The fiercely individual Madonna once observed that life is a mystery and everyone must stand alone. But for some that is tragically not possible. Conjoined twins Evelyn and Evelyn Neville (a.k.a. Evelyn Evelyn) are two such people; their uninvited union and the uniqueness of their in many ways non-individual state being both a blessing and a curse.
To say Evelyn Evelyn have had a tough upbringing would be a gross understatement. The pair lost their mother 12 minutes after their traumatic birth, and their early life took a nosedive from there. The girls father fell victim to an unlikely chainsaw accident shortly after their mothers untimely demise, and thus the orphaned twins were left with only each other to rely on as they made their way in this all too cruel world.
Extended stints trapped in a chicken coup and held hostage by a child pornography ring meant the girls were robbed of anything approaching a normal childhood if that was ever a possibility given their Siamese status. However, after joining a circus and meeting some similarly conjoined pachyderms, Evelyn Evelyn got an inkling that their bond far from being a burden was something truly beautiful and special.
Having experienced relentless teasing and taunts for much of their life, the Neville sisters world was changed radically by the advent of social media. While in a dead end job filling out sweepstakes applications on behalf of an unappreciative motel proprietor, the duo practiced the songs they once performed with the circus and set up a profile on MySpace to showcase them. Unburdened by physical limitations and prejudices online, their music caught the attention of many, including singer, songwriter, and all round entertainer extraordinaire Amanda Palmer.
Inspired by their songs and by their struggle, Amanda recruited renowned folk musician Jason Webley to help with the project. Produced by Palmer and Webley, Evelyn Evelyn released their debut EP, Elephant Elephant, in 2007. Their heartfelt rendition of Joy Divisions Love Will Tear Us Apart which served as the B-side of the vinyl edition brought them initial success and critical acclaim. A self-titled album followed in 2010, as did numerous sold out live dates.
Having recently returned from a triumphant stint at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and with respect having firmly replaced ridicule Evelyn Evelyn embark on the next chapter in their lives with the release of a graphic novel based on their story. Written by Palmer and Webley, and illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler, its naturally being released in two parts (via Dark Horse Comics Inc.). Having not only redefined beauty, but what it means to be an individual, SuicideGirls caught up with Palmer to talk about Evelyn Evelyn.
For this interview SGs editor, Nicole Powers, recruited her own twin siblings, Brenda Day and Samantha May. Though not conjoined, Brenda and Samantha do everything together and feel as if emotionally they are. They are therefore especially excited that Palmer and Webley are unleashing the power of multiples though their production work, and are exploring what it means to be an individual when youre also one half of a whole. The following is a transcript of their online conversation
Brenda Day: Amanda, what inspired you to work with Evelyn Evelyn?
Amanda Palmer: Their MySpace. It was mind-blowing. I'd never heard Jesus Christ Superstar covers sound quite like that.
Samantha May: I know you have struggled to maintain your own sense of individually in a music industry that likes to produce cookie-cutter artists. How has working with Evelyn Evelyn two individuals who are in essence at one with being one inspired you?
AP: You know, it's humbling. When you hang around people who are so truly unique, it bends your perspective. The girls really do have their own agenda and stick to their principals. I, on the other hand, can be talked into just about anything. Not them. They're the most authentic, hard-core performers I've ever seen.
BD: In light of Evelyn Evelyns plight, it almost seems like an individuals struggle by comparison to be an individual is somewhat of a luxury. Has working with the Neville twins changed or challenged your own sense of self and your concept of what it means to be an individual?
AP: Absolutely. On the other hand, there's the envy that goes along with it. Wouldn't you love to know, to be known, by An Other so deeply, so perfectly? In a sense, as human beings, we're always striving for that, alongside our race for absolute uniqueness and individuality.
SM: Evelyn Evelyn have had an unlikely and often tragic journey to adulthood. How does their struggle resonate with your own?
AP: Well, I feel it's never fair to measure tragedy, to measure pain. It's not possible and not fair. Everybody deals with their own struggles and difficulties growing up, it's the attitude and the perspective on your drama that shapes you as a person, not the outside world's "measurement" of your plight. So I look at the girls and their journey and think: there it is, another life, another path, and here they are, making art out of their experiences. I don't look at them with pity. Pity is my least favorite four-letter word. Nobody should ever be pitied.
