Brody Dalle blazed into punk rock consciousness earlier this decade as the Distillers' charismatic, Mohawked singer-guitarist. With her gravelly vocals, low slung guitar, and attitude with a capital A, she was hardcore punk’s most visible female artist of the time. After three albums and non-stop touring, the band officially called it quits in early 2006.
Since then, Dalle got married (to Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age) and they had a daughter, Camille. Now she’s back with a new band, Spinnerette. Along with collaborator Alain Johannes and ex-Distillers guitarist Tony Bevilacqua, she’s built a new sound partly influenced by some of her early musical memories like Neneh Cherry and Hunters and Collectors.
The digital EP Ghetto Love contains four tracks that give us a taste of the full length CD
the band is currently recording. It's electro-rock tinge may surprise some Distillers purists, but the guitar-powered "Valium Knights" will reassure them that even though Brody’s all grown up, she hasn’t lost her edge.
Spinnerette is playing festivals in Europe and the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle this summer. I recently interviewed Brody via e-mail about Spinnerette, motherhood, and what she’s been up to for the last few years.
You’ve been through lots of life changes since the Distillers broke up. You got married and became a mother. How has this changed you creatively and otherwise?
Being a Mum is the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me, but it means there is less time allotted to spend being creative. There isn't a lack of inspiration or an ideas drought, I get songs and ideas in a lash and they are either recorded into my blackberry, garage band or my old tape player, whatever is closest at the time. Then when the time is
right the songs/ideas are picked apart, dressed up, dressed down, undressed or left naked wearing only socks. When I go to the studio or Al Johannes' studio, I work my ass off and get it done. I work harder and focus more as opposed to laying around and taking my sweet time about it... ahhhhh those were the days.
The songs on Ghetto Love are more melodic and "electro" sounding than the Distillers. Did this evolve naturally or did you set out to write in a different style? I also want to add that I love the way your voice sounds on "Distorting a Code." It's an interesting song- it starts out very haunting and somewhat delicate, and then adds a layer of electronic distortion near the end. And it really showcases your vocal range.
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