* An estimated 5.7 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country.

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It’s been a little less than two months since I was first introduced to the French duo Pin-Up Went Down. Having been familiar with their name for almost a year, I finally decided to give their debut album a spin up on the recommendation of a friend of mine who happens to be their label boss as well. So I listened to the album and got immediately hooked up even though the music is anything but easily accessible. It’s different, it’s crazy, it’s sick, yet it’s brilliant… Give yourself a favour and check them out. But first, take your time and read what Asphodel had to say about Pin-Up Went Down and the band’s brand new album 342.

Can you tell me about the way you hooked up with Alexis for this project?

Asphodel: I already worked for his former band Wormfood on a Type O Negative cover Christian Woman and a track intro, so he knew my voice a little bit. He only invited me to make some voices on the first Pin-Up Went Down album which was nearly finished by the time I got involved. I didn’t want to make operatic vocals this time because I was fed up with it, so I asked him the liberty to make the voices I wanted. He invited me to make a try on the song Intrusion. I imagined the little scary story of a little ghost girl and did my vocals. When he heard the result he asked me to become a real member of the project. First, he asked me only to do a few voices here and there and then wanted me to be the lead singer. That’s how it happened.

The project was originally called Esthete Piggie. Why did you change it?

Asphodel: First of all it was difficult to pronounce, and also because we had a precise idea of the meaning, but it didn’t really mean what we thought it would. (Laughs) We were thinking of a female pig, an esthete female pig. We had a decadent idea of it…

It somewhat reminds me of Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Asphodel: (Laughs) That’s not decadent at all!

So why Pin-up Went Down?

Asphodel: Why not?

Somehow you had to come up with that, right?

Asphodel: Yes. We wanted that vision of decadence but I wanted to focus on the tragedy aspect of things. The Greek meaning of tragedy, the kind of hero that finds a terrible end. And I remembered those pin-ups, like Marilyn Monroe and others before her, that were very famous and glamorous, and that died in horrible condition… or died in oblivion.

Okay, so you said Alexis already had most of the music written. What was your initial reaction when you heard it?

Asphodel: The first thing I thought was “Shit, I WANT to sing with that guy.” When I heard it I told myself that I had finally found my so desired project.

So I assume you liked what you heard.

Asphodel: (Laughs) Yes but it was very strange… for the first time of my life I was completely emphatic and I felt like as if one mind finally understood mine. I was extremely happy.

Did Alexis give you free hand with your vocals for the entire album?

Asphodel: Oh yes, he gave me complete “carte blanche”, free hand, as we say in France.

So how did you decide on what part what type of voice to use?

Asphodel: I don’t know, to be honest… I always see cinematographic scenes in my head with characters and I need to incarnate these characters so the voices and the characters become one entity. And they easily find their place in the part of the story where I want to make them live. It’s a very natural process and with every part of the songs there’s a scene or feeling that appears. I choose to use the “movement” of the scene to play with the voice or I decide to make the definite contrary of what is played behind. I love to sing something horrible for a funny and joyful part.

Speaking of cinematography, is there any director whose movies influence you in your “own cinematography”?

Asphodel: Guy Maddin… definitely! Guy, THE guy from Winnipeg. He worked with Isabella Rossellini in the Saddest Music In The World.

What did Alexis think about the vocals you delivered for the songs?

Asphodel: Well, he was pretty surprised because he didn’t know that I really loved to sing like this, with many facets. When he heard Intrusion, he was completely amazed and I was completely red because I didn’t think that such a way of singing could be liked by someone. I just wanted to try and to explore and I wanted to make my characters alive.

So you never sung like that before in your previous bands, only in the bathroom?

Asphodel: No, in the kitchen! No, actually I had a small band called Nowonmai. We made a 3-track demo a few years ago… in 2003 or 2004. I started to sing a bit like this there but only a bit. I’ve never tried pig squeals and death metal singing before. I also had a band called Arew where I used to sing a little bit like this but I really explored my voice with Pin-Up Went Down. We composed a few songs and recorded it with Arew but we didn’t release anything.