BD: Their childhood was blighted by fate and tragedy, involving death, chicken farms and child pornography. Many might say this is tough and perhaps even unsuitable material for comic books. Indeed to use the word comic when describing their tragic life story is almost an oxymoron. What inspired and motivated you to translate their tale into this somewhat unlikely art form?
AP: The story is incredibly visually arresting when you hear them deliver it on the record. Jason and I knew that it would be the perfect medium, especially if we found the right artist, and Cynthia nailed it. And as for the suitableness...I don't know about that, I think you could easily find some darker, gorier material in a graphic novel without looking too far.
SM: Evelyn Evelyn are nervous around clowns. Do you share their coulrophobia?
AP: No, though come to think of it, I find them *moderately* unsettling. But it's not a full-on phobia. My best friend has coulrophobia, for real. He also has a weird conspiracy theory that there's a secret race of clowns, called the Culano, who breed with humans and are trying to take over the planet. If you see someone with very curly red hair, suspenders and oversized shoes working at a regular desk job, they may be of Culano descent.
To say Evelyn Evelyn have had a tough upbringing would be a gross understatement. The pair lost their mother 12 minutes after their traumatic birth, and their early life took a nosedive from there. The girls father fell victim to an unlikely chainsaw accident shortly after their mothers untimely demise, and thus the orphaned twins were left with only each other to rely on as they made their way in this all too cruel world.
Extended stints trapped in a chicken coup and held hostage by a child pornography ring meant the girls were robbed of anything approaching a normal childhood if that was ever a possibility given their Siamese status. However, after joining a circus and meeting some similarly conjoined pachyderms, Evelyn Evelyn got an inkling that their bond far from being a burden was something truly beautiful and special.
Having experienced relentless teasing and taunts for much of their life, the Neville sisters world was changed radically by the advent of social media. While in a dead end job filling out sweepstakes applications on behalf of an unappreciative motel proprietor, the duo practiced the songs they once performed with the circus and set up a profile on MySpace to showcase them. Unburdened by physical limitations and prejudices online, their music caught the attention of many, including singer, songwriter, and all round entertainer extraordinaire Amanda Palmer.
Inspired by their songs and by their struggle, Amanda recruited renowned folk musician Jason Webley to help with the project. Produced by Palmer and Webley, Evelyn Evelyn released their debut EP, Elephant Elephant, in 2007. Their heartfelt rendition of Joy Divisions Love Will Tear Us Apart which served as the B-side of the vinyl edition brought them initial success and critical acclaim. A self-titled album followed in 2010, as did numerous sold out live dates.
Having recently returned from a triumphant stint at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and with respect having firmly replaced ridicule Evelyn Evelyn embark on the next chapter in their lives with the release of a graphic novel based on their story. Written by Palmer and Webley, and illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler, its naturally being released in two parts (via Dark Horse Comics Inc.). Having not only redefined beauty, but what it means to be an individual, SuicideGirls caught up with Palmer to talk about Evelyn Evelyn.
For this interview SGs editor, Nicole Powers, recruited her own twin siblings, Brenda Day and Samantha May. Though not conjoined, Brenda and Samantha do everything together and feel as if emotionally they are. They are therefore especially excited that Palmer and Webley are unleashing the power of multiples though their production work, and are exploring what it means to be an individual when youre also one half of a whole. The following is a transcript of their online conversation
Brenda Day: Amanda, what inspired you to work with Evelyn Evelyn?
Amanda Palmer: Their MySpace. It was mind-blowing. I'd never heard Jesus Christ Superstar covers sound quite like that.
Samantha May: I know you have struggled to maintain your own sense of individually in a music industry that likes to produce cookie-cutter artists. How has working with Evelyn Evelyn two individuals who are in essence at one with being one inspired you?
AP: You know, it's humbling. When you hang around people who are so truly unique, it bends your perspective. The girls really do have their own agenda and stick to their principals. I, on the other hand, can be talked into just about anything. Not them. They're the most authentic, hard-core performers I've ever seen.
