When Heloise Williams speaks, she doesn't just talk, she purrs and she sings. She is, in every sense of the word, lyrical. On stage at the Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles, she is a riot of sequins, a tumble of blonde hair, sweat-smeared makeup in her eyes, and when she holds a note, the crowd erupts. She is a force and her band, Heloise & the Savoir Faire, is a sexy discopunk juggernaut.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, the members of Heloise & the Savoir Faire met in 2004 and immediately made an imprint on the live circuit, though it wasn't until after Williams met actor Elijah Wood through mutual friend Pamela Racine of Gogol Bordello that the band truly gained momentum. Williams was having one of those teary "I don't know what's going to happen" moments after a demo session gone bad, when Elijah casually mentioned his plans to start his own record label. The label became Simian Records and Heloise & the Savoir Faire became one of its flagship bands.
The band's rowdy disco-revival debut, Trash, Rats & Microphones, was released on April 29 2008 and has already punched the dance card of audiences worldwide, including that of the iconic Debbie Harry, who provides vocals on the album.
It was a packed house when Heloise & the Savior Faire came by SuicideGirls HQ for our interview. In addition to Williams and Elijah Wood, I had the pleasure of talking with guitarist James Bellizia, drummer Luke Hughett, back-up dancers Joe Shepard and Sara Sweet Rabidoux, and bassist Jason Cooley (filling in for Jason Diamond). We chatted about the new album, the power of performance and why sometimes, a prescription for Pinot Grigio is just what the doctor ordered.
Heloise Williams: and the getting naked beings.
Erin Broadley: Hows the West Coast been treating you?
HW: Its been radical. Its actually our first time ever playing on the West Coast. Weve played in L.A. before but not toured. With the exception of Portland which was a little bit of a crickets crowd, it was actually really fun we enjoyed that, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of people who came out to see us for the first time and had actually heard of us. People were dancing more at our shows here than in NY.
Luke Hughett: San Francisco, especially they danced.
EB: Tell me a little bit about how the band lineup came together in New York
HW: I had written some songs on my computer and had recruited Sarah and Joe [as dancers].
EB: It used to be just you guys with a backing track, right?
HW: Yeah, just the three of us. Our first show was at Don Hills, opening for Opti-Grab, our friends. Theyre kind of hip hop comedy. It evolved from there. I had two other dancers too [laughs] but after that first show Sarah and Joe were like, Ack. No.
Joe Shepard: Four dancers!
HW: And I had a headset mic. Its really hard to work a headset mic. I had this song called Fat Kid and Joe would dress up in this piglet costume and a red wig and I was the puppeteer.
EB: Joe, are you scarred?
JS: No, that was just the beginning
HW: Hes scar resistant.
JS: Our favorite thing about that, at the end of the show, Sarah and I were like, Well, its either the other two dancers or us! [Laughs]
HW: Obvious choice.
JS: They were nice guys but
HW: they wanted to do contact improv.
EB: Contact improv?
HW: Contact improv is a subset of dance basically, where you just roll around on each other and really feel stuff. Its all about weight sharing modern dance stuff. It is kooky. So we had a ton of gimmicks and then I decided I wanted to play with live musicians. I met Luke, then James and then Jason Cooley was there doing some crazy rap stuff and then later on he was like, Why dont I just play bass for you guys, and we were like, Yeah, thats a good idea.
EB: So tell me a little bit about this album, Trash, Rats & Microphones. Was it a collaborative writing process?
HW: This record is a lot of the songs I wrote before there was a band but then everyone sort of added their flavor to it. It used to be there were songs that the band didnt plan but now they plan every single song. Some of the songs we definitely collaborated on. Everyone definitely chimes in with their parts. So on this album I guess it is primarily me, but theres a lot of creative input by all band members.
EB: I read that before you hooked up with Simian Records, you were pretty dissatisfied in the sense that it was looking a bit bleak out there, music industry wise. How has that changed for you?
