Lycia -- Interview

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02 April, 2000

An Interview With

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October 1998 via email.

Questions from a fan, Melissa:

Melissa: What do you think of Ohio and did Ohio influence your release "Cold" in any way? If so, how?

Tara: I've lived in Ohio all my life, so it's comfortable to me. Ohio definitely had an affect on "Cold." We were having one of the worst recorded winters in Ohio history when we were recording "Cold." Also the environment in our home was "cold" at the time. A lot of bad things were happening and our working relationship with Dave Galas had fallen apart. So "Cold" picked up a lot from all these things.

Melissa: Will you be putting out any more 'Bleak' releases in the future? What influenced the 'Bleak' release?

Tara: Since 'Bleak' was a collaboration between Mike and Dave, Mike feels he'd rather not put out another release under that name without Dave being involved. There will be 'Bleak' like material on future releases though I'm sure. 'Bleak' came about after Mike was writing two different styles of music simultaneously. So he separated the music into two projects. One became "The Burning Circle" and then "Dust," the other "Vane." Mike asked Dave to be involved because he liked Dave's work and they were already working together on "The Burning Circle" CD.

Melissa: I think Lycia needs to do more outdoor venues, at night, because of the feeling of the music and how it was recorded I think it would enhance the performance. Is there any chance of that happening in the future?

Tara: We would very much love to do that! We totally agree that our music belongs outside beneath the night sky, and not in some stench filled bar full of drunks. Our music is so important to us and we really don't like compromising our music by presenting it in such environments. But unfortunately at our level there really isn't much of an option. I think the best show we've ever had was Irving Plaza last summer. That was Lycia's final show, unless something much bigger happens. We just can't do it anymore, for health reasons and because we're tired of taking something so personal and important and degrading it by not being able to present it properly.

Now a few questions from Last Sigh....

Last Sigh: How would you describe your sound to someone who had never heard Lycia in the past?

Tara: This is always a difficult question to answer. I think our music would best be described as "dark, electronic, [and] atmospheric". And instead of the usual "depressing" or "sad' adjective, a more accurate word would be "reflective."

Last Sigh: If the geographical areas in which your releases are recorded influence the music and lyrics you compose, levels of your being are also being influenced. Exactly what parts of you seem to be involved directly with the creativity, i.e. spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and to what extent? Is this a scenario you use often in creating your music, i.e. using geography to spawn the creative juices inside? What else influences you? Film or books or a specific philosophy or religion perhaps? How about your childhood, any specific people or events you might remember that is being tapped in your adulthood for your creativity and composition?

Tara: It really is hard to say where the music comes from. We really never sit down and say "I want this or that" when we record. The environment around us plays a major role in the music. To me "Ionia" and "Stark Corner" sounds like the desert, and "Cold" sounds like winter. Also what happens to be going on in our life at any given time always seems to seep into the music (usually unbeknownst to us at the time!). Occasionally I see something or have a demented dream or vision about something that will inspire me to write about a specific theme. But most often the words just flow out from the music. I definitely feel it is a spiritual thing, the words and music flow straight from the Spirit.

Last Sigh: How do you feel about the changes going on in the environment relative to humankind growth and movement? Do you think about this often or does thinking about the state of the planet move you to create the music? A good deal of your music has an ambient and expansive feel to it, and very beautiful, as if you are in touch with nature and angels.

Tara: I am very much in tune to the changes that are happening in the world and in humans. From the time I was a small child, before I knew ANYTHING about "the apocalypse," I had dreams about it. I truly believe the end of this life, the way our world has been, is coming to an end and change is definitely not far off. I was involved with the occult for a number of years. And I have seen things with my own eyes that have caused me to believe this to be true. Let us just say being in touch with "angels" is much more comforting, and as I said earlier I believe the music/words flow from the Spirit. So perhaps this is something that you've picked up on through the music.

Last Sigh: What did you listen to in terms of music as a child if anything -- did that influence the sounds/music or lyrics of Lycia today? Any formal training by either of you? IF so, what was that like for you?

Tara: As a child I listened to whatever my parents listened to, in this case Country & Western music. I'm not sure it has had any affect on my music, maybe the "western" part.

When I got a bit older I started listening to Circle Jerks, Sex Pistols, The Exploited, etc. Then I found the darker stuff! I really am grateful to the people who turned me onto bands like Swans, Legendary Pink Dots, Death in June, The Cure, Coil, Daisy Chainsaw, etc. I'm sure in some way or another these things influence the things I do, though it would never be deliberate.

Last Sigh: Were your friends or family supportive of your interests in music when you began this career?

Tara: My own family has been very supportive. My mom wanted to go out on the road with us last time! I think there is the natural "wanting you to make a living" thing but our family has been supportive. Our friends have been supportive as well, they probably just want free beer a shows though!! [laughs]

Last Sigh: Why the change of direction to a more electronic based sound in the past?

Tara: No particular reason really, that's just how Estrella came out. We are doing a lot of experimenting with electronics on the stuff we're currently working on.

Last Sigh: What is in store in the future with Lycia? Do you have any plans on recording in any specific place? If so, why and in what area?

Tara: We always talk about how great it would be to travel around and record in various places to see the effect on the music. It is a dream of ours actually, but unfortunately we just don't have the resources for such a project. Currently I am working on my solo project. After that Mike will probably do a solo project. After that, who knows!

Last Sigh: You have recently been on tour with The Projekt Festival. How did that go for you? Whom if anyone else was working with you on this tour and in what capacity for the live venues? Any highlights you would like to comment on?

Tara: The shows went very well. Irving Plaza was the best show we've ever played. The crowds were very attentive and kind. It made us very happy. We had a keyboard player with us, J. Bennett. He worked out great. He's a real nice guy, and I think he had a few girls eyeing him as well! [laughs]

Last Sigh: You seem to be moderately successful with Lycia. Does Lycia sustain you or do you work outside of the band?

Tara: We do pretty well financially with Lycia. If we continued to tour we would make a year round living, but that is just not an option anymore. So we currently have jobs. We plan to open an online store on our website in the near future. We will carry all our CDs, as well as some special merchandise only available through us. Hopefully this will make it possible to be full time musicians and concentrate only on making music.

Last Sigh: On a different note, how do you feel about MP3 encoding of musicians work on the Internet relative to the copyright laws of artists? That is to say: how do you feel about people encoding music of artists without their permission and soliciting it to people free to download and burn to CD-ROM?

Tara: I think people stealing other's material for their own profit is horrible. So naturally I'm against it. I think anyone being caught doing it should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I do think sound clips on websites are nice though! ;)

Last Sigh: Your last release "Estrella" is incredibly beautiful. What qualities of yourselves do would you consider this album reflects?

Tara: That's really difficult to answer. As I said earlier, we just write. I think whatever "Estrella" reflects is honest.

Last Sigh: If you could work with any musician/composer on a full length release, whom would that be and why?

Tara: There are a couple people I'd like to work with. I don't want to jinx myself by naming names though! Sorry for being so vague!

Last Sigh: In closing, I would like to thank you both for taking the time to work with us on this interview. Do you have any closing comments you would like to share with our readers?

Tara: Yes. I just want to thank the people who genuinely appreciate our music. We meet so many nice people and unfortunately a lot of nasty people as well. It's hard being judged so harshly for every decision you make. So I just want to thank the people who stick by us. It is appreciated.