BD: In light of Evelyn Evelyns plight, it almost seems like an individuals struggle by comparison to be an individual is somewhat of a luxury. Has working with the Neville twins changed or challenged your own sense of self and your concept of what it means to be an individual?
AP: Absolutely. On the other hand, there's the envy that goes along with it. Wouldn't you love to know, to be known, by An Other so deeply, so perfectly? In a sense, as human beings, we're always striving for that, alongside our race for absolute uniqueness and individuality.
SM: Evelyn Evelyn have had an unlikely and often tragic journey to adulthood. How does their struggle resonate with your own?
AP: Well, I feel it's never fair to measure tragedy, to measure pain. It's not possible and not fair. Everybody deals with their own struggles and difficulties growing up, it's the attitude and the perspective on your drama that shapes you as a person, not the outside world's "measurement" of your plight. So I look at the girls and their journey and think: there it is, another life, another path, and here they are, making art out of their experiences. I don't look at them with pity. Pity is my least favorite four-letter word. Nobody should ever be pitied.
BD: Their childhood was blighted by fate and tragedy, involving death, chicken farms and child pornography. Many might say this is tough and perhaps even unsuitable material for comic books. Indeed to use the word comic when describing their tragic life story is almost an oxymoron. What inspired and motivated you to translate their tale into this somewhat unlikely art form?
AP: The story is incredibly visually arresting when you hear them deliver it on the record. Jason and I knew that it would be the perfect medium, especially if we found the right artist, and Cynthia nailed it. And as for the suitableness...I don't know about that, I think you could easily find some darker, gorier material in a graphic novel without looking too far.
SM: Evelyn Evelyn are nervous around clowns. Do you share their coulrophobia?
AP: No, though come to think of it, I find them *moderately* unsettling. But it's not a full-on phobia. My best friend has coulrophobia, for real. He also has a weird conspiracy theory that there's a secret race of clowns, called the Culano, who breed with humans and are trying to take over the planet. If you see someone with very curly red hair, suspenders and oversized shoes working at a regular desk job, they may be of Culano descent.
BD: In real life, Evelyn Evelyns circus friends Bimba and Kimba a.k.a. Elephant Elephant, the conjoined twin elephants, die. I always hate it when the dog dies in a movie. When crafting the book, were you tempted at all to tweak reality to deliver a more acceptable and palatable tale?
AP: Um, no.
SM: At one point the twins are caught between to factions F.A.S.S.T.E.N (The Foundation For Always Separating Siamese Twins Everywhere Now) and S.P.L.I.T (The Society for the Preservation of Linked Identical Twins). Are you pro or anti S.P.L.I.T?
AP: I'm not at liberty to say, as both of these factions troll the internet looking to take down celebrities.
BD: Ultimately Evelyn Evelyns story is one of acceptance and understanding through music. How important has music been in your own journey towards acceptance?
AP: It's been the ultimate salvation. I'd have been lost without music and the life it's given me.
SM: You recently did a run at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival with the twins. How did that go? And do they have any more immediate touring plans?
AP: They were a smash hit! The whole run was a sell-out and they garnered a handful of four-star reviews. It honestly couldn't have gone better. But now they're very tired and will probably take a few years off. They found the experience of being in the UK very...trying. They didn't like the weather or the food.
BD: Your husband Neil Gaiman, whom SuicideGirls recently spoke with, did the afterward to the book. Youre also going to be doing some live dates with him. How amazing is it to be able to work and create with your soul mate?
AP: It's amazing. I love Neil more and more every day, as we try to make sense of this strange relationship we've embarked on...the relationship itself is our biggest collaboration, and it's an ongoing work in progress. But with each passing day and attempt to understand each other we get closer. Getting married was something I never thought I'd do...it totally blindsided my sense of identity for a while. But now we're settling into an incredible routine.
SM: What can fans expect from the upcoming shows you and Neil are doing together?
AP: Oh, mostly we're just singing songs and telling stories. It's an indoor campfire, basically. With some strippers thrown in for balance. Maybe.
BD: Any more his n her collaborations in the works?
AP: We actually have a kind of rule...no big collaborations. The short tour is fine, and doing small things for each others books and projects is fine, but anymore than that and we're risking our sense of sanity. We need each other to complain to about our work...and if we're complaining about each other TO each other, we'll come undone.
