Interviews
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Bitter Ruin - 22nd March 2010
The old cliche that there's a thin line between love and hate is never more apt when describing acoustic male/female duo Bitter Ruin. Both on record and live, Brighton-based Georgia Train and Ben Richards seem to be at each other's throats one minute and yearning over one another the next, and the added theatricality they put into their heart-on-sleeve songs of love and betrayal hasn't gone unnoticed- here at GIITTV we picked them as one of our ones to watch for this year. Simon Jay Catling caught up with female vocalist Georgia Train to discuss their very personal past, present and future.
GIITTV: How did you meet and begin Bitter Ruin?
Georgia: "Ok, are you ready for the cliché? We met at music school! We actually wanted to play rock to begin with, but I think we were too picky to find any other musicians and eventually Bitter Ruin took on a life of its own. It's funny because the music we make now was never what we had imagined or what we had wanted, but now we've fallen in love with it and it just keeps going!"
What drew you to each other as a songwriting partnership?
"Well actually, we were both songwriters before we met each other, our styles were completely different and I think we found that intriguing. We wanted to understand each other's worlds and found that incorporating the two styles created something quite addictive."
How has your songwriting relationship progressed since then through the EP and first album?
"Wow! A LOT! The first album to us feels like it was just experimentation, I don't think we’d really found ourselves then and it also takes time to get feedback from listeners to find out what has worked and what hasn't. So by our second album, there was a definite unity to the songs and a continuous energy that has ended up as our overall statement. For example, we knew we wanted a punchy sound, we didn't want our music to be "background music" – so the second album is definitely NOT that."
There's this wonderful dark constant in your music of embittered ex-lovers unable to let go of each other despite everything; at some points it feels like you're playing characters whilst elsewhere it feels intensely personal; how blurred is the line between caricature and real life?
"Well, unfortunately, all of the songs are about real life things; past traumas and horrible times that we all go through. But they're certainly not directed towards each other. These songs are about the past, but when something big has happened in the past that has had a lasting effect, you seem to be able to summon those feelings and express them whenever. It doesn't feel like acting, it feels like a natural representation of what the songs are about. For example, I think it would be very strange if I were to sing a song about anger and hatred whilst smiling. Of course, every good songwriter is good at exaggerating and telling things in a way that can be interpreted by everyone, so there does have to be some twisting. But there are no lies."
It seems there's a very close friendship between you and Ben; how important is that that when writing and playing?
"Very important. I think the main thing has to be that you are able to tell each other when something sucks! If you aren't the best of friends, you may feel like you'll be offending each other – this just leads to a polite way of writing which usually equals crappy songs."
Live too, there seems to be an added theatrical element; is that something intentional you do?
"It's absolutely intentional yes. We pride our shows on being something to watch as well as to listen to, and I don't think bands think about this enough. Also, it's fun! We are always honoured that a venue or promoter will give us a stage to do what we like with, so why waste that opportunity."
Is drama, film and theatre something you're both particularly interested in?
"Oh yes. It's our lives. Performance and everything that surrounds it is what we thrive off. We constantly talk about music and acting. When we're watching TV, we spend 90% of the time analysing the actors or the directing or the musicality, often we're really mean critics [laughs] I think we like to learn from other people's mistakes!"
You've a new album on the way; what themes and styles can we expect?
"Well, it's our first full length album for a start and it was recorded in a totally new way. We went over to the states to work with The Dresden Dolls producer Jason Rubal, and we were completely confined to the studio; we slept, ate and worked in there...plus we were snowed in. But the songs are honestly the best yet. They each have a very different vibe, there's some commercial stuff and some totally bizarre stuff. There's some fun songs and some really sad songs and as always some angry songs! We've really made this album for the fans this time; we've tried to show a lot more character and kept things raw but complex."
For all the expansion of technology and splintering of genres over the past decade, it seems that simple voice and guitar music still resonates as strongly as ever; why do you think this is?
"Personally, I think good lyrics will transcend through any genre, and I think that a lot of acoustic stuff has to start with a good song, otherwise there's nothing else there. You can't cheat when it's that naked!"
