Cindergarden is an awesome one woman goth/ electro project from L.A. I recently got the chance to swap emails with the brains behind the band,
Jaymie Valentine. We talked about her new album, The Clandestine Experiment, as well as other things, like death and Ani Difranco. The following is what occurred:
Royce Icon:
Hey Jaymie!
Okay, let's start off talking about the new album, "The Clandestine Experiment". What's the reaction been like so far?
Jaymie Valentine:
The reaction has been absolutely wonderful!! I didn’t know if this one would receive the same warmth that Underground Light Machine did, but everyone definitely seems to be enjoying it, and it’s very exciting for me to see that.
Royce Icon:
I know it can be near impossible to be objective and draw comparisons on your own art, but how do you feel "The Clandestine Experiment" measures up to "Underground Light Machine"? Were there any specific things that you learned in between the two albums or wanted to do differently on the new album?
Jaymie Valentine:
I don’t feel a need to compare them in terms of measurement. They are both their own complete works and I love them both like they are my children. However, they are vastly different in mood. TCE is undoubtedly richer in texture with a more experimental edge to it. Also, TCE is a bit more of a concept album, with all the songs interweaving in theme both lyrically and sonically. Also, one of my fans wrote me and said this new album is a beast. I like that.
Royce Icon:
You've released "The Clandestine Experiment" as a free mp3 album, but have stated that you're trying to shop it around to some labels. Does this mean that you're through self releasing? Have you had any labels express interest in the album thus far? What was your motivation behind releasing the album for free? Was it a purely monetary issue?
Jaymie Valentine:
I was shopping the record for a brief time only to end up w/ the task of releasing this one on my own label, Looking Glass Records. My reason for releasing the album for free comes down to the fact that it has been ready for the public for close to a year now and keeping it hidden was causing me sadness. Although I could have sold it right away as a digital download, I was feeling very spirited about the whole thing and Halloween was right around the corner when I realized it was time, so I thought ‘why not just give it away, it will be fun!’ And it certainly has been =) Also, I want people to know that a hardcopy version is definitely coming. Anyone who wants to see things move faster can donate to the Cindergarden fund through paypal using the payment address
lookingglassrecords@hotmail.com.
However, I do have some future plans to team up w/ another kick ass label called MachineKUNT records run by Rachel Haywire of Experiment Haywire for the next Cindergarden release.
Royce Icon:
There are a lot of different sounds and textures used in Cindergarden. What gear/ software do you use? Would you say that it's a predominately digital or analog project, or both?
Jaymie Valentine:I get asked this question a lot by gear heads! lol
I looove Nuendo recording software. Both albums have relied heavily on digital soft synths. Although I am a great fan of analog sound so I’m sure that still shines through. Future Cindergarden releases may be incorporating some other sounds/techniques I am getting into such as circuit bending!
Royce Icon:
I was looking at some videos of your performances on Youtube, and I have to say, I was really surprised to see how faithfully you and your band were able to recreate your recorded material, especially with a live drummer. Was it always your intention to perform with a live band? Was it hard at first to create the live version of the project, to get the
songs to sound right? I know that personally the transition from recorded to live can be kind of frustrating....
Jaymie Valentine:
This task was made incredibly easy by extremely competent and pro musicians. Nick Liberatore has been playing live with me from the beginning and he is one of the best drummers I have ever worked with. Chris Ridenhour is slightly newer to the cinder camp but was able to instantly infiltrate himself and is one of the most productive and helpful people I have had on my side. I have also recently enlisted a second drummer in order to alternate w/ Nick and he is also a truly wonderful player named Antonio Dillehunt.
Royce Icon:
You play keyboards in the live incarnation of System Syn, and you've mentioned a possible side project in the works with Clint from that band. Has much happened with this project yet? If so, is a record at all in the foreseeable future?
Jaymie Valentine:
Yes, we did talk about a side project and I still look forward to that, but Clint is a very busy and multifaceted artist. When he is not doing System Syn he is selling his paintings at Hyaena Gallery and writing screenplays and such. Right now he is touring as the keyboard player for Imperative Reaction. So maybe in some of his down time, we will get around to it :P
Royce Icon:
What's you're songwriting process like? Could you describe it a bit?
Jaymie Valentine:It’s full of love and anguish....and the occasional psychedelic.
Royce Icon:
Okay, now for some non-music related questions, first ones related to you, others being totally random:
You have a song titled "As above, so below", which is a common Occult slogan. Do you have much interest in the occult at all? If so, what kind of occult stuff are you interested in? Do you align yourself with any magical systems/ beliefs (Wicca, Satanism, Chaos Magic, etc ?
