Larissa Dalle
By Alex Teitz
Larissa Dalle is a musician who music is amorphous and entrapping. Her songs paint a bleak and mysterious picture that draws the listener in. Her songs are akin to a crossword puzzle below the surface of surrealist’ painting. In wanting to do this issue, FEMMUSIC knew it would not be complete without Larissa Dalle. Her newest CD Piscean will appeal to any who like PJ Harvey, The Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, Happy Rhodes and Veda Hille.
FEMMUSIC: What made you decide to become a professional musician?
LD: I wouldn’t know what else to do with myself. Music is my life.
FEMMUSIC: Describe your songwriting process. How do you create your songs?
LD: I usually start with lyrics. Something will be floating around my brain. the music comes later. I like to capture a moment. Something that happened to me that made me react. I try to find a way to recreate that emotion in the song. The goal is to have listener feel the same emotion. the original experience isn’t important. Just the feeling.
FEMMUSIC: Who have been your biggest musical influences?
LD: Fleetwood Mac, PJ Harvey, Nico, Billie holiday and Bobbie Gentry
FEMMUSIC: Your music has a dark, and very minimalist quality. What, do you think, has drawn you to this style versus others?
LD: Some of my influences like Nico, and PJ Harvey. But I guess mostly it just seems to suit me. I’m not about happy music. I spent most of my life suffering from clinical depression. Currently I’m quite happy. But it’s not what motivates me to write.
FEMMUSIC: What would you like to improve most in your own music?
LD: I wish I was a better musician. I took years of guitar lessons but… but I’m still just ok. I really admire musicians like Andrew Bird (Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire) who is a master at his craft. To know an instrument intimately. I play guitar & piano, but I’m an amateur. I really only use the instruments to help me write not in performances.
FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry, have you faced any discrimination? If yes, how did you deal with it?
LD: Not really. I’ve been able to organize many all-female fronted band shows. It’s a lot of fun. Usually when I play out, I’m the only girl. It doesn’t bother me. I can hold my own in a room full of obnoxious boy musicians, but it is nice to have some females around once in a while.
The only discrimination I have faced usually has to do with my genre of music. I was in an all electronic band called Collaborateur for 8 years. We faced mucho discrimination because we didn’t have a drummer.
FEMMUSIC: What would you like to see changed most in the music industry?
LD: I wish it wasn’t such a machine. I wish independents like myself had more of a chance. It’s hard to get the exposure that is necessary without a major label behind you. Nut this internet thing has been very helpful for me. I’ve been able to reach people all over the world.
FEMMUSIC: What are your plans musically for the next millennium?
LD: I’m currently working on my new album which will be totally recorded and produced by myself. I am taking a break from my music partner (of the last 10 years), Timothy Gregory. I’ve got a feeling that this next album will be a lot more experimental. It will definitely be lo-fi. I love lo-fi stuff, so I’m excited.
FEMMUSIC: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
LD: Concentrate on songwriting. Don’t get hung-up on gear. I’ve heard a lot of people complain that they need to get this or that piece of equipment before they start. There are plenty of people out there with gear you can rent/borrow etc..but there aren’t enough good songs. And writing is free.
Oh, and be yourself. Took me ten years to figure that one out.
FEMMUSIC: What else would you like to tell our readers?
LD: I’d just like to thank Alex and FEMMUSIC readers for giving me a chance to speak. Independent artists need all the help we can get and it means so much when someone actually acknowledges what I’m doing.