HW: Yeah. I definitely feel incredibly encouraged by the amount of enthusiasm and work people have put in towards this behind the scenes, including Elijah and Yep Roc and our amazing publicists ID-PR. Weve felt really, really lucky to have this amazing team and that would never have happened if Elijah hadnt stepped in and [sings] saved us! [Purrs] Saved me from my downward spiral. It was weird because when I was feeling all sad and blue about it, I had no idea [he was starting a label]. I was just over hanging out with Elijah and my friend Pam [from Gogol Bordello], which is how I met Elijah. We were all sitting there and I had one of these, I dont know whats going to happen moments because we had just gotten back from this really weird recording of a demo that was bizarre. So I started to cry and Elijah was all, Well Im starting a record label, and I was like, What?!! I couldnt believe it! Dreams sometimes do become realities. [Sings] Dreams can come true [Laughs]
EB: When you guys made the decision to go ahead and sign with Elijah and put out the album, any second thoughts or was it, like, it chose you?
HW: Absolutely. It seems very
Sara Sweet Rabidoux:Serendipitous.
HW: Fate brought us together.
James Bellizia: Now we get to keep playing shows together. We have every bit a sense of purpose now that we have an album out. We can continue to do what we like.
HW: A sense of porpoise. [Laughs]
JS: I cant imagine us being signed to a large label that would sort of take any kind of creative control.
EB: Thats a pretty outdated system now anyway. Its basically signing up to say, Yes. Id like to go into debt, thank you. I dont think a lot of people know how few musicians actually own their own music. These days, its about who owns the copyright, not selling CDs.
HW: Yeah, exactly.
JS: Thats why I think, again, this process has been really good because I feel like youve learned a lot and I know Ive learned a lot about the industry, whereas I think theres some people who never learn anything because they just get swooped up. Everythings done for them and decisions are made and thats outdated.
HW: Its also more of a family environment. We trust each other.
EB: What was the SXSW experience like this year for you guys?
LH: We loved being able to play like three shows a day, running around constantly, blogging the hell out of it.
EB: Joe, were you the one running around announcing, Im in a band?
JS: Yes. Were in a band. YES. But no one really asked me
HW: Joe was wearing drag basically, Yes were in a band Yes were in a band. Hes cutting edge.
JS: Youve been there I was just kind of makin fun of the fact that every person you see on the street is in a band.
EB: The worst is the people who are trying to not be recognized, theyve got the glasses and the hat, like dont look at me, but they still have a boa on or some big belt. I mean, own it, man. Live it up. Everyone is down there for the same reason. Youre not fooling anyone.
SR: [Laughs] Thats right.
HW: I feel like the greatest challenge for me personally in Texas was the makeup, because of the sweat would just smear down my face. All my eyeliner would get in my eyes. Id be blinded. Then Id have to run to the next show so Id be trying to mush the black off and then put some kind of skin tone makeup on top of the black streaming marks. I ended up looking just absolutely disgusting. By the end of the day we had three shows, oh god, it was like 100 degrees [laughs] with all this caked and dried makeup. So gross, but fun. Totally rock and roll.
SR: We really did the spectrum of things available at SXSW. We played the Nylon Guess party on the rooftop of a pool and then we played in the back of a chicken coop, down by some railroad tracks.
HW: Elijah and I did something really cool, that What is Music thing.
Elijah Wood: Oh yeah. The film is called Heart is a Drum Machine. Its by the same guys that directed and produced the Moog film, the movie about Bob Moog Its this documentary about like the larger questions of what music is and it had all these people, an amazing list of people, and they asked myself and Heloise to do it, which was amazing.
LH: Heloise, didnt you sing a Welsh lullaby?
EW: Yeah, it was amazing. Heloise, you cried!
HW: I cry all the time. I should be on meditation or something.
JS: You should have a prescription for Pinot Grigio.
[All laugh]
EB: How are you finding the music community in Brooklyn these days? At this point Id say youve broken through and risen to the top. Are there other bands you like working with or is it more each man for himself?
JB: The latter.
