Jenn Vix - Unlocking the woman with no fear

The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 42

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA

JENN VIX UNLOCKING THE WOMAN WITH NO FEAR

[ Interview with Jenn Vix by Pablo Müllner ]

UNLOCKING THE WOMAN WITH NO FEAR

3 What does Jenn Vix sound like? Just close your eyes and imagine… She sounds like, well like nothing else quite actually. But keep your eyes closed and get in touch with your inner fears and you will come close: she sounds haunting and, well, yes: pitch black. “Unlocked” is her most recent release, an intimate EP that is a good chance to discover a truly gifted singer with an amazing range: sometimes dark, sometimes darker, sometimes powerful, others ethereal, others unsettling and sometimes luminous, but even sometimes all those things all together. And don´t get it wrong she is not just the beautiful voice for any male producer or musician, she is pretty much a one-woman band in her own right. So please, let me introduce you: Miss Jenn Vix, The Woman With No Fear.

Hello Jenn, it is great to meet you! For starters I wanted to ask you about your new ‘Unlocked’ EP. To tell you the truth, this is the first album I’ve heard from you and it truly feels like a complete new chapter, a fresh, new beginning. That is not to dismiss your whole, rich career. Probably the “Alive Again” song sets that mood, a really energetic vibe. Does it feel like that for you?

Thank you. It is great to meet you, too!

It is a step in a different direction for me, as my entire life changed in three years. On this EP, I wanted to create a varied atmosphere, and to me, the songs progress from one feeling to another, and tell a story.

The collection is very eclectic, which is constant thing in your music: gender-defying. But your voice got me transfixed so I could not notice anything else for a while. I really think is amazingly expressive. Did you have a classic musical background?

I'm honored by what you have said about my singing. Thank you. I do not have a classical music background, but I am a trained singer; since age 12. I am a self taught musician, and my first instrument was drums, at age 3; and I also played a little piano, as well. I taught myself bass guitar at

age 18. My late father was a jazz pianist, so it is possible that some of my abilities may have been passed down to me from him.

Your singing is totally your own but I got echoes of just a few greats like Chrissie Hynde and Annie Lennox, mostly because, like theirs, your voice can express many emotions - even contradictory ones – at the same time.

Do you think that is the result of a long road of inner searching or it’s just a gift?

I'm just singing my feelings.

Which vocalists do you personally admire?

Some of my favorite singers: Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Bobbie Gentry, Peggy Lee, Arthur Lee; from Love, Dave Vanian, Cher; 1960s-1970s era, Nico, Annie Lennox, Shirley Manson, Stevie Wonder, Pauline Murray, Curtis Mayfield, Marc Almond, Siouxsie Sioux, Scott Walker, Thom Yorke, Richard Ashcroft, Graham Lewis; from Wire, Reggie Watts, Lisa Gerrard, Iggy Pop, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie, and Lee Hazlewood; I've written a new track, inspired by Lee, and I plan on releasing it soon.

Well that´s only one side of your art, because you are really involved in the recording process of your songs since you produce and play both guitar and bass. This virtually makes you a one-woman band. Do you enjoy playing multiple roles or what motivates you in taking this approach?

I started to learn the recording process in the 1990s; with drummer and recording engineer, Robert Leonardo. I also got some great advice from one of the former engineers at Motown. I prefer to record and collaborate with other musicians, but I have done a lot of recording and writing on my own. The reason I enjoy collaboration, is because it brings new ideas, and new sounds into the mix.

It's a great experience!

At the same time, you have a fabulous resume of collaborations. Who did you collabora-

5 te with for ‘Unlocked’ and how did that transpire?

It has been an honor to work with such brilliant musicians; I'm thankful to have had the opportunity, and I hope I can continue to do so in the future. On "Unlocked," I've worked with John Ashton, Frank Coleman, and Danny C. Chavis.

I got the impression you love to collaborate with guitarists the most, maybe because you are a guitarist yourself.

In all honesty, I'm not much of a guitarist, so I seek out guitarists to do what I cannot accomplish on my own. Again, the guitarists I've worked with have brought a fresh perspective to the overall sound, and it thrills me when I hear them rock out!

You have worked with some of the finest: Reeves Gabrels (of Bowie fame and The Cure) and John Ashton (Psychedelic Furs), Marco Pirroni (Adam Ant, Siouxsie). That is something that doesn´t happen every day really.

How did such great opportunities happen for you?

