Feature/Interviews

Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan
Flips The 'Hourglass"

     Dave Gahan has always been an intriguing figure in the music industry with his role as the lead singer of Depeche Mode. In 2003, he took his first steps into the solo arena with his debut album Paper Monsters. Recently, he’s garnered critical praise for his sophomore effort, Hourglass, an album that has clearly brought him out of Depeche’s shadow and defined him as an artist in his own right.
Gahan’s album developed when he realized that he had an underlying need to unload some stuff that seemed to be bogging him down. “The lyrics came pouring out of me," he said. "I don’t know where that comes from or how it happens. Music is therapeutic for me. I don’t intentionally steer it in that direction, but it becomes almost cathartic to get it out rather than leave it in.”
After coming home from the road with Depeche Mode, Gahan returned to the studio to throw around a few ideas with writing partners Christian Eigner and Andrew Phillpott. After two or three weeks, Hourglass was born.
“We started processing the music very quickly," said Gahan. "Atmospherically, things began moving in the right direction. Immediately I started to respond with some melodies and lyrics. We wrote, recorded, and produced the record all at the same time without any kind of interference or involvement from the record company. Nowadays that’s quite rare.”

Gahan has suffered through some dark times with an attempted suicide in 1995 and a drug overdose in 1996. However, he swears he’s a changed man. “The idea of me being in control and the thought of that there’s nothing more important than what I want to do all went out the window," he said. "I realized that in life, I don’t get to choose that. I had an overwhelming sense that there was something far greater than me. There’s a sense of life that is so much bigger. I’m desperately trying to embrace that fact instead of running away from it. There was a time when music became insignificant. I thought the drugs would help me perform better but that is the double edge sword of addiction. But it has made me more grateful for what I have. Now I use my time wisely rather than waste it. I’m searching for some kind of meaning in this crazy world we live in and for a sense of peace.”
Do Depeche Mode fans embrace his solo career? “Some have and others feel it’s sacrilegious," said Gahan. "But this album seems to be a bit more embraced than Paper Monsters. During the Paper Monsters period, it was difficult for me but now I got over that hump. Making this record was a fun, easy, enjoyable experience. It never felt difficult or forced.”
After a solo venture, Gahan returns to the band “more equipped” and “excited about the possibilities of what might happen.” He’s currently pumped about a compliment he received from his fellow band member, Martin Gore.
“Martin told me the other day that Hourglass was his ‘Album of the Year.’ I thought he was being funny because Martin’s not the most forthcoming with compliments,” Gahan said. “I owe everything I’m doing today to Martin. He’s the teacher and I’m the student. I appreciate what he does and what he has contributed over the years to Depeche Mode. We are very much like two brothers. We go in and out of bickering and competitiveness, which can be a good thing.”

By David J. Criblez

Antigone Rising:
From Glen Cove
To The Whole World
To The Crazy Donkey

     Antigone Rising, the all female rock quintet from Glen Cove known for their grass roots indie ethic and non-stop touring schedule, will make a triumphant return to the area on Wednesday, March 5 when they headline The Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale. Also appearing will be the veteran local act Nine Days. Doors open at 6 pm for this all-ages show; tickets, $14 in advance or $17 on the day of the show, are now available through ClubLoaded.com or at the Crazy Donkey box office.
The female band, still one of the hottest on the indie scene, proved something that's all-too-true if you hail from Long Island: To make it, a band has for forgo the seedy local club scene and hit the road. However, the band may have lost sight of their course back in 2004. That's when head of then Lava Records Jason Flom offered the road warriors, best known for their energetic live shows and onstage antics, a major label record deal and a chance to make a living off of hit records versus ticket sales in packed and sweaty nightclubs.
"We debated the offer seriously. We didn't jump at it, but there was no question at that point in our careers we were exhausted and needed to try a different path to push things to the next level," lead singer Cassidy explained. The gamble paid off. Flom's unwavering commitment and belief in the band led to a partnership with the mammoth coffee chain Starbucks, and Antigone Rising became the first artist in the company's "Hear Music Debut" series. The album, "From The Ground Up," released in May 2005, came out at a time when the climate in the music industry was much more ripe for a rap or hip hop act than an all female classic rock band. Yet, the album, which was recorded in front of a live studio audience, debuted on Billboard's Top 100 comprehensive chart at 92, and went on to sell upwards of 15,000 copies a week through the summer of 2005. That's when the girls got a phone call in their hotel room in Boston. Flom, the band's mentor and beacon in an otherwise devastated music industry, had been let go from Warner Music Group. And so the story goes …
While several Lava Records artists were quickly released from their label deals, Antigone Rising instead was adopted by another WMG label, Atlantic Records. And while many of the upper executives remained involved in the progress and development of what was to be the band's second album, there was confusion and a lack of vision and commitment on the part of the label. That's when rhythm guitarist Kristen Henderson and Cassidy asked to take a meeting with Craig Kallman, head of Atlantic .

