loving and action-oriented.

Please share with us one of your creative processes. 

I write the lyrics to the Frenchy and the Punk songs and sometimes the melody. Writing lyrics can be a mysterious process. It feels like there is a well that I plunge into to access the words. Scott is constantly playing guitar and sometimes when he is playing a riff I hear lyrics attached. It’s like they already exist within the notes. The process is such a validation of the idea of a Muse. It feels like a gift when those words come. It is the same for Scott, he is incredibly connected and his ability to tap into that golden essence of music through guitar is amazing. Sometimes, after seeing a movie, art show or perhaps driving through some amazing scenery or meeting someone along the way who tells me something interesting, I will get an idea that pops into my head. A phrase can form out of nowhere that just keeps going. If I don’t write it down right away or sing it into my phone, it disappears! Again, it feels like a gift, floating in the air, waiting to be caught and communicated to the world. If the melody comes with the lyrics, then I sit down at my keyboard to figure out the chords. I studied piano for 7 years when I was a kid, and it really comes in handy.

Who or what inspires you?

Nature, movies, art, music, people I meet, life experiences in general. I have been inspired by artists such as Camille Claudel, Bill Viola, Edward Gorey and authors such as Isabel Allende, Paulo Coelho, Joseph Campbell, Dan Millman and singers like Johnette Napolitano, Siouxsie Sioux, Joanne Shenandoah and Chrissy Hynde and performers such as Blue Man Group and Corvus Corax.

The song ‘House of Cards’ was inspired by the PBS Murder Mystery series and Agatha Christie’s Poirot and actually started from the idea of a ‘villan in the house of cards’ after listening to Ace of Spades from Motorhead. ‘Fe Fi Fo Fum’ was inspired by the fight against Monsanto and general apathy about protecting our natural resources. ‘La Vie de Boheme’ was inspired by my experience living in an artist warehouse in NYC for 5 years where my resolution of making the creative life my fulltime career was cemented. Our drumming instrumentals like ‘Rock Paper Scissors’, ‘Blacksmith’ and ‘The Chase’, that we have been performing since the beginning in 2005 were inspired by my time living in Brazil and my visits to West Africa. ‘Dark Carnivale’ was inspired by the community in which we perform and the feeling that every day is Halloween. ‘Why Should I’ comes from those times when I just feel like giving up but somehow find the kernel of strength within to carry on. ‘Silent Movie’ with the idea of “imagine life were a silent movie, there’d be music all the time!” is inspired by that Charlie Chapin time period and the idea of choosing your own soundtrack for your life. And, I could go on and on!

Every song has its inspiration and life experience. Many of my lyrics are empowerment songs like 'She Was a Flapper; Ode to Lois Long' or ‘Batgirl’. I am thought of as the bat girl because of all the fabric finger puppet bats I’ve been hand sewing and selling since 2002. Bats symbolize rebirth and transformation which is something that resonates on a deep level for me. In fact, our symbol for the band is a Batfrog as we have taken my favorite creature, the bat, and Scott’s favorite, the frog, (which, incidentally, also symbolizes rebirth and transformation) to create our Frenchy and the Punk symbol, the Batfrog. So, ‘Batgirl is a cheeky song about women banding together in support of each other to create a better, kinder and more sane world.

Women’s empowerment is something I have been connected to and inspired by all of my life. When I was in high school I learned that Iceland had voted in a female president and that gave birth to my fascination for that country, the desire to visit it and opened the scope of what women could achieve. As I have struggled to empower myself along my journey, I find that my focus has somewhat shifted. I believe we are living in a pivotal time right now. Building on the struggles and victories of women from past generations, we are at a turning point, and I believe this is due to the recognition and honoring of the feminine aspect in general, which exists in both men and women. This time of change is not only women coming to an equal standing of respect alongside men but also women and men working hand in hand to make this a reality. The men who understand and participate in this cultural evolution are equally as important in the process as they can be the voice that is most likely to be heard in chambers that may be deaf to the voices of women. Women and men working together is much more effective. It transcends gender. It is all about balance.

Please tell us a bit about what you're working on...

Frenchy and the Punk released a CD just before our European tour last August, ‘Bonjour Batfrog’. We released a music video for the song ‘Carried Away’ in February that was shot entirely in Paris mostly on the Champs Elysees. It was our 6th music video. I do all of the editing so I have my work cut out for me! We will be releasing more videos this year for songs off of that CD. We’re very DIY. I do all of the website design, the graphics for the CD packages and poster images. You can see a funny video on our youtube channel about ‘the FnP crew’.

I will also be conducting a panel at conventions this year that brings together some of what I spoke of before. The panel is called ‘Steampunk As Metaphor – Reinventing and Transforming Your Life’. I will be offering it at the International Steampunk Symposium in April in Cincinnati as well as the Steampunk World’s Fair in May in New Jersey and at Clockwork Alchemy in San Jose at the end of May. Those interested in participating can look on the website for our schedule of events on the Tour Dates page.

Apart from that, when we are not touring we are always working on more music and art in our studios in New York.

What advice do you have for young Steampunks?

I think that people are attracted to Steampunk for different reasons and it’s good to know what that reason is. Are you attracted to the aesthetic and just looking for a place to be that is creative and fun to get away from the usual every day? Are you an aspiring writer? Do you like the creativity of making outfits? How is the community an extension of who you are or even who you want to be? It’s a great place to explore, to be adventurous. It’s not so much what advice I would have for young steampunks but rather that steampunk brings out the kid in all of us, whether you are 18 yrs or 35 yrs or 60 yrs old or whatever, it is a creative environment that nurtures that child-like curiosity and desire to bring that creative energy into your life, it’s a spark. We were all born with certain likes and gifts and to not honor those is a crime! They are meant to be a part of our lives and we must explore them because when we give ourselves the chance to be happy, it impacts and empowers not only ourselves but those around us. For more of that discussion… come to my panel!

Where can we find you next?

Our schedule is filling up nicely for the year and there are lots of exciting events coming up. For the Spring, we'll be at the International Steampunk Symposium in Cincinnati April 24th-26th, Spoutwood Faerie Festival in Glen Rock PA  May 1st-3rd, Watch City Steampunk in Waltham MA May 9th, Steampunk World’s Fair in New Jersey May 15th-17th Clockwork Alchemy in San Jose CA  May 22nd-25th, Steampunk Weekend with Jeff Mach and Friends June 6th-8th in Blackthorne NY, Maryland Faerie Festival in Darlington MD June 12th-14th, Webster Hall with percussionist, of ‘Dead Can Dance’ fame, Peter Ulrich in NYC June 20th, and lots more throughout the Summer and Fall including DragonCon in Atlanta GA. Details are all on our website www.frenchyandthepunk.com.

And here is Frenchy & The Punk's most recent music video release!