10 Quick Ones with PALMYRA DELRAN – September 2018

According to a recent press release: “With the release of the single also came the announcement of Delran’s forthcoming album, promptly titled Come Spy With Me. The album will be available on November 9th via Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records and features a wide range of collaborators including Blondie’s Debbie Harry – who lends vocals on two tracks – as well as Kim Shattuck (Muffs), Cáit O’Riordan (Pogues), Genya Ravan, Peter Zaremba (Fleshtones), Paul Collins (Paul Collins’ Beat), Eddie Muñoz (Plimsouls), “Speedie” John Carlucci (Fuzztones), Ben Vaughn and even Little Steven himself. A masterful entertainer and on-air personality, Delran describes her iconic trash pop sound in an exclusive interview with AXS stating, “Trash pop describes the sound of the pop music. My stuff is a little rough but still catchy – with harmonies, hooks and riffs. It’s gotta be melodic!”  We get Palmyra to discuss new music, influences, and much more in our 10 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Hopefully the hooks will grab them and never let go. I’ve got a bunch of super cool musician pals guesting on most of the record, so it’s cool to pick out their harmonies or guitar solos! I also like to quote other people’s lyrics or song titles, so maybe they’ll recognize something here & there.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was always fascinated by the AM transistor radio as a kid. I loved that hard plastic single ear plug that I could hide under my pillow and listen to while falling asleep. I thought it would be cool to play drums. That was around age 7 or 8.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Brian Jones as an instrumentalist, John Lennon and Ray Davies as a lyricists, Marc Bolan and Steve Marriott as a rockers, Brill Building Pop Music, NYC punk rock (Blondie, the Ramones, etc…)

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Someone who I could learn from and be inspired by. There are so many!

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Trashy Pop with hooks, harmonies, and a sense of humor.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Hearing songs come to life. Completing a song is the best – especially if it’s a good one! Playing instruments. Getting inspired by other musicians music. It’s all pretty cool.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I will definitely cook! Mark and Richard will take care of the drinks! Michael will lead the singalong!

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I would either do something with kids and nutrition. Art Director maybe…

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation? If so, please tell us about that.

I could name a bunch of situations that felt like missteps that I wished I could do over, but looking back, those moments probably had to play out like that for me to end up where I am now – which is a great place!

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

It would be mid-60’s for sure. Maybe to witness Between the Buttons or Their Satanic Majesties Request by the Stones being recorded. Those must have been crazy sessions! I will never pick a favorite record – it’s impossible, but that slice of time seems like music was blowing wide open, and recording in the studio was progressing quickly. I could also name Revolver or any of that period Beatles records.

PALMYRA DELRAN LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK – BAND

FACEBOOK  – RADIO SHOW

TWITTER

Category: Interviews