Getting weird with Amanda Palmer
Bella El Makdessi
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Arts
After a long career as the lead singer, songwriter and pianist of the acclaimed duo The Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer released her debut solo album Who Killed Amanda Palmer in 2008. She will perform tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Pearl Street.
Amanda Palmer has collected much recognition over the years. She was listed as No.100 on Ellen Degeneres' Hot 100 of 2009, No.6 on the Best Solo Artist list in the Guardian's Readers' Poll of 2008 and No.6 on Spinner.com's Women Who Rock Right Now in 2007.
Palmer's distinctive style - which has been classified as alt rock, punk rock and punk cabaret - continues to enthrall fans, and her music still captures an intensity that is out of this world. Her style defies lasting conventional categorization and tackles themes such as rape, abortion and mental illness with poignant lyrics, beautiful music and occasionally surprising twists.
Do you find yourself attempting to keep to a certain style, or do you just allow your genre to be renamed as your music develops?
AP: I never think in terms of a certain style. Perhaps song by song - as in "let's make this a ragtime number" - but in terms of my art and life direction, never ever. I dubbed the band "punk cabaret" to try to prevent people calling us anything dumber or meaner. As far as I'm concerned, Bjork's been fine without a genre. I'm fine, too.
The Dresden Dolls were well known for the theatrical aspects of their performances. Will you be continuing this tradition and, if so, what have you changed now that you are a solo artist?
AP: Actually, almost nothing has changed. The "theatrical" aspects were always very slap-dash random additions to the show, and it will remain that way. Otherwise, I'd get bored. It's possible I might start doing some legit theater projects as well. I don't know. You've caught me on a total PMS day. I'm thinking about the ashram as much as Broadway.
You've been in the music industry for about 20 years now. What have been the biggest changes in your own work and what are the biggest changes that you've seen in the industry?
Amanda Palmer has collected much recognition over the years. She was listed as No.100 on Ellen Degeneres' Hot 100 of 2009, No.6 on the Best Solo Artist list in the Guardian's Readers' Poll of 2008 and No.6 on Spinner.com's Women Who Rock Right Now in 2007.
Palmer's distinctive style - which has been classified as alt rock, punk rock and punk cabaret - continues to enthrall fans, and her music still captures an intensity that is out of this world. Her style defies lasting conventional categorization and tackles themes such as rape, abortion and mental illness with poignant lyrics, beautiful music and occasionally surprising twists.
Do you find yourself attempting to keep to a certain style, or do you just allow your genre to be renamed as your music develops?
AP: I never think in terms of a certain style. Perhaps song by song - as in "let's make this a ragtime number" - but in terms of my art and life direction, never ever. I dubbed the band "punk cabaret" to try to prevent people calling us anything dumber or meaner. As far as I'm concerned, Bjork's been fine without a genre. I'm fine, too.
The Dresden Dolls were well known for the theatrical aspects of their performances. Will you be continuing this tradition and, if so, what have you changed now that you are a solo artist?
AP: Actually, almost nothing has changed. The "theatrical" aspects were always very slap-dash random additions to the show, and it will remain that way. Otherwise, I'd get bored. It's possible I might start doing some legit theater projects as well. I don't know. You've caught me on a total PMS day. I'm thinking about the ashram as much as Broadway.
You've been in the music industry for about 20 years now. What have been the biggest changes in your own work and what are the biggest changes that you've seen in the industry?
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