I was in berlin with cowboy emailing this interview, because the first time the intreviewer called i was in huge fight with my mom, and missed the interviewer. Thanks MOM
THE RUNAWAYS
With Tales of Running Away, Le Rev's C.C. Sheffield and Nico Chiotellis are going places.
Whether you know it or not, chances are you’ve seen C.C. Sheffield. She has starred in a slew of commercials and is painted on the side of a building on Le Brea in Los Angeles; she peppers Cobrasnake’s site and is making a cameo on NYLON’s at the moment as a Quiksilver spokesmodel. But Sheffield is much more than a pretty face. She and Nico Chiotellis are Le Rev, a psychedelic pop rock outfit for whom enigmatic, PJ Harvey-esque vocals, jarring guitar riffs, and a tinge of L.A. theatricality book the yet unrepresented band gigs from the Standard Hotel to Dim Mak’s Cinespace. Produced by Jeff Satlzman (the Killers, the Sounds), Le Rev's debut album, Tales of Running Away, is six visceral tracks that tell the history of the band. Here, Sheffield elaborates. SAMANTHA GILEWICZ
How did Le Rev come together, and where does the name come from?
I worked at the Realto Theatre in Tucson from 15 to 18. I watched thousands of live shows; I was always around roadies, musicians, promoters…although it wasn’t ’till I was in my van in L.A. that I was like, I have nothing to lose, I’m going to make a band. The [second] person I ever sang in front of was Nico, and we formed Le Rev. The idea for the name Le Rev came from a [Picasso] painting in the Guggenheim. The French meaning is ‘the dream.’ I believe in my dreams more than I believe in my reality.
How would you describe your sound? And what musicians do you find influencial?
Swelling waves, D minor, angry, sexy rock...? I love Patti Smith, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, the Doors, Living Things, Peaches, Minor Threat, Serge Gainsbourg, Elliot smith, and anything Kathleen Hannah does.
Your lyrics in Tales Of Running Away are really emotional, which lend the songs a dramatic edge. Where do you find inspiration?
I want people to feel when they listen to my music. What I don't like about most new music is its lack of honesty, like it's fluffy no matter how emo you call it. When we write, we write emotively. Honesty inspires me. In music, you can say whatever you couldn’t say at that moment, but figure out later on. I was a runaway at 17 so I guess these are my tales, and in every song, I’m running away from something: a mother, an incident, a feeling, a lover…fight or flight.
Where is your favorite venue to perform?
The Standard Downtown lobby. I am a working old school lounge singer in a hotel; I have to work to hold the attention of people passing through because not everyone is there to see Le Rev. When people stop what they’re doing and listen to the music I feel the most happy. And the acoustics are so great that it’s like my voice is filling the whole room up. I like that Nico from the Velvet Underground used to sing in the Chelsea Hotel lobby.
How would you say you fit into L.A.’s music scene?
We've been playing in L.A. for a few years now. Lately I feel L.A. Eastside bands have been reaching out to each other and booking all local shows that people actually go to. The scene is feeling like the ’60s where different band members are playing in different bands; I’ve been invited on stage at friends’ shows to do a cover with them or I've invited other friends in bands to get on stage.
myspace.com/lerev
cclerevolution.blogspot.com
This story was published on November 28, 2007.
No comments:
Post a Comment