Today, we sat down with Strange Boutique to discuss their inspiration to write music, heroes, and much more! Be sure to check out the music of Strange Boutique on Spotify below the interview!
Interview:
What is your inspiration to write your music? Is it your surroundings?
Monica: It can be if I have a lovely natural setting, but usually it’s the emotional landscape where my lyrics come from. Strange Boutique themes come from history and mythology, as well as books… I still often go to the Romanticism era, such as “Zoid in Dreamland”, and great stories. “Whistle and I will Come to You” is an M.R. James ghost story, based on something dark and very ancient unfortunately unearthed by the protagonist. “Radium Kiss” is about the Radium Girls, who died terrible deaths licking their brushes back in the 1920’s while painting Radium on the numbers of clocks. I reimagined them as terrifying Loreleis at the bottom of the ocean, forever glowing.
Steve: I’m not sure there’s a “thing” that inspires me to write. It’s something I’ve done for so long it just feels like a part of what I do and who I am. I either stumble across random basslines or chord progressions while tinkering until something catches my ear, … or, an ambient rhythm from machinery, or traffic will prompt a melody or bassline in my head. Wherever and however it happens, I gotta catch the spark then and there.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Monica: Classic 60’s and 70’s rock, from The Beatles, Stephen Stills, even Jesus Christ Superstar as a kid, then I was a punk rock girl from around 15 or so. I loved The Damned, The Cramps, The Germs, Penetration, Magazine.
Steve: Early on it was all the usual classic rock that dominated the radio, then punk and new wave changed everything. I still have a soft spot for the 60’s and 70’s rock stuff. I think that era influenced how I tend to write and arrange songs, … but, the energy and style is all about what was happening in the late 70’s and early 80’s, from the Clash to the Cars. I’m a walking mash up.
Is there someone you looked up to as a hero?
Monica: I think I would say Bill Mollison, who formulated the ideas behind Permaculture.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing today?
Monica: Everything else I’m doing, I suppose. Gardening, painting, designing, writing.
Steve: I’d probably be lost in the woods somewhere.
What can you tell us about your new album ‘Let The Lonely Heart Sing’?
Monica; It’s our first album in 30 years! After our guitarist Fred was killed, we reunited with guitarist Dennis Kane to do a live show in honor of him, and the feeling of playing our songs, the love and warmth of the audience, the camaraderie – we missed it all. Immediately, we thought we should write some new songs… and it all came together!
Steve: Even with the extended time since our last album, I think the new record sounds exactly like I would have expected. Has lots of points of reference and similarities to the early records, but takes it a step forward, … a bit lusher, more confident.
What advice do you have for our fans out there that want to create music?
Monica: Do it if it’s in your heart. Learn an instrument or sing and express yourself. There are no rules, but be human and let your heart swell with it. Don’t use AI.
Steve: Just start, … then don’t stop. Keep at it until you find your voice, or your sound or your style. Follow what you hear in your head regardless of what is happening in music at the moment.
Music:
