The wild, sexy and rockin’ ladies from Sweden are back with a brand new album entitled “In the Red”. Grande Rock had a nice chat with the bassist Ida Evileye, about the new album among other things…
Hello my sweet lady Ida… it’s a pleasure to have you on Grande Rock…
I: Hello! We’ll see if you say the same thing after this interview is over!
Since it’s the first time we talk, I have to ask if the origin of the name is true? (crucified sex dolls at Northern fests?) Gee...
I: Yes! In Sweden all the blow up dolls/sex toys are called “Barbara”. We saw a “Barbara” on a cross many years ago and thought it looked brutal!
“In the Red” is the fourth full length album and probably your best one so far... so tell us more about the album, including some details about the recordings...
I: In our opinion it’s not “probably” the best, it is the best! We wrote all the songs together in our rehearsal place and that made the album much more vivid and honest. We also did the recording a bit differently this time. Mia, Klara and me recorded the rhythm parts all together in the same room. That also helped to get more of a “live feeling” to it.
What does “In the Red” declare and how is the album title related with the cover artwork?
I: “In the Red” symbolizes to take the volume to the max and give it all. It also symbolizes the color “red”. Heart, blood, anger, a blood red sun and whatever comes to mind. In the artwork you see the “VU-meter” that is “in the red” and you see the “electric sky” and a lot of other symbols. We gave some key words to Erik Rovanpera who did the artwork and gave him free hands to interpret our vision. We feel like he captured everything that we wanted and even more. We love the cover!
Tell us a bit about the songs themselves – their themes, apart from RnR, rebellion and everything in between…
I: “I Sell My Kids for Rock‘N’Roll”: It’s a punch in the face to everybody who thinks that we are just a “girl band”.
“To Kill a Man”: This song is about the rage and hopelessness we feel when we see how women are being systematically abused all around the world, every day.
“Electric Sky”: The magical night when everything is possible and the sky is the limit.
“The Ghost Inside”: Everybody has a ghost inside and it’s a lifelong struggle to not listen too much to that ghost.
“Don’t Call on Me”: It’s about the break-up from a relationship.
“In the Red”: It’s about our band and the fact that we love what we do and continue on like a “machine” that never stops!
“Lunatic #1”: Finding a soul mate that you can do anything with.
“Shadows”: It’s up to the listener to interpret this lyric but for me it’s about love and how confusing it can be.
“Finders Keepers”: It’s about stop complaining about the small things and get your shit together!
“Do You Want Me”: “I can never be your sacred angel”. It tells it all I think…
“Follow the Stream”: It’s a story from an animal’s perspective.
There seems to be a lot of anger behind the single “To Kill a Man”. Obviously, the subject of sexual violence and assault – It’s not a pretty picture or ideal, but murder as well is a bit extreme as well, would you care to elaborate and explain taking a stance that could be considered as a bit “extreme” and “total”? It’s a brave thing to do and certainly to speak up about something that irks you is better than to hide the subject or choose not to talk about it, but, I’d like a more thorough explanation.
I: If you read the lyrics you’ll know that we sing “how does it feel to kill a man”. It’s only a thought about how it would feel and we don’t sing that we’re actually gonna do it. If you look at the world and everything that is going on it’s easy to feel rage and hopelessness. Women are being systematically raped, tortured and killed by men every day, all around the world. That’s what this song is about!
This time you did seem to take a bit more time with the composition and making of the album, so the album seems to have turned out to be your best one yet on a lot of levels, is it, also maturity that comes with age and playing shows? I mean, hey, you are still young and beautiful (no doubt about it!) but you have been going on as a band for some almost 15+ years now...
I: You seem to be very focus on looks and age, let’s talk about rock instead! Hopefully bands become better at playing their instruments and better songwriters with time and I feel that we definitely have.
You worked with producer, Chips Kiesby and engineer, Henryk Lip on the new album. Are you totally satisfied with the album’s production and what would you change in it, if you had the chance again?
I: We are very happy with the outcome of the album. If there was more time and a bigger budget we would of course be able to work even more on the small details but over all we’re very happy about the sound and the production.
One video for “To Kill a Man” has been out for some time now. Are you planning to release any other videos anytime soon and if yes for which one of the tracks?
I: We just released a video for “I Sell My Kids for Rock n Roll”. We wanna do videos to all the songs!
Also there was a change of company from Nuclear Blast to Despotz, which seems to have been gathering a lot of people from the general “Scandi” areas... what urged you to do that, was it an expired contract or something else and are you happy with Despotz?
I: We changed to Despotz in Sweden because they gave off a good offer and they focus a lot on the digital market and that’s where the future lays, as it seems right not at least.
What are your touring plans in support of “In the Red”? If I remember well there’s a rather full touring plan till the end of 2014, huh?
I: We are on tour right now for 5 weeks and then we do a lot of shows in Sweden during November. We’re going to Spain in December and then we start off the next year by playing at the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise in the Caribbean!
You have already played in Greece once but not in the Capital, in Crete of all places, which is an island and allegedly you went down rather well! Any plans to return to the “Land of the Gods”, for a live show and lots of ouzo, souvlaki, mouzaka and Helena Paparizou/Sakis Rouvas (just kidding!)??
I: We’d love to play in Greece as soon as possible. We had a great time in Crete. We just recorded a TV show in Sweden with Helena Paparizou and she became a friend so hopefully we can say hello to her at the same time! (i.n.: Crucified Barbara rockin’ da town along with Helena! How about that?!!)
I do remember seeing you both on the first album and thinking pretty but a bit reckless and then again at Butlins (the first Hard Rock Hell a second time and thinking, yeah they’re so much better now). So do you feel more experienced and skilled now?
I: You seem to focus a lot on looks, like I said earlier! Of course we are more experienced and more skilled now that we are older and less pretty!
On the subject of being an all-girl band, I applaud the fact, that you’re one of the least, “image pushing” bands, I mean fair enough, you’ll do a promo shoot and won’t wear burkas on stage, but other than that, you don’t particularly, try to be too sultry or to over-sexualize the performances – or the promotional angle, yet being 4 rather hot girls. I remember basically a fair amount of odd sexism in the air in magazines when you first came out and a general shock and slight disbelief. Now 15 years later, you probably don’t give a shit obviously, anymore, but what’s your take, on the whole situation, on the girl-bands who fall pray/or utilize their looks as a means to a quick ascendance and about the fans that also seem to care a lot more than they should about the image, rather than the music in some cases...?
I: Men and women have used their sexuality to gain fame and success since forever. I’m into playing bass and not showing off my body but if someone wants to be naked on stage I have no problem with that. (i.n.: Me 2!!!)
What are your influences as a bass-player and the reason you decided to play music?
I: I grew up during the 90s and was very into bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hole. I wanted to be like them and that’s what made me start playing in a band. Me personally I love Geezer Butler, he is one of my big bass idols!
I: Hello! We’ll see if you say the same thing after this interview is over!
Since it’s the first time we talk, I have to ask if the origin of the name is true? (crucified sex dolls at Northern fests?) Gee...
I: Yes! In Sweden all the blow up dolls/sex toys are called “Barbara”. We saw a “Barbara” on a cross many years ago and thought it looked brutal!
“In the Red” is the fourth full length album and probably your best one so far... so tell us more about the album, including some details about the recordings...
I: In our opinion it’s not “probably” the best, it is the best! We wrote all the songs together in our rehearsal place and that made the album much more vivid and honest. We also did the recording a bit differently this time. Mia, Klara and me recorded the rhythm parts all together in the same room. That also helped to get more of a “live feeling” to it.
What does “In the Red” declare and how is the album title related with the cover artwork?
I: “In the Red” symbolizes to take the volume to the max and give it all. It also symbolizes the color “red”. Heart, blood, anger, a blood red sun and whatever comes to mind. In the artwork you see the “VU-meter” that is “in the red” and you see the “electric sky” and a lot of other symbols. We gave some key words to Erik Rovanpera who did the artwork and gave him free hands to interpret our vision. We feel like he captured everything that we wanted and even more. We love the cover!
Tell us a bit about the songs themselves – their themes, apart from RnR, rebellion and everything in between…
I: “I Sell My Kids for Rock‘N’Roll”: It’s a punch in the face to everybody who thinks that we are just a “girl band”.
“To Kill a Man”: This song is about the rage and hopelessness we feel when we see how women are being systematically abused all around the world, every day.
“Electric Sky”: The magical night when everything is possible and the sky is the limit.
“The Ghost Inside”: Everybody has a ghost inside and it’s a lifelong struggle to not listen too much to that ghost.
“Don’t Call on Me”: It’s about the break-up from a relationship.
“In the Red”: It’s about our band and the fact that we love what we do and continue on like a “machine” that never stops!
“Lunatic #1”: Finding a soul mate that you can do anything with.