HW: Weirdly, we like a lot of Brooklyn bands but we dont really know any other Brooklyn bands. Weve just been sort of working our way up from the basements. Booking is sometimes hard in New York. There was a little while where I was like, Look at all my friends bands! Like, a scene. Then I was like, God this is a lot of work. Id just rather play
LH: In New York it used to be just certain showcases but now it feels like people go to wherever they go to see one band play and then they leave.
JB: Its so oversaturated.
EB: Everybody cherry picks now. Even bands dont stick around for each others shows anymore.
HW: I know. Its bad news. I know that definitely there are those communities in Brooklyn. We support our fellow musicians and artists; we just dont really know them. [Laughs]
JB: I mean, everyone and their hamster has a band these days.
HW: Especially in Williamsburg where we live. Its like being at SXSW every day. Except people are doing their laundry.
JS: Rock and roll high school
SR: It is!
EB: If everyone in your neighborhood is in a band, then how did you keep from getting disillusioned?
HW: I havent. [Laughs] Wait a minute
EB: If everybody is unique, then what do you do?
HW: I think that were lucky. We honestly have a really good time getting up on stage and doing it. I know people say is all about the music or whatever, but really its true. Its all about the performance. Getting together and just doing it. Of course Ive though a bazillion times, This doesnt make any sense; being in a band is a terrible idea. But I just cant help it. I cant give it up. I just cant. I tried for a little while but I withered. And then I started this band.
Jason Cooley: My girlfriend can tell when Im not playing music. She was so happy I went on this tour. Its weird not performing; you just feel weird and you get grouchy and you dont know why
EB: You end up drinking Pinot Grigio in a closet all by yourself.
HW: Its like you know me! It is this release, and of course having any kind of audience, theres such a thrill in seeing how people react, positively or negatively or whatever it is.
JB: That many people getting excited in a room is exciting.
SR: Now can we take off our clothes?
Heloise & the Savoir Faire is on tour now. For more information and to buy Trash, Rats & Microphones go to www.heloisemusic.com.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, the members of Heloise & the Savoir Faire met in 2004 and immediately made an imprint on the live circuit, though it wasn't until after Williams met actor Elijah Wood through mutual friend Pamela Racine of Gogol Bordello that the band truly gained momentum. Williams was having one of those teary "I don't know what's going to happen" moments after a demo session gone bad, when Elijah casually mentioned his plans to start his own record label. The label became Simian Records and Heloise & the Savoir Faire became one of its flagship bands.
The band's rowdy disco-revival debut, Trash, Rats & Microphones, was released on April 29 2008 and has already punched the dance card of audiences worldwide, including that of the iconic Debbie Harry, who provides vocals on the album.
It was a packed house when Heloise & the Savior Faire came by SuicideGirls HQ for our interview. In addition to Williams and Elijah Wood, I had the pleasure of talking with guitarist James Bellizia, drummer Luke Hughett, back-up dancers Joe Shepard and Sara Sweet Rabidoux, and bassist Jason Cooley (filling in for Jason Diamond). We chatted about the new album, the power of performance and why sometimes, a prescription for Pinot Grigio is just what the doctor ordered.
Heloise Williams: and the getting naked beings.
Erin Broadley: Hows the West Coast been treating you?
HW: Its been radical. Its actually our first time ever playing on the West Coast. Weve played in L.A. before but not toured. With the exception of Portland which was a little bit of a crickets crowd, it was actually really fun we enjoyed that, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of people who came out to see us for the first time and had actually heard of us. People were dancing more at our shows here than in NY.
Luke Hughett: San Francisco, especially they danced.
EB: Tell me a little bit about how the band lineup came together in New York
HW: I had written some songs on my computer and had recruited Sarah and Joe [as dancers].
EB: It used to be just you guys with a backing track, right?
HW: Yeah, just the three of us. Our first show was at Don Hills, opening for Opti-Grab, our friends. Theyre kind of hip hop comedy. It evolved from there. I had two other dancers too [laughs] but after that first show Sarah and Joe were like, Ack. No.