Brighton seems to have a great freedom attached to its music scene at the moment, in that there's such a diversity of music coming out of the city; the flip side to that is that there must be a lot of jostling for position amongst all the eclecticism; has it helped or hindered you being in such a competitive and creative place?
"Well yes, there is but I don’t really think it's made a difference. I think we are so far away from what everyone else in Brighton is doing that we kind of sit in a world of our own, which is nice because it means that we can play with anyone and still kind of fit in. There are a lot of bands in Brighton who are trying to be different, but you can always tell when that's the case. It's obvious when you're being yourself and there's a difference between being an exaggerated version of something you really are and trying to be something you're definitely not."
Finally, what are the plans for the rest of 2010 and beyond?
"We're hoping to tour the world. We've got a few dates booked already but we're trying to decide if we can afford to do America! We've got lots of new merchandise in the pipeline and we’ve just released a video for 'Beware' which is already getting regular play on US TV channels, so hopefully it'll be on MTV in the UK soon. But the biggest thing is the release of this new album, it's released in May...so keep your eyes peeled!"
Simon Jay Catling - God is in the TV
~ original article ~
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Interview with Bitter Ruin - 9th November 2009
Delusions of Adequacy: Hello Georgia and Ben! It’s so wonderful to be doing this interview with you. I’ve only recently found out about Bitter Ruin, but I was instantly bowled over by your sharply intense, stirring, dual vocal acrobatics, spirited guitar sound, and, well, what can I say – bitter and bracing lyrics.
You have two EPs under your belt, a self-titled EP released in 2007 and the We’re Not Dancing EP in 2008, and you are scheduled to start recording your debut album with Jason Rubal in the U.S. in December. Before touching upon all that, I’d like to find out more about your beginnings as a duo. How did you meet up and are you both together in a strictly musical sense? From what I’ve read, you are from different parts of England, but are based in Brighton at the moment.
Ben: "Yes, we are from opposite ends of England and we both travelled to Brighton to go to music school. When we met we were both in Rock bands and singing in completely different styles. We got talking and had barely heard of any of each other’s influences. So really our music comes from the collision of two completely different worlds. As for our ‘relationship’, well that is and will always be a mystery!"
DOA: You have a very distinctive musical and vocal style that defies easy categorization, with “just” vocals and guitar, and a bent towards the dramatic and theatrical without being campy or morbid. You’ve probably already been tagged as “Dark Cabaret”, but there other elements to your sound, from the flamenco to classical runs of guitar to the use of acoustic guitar to the intertwined harmonizing and call and response dueling vocals that recall other genres. Is there a particular style that you prefer to be categorized as? Did you know from the outset how you wanted to sound or did it evolve over time?
Georgia: "It’s a genre of its own, really. We’re waiting for someone to come up with a new genre that can typify it. It makes our job very difficult as everyone’s first question is “What do you sound like?” and quite frankly, we sound like us and only us. There are of course obvious influences and these days nothing is original, but we’re certainly not copycats or even ‘chart friendly’.
We had NO IDEA that this was how we would sound together. Although we do work very hard on our arrangements, people say a good idea is supposed to come from some divine force and maybe that’s why we don’t know how our musical style developed… ha ha, maybe Buddha writes it for us??!"
DOA: What are you musical backgrounds? Are you both classically- trained vocalists, and Ben, what has been your path as a guitarist and what types of guitars do you use?
Ben: "Georgia is a trained vocalist, having studied the voice for about twelve years, and actually teaches singing in her spare time. I, on the other hand, am newer to singing, but have learnt a lot from Georgia (though try as I may to match her I’ll always be in her shadow!).
My path as a guitarist began at the age of fourteen with the usual teen love for Rock and Metal, but through the years I have experimented with all different styles of guitar. More recently Flamenco has had a massive influence on my playing; it has a raw passion that I haven’t found in any other genre, and it translates perfectly with the passion in our lyrics. I currently play a Cort steel string, and my pride and joy, a K-Yari classical
nylon string guitar."