Will you ever plan to do that or that belongs to the past?

Asphodel: No, it belongs to a so distant past. Things are much more professional with Pin-Up Went Down. I grew up.

Other than singing in the kitchen, what kind of vocal training you took?

Asphodel: None. I took 8 lessons of classical singing 6 or 7 years ago but I was a student and it was too expensive, so I stopped.

Tell me about your biggest influences along the way. Who did you grow up with and how did that change over the years?

Asphodel: I started to sing when I was 7 with Edith Piaf. I think I wanted to sing everything that one could sing. I grew up with Queen, Mike Oldfield but I don’t exactly know who my influences are. I’m so greedy of music that I can listen to Impaled Nazarene, which was my favourite band when I was 14, and after I can go for Anthony and the Johnsons. It’s weird but even though I’m a metalhead I love discovering every kinds of music. But I can’t precisely tell you my influences because I don’t know them. I used to listen to 14 hours of metal every day when I was in university.

Okay, so you don’t remember your influences but tell me singers you like.

Asphodel: Daniel Gildenlöw, Tom S. Englund, Andy Schmidt, Serj Tankian, Devin Townsend and Lady Gaga. I only like few songs of her but she has a great voice.

Btw, I showed your music to a musician friend of mine and he said that your vocals are paedophile’s dream in some songs. (Laughs)

Asphodel: Your friend is deviant. (Laughs)

But seriously, how on earth can you do that “student girl” and all those other types of vocals?

Asphodel: Well, I love that way of singing. It’s a parody of woman and it’s easy for me to sing like this, but obviously it’s not my real voice. It’s mine but I have to play with my larynx to make it perfect.

You sing many styles in Pin-Up Went Down… which one is your favourite?

Asphodel: I don’t know… maybe the pig squeals. I like them all because each one of them is a way of being, a character, a feeling, but I love pig squeals because that’s an inhaling challenge to me. I love bluesy ones because of the groove they bring and the “old woman one” because it makes me feel as I’m incarnating a dead.

How do you know how it feels to incarnate a dead?

Asphodel: (Laughs) That’s how I feel. I feel dead since I was 5 years old. So when I sing like this I find some kind of a peace… It’s difficult to explain, even in French. I’m a very anxious and oppressed woman and always been like this since I was 5. When I sing that kind of voice I feel like I’m perfectly empty and this emptiness makes me feel peaceful because otherwise I’m always thinking, even when I sleep.

What happened to you when you were 5?

Asphodel: Well, first of all I’m gifted but they only discovered this last year. When I was a little girl the teacher told about it but in the 80s nobody was conscious of that notion. When you’re gifted you’re always thinking and you feel very tired everyday. But when I was 5 and a half two catastrophes occurred to me. The first one was the death of my 7-year-old cousin who has been killed in a car accident. I understood the meaning of death perfectly very early and it followed me throughout the years. The other one was a very personal experience and those two things made me learn many things that I was too young to understand, I think. But when you learn things that way you have a different vision of life and you grow up with other values. I don’t say they are better but they destroy your way of bringing up with people. And when you are gifted you never feel home anywhere you go and it’s very difficult to live that way. You always feel too old, too different, inferior and you’re always questioning, questioning and questioning everything.

Back to Pin-Up Went Down… did Alexis already have a record deal when you joined him?

Asphodel: No. When the album was finished I sent it by mail to Ascendance Records and we received an answer the day after. I think Alexis tried three or four other labels before I sent it to them though. I thought they might be interested as they were specialized in female voices. But actually I wasn’t able to have a precise idea of the album’s quality as I was not able to have an objective opinion on our own work.

Did you know any of their other releases by then?

Asphodel: No, I just heard of Stolen Babies at that point.

Guess now you’re also familiar with Diablo Swing Orchestra that play somewhat similar music to you.

Asphodel: Yes! They like what we do and we like what they do. But in spite of the similarities Pin-Up Went Down and Diablo Swing Orchestra are very different. We don’t have the same atmospheres. But for me, they are one of the best female fronted bands in the world. Their female singer is a REAL operatic singer not a so-called one.

