Apa jadinya ketika dua mantan cewe Playboy (Heidi Shepherd & Carla Harvey) membentuk sebuah ben metal dengan imej “shock rocker” (pula)? Sudah tentu akan mendebarkan sekaligus menggairahkan Anda. “Blood, sex, and metal!” begitulah moto Heidi untuk merepresentasikan ben-nya. Mari, sambutlah newcomer terpanas di kubangan metal tahun ini... Ladies & gentleman, here’s the Butcher Babies!
1) How everything started? What is made “you” (Heidi / Carla) interested in carrying the metal music?
Heidi: I've always been into heavy music and really felt that it is a genre that really speaks as true and powerful. This music invokes so many different emotions with in people, that it gives a change to play as puppeteers.
Carla: I have always loved metal and hard rock music since I was a kid. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, a heavily classic rock city. But as a biracial kid (my dad is African American) I was teased for gravitating towards rock instead of rap. But I couldn't resist it! My idols became people like Hendrix and Slash and women like Patti Smith who taught me it was ok to rock out no matter what your background or sex. There is so much energy in metal. Performing it live is an amazing outlet for all of the bad feelings you've had in your life.
2) Butcher Babies has just released the second single “Mr. Slow Death”. Can you tell us about the song?
Carla: I started writing the lyrics for “Mr. Slow Death” after seeing my stolen image on business cards being handed out on the Las Vegas strip that promoted prostitution. I had a sudden realization about how everything I had done in my past was now affecting my future. It is about making bad decisions and figuring out how the fuck you are going to deal with the pain that you have brought upon yourself… Are you going to continue to dull the pain chemically or take it in full and rise above it?
Heidi: This song was an effort from every member of the band. We started writing this song over a year ago and it has remained a crowd and band favorite ever since.
3) In this song you are working with Mudrock (A7x). So, its interest to know how it started?
Heidi: Mudrock was a recommended producer from many of our musical peers. He's very pro but also makes you feel like family in the studio. This was a very positive experience for everyone in the band and we are looking forward to hopefully working with him again!
Carla: Mudrock is killer; he made everyone feel so comfortable in the studio that we were able to finish “Mr. Slow Death” in record time.
4) How you choose “shock rocker” image for the band?
Heidi: Our image has definitely evolved through out the years. But originated through Wendy O' Williams and the Plasmatics. Our name and image is an ode to the late Wendy O' Williams and the movement that she started. She was the first female in heavy metal and paved the way to what we do today.
Carla: I don't think we necessarily sat around and said “let's be shock rock”, it just kind of developed in to that. As Heidi said, we started with the nipple tape as an ode to an idol. But then we started incorporating our deepest darkest emotions in to our stage act and it went to another place altogether.
5) As a front-woman band, are you also brings theme of feminism?
Carla: I personally think that we transcend feminism. I like that we can represent women of all ages who want to express themselves, however, its even better that we can get our message out to everyone regardless of sex. We want everyone everywhere to be ok with being different, and to realize that they can pursue their dreams and be the people they want to be regardless of where they are from or what obstacles are in their way.
Heidi: Exactly. We aren't so much feminists as we are in support of equal opportunity. Whether it be age, race, gender, religion or any stereotype, anyone has the ability to do anything that they want. We aren't trying to show that women are better than men but, showing that anyone can overcome any sort of stigma and succeed!
6) With your styles that almost naked, have you got in trouble for appearing in somewhere? I'd love to see it, but it seems you will never to play in Indonesia if you acts like that.
Carla: Sometimes we have to put a little more clothing on for certain cities or venues and although we feel very strong about not compromising who we are for anyone, we'd rather be able to play shows with tops on than not play them at all.
Heidi: We respect all cultures and laws. Therefore, we would gladly cover up with clothes to come melt some faces in Indonesia. We've never gotten in trouble for our image because we will always respect what we are asked to do.
“All the money in the world couldn't make me do a project that I'm not passionate about. I'm a rocker at heart.” |
7) Have you got act of despising in some gigs?
Carla: I'm sure some people come to our shows with the intention of hating us, but I believe that when they actually see us perform and get a better understanding of what we are doing they gain respect for us.
Heidi: It's not rare for us to deal with people not liking us before they see us live or hear our music. With our name and our image, we don't expect everyone to love us at all times. But, we will convince them to over time.
8) Are Butcher Babies have male groupies? If male rockers have “Sex, Drugs & Rock’n’roll” statement, how about you?
Heidi: Butcher Babies have the same amount of male groupies as we do female groupies. I personally see more attention from the females because we are doing something that they would love to be doing. Our motto is more like “blood, sex, and metal!”
Carla: It is pretty exciting for us to see the amount of rabid fans, male and female, that we have acquired in such a short amount of time. We love our groupies!
9) Are you serious with this group as a way of life. I mean, like touring, release the records periodically, etc.
Carla: Butcher Babies is our life right now. We are dead serious about touring and finishing our first record, then getting started on subsequent albums. We have an incredible opportunity in front of us; not many bands in their infant stages have been able to get as much press as we have so we can't let this thing die on the vine.
Heidi: Yes! This is everyones dream and we will stop at nothing to make it happen.
10) Are you still busy with previous professions, such as a presenter, model, etc.? We know Butcher Babies not have any records or solid tour anymore. Where you've got the income?
Carla: I still work as a TV hostess and actress. We have all had to sacrifice a lot of time and income for the Butcher Babies, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We are all very passionate about our music. Acting in front of camera or reading lines off of a teleprompter for a hosting gig could never compare to belting out our songs live on stage in front of a huge crowd.
Heidi: I personally work in television and earn my income through commercial work. However, touring will be starting this year.
11) You have the capital to enter the popular world. Are you not interested to enter in it?
Carla: If by popular world you mean pop music, I personally don't have much interest in that. Heidi and I have both had the opportunity to work with people who would've liked to make us in to more mainstream artists. However, all the money in the world couldn't make me do a project that I'm not passionate about. I'm a rocker at heart.
Heidi: We are interested in crossing into a small amount of mainstream but, definitely not pop. Butcher Babies is and will forever be hardcore.
12) How did you think about female singers, such as: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, etc.?
Heidi: As an artist I can respect and find greatness in all artists and their creativity. I think Madonna was an originator of Lady Gaga's style and without her female musicians would not have the guts that we do.
Carla: I can see the entertainment value in pop acts like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry but I'm not really in to it. I do respect the fact that Lady Gaga writes her own stuff, because a lot of pop artists don't. But, while nothing is really new anymore and we all borrow from our influences. To me Lady Gaga is pure regurgitated Madonna.
13) Butcher Babies also made a comic. Is this part of your entertainments?
Carla: The comic world and metal world fit so well together that having our own Butcher Babies comic was a no brainer. I write our comic books and Anthony Winn, our good friend and one of Stan Lee's main artists, illustrates them for us. I have always loved comics, and wrote them when I was in art college for illustration years ago, so it is a joy for me to do it. Our first edition was published and premiered at comic con 2011 where it quickly sold out. A second edition is available now.
14) Heidi & Carla are the ex-playboy girls. Have you ever kicked Hugh Hefner's balls? :p
Heidi: Not yet!
Carla: Hugh Hefner is super sweet. No need for a kick in the balls!
15) When Butcher Babies will release a full-length album? Anyone want to add?
Heidi: We are expected to release a full length in the summer of 2012.
Carla: Keep your eyes peeled for it and thanks for talking to us!
Sumber : jurnallica.com
