Die Bassistin von Warpaint hat sich mit ‘Right On!‘ erstmals abseits von ihrer Band an ein Soloprojekt gewagt. Bevor es damit auf Tour geht, hat sie Zeit gefunden, sich mit uns über ihr Schaffen zu unterhalten!
Did you like the feeling of beeing on your own on this project?
I enjoyed it a lot. I mean, I wouldn’t say its better, its just different than being with Warpaint and it’s definitely nice to be able to exercise your creative visions and, you know, kind of take control over the situation without having opposing views…again but it’s not better, it’s just different. It’s amazing after having done my solo project and sort of getting that out of my system to be with Warpaint again. We are working on our third record and it’s actually a really nice treat to go back in the studio again and collaborate with them and kind of sit back. I feel like it’s refreshing, in a way, to not be in control of everything and have some help, which is cool.
You said you are on the third album with Warpaint so I am guessing the next project is gonna be with them or do you also start another solo album?
Ahm well, we’re in the studio right now. So that’s what I am doing at the moment but I got like the tour coming up in April that’s just like six shows. Yeah I still haven’t really toured with the solo album so I am kind of pausing with Warpaint and the album to get out there a little bit and play the record.
Since when are you writing your own material, is his something you started recently or did you plan a solo album a long time and you just did it right now?
You know, we’ve all been making our own music since before we were even in the band. I’ve been doing it for a long time but I just never had any plans to release anything and then I just got to a point where I said ‘No, I am gonna commit to it’ I am gonna commit to and album and make it real. I started writing and I did the most of it when we were done with the last album. You know, we had a few weeks or month and I would go in the studio. So Warpaint wasn’t really working on anything per se, which left me a lot of time to work on my own music, which was good.
Do you think that the fact that you are playing a rhythmic rather then a melodic instrument affected the album in any kind of way?
No I don’t think so. I mean there are definitely some songs that started with guitar but …ahm..no it’s actually really natural. A lot of things were written on bass, it was actually pretty easy because it’s the instrument that I play, it’s the instrument that I am the best at.
So you don’t always start the songwriting process with a bassline?
No, not always. I enjoy singing over the bass so usually I’ll do that but some songs also started with guitar and then some bass on top of it, it’s a little mixture of both. I guess maybe the more dancier songs or the more rhythmic songs started with bass and that obviously comes a little more natural to me.
Do you have a special mindset for the oncoming tour? Do you have any expectations?
Yeah, I mean the main thing is I just wanna have a good time and I want have lots of fun. Really that’s the main goal and I feel like if that happens, then I succeeded. So it’s really just to have fun, that’s what this project is for. To let myself go, be free, enjoy myself, enjoy the people I am around and let the audience feel that.
So are you gonna go on tour with Stella and Dan, who collaborated on the album?
No, I have Norm Block, who recorded the record with me, he’s on the drums and Alex Belmont, who is playing guitar. So it’s all boys and I’ll play bass sometimes but I am mostly singing.
That must be so different to be on stage without an intrument to hold on to?
Ah well, I enjoy moving around and dancing and it’s actually more comfortable not having an instrument. Yeah, you see, I gotta move around, close my eyes get into a groove and it’s a little bit easier to do that without a bass.
What are your plans after the tour?
Maybe there are gonna be some US tourdates after, probably May and June and then Warpaint has got some shows coming up in July and August and then we’re releasing the album sometime in September I think.
That’s a lot to manage with two bands at a time.
Yeah it kinda is but its good..its nice.. it’s good to be busy.
How to you incorporate the work on the record in your everyday life? Is there like a special routine you’re sticking to during this time, is there anything you can do to regenerate?
I think a routine is really important when you got a lot going on just to make sure it’s working out. So one thing that important to me is that I can start my day with my morning routine. I have a dog and I like to take him on a hike, do my meditation, chill out, eat some food, have coffee. That’s how like to start my day, everyday and if I don’t get to do that, the day is a little bit rushed. So its really important to me that I get my morning routine before the day goes. But usually it’s just that, then i’ll go to work, come home, chill out, watch a movie and go to sleep. So everyday is pretty uniform. That’s the way which it is at the moment and I am definitely looking forward to some weekend adventures, kind of getting out there and living live and not working so much, but it’s only temporary so it’s no big deal.
Its gonna be dramatically different when you re on tour…
Exactly! Everything is changing.
Do you have another ritual that applies on tours?
I still have a morning routine, regardless, whereever I am at. I find that when you re on tour its almost more important to do that. You’re core has to be strong where ever you go. Do you know what I mean? Because it’s constantly changing around you but I think it’s important that your core is strong and that you feel good about yourself and make the best of each day.
Can you name a few of your favorite Albums?
Oh god… I’ll just say it for right now, maybe not of all time but…Guilty by Barbra Streisand. I’ve listened to it a lot lately. Let’s see.. The Cure
Disintegration. Ahmm, crap.. ahm…Tinderbox by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Ahmm shoot, what else, hm…crap…Hounds of Love Kate Bush. Let’s see.. Fleetwood Mac- Romours, haha, these are just funny ones. Ahm what else. Violator – Depeche mode maybe.
Can you tell us your favorite Ice cream flavour?
That must be Cookies and Cream.
What does your personal bedroomdisco look like?
I guess it would be a disco party. Dancing and bouncing on the bed with disco music. Which sounds like a very good time to me.
There is a tumblr dedicated to you, how do you feel about that?
I don’t mind it at all, actually I’am really flattered. I think it’s sweet that they dedicated a tumblr to me. I think i’ve seen it, are you talking about the Fuckyeahjennylee.tumblr.com? That is just so sweet.
Thank you! Das Gespräch führte Theresa Glaser.
Für die anstehende Tour verlosen wir 1×2, dazu schreibt ihr einfach eine Mail mit dem Betreff “Jennylee + Wunschstadt” an gewinnen@bedroomdisco.de. Einsendeschluss ist schon morgen 08.04. um 13:00, viel Glück!
Tour:
10.04.16 Luxor, Köln
11.04.16 Frannz Club, Berlin