Your debut album got some really good reviews. Did you expect anything like that? I mean no one expects bad reviews but still…

Asphodel: No, we didn’t expect anything like that because we didn’t have any opinion about our own work. We were anxious so when we read the positive reviews we were really surprised.

What was the best and the worst thing that reviewers told about your music?

Asphodel: My biggest fear was not to be understood and that’s what happened a few times. The best thing… once someone said that I was the female Patton and that Pin-Up Went Down is the most surprising band the reviewer had heard for 10 years. And the worst… it was a German reviewer. The guy said that we probably spent 2 days in a home studio, pushed a button to make an effect and that’s how we made this shitty album.

Who did turn out to be the first Pin-Up Went Down fans? Did you have people following from your previous bands?

Asphodel: The first fans were French but yes, some people followed us from our previous bands as well even though our Mexican fans still seem to prefer Penumbra. (Laughs) But you know, I’m very surprised to see that we have fans all over the world. Not a lot but we have some in Italy, England, the United States and many other places. It’s weird.

Yeah, but that’s how things are in the Internet age. People get to hear it even if the album is not distributed there…

Asphodel: Yes, that’s the great thing about the Internet. It’s one of the best promotional tools for every underground band, Pin-Up Went Down included.

And there’s the other side of the Internet too…

Asphodel: Yeah, people downloading music… That’s true but we all do that, I think and it’s part of today’s culture. But remember when we were younger we had the possibility to copy tapes and that’s what we all did.

For the second album the band has been expanded to three members.

Asphodel: Yes, we have Nicolas who is Alexis’ brother. He already gave his opinion and advices on the first album and Alexis felt that sharing his music with his brother would be a beautiful way to make their links stronger, so he decided to make Nicolas join the band for the 2nd album. He contributes to the writing and he plays the piano and they worked together for harmonies and arrangements.

After the success of the debut album, did you have any pressure on you writing the second one?

Asphodel: Alexis was less anxious than I am still today but we were anxious anyway. Alexis had many ideas and many plans for the second album. He’s a really good musician but I’m just a singer. I was very afraid of making the same things and I was afraid of inventing gimmicks without wanting to.

I think your vocals improved from the first album, you show more of its strength on the new one…

Asphodel: Thank you! I tried other things for the second album and I think also evolved since the debut but I’m already afraid of the third album! (Laughs) I can see the evolution in my performance but I don’t know if that evolution is significant enough.

But you know what… you don’t have to evolve significantly on all albums, most singers sound the same all their lives. (Laughs)

Asphodel: (Laughs) That’s true. Alexis has also evolved since the debut album. He worked his sounds in a different way and he tried to focus on more organic feelings this time.

I think the first album was more eclectic; it was pretty crazy while the songs on the new one are more or less in a similar vein. How do YOU see the difference?

Asphodel: The first album was more funky, gothic, electro while the second one focuses on organic sounds, it’s more human and touchable and it’s less cold and also a little bit more rock and progressive. The first one was a little bit mad and the second one more technical and mature, I think. And to be honest, we don’t know what the third one will sound like.

How would you describe and recommend the music of Pin-Up Went Down to someone that never heard it?

Asphodel: Take a blender, put in a strawberry, a hamburger, some vinegar and a colorectal cancer, then blend it and drink it. (Laughs)

Okay, that was the description… and how would you recommend it? (Laughs)

Asphodel: I wouldn’t recommend it. (Laughs) I think I would tell the person going to a disco that dressing up like Regan MacNeil wouldn’t be a good idea. Pin-Up Went Down is an experience. Even if you won’t like it at all, it can be a good thing to try. I would tell: “If you want be on drugs without taking any pills, have an ear!” But I never make my promotion, I hate it. I’m a shy girl when it comes to my own singing.

Can you imagine any musical boundaries for Pin-Up Went Down?