"We stood outside the building that afternoon and pinky swore that neither one of us would back down with our request. And neither one of us did. We didn't flinch," said Cassidy. That request, it turns out, was for Atlantic Records to release the band from their major label record deal, a deal that for most bands is the brass ring. Kallman refused and asked the girls to continue writing with various songwriters in Nashville, an exercise that Kristen and Cassidy had been carrying on now for the past year with fruitful results. But the girls and their management felt they had the material to begin recording the new album, while Atlantic Records heard singles, they didn't necessarily hear the "first single." A few weeks later, the band's manager, Scooter Weintraub, placed a call to Kallman's office and reiterated the band's request to be let go. After a few more weeks Kalllman and Atlantic Records finally returned the call and agreed to let the band go in what turned out to be a very amicable split.
Upon being released from their major label deal, Weintraub immediately placed a phone call to the people at Starbucks and began negotiating a partnership for Antigone Rising's next release. Starbucks was not only interested, but also enthusiastic about the prospect. So this past winter, Antigone Rising moved to Nashville and began recording the album Tales From Wonderland in producer Jay Joyce's home studio. The effort is a natural progression of the band's signature sound, with 70s songwriting sensibility mixed with three-part harmonies and southern rock guitars.
"Jay Joyce captured an energy in the recordings that always eluded us in the recording studio," said drummer Dena Tauriello. "We were much less methodical to our approach on these recordings. We did a song a day every day until the album was done. Some days were longer than others, but nothing took more than one day to complete." Added rhythm guitarist Kristen Henderson, "It's the best studio album we've ever made. I've never heard a studio recording of us that I liked better than our live recordings. Jay managed to change that for us."
The people at Starbucks never heard any of the songs on Tales From Wonderland until the album was completely recorded and mixed. "It was really nice to be able to work in that way" said Cassidy. "Having any type of presence in the studio other than the band and the producer and engineer can shift the energy. It's best to create in a bubble and stay in it with those people through the entire process without too many outside opinions shifting focus. Starbucks allowed us that freedom and we're grateful to them for it."
But the burning question still remains: When will the studio album known as Tales From Wonderland ever come out? "I think there is a misconception, and understandably, that we've signed a record deal with Starbucks, and that's not the case," said Kristen Henderson. "Starbucks is on board with us as a distributor leaving all of the typical record label promotion in our hands. We've been busy researching the best way to put this record out without completely compromising our business. If we partner up with another major we run the risk of losing the control we finally gained by leaving Warner Music Group, yet not giving the album the proper marketing dollars doesn't serve us either. So we're meeting with major labels and indie labels and we're in discussions with various companies that are offering us alternate solutions to the mainstream record label way of doing things." Cassidy adds, "We're narrowing down our options as we speak and have some really exciting prospects. We've gone against our instincts enough times to know that it may get us further in the short term, but in the long term we're no better off. So we will wait until we're satisfied that this album will be released the way we want it released."
In the meantime, Antigone Rising has made a collective decision to get back to what they've been known for all along: great live shows and relentless tour schedules. "2008 promises to be full of traveling from city to city," said lead guitarist Cathy Henderson.

LONG ISLAND SPOTLIGHT

Amande Droste
Unfazed by Success

By Syl Nathan

     When we last checked in with Queens-based singer and songwriter Amanda Droste two years ago, she had just released Tide You Over, the debut EP that revealed her to be a sassy and brash pop/rock vocalist as well as an exceptional songwriter and arranger. However, nothing could have prepared us for Unfazed, Droste's major label quality new full-length disc that could do for this powerhouse singer what Jagged Little Pill did for Alanis Morissette 13 years ago: cast a previously unknown singer/songwriter into the national spotlight.
Droste (pronounced "like a Frostee," the amiable singer instructs) released her new album on Valentine's Day, but the new disc is a collection of rocking original songs that never let up and, thank goodness, aren't all that romantic. Droste uses her one-of-a-kind, in-your-face vocal style to send musical retorts to lying lovers ("I Won't Know," which features several incredible moments where Droste sounds both pissed off and severely hurt in the same held note); to seduce and rock someone's world like an in-heat Penthouse Pet ("Jungle Gym"); to complain about the state of the pop world ("American Idle"); and to simply rock out ("All Over Again"). On this sonically superior new disc, most of the production chores were handled by veteran producer and engineer Bart Migal – who in the past has worked with pop superstars Mya and Jessica Simpson – with assists from John Gordon; Mat Leland and Craig Wilson produced the title tune.
At this point, Droste's recorded canon is still being self-released, but no matter how one looks at it, Droste is a major label-destined talent and a confident, natural vocalist. Today, the striking young singer looks to the future with an upbeat eye, which is somewhat surprising considering the lethargic state of the area music business.
"This album is a very personal one – right down to the cover art, which was shot in my apartment hallway," said the always-effervescent Droste. "Making this album, I started working mainly in a couple upscale studios in Manhattan, but with the state of the industry, they both closed down. Strangely, I hit my creative stride when I found more intimate places to work like Buddy Project in Astoria or even my producers' apartment studios. Turns out I am a low-maintenance lady!"
She might not need studio frills, but it doesn't mean she's not a perfectionist.
"The title track, 'Unfazed,' means a lot to me because it was a song I attempted to write at least three times before – and I didn't get it right until writer Craig Wilson came aboard," said Droste. "For the first time, someone 'got it'. I find people are drawn into that song, so I feel like we did it right this time."
One of the most remarkable songs on the new disc is "Jungle Gym," a sultry rocker that features some extremely erotic (though certainly not obscene) imagery – but which still became the focus of a humorous moment.
"The first song I wrote for my album was 'Jungle Gym,'" recalled Droste. "I approached (producer Migal) with it, having not worked with him before, and he pretended to be highly offended by the sexual nature of it for a good five minutes. I totally fell for it and was instantly embarrassed!
"I was fortunate enough to write and work with some really talented people, which made cutting through the chaos of making an album so much easier," continued Droste. "Now I'm hoping people just really like this album enough to sing along and spread the word about it. And, I'm hoping for enough exposure to make it on Conan O'Brien one day soon – I'll sing 'Jungle Gym' to him!"
With the talent, sass, and rock attitude that Droste displays, it's obvious that 2008 will be a big year for her. The new album, Unfazed, is currently available only through the artist's website, amandadroste.com; it will be available through other distribution portals in the coming weeks. For more information on Amanda Droste, log on to her website or myspace.com/amandadroste. The artist will perform at The Triad Theatre in New York City on Friday, February 29.