DOA: I love that you both sing on most of the songs and that your powerful, passionate, and well-matched delivery creates for some tense, but lively songs. Georgia, you especially belt it out impressively, but have such fine-tuned control of your voice. How much effort is it to deal with the vocal complexity of the songs?
Georgia: "Well, I like to challenge myself as a vocalist and so most of our stuff ends up being a vocal circus. I like to think that I make covering Bitter Ruin songs really hard! Ha ha, only kidding, I’d love to hear some covers. The way I sing is basically down to what I find emotive and powerful, but creating all of that whilst still making a song sound beautiful can be tough. The voice is just as much an instrument as it is a paintbrush, you need to use tonal variety and tell a story with the lyrics, while making everything sound authentic… something like that!"
DOA: You have earned raves and renown for your live performances. How do you prepare for a show? What is it like to be in front the audience and singing and playing your hearts out? I hope this doesn’t sound like an odd question, but is there a difference between sitting or standing or moving around the stage while performing? I’m assuming, Ben, that you sit for the duration while playing guitar while Georgia, you get to move about?
Ben: "We prepare for a show by rushing to catch a train… usually forgetting something and having to turn back… doing a really quick sound check and then sitting in the corner looking creepy and suspicious till we play! There’s no pep talk, I’m afraid. Maybe we should devise one?
Singing your heart out in front of an audience can be really liberating or really odd and frustrating, depending on the crowd. If the audience doesn’t really look like they’re getting it, we feel a bit silly… but carry on regardless!
Actually, we both sit and stand for different songs, sometimes we sit back-to-back, sometimes Georgia sits in the audience on the floor while I stroll among them playing guitar, and other times we are just standing up screaming in each other’s faces. Whatever feels like the right thing to do!"
DOA: Now I know your latest EP is titled We’re Not Dancing, but it seems like a lot of elegant dancing poses are being struck by the both of you on that EP cover, your official site, and in promo photos. LOL Do either of you have a background in dance? Is it something that you bring to the live experience at all?
Georgia: "Yes, we both ‘throw some shapes’ on stage! But it’s probably not quite what you’d call a choreographed dance. If you watch the video for “The Vice” or “Stand to Attention” you’ll see what we mean. As far as training, I’ve had a little bit but not at all to a professional level."
DOA: You’ve captured the spirit of your live performances on your EPs as far as I can tell. How did that work out? Did you record each song all in one go?
Ben: "That would be telling! Actually, we record in a variety of ways, some of the takes are live, yes, and some we’ve edited… however, we’re very proud to say that we’ve never used AUTO TUNE! Damn the guy who invented that!"
DOA: There is a lot of dense, twisty wordplay going on in your songs, from “I’m fearsome, fearless, famished for a fight / And hungry for a handful of a fist flung for fun” on the feisty “I’m Going to be a Murderer” to “I wanted to think like you thought to answer some of the “whys?” / So I took a blindfold of denial and bolted it to my eyes” on “Outrageous” to “I can accept now fighting only ends in pleas / How can I protest when you’re stronger than me?” on “Soldier”, but for all the bitterness, bleakness, and blackness to the lyrics, there seems to also be a rousing, high-spirited nature to your vocal delivery and dashing guitar lines that balance it out. Do you share in songwriting duties? Are most or all of your songs from the “storyteller” point of view or do you draw upon your own lives too, from past destructive relationships or break-ups or other events?
Ben: "All of our songs come from real life experiences. They are all real!… Maybe a bit exaggerated, but very real. However, Georgia isn’t really “going to be a murderer”… I think?!"
DOA: As mentioned earlier, you’re set to record with Jason Rubal soon. Are you currently writing and composing for your up-coming full length? Will you go into the studio this December with everything fully formed or do you expect to chisel away at the statue, so to speak, while ensconced in the studio? Do you have plans to alter your core sound at all or are you aiming to keep your sound intact?
Georgia: "Yes, we’re writing at the moment and we’ve got lots of new songs waiting to make their debut appearances. As far as what we’ll do in the studio, I think we are just focusing on making the songs as good as possible and we’ll worry about how to record when the time comes. Also, I think Jason will have some really interesting ideas that we’ll probably try to draw from him too."