Asphodel: No, I think we’re interested in everything that can be done but it has to be justified. It must have a link with the story that’s being told. For example if Alexis makes some rap music I must think of a way to make it blossom.

Like singing gospel in a song?

Asphodel: Yes, it has already been done in the song Pussy Worship. I used gospel vocals because it’s a religious genre and the gospel part in this song is asking God to let a woman become a guy for a day in order to fuck another woman and to dominate her. So it’s kind of a heretic way of using gospel in that song. And when I told you it has to be justified I think my gospel part is a good example to explain that theory. We don’t want to use classical things in a classical way. In Khabod Of My Aba the intro is a religious choir, typical catholic one and I sing there in Hebrew. I sing a Jewish prayer to king Solomon.

I’m glad you mentioned Pussy Worship as I wanted to ask about that song anyway… the lyrics of that one is quite vulgar. Did you choose that way of talking to shock listeners?

Asphodel: No, it was not to shock people. I’m just sick of the way girls are considered even today. People still consider us as princesses and have a stereotypical vision of what women want to do. We are human beings and not sexual objects. That song is for the sexual freedom of women and a big “fuck you all” to the “bienséance” and the rules of education that force woman to incarnate and not only to be. I’m sick of this. This song is dedicated to every woman. Every woman I know secretly would like to have sex with another woman but the taboo is so strong that they don’t dare to say it like if it was an abnormal fantasy. And the domination of man is a real mystery to me, so the lyrics deal with that mystery.

It’s an interesting subject, both the human and the sexual aspect of it. And I agree with the human aspect 100% but I can’t comment on how much women want to have sex with each other as I never was a woman… considering a sex surgery though. (Laughs)

Asphodel: (Laughs) It’s weird. The vision of women and men are really different. The fact that men have such an important place in society make them less interested in homosexual experiences than women. Lesbianism gives an idea of grace and esthetism. But men have a stereotypical way of being, and these experiences mean weakness and treason of their condition of men. It’s really weird and a pity too because they miss out on exploring their own self because of those stereotypes.

What other things do inspire your lyrics writing?

Asphodel: Psychiatry, cinema and experience of life. Not very original things but life is a gift to write lyrics. Existentialism.

Are these mostly dark thoughts?

Asphodel: Yes, they’re dark. Sometimes there’s a bit of hope… but I always conclude with the same point. It’s more ironical than sad but irony means anger, and scorn. I don’t really see the light in the dark. I only hope that there is somewhere.

If you take all Pin-Up Went Down songs, which one would be your favourite either music or lyrics-wise?

Asphodel: It’s so hard to answer to this. I prefer talking about the way human spirit can be tortured and musically I love things like what we did on Cadavre Exquis. I love abnormality and I love when music is powerful and mad, a little bit dark and ironic too, and when it’s completely out of subject.

Do you have favourite lyricists, poets and authors?

Asphodel: I love French chanson. I love Jaques Brel and Juliette. They are French artists. In metal… I really don’t know. As for poets… Dino Campana, William Peter Blatty (he wrote The Exorcist). I read a lot of books. I love Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Manu Larcenet, Joann Sfar, Riad Sattouf (they make French bandes dessinées – comics). I also like Joe Matt, Victor Hugo and some Emile Zola’s books too and my favourite one is Kafka.

Do any of them influence your writing in any way?

Asphodel: No, I don’t think they influenced me. I just love their work. I think the only influence I have is the everyday experience of disillusions. (Laughs) And I’m more influenced by treason and diseases than by fictions.

Is it easy for you to come up with your lyrics in English?

Asphodel: When I write lyrics I always think in English so it’s not a problem for me. When I write poetry I always think in French or Italian. I’m a vocal and Italian teacher and my grandpa is Italian, so it’s in my blood. He still lives over there.

So, how about singing in French and Italian?

Asphodel: I use few words in Paradoxical Sarabanda but I don’t know if it would be interesting for me to sing a full song like that. I don’t really know yet as I haven’t tried. I only tried Hebrew and German… German for Andy in Vaginaal Nathrakh.