“Shadows”: It’s up to the listener to interpret this lyric but for me it’s about love and how confusing it can be.
“Finders Keepers”: It’s about stop complaining about the small things and get your shit together!
“Do You Want Me”: “I can never be your sacred angel”. It tells it all I think…
“Follow the Stream”: It’s a story from an animal’s perspective.
There seems to be a lot of anger behind the single “To Kill a Man”. Obviously, the subject of sexual violence and assault – It’s not a pretty picture or ideal, but murder as well is a bit extreme as well, would you care to elaborate and explain taking a stance that could be considered as a bit “extreme” and “total”? It’s a brave thing to do and certainly to speak up about something that irks you is better than to hide the subject or choose not to talk about it, but, I’d like a more thorough explanation.
I: If you read the lyrics you’ll know that we sing “how does it feel to kill a man”. It’s only a thought about how it would feel and we don’t sing that we’re actually gonna do it. If you look at the world and everything that is going on it’s easy to feel rage and hopelessness. Women are being systematically raped, tortured and killed by men every day, all around the world. That’s what this song is about!
This time you did seem to take a bit more time with the composition and making of the album, so the album seems to have turned out to be your best one yet on a lot of levels, is it, also maturity that comes with age and playing shows? I mean, hey, you are still young and beautiful (no doubt about it!) but you have been going on as a band for some almost 15+ years now...
I: You seem to be very focus on looks and age, let’s talk about rock instead! Hopefully bands become better at playing their instruments and better songwriters with time and I feel that we definitely have.
You worked with producer, Chips Kiesby and engineer, Henryk Lip on the new album. Are you totally satisfied with the album’s production and what would you change in it, if you had the chance again?
I: We are very happy with the outcome of the album. If there was more time and a bigger budget we would of course be able to work even more on the small details but over all we’re very happy about the sound and the production.
One video for “To Kill a Man” has been out for some time now. Are you planning to release any other videos anytime soon and if yes for which one of the tracks?
I: We just released a video for “I Sell My Kids for Rock n Roll”. We wanna do videos to all the songs!
Also there was a change of company from Nuclear Blast to Despotz, which seems to have been gathering a lot of people from the general “Scandi” areas... what urged you to do that, was it an expired contract or something else and are you happy with Despotz?
I: We changed to Despotz in Sweden because they gave off a good offer and they focus a lot on the digital market and that’s where the future lays, as it seems right not at least.
What are your touring plans in support of “In the Red”? If I remember well there’s a rather full touring plan till the end of 2014, huh?
I: We are on tour right now for 5 weeks and then we do a lot of shows in Sweden during November. We’re going to Spain in December and then we start off the next year by playing at the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise in the Caribbean!
You have already played in Greece once but not in the Capital, in Crete of all places, which is an island and allegedly you went down rather well! Any plans to return to the “Land of the Gods”, for a live show and lots of ouzo, souvlaki, mouzaka and Helena Paparizou/Sakis Rouvas (just kidding!)??
I: We’d love to play in Greece as soon as possible. We had a great time in Crete. We just recorded a TV show in Sweden with Helena Paparizou and she became a friend so hopefully we can say hello to her at the same time! (i.n.: Crucified Barbara rockin’ da town along with Helena! How about that?!!)
I do remember seeing you both on the first album and thinking pretty but a bit reckless and then again at Butlins (the first Hard Rock Hell a second time and thinking, yeah they’re so much better now). So do you feel more experienced and skilled now?
I: You seem to focus a lot on looks, like I said earlier! Of course we are more experienced and more skilled now that we are older and less pretty!
On the subject of being an all-girl band, I applaud the fact, that you’re one of the least, “image pushing” bands, I mean fair enough, you’ll do a promo shoot and won’t wear burkas on stage, but other than that, you don’t particularly, try to be too sultry or to over-sexualize the performances – or the promotional angle, yet being 4 rather hot girls. I remember basically a fair amount of odd sexism in the air in magazines when you first came out and a general shock and slight disbelief. Now 15 years later, you probably don’t give a shit obviously, anymore, but what’s your take, on the whole situation, on the girl-bands who fall pray/or utilize their looks as a means to a quick ascendance and about the fans that also seem to care a lot more than they should about the image, rather than the music in some cases...?
I: Men and women have used their sexuality to gain fame and success since forever. I’m into playing bass and not showing off my body but if someone wants to be naked on stage I have no problem with that. (i.n.: Me 2!!!)
What are your influences as a bass-player and the reason you decided to play music?