DOA: You have an official site at http://bitterruin.com/ and a MySpace profile at http://www.myspace.com/bitterruin where everyone can find out how to purchase your EPs. You’ve also gotten entangled in that newfangled online contraption called Twitter. What do you make of it? Do you feel you’re frittering your time away or is it a good way to disburse information to your fans?
Georgia: "Let’s face it, Twitter sucks! But if it allows our fans to talk to us directly then great, we just think it’s pretty boring. No offence Tweety Peeps! Don’t unfollow us. Please."
Jen Stratosphere Fanzine
~ original article ~
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Rocktown Press - 29th October 2009
Bitter Ruin, an acoustic duo from the UK after releasing two EP's are starting the work on their new release. Read what are their plans for the future and what was their most bizarre gig in an interview specially for RockTown.pl:
Desribe your music in three words.
"Dramatic, Confrontational, Exquisit ;)"
There’re only two of you. Have you ever considered finding some new musicians to join the band as new full-time members?
"Absolutely. At the moment we'd really like to have some strings and our piano. The problem is transportation and funding. For some gigs we do incorporate a piano but because we dont use roadies we struggle to carry everything ha ha! If we had an endless supply of money, our show would include a full orchestra and a choir too. However, the focus has always been on the vocals and I'd like to think that whatever we added, we could always go back to the bare minimum and play acoustically."
Are you taking advantage of the fact that you only need an acoustic guitar to play your songs? For example does it happen that you suddenly want to play a suprise show in some place other than a music venue?
"Yes all the time! We've played some rather bizarre gigs in peoples living rooms/back yards/stables and we are a sound engineer's dream because we are so easy to soundcheck. At the end of the day, a good song will transpire through any arrangement. If you have a great song, it should sound great on any instrument."
If you had a chance to choose an artist to share stage with – who would that be and why?
"Jeff Buckley would be the ultimate! (but he's dead so maybe that will happen in the afterlife) maybe Kate Bush...mmm....not sure, we are really picky. We love Amanda Palmer, but again, not sure that we're a perfect match. Maybe someone who just has a massive fanbase like Beyonce or Mariah Carey! I know, it's gotta been Queen! (Again, that would need to be in the afterlife) OK, Antony and the Jonsons...oh I don't know anyone interesting. ha ha!"
Do you have some rock inspirations? And if yes – what are they?
"Yes. Both of us were in Rock bands when we met. Ben loves Slayer and System of a Down. Georgia loves Talking Heads, System of a Down and Skunk Anansie. We have very strange taste in music, one day it'll be Stevie Wonder then Mozart and Chopin then Bjork then Edith Piaf, anything with passion, and Rock has a lot of that!"
What are your plans for the nearest future?
"Well we're writing for the new album now. We'll be recording that in December in the US with Jason Rubal (Amanda Palmer's producer). After that, a tour of Europe will be looming. I'd say 2010 goes a bit like this: Release album, Tour Europe, Tour US, Release Video, Write songs, Stop just in time for Christmas!"
And the last one – my favourite. Do you remember some funny / horrifying / strange things that happened before / during / after your shows?
"Oh yes! wow, where do we start. Well, due to the nature of our music, we've played a lot of bizarre shows with bizarre people. Lots of fetish stuff including mumifying demonstrations as our supporting act, stripteases in basements and zombie parties. But the strangest one has got to be the time we turned up to a gig and were completely ignored by everyone...It was in this really strange little town with no one around, the shops all looked empty or as if from the 60s. The venue we played was run by a variety of strange looking people from giants to toddlers, hippies and business men and they'd hired in some chinese chefs who couldn't speak a word of English and told 'vegetarian Georgia' that the beef chop suey was meat free...we weren't welcomed into the house and yet we were under strict instructions to go and play a gig. After sometime we just walked in, ha ha, after waiting and waiting and waiting to be told when and where we were playing, we just got up and did it...everyone loved us and a lot of the normal people there bought merchandise, but again, when we went to see the organisers, they turned their backs to us and poor Ben stood for about ten minutes trying to talk to this guy who was blanking him! Not a word! wierd...So we asked for our money and ran!"
FaRf
~ original article ~
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