Katie Pearlman
Cookin' With Katie

By Bob Smith

     Nassau County musician Katie Pearlman is a true rarity in the area music scene for a variety of reasons. She's a multi-instrumentalist who primarily plays drums, but also is adept at guitar; she sings with melodic, soulful ease as she keeps the beat; and performs electric as well as acoustic shows. After the release of her new album, Dreaming Again, she's more than likely soon to be known as the leader of one of the area's best indie/jam bands as well.
Pearlman's new album proves her to be a smooth vocalist and a fine songwriter. Instead of the usual Island-bred hot licks and screaming singing, Pearlman's naturally soft vocals are naturally more emotive than the area's usual array of banshee wails and phony white soul grunts. Songs such as album opener "Jealousy" and "Ain't Nobody" are emotional yet accessible, as well as tuneful and tasteful enough to be included on radio in any format.

Katie is an exceptional talent, yet Pearlman reached out to some of the area's top industry professionals for assistance on her album. Her band on the disc, which includes bassist Tom Bowler, keyboardist (and husband) Jeff Pearlman, and guitarist and engineer Ken Teich, is first-rate. Pearlman also enlisted the talents of George Fullan's General Studios in Douglaston and Scott Hull Mastering in New York City to get the album as close to Minute Rice perfection as possible.
"I love General Studios and George Fullan, the engineer there," Pearlman reported. "He's an amazing guy who really loves music, and he's been very supportive of my music. He does awesome work. This was my second CD that I did with him because I like working with him so much. I'm very happy with Scott Hull and their mastering of our CD. I actually was not present during the mastering and never even stepped foot in their studio! George Fullan recommended Scott Hull and I went with George's word, and I could not be happier with the result."
Area music fans are sure to be happy with the new album as well  not to mention her live show, which she'll bring to D.J. Rider's Rhythm & Brews in Oceanside on Friday, February 1 for a CD release party along with Scarecrow Collection. Getting to such a CD celebration was a long time coming for this youthful yet veteran musician.
Pearlman began playing drums at age 10, and it wasn't long before she was playing in a band. At age 18, Katie was enrolled at William Paterson University, playing percussion in the orchestra for two semesters at the same time she took up hand drumming and percussion. Soon, she joined a band called Vibe Theory, which later morphed into the popular One-Eyed Jack. She began songwriting, which eventually led to many of the compositions on Dreaming Again. Already, the musical multi-tasking Pearlman is looking for new worlds to conquer.
"This year, I'd like to record a second album and/or record an acoustic album with grand piano and acoustic guitar," said Pearlman. "I recently heard the latest James Taylor, which uses that instrumentation and that inspired me  also because my partner, Jeff, and I do a lot of acoustic shows with this instrumentation.
"I also want to write more songs! It's important to me that I'm able to find the space and time to be creative amidst doing all the promotion for the band. Songwriting is very important to me and is hugely rewarding. I need to come back to that."
As for now, Katie and her band are looking to replace the talented but Vermont-bound Teich, gain more radio airplay, and build their promotions and management team. However, with the pure musicality and talent displayed by Katie Pearlman, Jeff Pearlman, and their friends, all of these aspirations will surely be fulfilled within moments  this is pop music of depth, truth, and beauty. If those sentiments sound "old school," give Pearlman's innovative music a listen and see if you don't agree.
Katie Pearlman's CD release party will be Friday, February 1 at D.J. Rider's Rhythm & Brews in Oceanside; Scarecrow Collection is also on the bill.

For more information, log on to myspace.com/katiepearlmanmusic.