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They may be a duo with a piano and a drum kit, but The Dresden Dolls are equally is powerful as any of the metal bands they share the Roadrunner Records roster with. Mixing up punk, cabaret, rock and a little jazz, they have released two highly acclaimed album, 'The Dresden Dolls' and 'Yes, Virginia'. New album 'No, Virginia' brings together 11 previously unreleased songs from the 'Yes, Virginia' session and recording sessions earlier this year.
The duo's male half Brian Viglione answers the Qs. |
Q1 How did you start out making music?
As a kid, I liked the energy music had to make people excited. My father introduced me to the drums when I was very young and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt by the age of 12 that I wanted to be in a drummer rock band for my job when grew up.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
We wanted to release the remaining songs in our catalogue that had not found a forum to be heard yet. The schedule worked out that we could record and assemble an albums worth of songs that our fans had been asking us to release and that we wanted to get out of the pile before we began working on a new full-length record. 'No, Virginia' is really a companion album to 'Yes, Virginia' and felt like a good way to close that chapter of the band.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It's very intuitive in that Amanda writes the song and lyrics and I put my drum parts to it and we arrange it together. We try to have fun with it and see what kind of quirks the songs might have for us to explore. Often times the best ideas come to us from being silly and playing around like little kids. Other times, its very obvious what the song calls for and its just a matter of working out the parts in a creative way.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
People who are not afraid to take risks and give everything they have to their work. That question is too broad to just name a few people. We are inspired and influenced by character more than style, I think.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
If it was just the album, I would ask them to come to the show to experience how it's REALLY supposed to sound.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
The same as it's always been; to enjoy a life of playing music.
published may 2008
