Interview: | KAT VON D |
Title: | Authentic self-realization |
With her second album “My Side Of The Mountain”, the influencer, who has become popular mainly as a tattoo artist and TV personality in formats such as “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink” since the mid-noughties, is fulfilling several long-cherished heart's desires.
While her debut album “Love Made Me Do It”, released in summer 2021, already moved musically between discreetly ice-breathing new wave darkness and atmospherically sensitized synth pop, she consistently pursues the stylistic path she has taken as a singer without paying much attention to the latest trends.
Last October, the eccentric Katherine Von Drachenberg, who was born in Mexico over four decades ago, managed to arouse the curiosity of her global fan base with a first single with the spine-chilling title “Vampire Love”.
Hello Kat - regarding, "Vampire Love", what is the lyrical content, and what do you want to tell the readers more about the song(writing) and your basic ideas?
„‘Vampire Love’ is a groovy goth disco jam about everyone’s inner desire to find a love that will last forever. I wanted to write a dance song with a melancholy dark sentiment, and I really loved filming the Halloween-themed music video directed by renowned horror director Ryan Valdez.“
The music video for "Illusion" “takes viewers on a visually stunning journey through the fields of Kat Von D's hometown of Vevay, Indiana, as a personal reflection on lost love and those attached deep, often painful, and confusing emotions …" How was your experience on set, with the people around you, the landscape?
„We filmed the video for Illusion in the rural town where we live in southern Indiana. During certain seasons of the year, the farmlands are covered with fields of tiny yellow flowers that spread out as far as the naked eye can see. I drive past these fields every day and somehow convinced Ryan Valdez to fly all the way out here from Los Angeles to film. The concept was simple: I wanted to create my own version of The Sound of Music, frolicking around a meadow, dancing and singing.
I’m sure the people driving by thought it was hilarious and strange.“
Did you feel under a lot of pressure for the new album because of your increased popularity since your first album, "Love Made Me Do It"?
„Not so much pressure, but excitement to share it with everyone. I love my first album ‘Love Made Me Do It’ but I love the evolution into this new album. ‘My Side Of The Mountain’ is darker in ways, and hits a little heavier than the first album.“
You had some great collaborations, including one with Linda Perry on the first album for the song “Fear You,” and Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy in "I Am A Machine" and LA songwriter Ferras on “Set Myself On Fire .” How did these collaborations come about - and how did the collaboration with them work?
„I loved finally getting to do a song with Alissa. I’m a huge Arch Enemy fan and I think Alissa is one of my most talented friends. I liked being able to pull her into a dark electronic world which isn’t something she typically does, but her voice was just so perfect on ‘I Am A Machine’.“
“Her brand of disco goth is heavily influenced by synthwave, goth, new wave, post-punk, and other iconic electronic sounds of the 80s.“ Great to hear this, and I love many of that time's pioneers, like Boytronic with "You", Human League w. "Being Boiled", The Twins w. “Face To Face", Yazoo w. “Don't Go", Anne Clarke w. “Our Darkness", The Cure w. “Killing An Arab", Visage w. “Fade To Grey", Sisters Of Mercy w. “This Corrosion", Duran Duran w. "The Wild Boys", OMD w. "Joanne Arc", Depeche Mode w. "No Disco", etc. - what are some of your favorites out of that great era of music?
„I love Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Siouxsie, but I don’t think we sound anything like those bands. I love analogue synth sounds the most and take deep pleasure in sound design when it comes to our songs. Hopefully, this is appreciated by those who listen.“
Are there any books, games, movies, etc that have influenced your recent music and lyrics?
„I wouldn’t say books or movies play a big role in shaping this particular album, as I usually tend to write about sorting out thoughts on love. But on ‘My Side Of The Mountain’ I definitely explored topics outside of love, such as addiction, faith and spiritual warfare, as well as coping with the world’s obsession with technology.“
“‘My Side Of The Mountain’ is a love letter for all of the hopeless romantics, the outsiders, and lonely hearts trying to find their place in this cold and divisive world." Perfect for me, as I am a hopeless romantic, an outsider, and a lonely heart trying to find my place in this cold and divisive world since I was a kid. Do you agree with me that you can feel this kind of personality in yourself at an early age or not at all?
„Sure. I was painfully aware of these sorts of feelings from an early age. I am grateful that I had these thoughts from an early start. There are more of us out here than you know, and hopefully, people find their way.“
„'When I was a kid, I read the 1959 novel ‚My Side Of The Mountain‘ and related so deeply to the little boy who ran away from home only to find comfort in isolation, self-reflection, and self-reliance in the wilderness." I find that very interesting because from childhood onwards, and to this day and forever, I have sought solitude, silence, peace, confidence, self-discovery, and spiritual regression in nature that is as deserted and untouched as possible. How are you doing in this respect?
„I think I’m doing great in the isolation department! I’ve managed to get away from the big city and find peace in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest of the US. And I love it. People around here tend to leave you alone, which is nice. I’m sure gossip is a lot heavier in small towns, but I don’t pay attention. I’m too busy enjoying seeing the deer outside my window and the lightning bugs at night. Life is good.“
All in all, I am amazed in the most positive way, and many, many other newcomers to your artistic activity will also be, who, because of your appearance, place you in a very dark, negative, and hopeless corner ... I think, like me, you love contrasts and the courageous exploration of opposites?
„Of course! I love being pleasantly surprised! I hope those who listen to my music will feel the same way.“
© Markus Eck, 09.09.2024
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