Joe Shepard: Four dancers!
HW: And I had a headset mic. Its really hard to work a headset mic. I had this song called Fat Kid and Joe would dress up in this piglet costume and a red wig and I was the puppeteer.
EB: Joe, are you scarred?
JS: No, that was just the beginning
HW: Hes scar resistant.
JS: Our favorite thing about that, at the end of the show, Sarah and I were like, Well, its either the other two dancers or us! [Laughs]
HW: Obvious choice.
JS: They were nice guys but
HW: they wanted to do contact improv.
EB: Contact improv?
HW: Contact improv is a subset of dance basically, where you just roll around on each other and really feel stuff. Its all about weight sharing modern dance stuff. It is kooky. So we had a ton of gimmicks and then I decided I wanted to play with live musicians. I met Luke, then James and then Jason Cooley was there doing some crazy rap stuff and then later on he was like, Why dont I just play bass for you guys, and we were like, Yeah, thats a good idea.
EB: So tell me a little bit about this album, Trash, Rats & Microphones. Was it a collaborative writing process?
HW: This record is a lot of the songs I wrote before there was a band but then everyone sort of added their flavor to it. It used to be there were songs that the band didnt plan but now they plan every single song. Some of the songs we definitely collaborated on. Everyone definitely chimes in with their parts. So on this album I guess it is primarily me, but theres a lot of creative input by all band members.
EB: I read that before you hooked up with Simian Records, you were pretty dissatisfied in the sense that it was looking a bit bleak out there, music industry wise. How has that changed for you?
HW: Yeah. I definitely feel incredibly encouraged by the amount of enthusiasm and work people have put in towards this behind the scenes, including Elijah and Yep Roc and our amazing publicists ID-PR. Weve felt really, really lucky to have this amazing team and that would never have happened if Elijah hadnt stepped in and [sings] saved us! [Purrs] Saved me from my downward spiral. It was weird because when I was feeling all sad and blue about it, I had no idea [he was starting a label]. I was just over hanging out with Elijah and my friend Pam [from Gogol Bordello], which is how I met Elijah. We were all sitting there and I had one of these, I dont know whats going to happen moments because we had just gotten back from this really weird recording of a demo that was bizarre. So I started to cry and Elijah was all, Well Im starting a record label, and I was like, What?!! I couldnt believe it! Dreams sometimes do become realities. [Sings] Dreams can come true [Laughs]
EB: When you guys made the decision to go ahead and sign with Elijah and put out the album, any second thoughts or was it, like, it chose you?
HW: Absolutely. It seems very
Sara Sweet Rabidoux:Serendipitous.
HW: Fate brought us together.
James Bellizia: Now we get to keep playing shows together. We have every bit a sense of purpose now that we have an album out. We can continue to do what we like.
HW: A sense of porpoise. [Laughs]
JS: I cant imagine us being signed to a large label that would sort of take any kind of creative control.
EB: Thats a pretty outdated system now anyway. Its basically signing up to say, Yes. Id like to go into debt, thank you. I dont think a lot of people know how few musicians actually own their own music. These days, its about who owns the copyright, not selling CDs.
HW: Yeah, exactly.
JS: Thats why I think, again, this process has been really good because I feel like youve learned a lot and I know Ive learned a lot about the industry, whereas I think theres some people who never learn anything because they just get swooped up. Everythings done for them and decisions are made and thats outdated.
HW: Its also more of a family environment. We trust each other.
EB: What was the SXSW experience like this year for you guys?
LH: We loved being able to play like three shows a day, running around constantly, blogging the hell out of it.
EB: Joe, were you the one running around announcing, Im in a band?
JS: Yes. Were in a band. YES. But no one really asked me
HW: Joe was wearing drag basically, Yes were in a band Yes were in a band. Hes cutting edge.
JS: Youve been there I was just kind of makin fun of the fact that every person you see on the street is in a band.
