Ethereal alt-rock outfit Evi Vine presents 'Sabbath', a sweet and heavy preview of their long-awaited long-play 'Black Light White Dark', due out in early 2019 on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally. This powerhouse track features Evi Vine's gossamer vocals and precise orchestration, cleverly woven together with bass guitar by Simon Gallup of The Cure and guitar by Peter Yates of Fields of the Nephilim.
Tomatrax caught up with Evi to talk about her latest work!
You'll be releasing your latest album early next year, how will it compare with your previous work?
In the earlier days of writing there was a drive and now that we are band again ( not just a duo) i guess you feed off the space into each other ... the energy of 4 people in a room ... in that space you get to let go.
Where did the title Black Light White Dark come from?It came from a dream that Steven had about the secret thoughts of a dying boy concealed within the pages of a journal. As Steven was recounting his memory of the images I recorded them ... the last line of the poem within the journal was 'Black Light White Dark' ... it was very powerful.
What was the inspiration behind the album's cover?There are times in our lives when we are all in the dark ... even when it seems otherwise. The light that radiates from an eclips is so unique ... everything cast in shadow ... an inverted eclipse provides that black surge ... the suns fire radiating ... a black fire storm ... we all stand in the shadow of that light
What made you pick 'Sabbath' as the album's single?We deliberated between 'SABBATH' and 'My Only Son', but i suppose the first is more of a statement ... we have always so understated the last few years ... why not come out with something a little ... more ....
The music explores the dark elemental nature of the human heart, as well as environmental and post- apocalyptic themes, where do you get the inspiration for these themes?We are a beautiful species and so destructive ... we all wake up on the same earth ... different time zones different life experiences but it's not hard to find sorrow tragedy ... personal political environmental ... MOST OF US CAN'T CONCEIVE THE HORRORS OF THE WORLD AND WEATHER WE CHOOSE TO LOOK OR NOT ... IT'S HAPPENING. We are heading into dangerous political climates fascism on the rise, egocentric psychopaths seemingly endless supplies of cash wielding terrible powers over nature, the animals that we share the earth with ... risking all that we have ... the air the seas those who have those who have not a story is as old as fire ... the wheel turns and we are all passengers. What we do with our time here is what counts and there is a weight in the knowing and not doing enough .
What was it like working with Simon Gallup?It was inspiring & exciting ... all the things music should be ... he is humble and gracious and we like the same crisps, the idea had been floating in the either for a couple of years ... longer actually ... then suddenly there is a date booked in the diary ... but it was super chilled we had some beers, Simon had the music for a few weeks prior to the session, so there was some great stuff to work with, I think we managed to get 3 or 4 tracks down then he had to go to his daughters prom ...
You recently collaborated with Michael Ciravolo on his Beauty in Chaos project, how did that com about?Michael & I were introduced through wayne hussey who was already recording tracks for beauty in chaos. I understand Michael heard the duets wayne and i were performing while I was touring with the mission ... a number of e mails were exchanged ... I connected with michael and the track he sent which became 'I will follow'. Wayne has been such a force in our lives for the last couple of years so generous and supportive and michael is just the loveliest human being.
How does collaborating on a project compare with putting out your own album?It brings a different type of pressure. The good thing is that half the job is done ... the music has been written or the bones of it. But then its my turn to figure out how to create something within that space, imposter syndrome kicks in , self doubt, any artist goes though the same i'm sure. With my own work the pressure is on from all sides musically & lyrically.
When writing what comes first, the words or the music?
Sometimes a combination of both ... Sometimes its a deeply personal experience just me and a guitar and it all flows at once ... I love being in the room when Steven Matt, Gb, and I are all together ... the room dictates whats gonna happen in a way ... a new tuning will inspire the direction a track takes form ... Steven is coming up with drone tunings at home right now ... thats inspiring... the discipline is then to sit down and turn them into something that can connect with another human being hopefully ....
Do you ever listen to your own music? What music do you listen to?BB6 radio, Hammock, NIN, KPX rock La, Black Sabbath, King Woman, the new Garry Numan album is amazing!
What do you have planned once the album is out?
Drink cocktails poolside in LA in a full length citrus nylon house dress & a beehive i want to live in a david hockey painting with Lady Ga Ga as long as she stops wearing fur ... and join Fleetwood Mac 1977 if they'll have me ... i don't know what the boys are gonna do ... take acid and play golf with dave grohl ...
The real answer...We have already booked time in at our studio early next year to complete tracks for the next EP/album we have a title and a few new songs, and lots of ideas to try out..... perhaps we can combine the two ...
Check out Evi Vine's website to find out more!