I: I grew up during the 90s and was very into bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hole. I wanted to be like them and that’s what made me start playing in a band. Me personally I love Geezer Butler, he is one of my big bass idols!
What do you think the future holds for the barbs?
I: I think it’s bright. We did our best album yet and we have a lot of plans for next year. So we’re gonna take over the world, that’s our plan.
With the whole piracy issue, it has become very hard for bands to survive and unless you are young and able to tour relentlessly it also hard to survive. The few remaining big players in the game are also making things also “worse” and more business like... is rock ‘n roll dying or will the tables turn – somehow? And I don’t mean by selling vinyl...
I: I don’t know actually. All I know is that I love playing music and I will continue to fight to be able to do that!
Weird questions time!!! Favorite Female artist and all-girl or at least girl-fronted band?
I: The Runaways. The Pretenders. Drain.
If you were a Goddess for a week, what would you do?
I: I would kill racism and poverty!
You wake up one day and you’re a man (for a day...) how would you feel and what do you do?!
I: I would do exactly the same thing, play rock music since it seems to be a huge difference in people’s opinion. And I’d like to know what all the fuzz is about!
Out of the seven deadly sins which one are you?
I: All of them!!!
Hugh Hefner offers you a lot of money to pose in Playboy… would you do it? (Or would you kill that man – by having him choke on that pipe?!)
I: I wouldn’t pose in playboy, I’d rather kill somebody but I don’t wanna go to jail either. I just wanna play bass guitar with my friends!
If you could be anyone in history or fiction (man/woman/character etc.) who would you chose to be and why...
I: Any of the cool women in the suffragette movement!
What do you think about this “Views, tweets & Likes” mania of our time?
I: I think it’s a good way for us as a band to reach a lot of people at the same time and get close and personal with the fans. I think it’s quite sad at the same time that people spend so much time living in the virtual world instead of the real one.
If CB’s career was a movie… which movie would it be and why?
I: That movie hasn’t been made yet. But it’s gonna be big success when it happens!
Suppose your boyfriend/husband/partner sold your guitar/instrument/records to buy himself a motorbike or something expensive – how would you react?
I: I would never be with a guy who didn’t understand the value of my work so that would never happen.
All thigns considered it was a pleasure having on Grande Rock Ida… thx for the music; it was great talking to you! Take care!
I: The same to you!
I: I think it’s bright. We did our best album yet and we have a lot of plans for next year. So we’re gonna take over the world, that’s our plan.
With the whole piracy issue, it has become very hard for bands to survive and unless you are young and able to tour relentlessly it also hard to survive. The few remaining big players in the game are also making things also “worse” and more business like... is rock ‘n roll dying or will the tables turn – somehow? And I don’t mean by selling vinyl...
I: I don’t know actually. All I know is that I love playing music and I will continue to fight to be able to do that!
Weird questions time!!! Favorite Female artist and all-girl or at least girl-fronted band?
I: The Runaways. The Pretenders. Drain.
If you were a Goddess for a week, what would you do?
I: I would kill racism and poverty!
You wake up one day and you’re a man (for a day...) how would you feel and what do you do?!
I: I would do exactly the same thing, play rock music since it seems to be a huge difference in people’s opinion. And I’d like to know what all the fuzz is about!
Out of the seven deadly sins which one are you?
I: All of them!!!
Hugh Hefner offers you a lot of money to pose in Playboy… would you do it? (Or would you kill that man – by having him choke on that pipe?!)
I: I wouldn’t pose in playboy, I’d rather kill somebody but I don’t wanna go to jail either. I just wanna play bass guitar with my friends!
If you could be anyone in history or fiction (man/woman/character etc.) who would you chose to be and why...
I: Any of the cool women in the suffragette movement!
What do you think about this “Views, tweets & Likes” mania of our time?
I: I think it’s a good way for us as a band to reach a lot of people at the same time and get close and personal with the fans. I think it’s quite sad at the same time that people spend so much time living in the virtual world instead of the real one.
If CB’s career was a movie… which movie would it be and why?
I: That movie hasn’t been made yet. But it’s gonna be big success when it happens!
Suppose your boyfriend/husband/partner sold your guitar/instrument/records to buy himself a motorbike or something expensive – how would you react?
I: I would never be with a guy who didn’t understand the value of my work so that would never happen.
All thigns considered it was a pleasure having on Grande Rock Ida… thx for the music; it was great talking to you! Take care!
I: The same to you!
(Special thx to Thanos for his valuable contribution)