Reeves and I became friends online, several years ago; shortly before he joined The Cure. I told him how I wanted to work with him for many years before I first spoke with him, so being able to record with him was very exciting for me! Marco and I had met in person, many years ago; as well as Dave Barbarossa; from Bow Wow Wow. I found them again online. I met John on Facebook.

The musicians I've worked with have many mutual friends with me, and one connection usually leads to another. I used to live in NYC, and I spent a lot of time hanging out with and gigging with musicians in that scene, when I was still in my teens.

Your previous EP ‘Strange Buildings’ is probably darker and rockier, whereas ‘Unlocked’ seems more sparse and electronic, but the name adequately descries your song craft: on ‘Strange Buildings’, I think your songs are really like strange, surreal pieces of architecture. How did you end up shaping those buildings?

Thank you. There is actually a lot of guitar on "Unlocked," but it is not on every track; and as for

the tracks that I played guitar on, I went for a more post-punk feel.

"Strange Buildings" was written mostly in the middle of the night, while I was alone in my studio. A lot of the tracks on the EP are about a strange time in my life, where I had been having extremely vivid dreams, and those dreams became songs. One of the weirdest things to happen after the EP had been released, is that the strange building I had been having repeated dreams of, is the same building I now rehearse in! When I got into the freight elevator for the first time, I looked at Michael; the new guitarist in my band, and I mentioned to him how I had dreamed of the building before I had ever stepped into it. I have no idea why this happened, but it shocked the Hell out of me! Every detail was exactly the same as it was in my dreams. I love playing at the building, and I feel safe and comfortable there.

Life can be so fucking weird.

“The woman with no fear” is a great guitar song. Haunting like hell… “and yes you can wrap those snakes around me” wow! Anyways, may I ask, is the woman with no fear a self-reference?

The track is about how I want to be less afraid.

I've struggled with anxiety since I was a child, as a result of an intense domestic violence situation that I had no control over.

I read a true story about a woman who had a malfunctioning Amygdala; two almond-shaped groups of nuclei, located in the temporal lobes of the brain. She has absolutely no fear, and even though it would sometimes put her into potentially dangerous situations, I imagined how much freedom she must have, because she never feels scared.

7

I found out about another great song of yours “Escape from the toy box”, which has a really disturbing real story for inspiration. And well it is a great subject to spotlight. Nowadays, in Argentina the subject of gender abuse is a very topical political issue and well, all around the world I think. Did you think of raising awareness of this when you wrote it?

I was just so shocked by what had happened to the woman who inspired the song. Her mental strength, and her desire to keep living, despite being held and tortured, inspired me intensely. She refused to give up! The people who had held her captive, killed many before her, and in one flash of a moment, she was able to unlock herself and run for her life. She ran down the road, naked, with blood on her feet, and she did not stop running until she found help. I dedicated the track to her, because she is a hero to me.

‘Complicated Man’ seems in the same vein, about a manipulative relationship. And you had a beautiful video made for it. Can you tell us about the filming of this and your role playing? Did you enjoy the acting part?

There are aspects of manipulation, on both sides, but no inherent cruelty. Deep down, she longs for him to take her out of the total chaos that is her life, but he's complicated.

I had an amazing time on set, working with Renan, and Michael. Frolicking around in a hotel room, half naked, filming sex scenes, was definitely not boring for me, and so many memories crept out from the corners of my mind, during the experience.

Sometimes, the past comes back to get you, but

for the right reasons.

‘Unlocked’ is a great (open ending) closing track. The idea of a woman trapped in a sick circle finally finding her way out. It all make sense after taking the time to listen and watch and even the little black key in the cover art was clever – that is a great picture by the way!

What can you tell us about ‘Unlocked’?

Thank you again for your kind words.

"Unlocked" stems from an intense longing to be freed from pain, fear, and suffering. A few years ago, I almost died, from a misdiagnosed illness. It was sincerely the most frightening thing I've ever experienced. I had previously been in other intensely painful situations, but almost dying changes you in ways that I cannot even begin to explain.

It might sound a bit cheesy, but that key on my skin represents the key that unlocks my soul.

When I was photographed, I thought of the key to the TARDIS, on Doctor Who. I wanted 12 to come and rescue me.

Well, I think there is a more lot to ask for sure, but perhaps you can tell us of your future plans and leave us with your own thoughts for our readers!

I have plans to play shows again, to make more videos, and to record more tracks. I need to keep going. I refuse to give up. There is a saying "Don't quit your daydreams." I firmly believe in that.

It has been great meeting you, Jenn. Thank you and Goodbye!

Thank you for your interest in my music, and for this interview. It's been a pleasure.

Jenn xx

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