Btw, Vaginaal Nathrakh is one of the best word games I’ve heard in a long time…

Asphodel: (Laughs) Thanks! It’s my homage to Anaal Nathrakh and it was my idea to name the song Vaginaal Nathrakh. And actually I composed the song as well. I composed only two songs for Pin-Up Went Down, this one and Escargot. I showed Alexis the idea for Vaginaal and he built the intro and arranged it to make it sound better.

What does Anaal Nathrakh mean to you?

Asphodel: I love their madness and I love the way they can make extreme parts sound so clear and they have wonderful choruses!

So you have Andy from Disillusion singing on this song…

Asphodel: Yes, I am a big fan of him and I wanted to make him appear on a track I composed and it was a good idea because this song deals with my vision of women and the vision of society. I just sent him the song, then he recorded his part and mailed it back to me. We were about to meet in person but unfortunately we couldn’t in the end.

Was Andy the only guest that you considered having on the album?

Asphodel: No, I also wanted to have Daniel from Pain of Salvation and I invited him and he even agreed to do it but then he was not available because of touring. I wanted to compose something special for him, but hopefully he can sing on our third album.

Another song title… Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds…

Asphodel: (Laughs) Murphy in the Sky with Daemons. It deals with Murphy’s Law and beliefs as if a superior entity was controlling your life in a bad way, in a way that you can’t stand and you don’t think you deserve. It’s about your beliefs when life looks like shit. (Laughs) The example in the song is a guy who experiences a lot of shit starting with his breakfast to the discovery of his wife in his own bed with his best friend.

Nice pun at The Beatles song…

Asphodel: Well, I don’t like The Beatles at all but it was in the back of my mind and I figured it would be a nice title.

Why is the album called 342?

Asphodel: Because we were two persons on the first album and now we’re three with Nicolas. Three for two. That’s just this simple.

How about your other bands? Are Alexis and you still involved in other bands/projects?

Asphodel: Yes, he has another band but that is not metal at all. They play jazz. I don’t have any other bands at the moment but I’m looking for a jazz/trip-hop project.

So you’re out of Penumbra or it’s no more?

Asphodel: It’s no more. We decided to split the band silently. But actually I didn’t make any albums with them. We only did 3 tracks together and a few gigs in Belgium and Holland with The Old Dead Tree. I have nice memories though, they’re kind people.

Did you play any live shows as Pin-Up Went Down yet?

Asphodel: Only one. We played last year in Villeurbanne, which is a place close to Lyon. It was a festival only for female fronted bands. We had a pretty good audience there. People were dancing and playing with balloons in the pit. (Laughs)

And how did the show go? Wasn’t it hard to transform your complex music to a stage environment?

Asphodel: It was more rock’n'roll and catchy than on the album and it was also more organic. We sang with the crowd and I made them sing the gospel part of Pussy Worship as well. (Laughs) It was so lovely. We have never rehearsed together so I was a little bit worried but things went well. I was also nervous because most of the other bands were symphonic/gothic metal bands so I was afraid of the crowd’s reaction but luckily everything went away at the moment I started to make some soap bubbles just before singing “Intrusion”.

Do you plan doing more gigs?

Asphodel: Not for the moment. We are a studio project in the first place and we’d like to focus on the album’s release now by doing interviews and seeing about the reaction of the press and the fans. Touring is a difficult question anyway because Alexis lives 700 kms away from me. That’s why we never had any rehearsals and that’s why it’s so hard!

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Tobias Sammet (Avantasia): “I did not steal Alone I Remember from Skid Row if you’re referring to that. I know the song and I think my song is way more bluesy.”

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The accountant of the company I work at came into my office for some business. She was about to repay me a bill that I financed for the company. Here’s the written documentary of the transaction:

Woman: That’s 19,575.
Me: Okay, here’s 20,000.
Woman: I’ll be right back with the change. Need to go to my office first as I don’t have a calculator with me.
Me: Err?
Woman: I’m not an expert in mental arithmetic.

Well, I can see that…

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