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| Photo by Stefan Scott |
Victoria: vocals, guitar
Tom: guitar
Mark: bass
Caleb: drums (our original drummer was Megan)
Shock Treatment: How does the songwriting process work for your band? How is a Gossip Collar song usually born? Does it start with a lyric, a hook, a mood?
Victoria: There are different approaches, and that keeps it interesting. we all contribute. usually the music comes first and then I figure out how to sing over it but it has happened the other way around where I have some lyrics in my head and then we put the chords beneath. I kinda believe the songs exist in a parallel universe and it’s our job to tap into them. Some core principles- keep it simple, keep it dark, make sure it’s music we want to dance to. For lyrics I take a lot of inspiration from the past - like old texts and myths like roman poets and shit like that.
Tom: guitar
Mark: bass
Caleb: drums (our original drummer was Megan)
Shock Treatment: How does the songwriting process work for your band? How is a Gossip Collar song usually born? Does it start with a lyric, a hook, a mood?
Victoria: There are different approaches, and that keeps it interesting. we all contribute. usually the music comes first and then I figure out how to sing over it but it has happened the other way around where I have some lyrics in my head and then we put the chords beneath. I kinda believe the songs exist in a parallel universe and it’s our job to tap into them. Some core principles- keep it simple, keep it dark, make sure it’s music we want to dance to. For lyrics I take a lot of inspiration from the past - like old texts and myths like roman poets and shit like that.
Shock Treatment: Tell me a bit about your stunning debut LP Spinning Silk For Parasites? It’s seriously one of my favorite records right now!
Victoria: Thank you! That's kinda the first collection of songs we wrote with Mark playing bass. Before that most songs were written as just two guitars and drums. The bass gave the songs a fuller sound. Tom experimented with a lot of synth sounding guitar pedals. We also added some simple keyboard parts. There is punk in our blood for sure but we try to make this band different from any band we have been in before. Looking back on it now I see themes of revenge and dying insects. The first song is about a jewel wasp turning a cockroach into a zombie slave to feed its offspring, But people often think it’s about motherhood. This is strangely satisfying. I'm breakfast for the baby.
Shock Treatment: I’ve had a fascination with dark rock n’ roll since someone tricked me into getting a Bauhaus cassette as a very young child. I was scared of it at first listen yet completely drawn to it. How did you first get introduced to that kind of music and what are some of the bands that have influenced Gossip Collar?
Victoria: In high school I had a cassette tape that had the Sisters of Mercy Enter The Sisters on one side and The Fall's Bend Sinister on the other. I wore that tape out. They are still huge influences. I also listened to a lot of David Bowie and Kate Bush. As a band I think we all agree that Killing Joke, Birthday Party, Roland Howard, Gun Club, and Joy Division kick butt.
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| Photo by Kyle Cuneo |
Shock Treatment: This might be cheesy or too “on the nose” as they say, but I know the band is based in the Boston area. Does living close to Salem and all that history have any influence on you, the band or your music?
Victoria: Haha - haven’t written about Salem yet but we do have a song called "Eye of God" about the witches of Pendle Hill in England. When we played Salem recently there was a vampire party happening across the street and I was jealous of the fashion: It’s definitely a cool influence and one of our favorite places to play.
Shock Treatment: You have a great video for the song “Scavengers.” Can you tell me about it? Were music videos important to you, especially growing up watching MTV or anything like that?
Victoria: "Scavengers" is a song about beautiful decay, we tried to capture that in the video I hope? It was filmed by my friend Coco from @coagulafilms at our neighborhood park. Regarding other videos - 120 Minutes was a sick show. Still watch it. Love all the early Cure videos. "White Wedding" by Billy Idol is also pretty close to perfection- the hand clap choreography! I also remember v66, a local video channel I watched, they played the song "Obsession" by Animotion on repeat repeat. I think my favorite video ever is the cover that Coil did of "Tainted "Love." The flies in that video haunt me and influenced me to add insects to our "Scavengers" video.
Shock Treatment: What do you want people to experience when seeing Gossip Collar live?
Victoria: We like it dark, we don’t like to be watched really. I know that sounds funny considering we are on a stage and all, but it’s meant to be more of a dream panic state. We bring a light show that hopefully hypnotizes people a bit, we bring energy.
Shock Treatment: What do you think continues to draw people to Darkwave/Gothic style music and horror films?
Victoria: Probably the blood. Both looks and tastes. The sense of danger. The feeling in your spine. The importance of fashion and looking good when you scream and when you die. The completely normal fascination with dark and dead things.
Shock Treatment: I know you’re getting ready to release your second LP, which I am SO stoked for! Can you tell me what we can expect with this new album?
Victoria: We tried to just keep going out there in this weird dark pretty post punk world - it works for us and we like living there right now. It’s called “EATEN OF WORMS” and is on DIY dark punk label- Bat-Cave Productions from Poland. Check it out!
Shock Treatment: Where can people go to follow Gossip Collar and buy or listen to your music?
Victoria:
Instagram @gossipcollar
gossipcollar.bandcamp.com
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| Photo by Stefan Scott |