SM: In a sense, as you and Neil get closer and more in tune, are you becoming almost an Evelyn Evelyn in the sense that in a marriage two become one, and an individual becomes merely a half of a whole?
AP: No. We'll get closer, but my fantasy is that you find your sense of self using your partner as a mirror, not a soul-sucker. I suppose it's all semantics, isn't it.
BD: Do you finish
SM: Each others sentences?
AP: Yes. And we imitate and make fun of each other MERCILESSLY.
BD: Having fought for your own sense of individuality for so long, do you know struggle or embrace the idea of relinquishing it to some extent to be part of a couple?
AP: Funny you should say that....yes. I find it very hard to give up control. Neil is one of the first men in my life that I've been able to completely collapse on, in a good way. Allowing him to take care of me has been one of the biggest growing experiences of my love life.
The Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel is available now via Dark Horse Comics Inc. For more info on the Neville twins visit EvelynEvelyn.com/.
Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman are embarking on a co-headlining West Coast tour, kicking off with a Halloween engagement at Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. For full details visit AmandaPalmer.net/
AP: Um, no.
SM: At one point the twins are caught between to factions F.A.S.S.T.E.N (The Foundation For Always Separating Siamese Twins Everywhere Now) and S.P.L.I.T (The Society for the Preservation of Linked Identical Twins). Are you pro or anti S.P.L.I.T?
AP: I'm not at liberty to say, as both of these factions troll the internet looking to take down celebrities.
BD: Ultimately Evelyn Evelyns story is one of acceptance and understanding through music. How important has music been in your own journey towards acceptance?
AP: It's been the ultimate salvation. I'd have been lost without music and the life it's given me.
SM: You recently did a run at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival with the twins. How did that go? And do they have any more immediate touring plans?
AP: They were a smash hit! The whole run was a sell-out and they garnered a handful of four-star reviews. It honestly couldn't have gone better. But now they're very tired and will probably take a few years off. They found the experience of being in the UK very...trying. They didn't like the weather or the food.
BD: Your husband Neil Gaiman, whom SuicideGirls recently spoke with, did the afterward to the book. Youre also going to be doing some live dates with him. How amazing is it to be able to work and create with your soul mate?
AP: It's amazing. I love Neil more and more every day, as we try to make sense of this strange relationship we've embarked on...the relationship itself is our biggest collaboration, and it's an ongoing work in progress. But with each passing day and attempt to understand each other we get closer. Getting married was something I never thought I'd do...it totally blindsided my sense of identity for a while. But now we're settling into an incredible routine.
SM: What can fans expect from the upcoming shows you and Neil are doing together?
AP: Oh, mostly we're just singing songs and telling stories. It's an indoor campfire, basically. With some strippers thrown in for balance. Maybe.
BD: Any more his n her collaborations in the works?
AP: We actually have a kind of rule...no big collaborations. The short tour is fine, and doing small things for each others books and projects is fine, but anymore than that and we're risking our sense of sanity. We need each other to complain to about our work...and if we're complaining about each other TO each other, we'll come undone.
SM: In a sense, as you and Neil get closer and more in tune, are you becoming almost an Evelyn Evelyn in the sense that in a marriage two become one, and an individual becomes merely a half of a whole?
AP: No. We'll get closer, but my fantasy is that you find your sense of self using your partner as a mirror, not a soul-sucker. I suppose it's all semantics, isn't it.
BD: Do you finish
SM: Each others sentences?
AP: Yes. And we imitate and make fun of each other MERCILESSLY.
BD: Having fought for your own sense of individuality for so long, do you know struggle or embrace the idea of relinquishing it to some extent to be part of a couple?
AP: Funny you should say that....yes. I find it very hard to give up control. Neil is one of the first men in my life that I've been able to completely collapse on, in a good way. Allowing him to take care of me has been one of the biggest growing experiences of my love life.
The Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel is available now via Dark Horse Comics Inc. For more info on the Neville twins visit EvelynEvelyn.com/.
Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman are embarking on a co-headlining West Coast tour, kicking off with a Halloween engagement at Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. For full details visit AmandaPalmer.net/