Hello & thank you for taking some time to answer these questions. I wanted to start off simply and ask if in your words you could explain The Suicide Magnets to readers both familiar & unfamiliar with the project.
Wendy:
Hello readers, first, please let me thank you…Tyler, Content Brakes and the Boston Hassle for asking me… stoked on the whole situation. The Suicide Magnets is the name of my band and the name means those places that are known for people jumping off them…but also sometimes maybe you go to that place and you decide not to jump I think my songs are what happens after you face yourself and walk back down the hill or whatever. Making yourself do the thing you are afraid of, like making a rock band. Right now, it’s me playing guitar and singing. I write the songs and make most of the choices but what I most like to do is play with drummers and sometimes even bassists. When I have a band rehearsed again, we will do a bigger rock and roll type of presentation, which is what I really live for.
We talked briefly about how a big part of playing out is audience interaction, whether it be the presence of other people in the room occupying space, or the sound of their applause breaking up songs: there’s undoubtedly something about it that resonates as a back and forth. How has time away from playing in a live setting impacted you as a musician?
Well, it has been a good way to attempt a dismantling of the ego…I’ve been watching a lot of Joseph Campbell VHS tapes lately (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GNypViGWdc). At the gig, I remember I had to admit to you, and the sound engineer, that I wanted your potential applause…LOL…I’m so glad you clapped. I hate to believe that anything I love to do requires a public affirmation…but in truth, the OMFG/tear jerking quality of a well executed live performance is the thing I am ultimately striving to make, even when a song is first born and I’m fucking around with it in my bedroom.
Tyler:
I am by no means a writer, and already feel awkward conducting an interview; but something I love when I read interviews is learning about new music & art via artists I love. I want to use this area for you to drop some names as far as bands/artists/venues/etc. Really anything you have been into recently or feel is worthy of some promotion.
LOL…well it may be a surprise but I listen to mostly FM radio and mixes of hit singles on my ipod. I’m also obsessed with Katy Perry’s full show at Glastonbury in 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spEijVPAXa8). I am scheming on starting my own troop of costumed back up dancers for hire, by the way, hit me up if you want to join us. Right now my jam is a song called Yummy by Justin Bieber, and the Bieb in general. I think my covid-hairdo is kind of doing a Beiber thing maybe? I really want that sick looking red colored double LP, it’s called Changes, (https://shop.justinbiebermusic.com/products/changes-vinyl). I’m also obsessed with a TV show called Shtisel which is all about the interior life of a devout Jewish family. I guess none of these things really need my promotion..very good friends in the band Humanbeast just put out a new LP called Divine Redeemer https://humanbeast.bandcamp.com/ and they rule.Tyler:
What can we expect from The Suicide Magnets in the future?
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Wendy:
Right now I want to physically make little books of my poetry as well as tapes and CDs to give to fans with more labor intensive handmade packaging.. probably sewn and screen printed parts in there. This year I got into making my own shirts too, and my intent is to like, take a more direct approach to the process of making one’s own merch. I also have a new bassist and drummer who are stoked to jam, and we have a practice space. We have a marching snare and I want to prepare a pared down set for outdoor gigs, maybe even standing in a body of water. Oh yeah and a warmer cleaner tone is on the way! I have been working with a good friend to service a fender blues jr tube amp and get it prepared to travel with a case and back up tubes. I love tube tone but I never wanted to bring them on the road for fear of breaking it. I took a podcast production class recently and am going to have a show on the new community radio station here in Providence 101.1 FM, which I am really excited about.
The Suicide Magnets T Shirt
https://suicidemagnets.bandcamp.com/
https://suicidemagnets.com/