EB: The worst is the people who are trying to not be recognized, theyve got the glasses and the hat, like dont look at me, but they still have a boa on or some big belt. I mean, own it, man. Live it up. Everyone is down there for the same reason. Youre not fooling anyone.
SR: [Laughs] Thats right.
HW: I feel like the greatest challenge for me personally in Texas was the makeup, because of the sweat would just smear down my face. All my eyeliner would get in my eyes. Id be blinded. Then Id have to run to the next show so Id be trying to mush the black off and then put some kind of skin tone makeup on top of the black streaming marks. I ended up looking just absolutely disgusting. By the end of the day we had three shows, oh god, it was like 100 degrees [laughs] with all this caked and dried makeup. So gross, but fun. Totally rock and roll.
SR: We really did the spectrum of things available at SXSW. We played the Nylon Guess party on the rooftop of a pool and then we played in the back of a chicken coop, down by some railroad tracks.
HW: Elijah and I did something really cool, that What is Music thing.
Elijah Wood: Oh yeah. The film is called Heart is a Drum Machine. Its by the same guys that directed and produced the Moog film, the movie about Bob Moog Its this documentary about like the larger questions of what music is and it had all these people, an amazing list of people, and they asked myself and Heloise to do it, which was amazing.
LH: Heloise, didnt you sing a Welsh lullaby?
EW: Yeah, it was amazing. Heloise, you cried!
HW: I cry all the time. I should be on meditation or something.
JS: You should have a prescription for Pinot Grigio.
[All laugh]
EB: How are you finding the music community in Brooklyn these days? At this point Id say youve broken through and risen to the top. Are there other bands you like working with or is it more each man for himself?
JB: The latter.
HW: Weirdly, we like a lot of Brooklyn bands but we dont really know any other Brooklyn bands. Weve just been sort of working our way up from the basements. Booking is sometimes hard in New York. There was a little while where I was like, Look at all my friends bands! Like, a scene. Then I was like, God this is a lot of work. Id just rather play
LH: In New York it used to be just certain showcases but now it feels like people go to wherever they go to see one band play and then they leave.
JB: Its so oversaturated.
EB: Everybody cherry picks now. Even bands dont stick around for each others shows anymore.
HW: I know. Its bad news. I know that definitely there are those communities in Brooklyn. We support our fellow musicians and artists; we just dont really know them. [Laughs]
JB: I mean, everyone and their hamster has a band these days.
HW: Especially in Williamsburg where we live. Its like being at SXSW every day. Except people are doing their laundry.
JS: Rock and roll high school
SR: It is!
EB: If everyone in your neighborhood is in a band, then how did you keep from getting disillusioned?
HW: I havent. [Laughs] Wait a minute
EB: If everybody is unique, then what do you do?
HW: I think that were lucky. We honestly have a really good time getting up on stage and doing it. I know people say is all about the music or whatever, but really its true. Its all about the performance. Getting together and just doing it. Of course Ive though a bazillion times, This doesnt make any sense; being in a band is a terrible idea. But I just cant help it. I cant give it up. I just cant. I tried for a little while but I withered. And then I started this band.
Jason Cooley: My girlfriend can tell when Im not playing music. She was so happy I went on this tour. Its weird not performing; you just feel weird and you get grouchy and you dont know why
EB: You end up drinking Pinot Grigio in a closet all by yourself.
HW: Its like you know me! It is this release, and of course having any kind of audience, theres such a thrill in seeing how people react, positively or negatively or whatever it is.
JB: That many people getting excited in a room is exciting.
SR: Now can we take off our clothes?
Heloise & the Savoir Faire is on tour now. For more information and to buy Trash, Rats & Microphones go to www.heloisemusic.com.
erin_broadley:
When Heloise Williams speaks, she doesn't just talk, she purrs and she sings. She is, in every sense of the word, lyrical. On stage at the Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles, she is a riot of sequins, a tumble of blonde hair, sweat-smeared makeup in her eyes, and when she holds a note, the crowd erupts....
lison:
One of my favorite band!!!!! 