Jaymie Valentine:I am interested in anything related to this. But I don’t specialize or “align” myself with any in particular.
Royce Icon:
You've stated that you teach Yoga. How long have you been into that, and what kind of Yoga do you teach/ practice? Is teaching Yoga your "Day Job"? If not, what is?
Jaymie Valentine:
Currently I work as an administrator for a yoga teacher training program. I am on a hiatus from teaching in order to acquire more badass yoga skills ;) I have been into yoga for nearly fourteen years and I will probably be deeply involved with it for the rest of my life.
Royce Icon:
You've also stated an interest in Veganism. What does being Vegan mean for you? Are you involved in any animal rights groups? What do you think of PETA?
Jaymie Valentine:
One thing I am always trying to make clear about the much misunderstood “veganism” is that there is no suffering on my end. There are enough wonderful foods to eat that I never feel sorry for myself or deprived. People who are not hip to the ways of such a lifestyle make assumptions that I only eat rice and beans all day. That’s completely ridiculous. I can eat a vegan version of just about anything you can think of. Anyone who spends a small amount of time researching this will find it to be true. Especially in these modern times you can buy anything from soy whipped cream to stuffed tofurkey for thanksgiving. Being vegan to me means not supporting the animal cruelty industries. And it is astoundingly easy to make basic steps towards this goal such as giving up the consumption of animal pruducts.
Unfortunately, PETA’s approach can sometimes be a little ineffective. Making people angry can worsen the problem and actually prevent people from opening up to see the truth. However, it was watching many of Pamela Anderson hosted PETA videos that pushed me over the edge from vegetarianism to straight veganism, so I am generally grateful to their existence.
Royce Icon:
Do you make any other forms of art outside of music?
Jaymie Valentine:
Whatever interests me in the moment. I love all art forms and means of expression. I am sort of expression junkie actually. Always working on some creative project be it music, dance, painting, sewing, cooking, writing, crafts, etc.
Royce Icon:
Where do you hope to be in five years, both artistically and personally?
Jaymie Valentine:
If I am as blessed as I am right now personally, then I definitely can look forward to the future. Of course, if I had greater Cindergarden resources I would be able to do much more in terms of touring, releasing more music and merch. And people are certainly asking for it but there is only so much I can do right now. Hopefully, in five years I will be able to give more of what they want =)
Royce Icon:
Being a resident of California, how do you feel about Proposition 8 being passed, the bill that bans same sex marriage?
Jaymie Valentine:
I am disappointed in the passing of prop 8. This is clearly a result of prejudice and propaganda. There is a petition going around right now to reopen Prop 8 at
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/pe... please pass this on to anyone who might be interested!
Royce Icon:
Being as you've recently released an mp3 album you obviously aren't against the medium, but how do you feel about illegal mp3 downloading and filesharing in general? Personally, I see filesharing as more a boon than a hinderance for music, and while I'd love to get paid for my art, I end up releasing the majority of it for free..
Jaymie Valentine:
Well, it’s definitely something the music industry has been having to adjust to. I don’t have an opinion on whether it’s good or bad, I simply see it as the natural progression of things. And as Bob Dylan says “you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin'.”
Royce Icon:
What is "goth" to you, and do you feel any personal or cultural alignment with the term?
Jaymie Valentine:
I do feel a connection to the term although I do not consider my person to be “goth”. I do not seem to fit into any one label, and I have no desire to.
Royce Icon:
If you could choose how you died, what would you choose? Is there any
place you'd like to see before you die?
Jaymie Valentine:
Haha. I was just talking about this yesterday. How goth! Hehe. I used to think it would be quite romantic to be drowned and look like the girl from Tom Petty’s “Last Dance With Mary Jane” video. I don’t really care that much though right now, hopefully it won’t be for awhile, there’s still so much to do! And I definitely want to see as many places as I can.
Royce Icon:
lastly, and totally unrelated to anything, as I noticed on your myspace that you like her, what's your favorite Ani Difranco album? Personally I prefer "Not A Pretty Girl".
Jaymie Valentine:
You must be citing my statement that Righteous Babe Records is an influence on my own record label. She has definitely paved the road for independent singer songwriters (even females *gasp*) to realize their own potential in an industry too often run by those with financial power but little to no artistic integrity.
I do like Ani very much both for her musical talent as well as her political ambitions but don’t have a favorite album. It just depends on my mood.
Royce Icon:
Well, that's pretty much all I have. Is there anything else that you'd like to say?
Jaymie Valentine:
Love and honor everything you create. Royce Icon:
Thanks a ton!
Jaymie Valentine:
Thank YOU Royce!
For more info on cindergarden visit
http://www.myspace.com/cindergarden
